BATAAN CAPITOL – To keep alive the memory of the first-ever governor who served in Bataan, local officials led by Governor Abet S. Garcia and Vice Governor Cris Garcia led the other day erection of a monument of Tomas Guillermo T. Del Rosario.

Joining Gov. Garcia and Vice Gov. Cris Garcia, were provincial board members Popoy Del Rosario, Iya Roque, Bong Galicia, and Piping Villapando, together with department heads and staffers.

Gov. Tomas Guillermo T. Del Rosario was a Filipino jury and a “statesman” who served as Bataan governor from 1903 to 1905.

He was a son of Cipriano Del Rosario at Severina Tongco, and born in Binondo, Manila on February 10, 1857.

Gov. Del Rosario finished Bachiller en Artes from Ateneo (1875) and Licenciado en Derecho in University of Santo Tomas (1886).

Del Rosario served as Juez de Paz, Promotor Fiscal, and Juez de Primera Instancia of Manila, 1888-1896; he joined the revolution but was exiled in Cueta, Africa 1896-1897, according to historical records.

He returned to the Philippines and was appointed as “Kinatawan ng Surigao sa Kongreso ng Malolos, 1898”; reelected as governor of Bataan, 1904-1906; and became member of the Philippine Assembly, 1909-1912.

The monument of Tomas Guillermo T. Del Rosario, which was made of silver was erected in front of the Old Capitol Building.

The historical marker from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) was made by highly-respected sculptor Juan Sajid Imao, son of National Artist for Sculpture Abdulmari Imao.

The modified replica can be seen at the Tomas Del Rosario College campus. By Christian Supnad

AUTHOR PROFILE

Christian D. Supnad