The brilliant 8 of Mandaue, Cebu
Demetrio Mendoza Cortes, the father of Mandaue City (the street known by many as PLARIDEL, the pseudonym of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, the martyred hero of Tirad Pass has already been renamed by virtue of an ordinance of the Mandaue City Council approved on August 3, 2011 in honor of Mayor Demetrio Cortes. Unfortunately the street signage still bears the old one), was not alone in the quest for converting Mandawe into a city.
Mayor Cortes achieved the vision of making Mandawe into a city with the help of the members of the municipal board. They were the BRILLIANT 8 OF MANDAUE CITY. The council composed of 8 sons of Mandawe, 4 of them lawyers. They were the cream of the crop, descendants of the builders of Mandawe. Here they are:
Atty. Amadeo "Matoy" D. Seno (admitted to the Bar on March 28, 1949), a brilliant litigator and law professor, earned his mark as one of Cebu's famous trial lawyer. His greatness in the legal practice made him known not only in the Visayas and Mindanao but also in Luzon. In the annals of the history of Mandawe members of the Seno Clan had the distinction of serving the town as its chief executives: Miguel Seno (as Capitan Municipal during the Spanish regime), Urbano M. Seno (1952-1955) and Conrado D. Seno (1960-1963) as municipal mayors.
A descendant of Atty. Amadeo D. Seno, a namesake, Amadeo Jr. (also became a lawyer, admitted to the Bar on April 20, 1978) became the 6th Mayor of Mandaue City in 2007, he was Vice Mayor of Mayor Thadeo Z. Ouano (1998-2007).
The "Seno Clan" of Cebu produced legal luminaries and practicing lawyers. Eriberto Seno (the first Seno to become a lawyer, December 7, 1929) Cecilio T. Seno of Liloan became a lawyer on January 25, 1952, Martin C. Seno (admitted to the Bar on January 27, 1953), Conrado D. Seno, May 11, 1959, Januario T. Seno of Liloan was admitted to the Bar on February 2, 1951, Januario V. Seno Jr. admitted to the Bar on May 30, 1986, Manolito M. Seno admitted to the Bar on March 19, 1994, Malcolm Seno admitted to the Bar on April 1, 1976, Emmanuel I. Seno admitted to the Bar on March 6, 1964, Nilo V. Seno, admitted to the Bar on May 9, 1991,
Another member of the BRILLIANT 8 OF MANDAUE was Atty. Magno "Ite Maggie" B. Dionson, admitted to the Bar on March 2, 1956. He became a lawyer of the Associated Labor Union (ALU) and actively practiced law until his death on September 2009. He served the people of Mandaue as Councilor from 1964 to 1995. Atty. Dionson was a World War II Veteran and part of Filipino forces that secured the famous Leyte Landing of Gen. Douglas Mc Arthur. A son of Atty. Dionson, a Doctor of Medicine continues to serve the people of Mandaue. A member of the Dionson clan also became a lawyer, Carlos Cortes Dionson, admitted to the Bar on April 21, 1978.
The third member was Atty. Daniel "Dodong" Cortes Albano, of Subangdako, he was born on January 27, 1927 and died on December 14, 1977. Members of the Albano clan who served the city as councilors: Alfsonso Albano Jr. and Benedicto Albano.
The fourth member of the Brilliant 8, another lawyer, was Atty. Gerardo "Doritet" Mendoza Gestopa Sr. (he became a lawyer on February 28, 1958. He was Mandaue City's first city assessor), a child of spouses Andres Gestopa and Concordia Mendoza.
Councilor Gestopa (he died on February 7, 2010) married an Ermac, the couple produced successful men and women: Editha, an Education graduate, married a Clark, Eva Encabo, a Certified Public Accountant, Gerardo Jr. , who followed his footsteps to become a lawyer (admitted to the Bar on April 30, 1977), now a retired Judge, he served as MTCC Judge of Cebu City and Naga, Dr. Andres, Chief of Clinics of the Naga City Hospital, Elmer a registered nurse (also married a fellow nurse), he now works as a nurse in a school district in California, United States of America, Rene, a businessman residing in the United States of America and the youngest, Cesar, a businessman.
The other members of the Brilliant 8 were Honorato "Tatong" Suson, of Suson Lumber, which today still exists, Dr. Ariston J. Mahusay, Wenceslao 'Wences" O. Seno of Guizo, Mandaue ,and Sergio Sanchez.
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