Your VOICES.

Current city Vice Mayor Vicente Y. Emano is said to be the city’s de facto mayor as he leads the PaDayon Pilipino Party that current CDO mayor Constantino Jaraula is merely a member of.

Although known for being an autocratic politician, Emano is also a seasoned one. In fact, he had been the mayor for nine years and was governor of Misamis Oriental at one time. He served Cagayan de Oro City from 1998 to 2007 and Misamis Oriental from 1986 to 1995.

He was even given an honorary doctorate degree in Humanities by the Mindanao University of Science and Technology in 2008. Before that, he was in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, serving as its mayor for three years, from 1980 up to 1983.

Following the traditions of political dynasty, Emano’s son, Yevgeny, became a politician as well. The younger Emano serves as the current representative of Misamis Oriental’s first district. Like his father, he is well known for being among the most popular officials in Cagayan de Oro; an advantage that he can use in the elections this coming May.

Vicente Emano is currently running for the Cagayan de Oro mayoralty post against Rolando “Klarex” Uy, Berchmans Abejuela, and other Kagay-anon candidates.

-by Rose Anne Quirante-
(Photo taken from cagayandeoro.gov.ph)

Several inhabitants of the City of Golden Friendship believe that Justiniano R. Borja is the most recognized and esteemed mayor of the city. A Silliman University graduate, he began his service in the government in 1954. Five years later, he took on among the greatest developments of the city as he opened the Cogon Market. In honor of his achievements for Cagayan de Oro, a statue, which was sculpted by National Artist Napoleon V. Abueva, was erected at the Golden Friendship Park. The city even named a street after him: JR Borja.

According to Dr. Antonio J. Montalvan II, an anthropologist and historian, Borja was considered as the “Arsenio Lacson of Cagayan de Oro” as he was the plain-speaking kind of individual who ran the city without fear or favor. Equipped with a political will, he was unlike the politicians of today as he was the simple kind who would only walk to and from the office without bodyguards swarming around his path. At his funeral, which was witnessed by many Kagay-anons, the place was filled with people who supported and loved him. In fact, because almost all were in mourning that day, “shops and establishments were closed for business at their own behest.”

Justiniano Borja was the only mayor of Cagayan de Oro who received several acknowledgments; a solid proof that he was loved by the citizens of the city. Apart from the street that was named after him and the honorary statue, a hospital was also named after the city mayor. It was called the JR Borja Memorial City Hospital. He was likewise the only mayor who received a doctorate degree honoris causa in public administration, given by Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

The undersecretary of DILG (the Department of Interior and Local Government), Raf Benaldo, once mentioned that Justiniano “Tiñing” Borja became the benchmark for Cagayan de Oro’s public servants; unfortunately, though, not one has equaled his feat.

-by Rose Anne Quirante-

Known for his wit and for being a funny man, Bernie Bitok-bitok is one of the most famous personalities in the history of Cagayan de Oro FM radio. Bernie brightens up the lives of the thousands of Kagay-anons who listen to MOR 91.9, one of the biggest names in the country’s radio industry.

Bernie has achieved so much success in his career, yet people continue to wonder how he reached his current fame. Read on to get to know the life story of the DJ Cagayan de Oro has come to love.

The New Kid in Town

Brought up in Surigao del Sur, Bernie came from a family that emphasized diligence and perseverance. When he was in the middle of high school, he experienced a big turn in his life when his hometown somewhat lost its charm; Surigao del Sur somehow wasn’t the dazzling, competitive province it once was. This propelled the family to move to Cagayan de Oro and explore what the promising city had to offer.

When he learned about the big move he and his family was going to make, Bernie became depressed. After the family settled in their new home, the newly moved Bernie found it difficult to adjust to his new environment, which was filled with people and culture he was unfamiliar with.

Since the parents wanted Bernie to continue his studies in a high quality private school, he transferred to Corpus Christi to continue his secondary education. And just when he thought he was going to belong to a place where he had peers, he had an even harder time adapting to an environment where teenagers gave importance to the brand of your shirt, what kind of shoes you wore, and even the brand name of your underwear!

Over time, however, Bernie eventually got used to the Kagay-anon culture. While still in high school, he even pursued his talent in dancing and formed his own dance group.

All in the Timing

After high school, Bernie stepped into college and studied at MUST, which was then known as MPSC. Taking a degree in computer electronics, he once again formed a dance group that performed during school gatherings. One time, a Tsada Cagayan (one of ABS-CBN’s TV shows) host saw one of their performances, and this was what paved the way to Bernie’s career in radio.

The host invited the group to perform in one of the show’s episodes, and from then on, Bernie focused on regularly performing for Tsada Cagayan, and even giving it more time than his studies. However, his involvement in media all started when he made a few hilarious jokes during a birthday party for one of the executive producers. Seeing some talent in him, the executive producers gave Bernie a segment in the program and the rest was history.

Bernie Today

All of Bernie’s hard work and determination paid off. Today, he is one of the jockeys of ABS-CBN’s radio station, as well as one of the hosts of the daily morning show Pamahaw Espesyal. As stated by Bernie himself, the keyword here is love of work. With his talents and perseverance, he is now one of the most recognized voices and faces of Cagayan de Oro.

-by Gillian Abonitalla-

Born on February 2nd of 1992, Francis Casey Alcantara is a Kagay-anon professional tennis player. Raised in the City of Golden Friendship, Francis started playing tennis at the young age of four. Even when he was busy with tennis, Francis graduated with flying colors from the Xavier University High School-Ateneo de Cagayan.

This right handed tennis player earned his highest junior ranking, World Number 14, on January 1st of 2009.

In the Phinma International Juniors held at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, Manila, Alcantara, who was ranked as the No. 56th in the world by the International Tennis Federation, won against Jeroen Vanneste of Belgium, 6-2, 6-3. He also won against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, 7-5, 6-0.

One of his greatest achievements, however, was earned at the globally telecast 2009 Australian Open Boy’s Doubles, which was held in Melbourne, Australia. He and his partner, Hsieh Cheng-Peng of China, beat their opponents Yasutaka Uchiyama of China and Mikhal Biryukov of Russia, 6-4, 6-2, in the final set. In the said championship match, Francis and his partner did not lose a set.

In an interview on his thoughts about winning the championships, he said, “It’s such a pleasure for me to win here because it was always one of my dreams to play in a grand slam. I won the tournament and it’s a big one for me. For my partner, it’s great because he’s got a great record in doubles at the grand slams.”

-by Rose Anne Quirante-
(Photo taken from givemeanamepls.wordpress.com)