My second time in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte.
The first one was during its patronal town fiesta on the seventh of October this year to celebrate the feast of the Virgin of the Most Holy Rosary.
I came here the day after All Saints Day through the invitation, again, of entertainment journalist Dave Rojo, a native of the municipality and an erstwhile publicist of Vicor Music Corporation when it was co-owned and co-managed by Vic Del Rosario and Orly Ilacad.
A brief history of the town: It was initially named Mambulao but later changed it to Jose Panganiban since the latter who was a hero during the propaganda movement and a friend of Dr. Jose Rizal originated from the place. In fact, in the middle of the community stands a monument of the National Hero and according to Dave, Rizal's statue in his town was the first memorial erected in the country even ahead of the Luneta landmark.
Rojo said Rizal once visited buddy Panganiban when the town was still called Mambulao which means gold.
Because of its significance and meaning, the coastal pueblo has also attributed itself to gold and other mineral reserves found in its soils and seasides just like its neighboring CamNorte town, Paracale.
Remember the folk saying, "gintong Paracale, mawala ma'y di bale (Paracale gold might get lost but it doesn't matter)."
But one of the most popular tales Panganiban has told is the reign of one of the scions of the famous Padillas, particularly pre-war and liberation actor Jose Padilla, Jr.
It's in Panganiban where Roy Padilla--son of the famous actor and dad of the so-called Bad Boy of Philippine Cinema and now senator Robinhood Padilla--bred his kin.
"Actually, dayo lang dito si Roy Padilla. Pumunta siya rito sa Panganiban para magtrabaho sa minahan (He is a stranger here. He went to Panganiban to work in the mines)," recalled Dave who was in his early elementary days when Roy migrated to his birthplace.
"Dahil sa kanyang trabaho sa minahan, naglider siya ng mga minero. Ito ang naging puhunan niya sa pulitika sa aming bayan. Inasahan ng mga minero ang kanyang liderato sa mga problema sa paggawa at sa mga (Because of his work in the mines, he became the leader of the miners. This was his human capital to enter politics in our town. The miners depended on him for solutions to labor problems and) labor issues," Rojo explained.
Roy got settled in southern Tagalog Panganiban for the longest time where he also found Carmela--one of the loves of his life--whom he bore children, one of them the incumbent Governor of Camarines Norte, Ricarte Padilla.
Still, the romantic and lady killer in Roy surfaced.
He also fell in love with Eva Carino, a former movie star from the north, in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija.
While his business and political turfs were flourishing in the south, Roy was also romancing his filial bond in the north.
The four famous Padilla brothers--Rommel, Royette, Robin and Rustom--were sired by Roy with Eva.
Meanwhile, to create a sense of familial oneness, Roy--who became mayor of Panganiban and later governor of the province--introduced to each other his kids from different moms and had unified them.
"Marami ring anak si Roy kay Carmela. May mga classmates pa nga ako noong elementary and high school na mga anak nila, mga kapatid sa ama ni (Roy had many kids with Carmela. I had classmates in elementary and high school who are half-siblings of) Robin," reminisced Dave.
Panganiban indeed is dear to Robin's heart.
Rojo added that there was even a time Rommel, Royette, Robin and Rustom had attended schools in the town.
Panganiban was also Robin’s refuge during his fugitive days when he was charged with illegal possession of firearms.
"Dito nagtago si Robin bago siya sumuko kay (He also hid here before he surrendered to President Fidel Ramos)," shared Dave.
"No'ng nakaraang eleksyon, nangampanya si Robin dito pero sa mga linang lang (During the last senatorial elections, he campaigned in the barrios)," informed Rojo.
"Sa palagay ko, matagal pang maghahari ang mga Padilla dito sa amin (I think the Padillas will rule in our place for so long)," the movie writer quipped.
It was a colorful throwback and fast forward account not only about the Padillas but other residents of Panganiban as well.
Dante Rivero a namesake of the veteran actor and nephew-in-law of Dave won a Barangay Kagawad seat in the last barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
According to Rojo, he will support Dante's pursuits in the growth and development of arts and culture in his roots. "Kami ni Dante, magpapa-acting workshop kami rito sa mga talentadong kababayan ko (We will hold an acting workshop here for our talented townmates)," he announced.
Shorts: Former sexy actress Tina Monasterio, Maria Cristina Monasterio in real life won as Barangay Chairman of Duyan-Duyan in Project 3 in Quezon City. The model and former leader of the community after she got inactive in showbiz was a favorite in her barangay. During the campaign, Tina was heavily endorsed by her pop star son, Derrick Monasterio...Jeremy Marquez, who was reelected Chairman of Barangay BF Homes in Paranaque City, was rooted by his dad, actor Joey Marquez...Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.'s half-brother Reuben Bautista Revilla, son of the late actor and senator Ramon Revilla, Sr. with Genalyn Magsaysay won Barangay Chairmanship in Imus, Cavite. Genalyn is the daughter of the late lawmaker senator Genaro Magsaysay and actress and officer of the Katipunan ng mga Artista ng Pelikulang Pilipino at Telebisyon (KAPPT) or Actors Guild.
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