‘Grand Timawa’ dies at 81

ILOILO CITY – Former Senator Rodolfo Ganzon died yesterday morning after a lingering illness.

Known to his friends as Roding and to voters as Iloilo's ‘Grand Timawa,’ Ganzon died around 6:30 a.m. at the Iloilo Saint Paul’s Hospital.

Ganzon was born on March 25, 1922 in the Molo district and was undefeated in his many terms as Iloilo City mayor.

He was twice elected senator. First, in the Fifth Congresses (1962-1965) when he served under the Senate presidency of the then rising politician Ferdinand Marcos.

During the Sixth Congress (1965 -1969), Ganzon served under the Senate presidency of Arturo Tolentino with fellow senators Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Sergio Osmeña, Jr., Jovito R. Salonga, Lorenzo M. Tañada and Eva Estrada Kalaw.

Ganzon was elected Iloilo City councilor from 1951-1953. He twice served as congressman for the second district of Iloilo (1953-1955 and 1961-1963). He was also elected Iloilo City mayor four times (1955-1959; 1959-1961; 1971-1972 and 1988-1992).

Ganzon is best remembered by his constituents for having authored and sponsored the Iloilo City Freedom Law which restored to the people of Jaro, La Paz, Molo, Arevalo, Manduriao and Iloilo City proper their constitutional right to elect their own mayor, vice-mayor and 10 councilors.

Ganzon was considered the longest political detainee of the Marcos dictatorship, imprisoned for six years in a military stockade and eight years under house arrest.

His political background includes his membership in the Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, KBL Party and Timawa Party.

Ganzon was married to the late Dolores Padojinog with whom he had 10 children.

Ganzon later married Rona Anape, his former secretary, and the one who took care of him at the hospital before he died.

Interment has not been scheduled but his survivors said the late senator’s body will lie in state at the Molo Public Market before he is interred. – Leo Solinap