Profiles

PROFILES OF PUBLIC SERVICE

 

1. ELISEO P. VERANO (1870- 1935)

 

      An unknown person now in Barangay Can-iwan, his accomplishment as a public servant during his time is well reflected in the present amenities enjoyed by its residents.

 

      An only boy born to spouses Frencisco (Isko) Vreano and Bernarda Palima, he first married Ilodefonsa Galo, an only child of spouses Estanislo Galo and Ponciano Damole. He was the first barangay Captain of Can-iwan at the turn of the 19th century during the American Regime.

 

      Concerned with the religious welfare of the residents, he persuaded his father-in-law who was then the secretary of the parish priest of Masin to donate his lot to so a church could be constructed thereon. The lot where the parish church now stands was formerly as Galo property.

 

      Bangaay Can-iwan then has a big area of jurisdiction. It comprises the sitios of Bilibol, panan-awan, Tawid, Tma-is, Cabulihan, Looc, Manhilo and Libhu. As related by her eldest daughter Olivia, her father was known to dispense justice fairly in settling land disputes and family problems in the Barangay. It was also at this time that his eldest daughter Olive was able to learn the skills of handling people and proper governance in a community that later shape her outlook in life.

 

      He was later elected several times as councilor of the then Municipality of Maasin until he died in 1935. He is the cousin of Rodrigo Galo who was a councilor and vice-mayor of Maasin.

 

 

 2. OLIVE G. VERANO-GALIA (1892-1983)

 

      She is the eldest daughter of Eliseo in his first marriage. Aside from being the first school teacher in Can-iwan, she acted as the secretary of her father in hearing several disputes in the barangays. This was the time that served as her training ground in managing people.

 

      In 1920, she got married and transferred residence in Matalom, Leyte where she continued her teaching profession.

 

      When the law was passed by the Philippine Congress in 1932 allowing women to vote and be voted for public office, Olive did not have a second thought. She immediately resigned as a public school teacher and run for councilor in the town of Matalom. She was the only women in Leyte who run for public office at that time. She easily won the election.

 

      When Daniel Romualdez was then the Governor of Leyte, he told President who holds the distinction of being the first woman councilor of the Philippines. That there was a woman in the Municipality of Matalom that was elected as councilor on the same election year that Carmen Planas was elected.

 

      In an event hosted by Governor Daniel Romualdez in 1935, President Quezon instructed Governor Romualdez to fetch Oliva in Matalom because he wanted to see Olive in person. The steamship “Mayo” which was used to deliver mail matters to the towns of Leyte was purposely sent to Matalom to fetch Olive by order of President Quezon. In that evening, Olive was able to dance with President Quezon. According to Olive, the first question asked by President Quezon was “What made you run for public office?” Her ready answer was “she can serve her constituents more if she is a councilor than a school teacher”. She had big plans to open up more schools in the Barrios so more people will be educated. President Quito further said “I thought it was Carmen Planas from Manila who is the first councilor in the Philippines. Here is the woman in Leyte who is brave enough to enter politics.”

 

      Oliva, who for many years served as councilor of the Municipality of Matalom later became Vice Mayor and eventually Mayor of the town. She had an only child named Patricinio. She is dubbed as the Grand Old Lady of the Verano Clam of Southern Leyte.

 

 

3. FLORENTINO G. VERANO (1902-1973)

 

      The sixth child of Eliseo in his first marriage, he was the Barangay Captain of Can-iwan during the years of the Second World War (1940-1946).

 

      The mayor of the then Municipality of Maasin was Alfredo Bantug. He had a family in Can-iwan. The Japanese soldier was looking for him to seek his allegiance to the Japanese Government. The only way for the Japanese soldiers to get Alfredo Bantug was to go to Can-iwan. Alfredo bantug was well hidden in the mangroves.

 

      Florentino was the only man in Can-iwan who blocked the Japanese soldiers by telling them that Alfredo Bantug went to the mauntains together with the guerillas led by Col. Ruperto Kangleon. By doing so, Florentiono was jailed anf tortured by the Japanese soldiers. Luckily, he was able to survive.

 

      Florentino was later elected councilor in the Municipality of Maasin. On the other hand, by stroke of fate, Alfredo Bantug who was saving by Florentino became the first Governor of Southern Leyte in 1960 when the Province was created.

 

 

PATROCINIO VERANO GALIA  (1923-2001)
                  He is the only child of spouses Olive G. Verano and Felix Galia.

 

            He wanted to become a doctor. In fact, he studied his pre-med at the University of the Philippine-Junior College in Cebu from 1940 to 1942. His studies were interrupted during the Second World War. He later got married to Asuncion (Nita) Veloso and finished an education course at the Saint Joseph College in 1950. He holds the distinction of being the first Magna Cum Laude graduate of Saint Joseph College from 1951 to 1965 until the call of public service knocked at his door.

 

            His mother Olive had already retired from politics and its time now that the torch is passed on to her worthy successor, his only child.

 

He run for Mayor in the Municipality of Matalom in 1965 and won a landslide majority. A momentous event took place in the early morning of January 5, 1966, when Patrocinio took his oath of office as Mayor before his mother Oliva.

 

            He served as Mayor from 1966 until 1983 when his principles run afoul with the then political leaders of Leyte. As fas as is concerened, he did not need any party to carry him because he can defeat anybody who run against him in Matalom. Because ao harassment not only in himself but also of his family, he decided not to enter politics again, thus ending his political career.

 

            He has two (2) children, Ma. Imelda and Patrocinio Jr.

 

            Ma. Imelda who is a Doctor of Medicine is now the Chief of Clinics of the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital. Patrocinio Jr. (Dodong) is a champion motorcyclist.

 

  

HILARIO VERANO QUIRONG (1910-1985)
 

The eldest son of Spouses Basilisa Verano (Dekay) and Epifanio Quirong (Aning). He was born in Can-iwan, Maasin, Southern Leyte on October 20, 1910.

 

                  As a child, his interest is in animal and farming that he studied agriculture at the Baybay National Agriculture School now known as Visayas State University. He is one of its first graduates in 1931.

 

                  He rose from the ranks that he eventually became the Municipal Agriculturist of Maasin and later the Provincial Livestock Dispersal Officer of Southern Leyte. He was sent to the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna to study the latest trend in the cultivation of rice. He unselfishly shared his knowledge in the proper cultivation of rice among the farmers in Southern Leyte. But he is best remembered as an agriculturist who does not hesitate to help you if you have problems about your coconut trees, livestock’s and all kinds of fruit trees. To top it all, when he was then managing the nursery, during fruit season, you can ask any fruits you want from him without any cost.

 

                  He died in January 30, 1985 at the age of 75 years old. He is survived by his wife, Trinidad (Trining) Ordiz and his seven (7) children: Rosario (Baby), Inmaculada (Emma), Francisco (Talo) Deceased, Rolando (Lando), Sarah, Cesar and Terencio.

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