| Important note to Loonanons: The
list of achievers in this section is INCOMPLETE. Please send new information
to the Office of the Mayor, Municipality of Loon, Bohol or to reighmonreal@hotmail.com.
]
WRITERS, POETS AND JOURNALISTS Emmanuel 'Eman' Agapito F. Lacaba, considered the only poet warrior of the Philippines and a genius while studying at the Ateneo de Manila. The book Six Young Filipino Martyrs states, "Not many poets are given the honor of becoming martyrs for their country. In the Philippines there are only two: Jose Rizal and a disciple he never knew." That disciple is Eman, son of Jose Monreal Lacaba, a Loonanon. Today, The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) confers the Gawad Eman Lacaba to young poets. Eman wrote the lyrics of "Awit ni Kuala", the song sung by Lolita Rodriguez in the classic Lino Brocka masterpiece 'Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang '. He also composed new revolutionary lyrics in Cebuano for some well-known folk songs. Eman and his brother Pete were accorded the distinction of being among the top 100 Filipinos in culture. Only one other Boholano, national artist Napoleon V. Abueva, a relative of the Veloso clan of Loon, made it to the prestigious list. Jose 'Pete' F. Lacaba Jr., Eman's brother and former member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. Pete is a poet, editor and scriptwriter of some of Lino Brocka's memorable films. Clovis L. Nazareno, multi-awarded short-story and balak writer, newspaper columnist, three-time Palanca awardee in English poetry, and graduate of both the UP Writers Workshop and the Asean Writers Workshop. Rene Eune Pueblos Ponte a.k.a. coypponte, writer of short story and poetry, fellow of the Silliman Writers Workshop, author of the word "SidlaKasilak", and current editor of the Bohol weekly Atong Balita Sano. Pio B. Ferandos, author of "The Bohol Guerrillas in
Action", that details the armed struggle against Japanese oppression
during the Second World War. Jeremias Mejorada and Gloria Sevilla-Andaleon, writers of "drama" plays in their native Napo. Melchor P. Monreal Sr., orator, poet, scriptwriter and director of "drama" plays, composer, and compiler/publisher of "Harana: Talamdan sa mga Awit nga Halandumon". Reigh P. Monreal, writer of Cebuano poetry; author of Sugilanon sa Ubi, a narrative poem on the story of the kinampay around which revolves some of the highlights of the annual Ubifest of Bohol; research editor; cultural events scriptwriter; past editor of Atong Balita Sano and current editor of Tagbilaran Forum, both weekly newspapers. Reynald Romea Luminarias, Seattle-based architect, photographer, digital artist and poet; graduate of the UP Writers Workshop. Jonathan Carnice, past editor of the Sillimanian Weekly, and former senior staff of a national agency providing assistance to educational institutions. Dr. Justiniano Lopez Seroy, developmental poet and professor of the Leyte State University. Joaquin Ligumbres, 88-year-old poet farmer. He still does push-ups using only one foot and three fingers of each hand. Bahandianong Arte Halad sa Namat-ang Dagang a.k.a. Bahandi-Loon, a group of local poets that launched in 2000 its first collection of poems aptly entitled Unang Agi; Bohol's only grantee of the Tanghal Tula program of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Zosimo 'Iyo Zosing' P. Relampagos, sculptor and designer of Bohol's most beautiful monument dedicated to Christ the King (Cristo Rey) found at the church plaza in Loon; the statue of the Our Lady of Light on the façade of the Kasilak church; and replica of the grotto in Lourdes complete with the statues of the Virgin Mary and St. Bernadette, also found beside the Kasilak church; sculptor of the Stations of the Cross inside the church of Dauis, Bohol. Relampagos once had a shop in Tagbilaran called Mary's Art, named after the Blessed Virgin and Mary Loquellano, his wife. The shop specialized in religious images carved on wood or painted on canvas. The prolific artist was best at painting "still life" and sculpting the Last Supper many of which now adorn houses throughout Bohol. Carling Masalta, resident artist of Cabilao Island who once studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines. Alanito Luminarias Gomez, handicraft designer and visual artist. Rey P. Tampos, currently Bohol's number one bonsai artist.
