OpinYon publisher, Raymund Junia, visited on October 30 his brother’s pantheon at the ritzy Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig and a corner away was the mausoleum of former Leyte Gov. Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez—brother of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos—who governed the province from December 30, 1967 – March 25, 1986 and was later appointed as Ambassador to the United States from 1982 to 1986 (until the early days of President Corazon Aquino).
While governor of the province, Junia who was then in high school, recalled him promising to make Leyte great again, “as if we’ve been great before.”
He was a younger brother to Imelda and the father of House Majority Leader (now Speaker) Martin Romualdez. He was married to Juliette Gomez. Their children are: Daniel, a practicing architect in New York, and partner Michael; Benjamin Philip, president and CEO of Benguet Corp., who is married to Inquirer president/CEO Maria Alexandra; Ferdinand Martin, who is married to Yedda Marie (now a congresswoman); Marean, an investment banker and husband Thomas; sisters Imelda Marcos, Alita Martel, Conchita Yap and brothers Alfredo and Armando.
Romualdez embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in politics spanning more than 20 years. He served several terms as Leyte governor. His brother-in-law, Marcos Sr. appointed him as ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States while serving as Leyte governor until 1986, when his family went into exile following the People Power Revolution. He was elected as a member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984 but preferred to remain as ambassador to the United States, therefore was disqualified to sit in the parliament.
He was instrumental in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China in the 1970s, becoming Manila’s first ambassador to Beijing.
He died on the afternoon of February 21, 2012 of cancer, at Makati Medical Center in Makati, Philippines at the age of 81. (photo, Ray L. Junia)