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Opinion

The Macapagal-Roxas 1965 presidential campaign in Cebu

CEBUPEDIA - Clarence Paul Oaminal - The Freeman

Incumbent President Diosdado Macapagal ended his five day campaign swing through vote-rich Cebu by addressing a large crowd rally in the San Nicolas District of Cebu City on the evening of October 24, 1965.

A colorful torch parade organized by the Lakambini '65 and the Filipinas for Macapagal-Roxas met the President at the outskirts of the city in coming from Tabunok, Talisay where he addressed a huge crowd earlier.

Macapagal was joined in Cebu City by the First Lady, Mrs. Evangeline M. Macapagal who arrived there in the afternoon for the closing day of the campaign sorties.

President Macapagal campaigned hard in Cebu, never resting after overnight rallies in the Old 4th and 5th Congressional Districts of the Province of Cebu, the President was up again early in the morning to attend Sunday Mass at the Malabuyoc Church.

After breakfast, Macapagal motored to the southernmost town of Santander with whistle-stops in Ginatilan and Samboan. After the rally in Santander, the President swung northward on the way back to Cebu City, with whistle-stops in Oslob, Alcoy and Dalaguete and addressing the supporters in Argao, Sibonga, Carcar, San Fernando, Naga, Minglanilla and Talisay.

The rally in Argao scheduled at 11:30 a.m. was delayed and instead started in 1:30 pm. President Macapagal on his way home to Cebu City was met by crowds in the eastern towns.

The 1965 Presidential Elections held in November 9, was the reelection of Macapagal and was challenged by the Senate President, Ferdinand Edralin Marcos. Macapagal was with the Liberal Party while Marcos was with the Nacionalista Party.

President Macapagal's tandem for the Vice Presidency was Senator Gerardo Manuel de Leon Roxas Sr. also known as Gerry Roxas. Gerry was the son of President Manuel Acuna Roxas and Trinidad de Leon, who was the daughter of Senator Ceferino de Leon.

Gerry Roxas who was born on August 25, 1924 married Judy Araneta and is the father of Gerardo "Dinggoy" A. Roxas (who became a congressman born and died on April 15, 1993), Manuel 'Mar" Roxas, who became Congressman after succeeding his brother Dinggoy who died at the age of 32, Mar was also DTI Secretary of Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and now DILG Secretary and Maria Lourdes or Ria.

In the Presidential Elections of 1965, both incumbent President Diosdado Macapagal and his Vice President, Senator Gerardo Roxas of the Liberal Party lost to the Nacionalista Party of Ferdinand E. Marcos and his Vice President Fernando Lopez. The incumbent Vice President, Emmanuel Pelaez did not run for reelection. Fernando Lopez was the son of Benito Lopez and Presentacion Hofilena of Iloilo. Fernando was the younger brother of Eugenio Lopez Sr. The Lopez Family of Iloilo owns the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. It was Don Sergio Osmeña, who sponsored the political career of Fernando Lopez, who he appointed in 1945 as Mayor of Iloilo City. In 1947, Fernando, a lawyer ran for Senator and won.

In 1949, Fernando Lopez became Vice President of President Elpidio Qurino who succeeded President Manuel A. Roxas who died not finishing his term. In 1953, Fernando ran for the Senate and won.

Senator Gerry Roxas who lost the 1965 Vice Presidency ran for reelection 1969 and was the lone survivor of the Liberal Party in the Senatorial Elections who at that time was dominated by the Nacionalista Party led by Ferdinand Marcos who ran for reelection in 1969 against Cebuano Senator, Serging Osmeña who also lost to Marcos.

The son of Serging Osmeña, a namesake, Sergio de la Rama Osmeña IV (his mother Lourdes de la Rama was the daughter of War Hero and General turned Senator, from 1941 to 1947, Esteban de la Rama) married Isabel "Bettina" Mejia Lopez, a granddaughter of Vice President Fernando Lopez.

ATILDE

CEBU CITY

FERNANDO

FERNANDO LOPEZ

GERRY ROXAS

LIBERAL PARTY

LOPEZ

MACAPAGAL

PRESIDENT

PRESIDENT MACAPAGAL

ROXAS

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