President Sergio Osmeña’s appointees in Bukidnon

Don Sergio Suico Osmeña Sr., the only Cebuano who became president became the liberator president and rebuilt the country by appointing officials to head the local government units. These were his appointees in Bukidnon (now part of Northern Mindanao):

Dr. Carlos Fortich, designated acting provincial governor of Bukidnon, July 23, 1945.

Pedro Elizalde, appointed, ad interim, provincial treasurer of Bukidnon, August 7, 1945. Pedro Bernal Elizalde was born on January 17, 1890 in San Jose, Antique. He was the youngest provincial treasurer appointed at that time at the age of 21. He was assigned to different provinces such as Antique, Albay, Palawan, Negros, and Cebu.

Elizalde was appointed by President Elpidio Quirino as Cebu City mayor from August 18, 1951 to July 23, 1952. It was Serging V. Osmeña, the governor of Cebu at that time who recommended him to the post. Pedro was the provincial treasurer at the time.

Pedro married Rosario Abiera Salazar and had the following children: Ma. Emelia, Pedro Jr., Ma. Rosario, and Augusto (who became a lawyer on January 18, 1954). His son Augusto married Petrona Velasco, their son Eugene was appointed as Cebu City administrator and presently sits as chairman/mayor’s representative of the Cebu City Peace and Order Council.

Vicente Neri San Jose, appointed acting governor of Bukidnon, December 1, 1945.

Alfredo R. Esplanada, appointed acting member of the Provincial Board of Bukidnon, December 1, 1945.

Aniceto Dorado, appointed, ad interim, justice of the peace of Impasugong, Sumilao, Maramag, Kabawi, and Pangantokan, Bukidnon, February 5, 1946.

Jesus Murillo, appointed, ad interim, justice of the peace of Malaybalay, Bukidnon, February 6, 1946.

Rosito Minister, appointed acting mayor of Talakag, Bukidnon, April 5, 1946.

Braulio Yagahan, appointed acting mayor of Impasugong, Bukidnon, April 5, 1946.

The Cebuano music legend Wenceslao Zubiri, more known as Ben Zubiri and also over radio as Iyo Karpo, was the son of Jesus Zubiri who hailed from Bukidnon. However, Ben Zubiri grew up in Cebu City with his mother, Sergia Dacayana of San Nicolas District, Cebu City.

Ben Zubiri composed the immortal songs among others: “Mutid Nila”, “Pasayawa ko Day”, and “Sa Lungsod sa Buevanista”. Majority of the appointees of Osmeña and those who served the people of Bukidnon can trace their roots to Cebu. Even up to now, for more than half of the local officials not only of Bukidnon but of the entire Mindanao Island, their forefathers came from Cebu.