Mario Rotersos, very young Cebu-based fashion designer currently in New York to hone his craft; represented the Philippines in the 1998 Asia Pacific Young Fashion Designers' Show in Hong Kong. His collection has been described by critics as ultra feminine. Loon's expert tailors and masters cutters, now scattered in many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. Genju V. Lapez, current president and national chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. Maria Socorro "Acor" Relampagos-Gonzaga, current Vice President for External Affairs of the Philippine Airlines. Teresita Pesquira, vice president of Citibank in New York. Engr. Pablo M. Relampagos, proprietor of KarAsia, a Mindanao-based chain of car and accessories distributor. Marianito D. Alemania, franchise owner of Madelicious, a fast-growing chain of bakeshops with branches throughout the country. Dr. James Sombrio, franchise owner of the Bohol-based Kiddies bakeshop. Stephen George C. Relampagos, finance manager of Johnson and Johnson Philippines, at one time holding an executive position for Southeast Asia and Oceania. Zosimo Soria Jr., vice president and general manager of Rhone Poulenc-Rorer Philippines, Inc. Marie Rose Celesti T. Panis, gold medalist in tennis for girls under 18 years old during the 2002 Palarong Pambansa held in Naga City while she was a senior student of Sandingan High School; currently ranked by the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association among the top ten lady tennis players in the country; daughter of Tony Panis and Aida Torillo. James P. Relampagos, Cebu Amateur Athletic Association's most valuable player (MVP) in 1998. This 6'3" center of the University of San Jose - Recoletos is the son of Comelec employee Primo Relampagos and the former Evelyn Perez. Jenkins Mesina, currently playing with Purefoods in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Sandy Fernan Quintal, Bohol's inter-school MVP in 2001; a native of Barangay Basdio. Lope Salazar, and Cirilo Calatrava, finalists in
athletics in the 1979 Palarong Pambansa. Young Basketball Players. On June 8, this year, The Loon Youth Basketball Team became overall champion of the Second Congressman Edgar Chatto Cup, winning all but one of the 17 games they played against district leagues of Tagbilaran and municipal leagues of the First District of Bohol. Jason Amonsot of Basac was declared Most Valuable Player. Early this year, the Tagbilaran Inter-School Baskeball Association declared two Loonanons as Most Valuable Players - - John Antoni Plateros, grade school MVP; and Itti Supremo, collegiate MVP. In last school-year's Bohol Association of Catholic Schools (BACS) Meet managed by the Diocese of Tagbilaran, which was participated in by more than 20 secondary schools, Loon's Sacred Heart Academy and St. Teresa Academy grabbed the championship and second runner-up honors in the basketball finals.
WHEN the former Maria Paz 'Maning' Mozo of Pangangan Island gave
birth to a bouncy boy with a hairless pate two score and 2 years
ago, the bald-headed Yul Brynner was toast of Hollywood. Eventually, that baby boy, who was given the same monicker as Brynner's,
became a star in his own right and joined the other members of his
family who also had their share of shining moments in the firmament
of both religious and public service. Indeed, strong faith in God and genuine commitment to public service
are two indelible marks of the family from which Mayor Cesar Tomas
M. Lopez, M.D. comes from. After serving as resident physician at the Antequera Community
Hospital and the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital, the
young doctor continued the unblemished public service tradition
of the Lopez clan by serving as vice mayor of Loon for two consecutive
terms. Today, Mayor Yul, as the energetic executive is fondly called,
follows in the footsteps of his father Dr. Rosendo Lopez Jr. and
grandfather Rosendo 'Tan Sendoy' Lopez Sr. who are past municipal
mayors. Also, Rene Lopez Relampagos, a cousin of his, served as
Bohol governor and chairman of the Central Visayas Regional Development
Council. Another cousin, Clovis Nazareno, is a three-term member
of the current Sangguniang Bayan of Loon. The young Yul's neighbors in Barangay Moto Sur expected him to
become a full-time servant of God after having graduated salutatorian
from both Holy Spirit School and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. But God's call him to be of service to humanity encouraged him
to take up Biology at the University of the Philippines and Medicine
at the Cebu Institute of Medicine to become the doctor and surgeon
that he is today. Taking long breaks from his medical profession, Mayor Lopez endeavors
to catapult Loon to prominence in local governance by focusing on
enhancement of public service, coastal resource management, livelihood
development, education, peace and order, local investment promotion,
culture and art development, eco-cultural tourism, and social services
especially for children, women and senior citizens. Having a full timetable as town executive, however, does not deter
Mayor Lopez from joining the activities of the Bohol Medical Society,
Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals, Lions and
Rotary Clubs, and Knight of Columbus of which he is an active member.
He once served as vice president of the League of Municipalities
of the Philippines (LMP) - Bohol Chapter. Mayor Lopez derives greatest joy and fulfillment from being a doting
father to Thomas Angelo and loving husband to the former Chona Requina.
The family resides in Barangay Catagbacan Norte. |
