This sad moment in Olon-gapo’s history is given a fresh look as the city commemorates the 34th death anniversary today of its founding father, Gordon, who was shot in the head by a hired assassin at City Hall.
Gordon was born and raised in Olongapo, then under direct American military control as a US naval reservation. He denounced the US authorities for unjust treatment of Filipinos.
He worked for the turnover of Olongapo to the Philippine government in 1959 and became its first elected municipal mayor via a landslide victory in 1963.
James Gordon stressed that "Filipino-American relations should be based on mutual interest and respect."
Through Gordon’s painstaking lobbying in Congress, Olongapo became a city on June 1, 1966 by virtue of Republic Act 4645. He is best remembered for fighting political "bossism" and for his commitment to good government. He also fought against illegal logging and smuggling.