About the Chairman
Jose Ma. Fama-Rocha:
Orphaned But Not Of Integrity
"I am only child; rather, I am only one who survived. I had two older brothers who both died young, and a younger brother who died at birth...on April 5, 1932, a few weeks after I finished grade five, my mother succumbed to cancer at age 49. I was eleven then. Six years later to the very same date (April 5, 1938), two weeks after I finished high school at seventeen, my father had a fatal massive heart attack and passed away. My world crumbled, and I even contemplated suicide..." These words were from former Mayor Jose Maria Rocha, fondly called Nong Ondoy as a term of endearment.
Searing recollection by a self-made man, formative years were wrought with loneliness and pain, with death a devastating deluge that engulfed his loved ones to oblivion and worth forever haunt him. There was neither aunt nor uncle to cling to. His future was bleak, as he felt he would amount to nothing. Nevertheless, despite the onslaught of an outrageous fate, he survived.
In his freshman year at UP, Assemblyman Genaro Visarra took him in as his secretary. When he was a senior, he was inducted into the service of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East with the rank of Duty Sergeant, with a salary of P30. 00 a month. It was in 1941. The impending war was hovering. He was one of the key men of the 81st Field Artillery Regiment sent to Camp Del Pilar in Pampanga to train in handling 105's and 75's artillery pieces. The plan was for them to train in turn those to be recruited to the Regiment. After one month, he was promoted to First Sergeant, with a salary of P70. 00 a month. He felt like a millionaire.
He went to Cebu to recruit reservists. After four days, he and his group proceeded to Carmen, bringing with them the ammunitions for the heavy 75's, with a promise that the guns would follow. They never did.
The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On December 9, 1941 their unit was moved to Tagbilaran and was assigned to patrol the coast from Guindulman to Tubigon. They were issued vintage World War I riffles. Springfields and Einfields had 60 rounds of ammunitions. Trained as artilleryman, they would fight the war as infantryman.
On December 15, they were shipped to Dumaguete, motored to Manjuyod, where they used 5 rounds for target practice, leaving 55 rounds for the Japanese. On January 3, they marched to Bais, boarded M/V Lapus for the Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. In February 1942 he earned a field commission as Third Lieutenant. On May 3, the Japanese landed in Tagoloan. A two-day fighting ensued. With ammunition gone, there was an order to withdraw, with every soldier left to his own. Then began the trek through rivers, mountains, and forests. From Balingoan, they reached Camiguin by boat, and then later Loay, from where they hiked to Tagbilaran, where he joined the Bohol armed Command and was given command of the Signal Company, he earned another promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, and later captain. He was honorably discharged on December 1945. Of the 12 strugglers from Tagoloan, only two survived today. Nong Ondoy and Luis of Corella.
In January 1946 Jose Ma. Rocha was offered the position of Secretary by Dr. Mariano Cordova, administrator, Bohol Chapter, Philippine National Red Cross. Mr. Kenneth Lattimen of the American Red Cross later offered him the position of Administrator, which he accepted. He went to Manila for training.
It was during this time when love beckoned. He was given a one-week leave to get married, and came back to Tagbilaran with his new bride, Lydia Ramos, the love of his life.
President Ramon Magsaysay organized the office of the Presidential Assistance on Community Development (PACD). Five lead provinces were identified, one of them was Bohol for the Feeder Road Program. When offered the job, Mr. Rocha politely declined twice. An emissary was sent to Bohol, and his wife prevailed on him to accept the job, which had higher salary than his Red Cross position.
After training in Manila, he approached Governor Juan Pajo to commence on the self-help road-building scheme, but was repudiated. But later, after the success of his first project, Governor Pajo and all Mayors swamped him with requests. Of the five pilot provinces, Bohol topped in accomplishments. Another feather to Nong Ondoy's cap.
Magsaysay's plane crashed on March 17, 1957. Then the Vice President Garcia was flown from Australia, where he was presiding a SEATO meeting, and was sworn in as President, Mr. Rocha was in Tacloban City when he was offered the position of Presidential Executive Assistant, working directly under the President.
During the first year he was designated Acting Financial Assistant. After CPG failed in his re-election bid he and his wife came back to Bohol. Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta offered him a job, which he declined. CPG suggested that he build his house in Manila. "With what?" Nong Ondoy retorted. For 4 years and 10 months that he worked Malacañang, and despite his access to money and power, Nong Ondoy never dirtied his fingers. He came home with his integrity still intact.
The 1963 election came. Former Mayor Belderol asked him to run for mayor three times, and thrice he refused. Incumbent Mayor Veranco Inting wanted him to be his running mate. He declined. In July 1966 Tagbilaran became a city. Mr. Jose Ma. Rocha was offered the job of Secretary of the First City Council. He accepted.
He was voted number one councilor in 1967. The fate was repeated in the 1971 election. Martial Law was declared in 1972. In 1978 City Mayor Rolando Butalid was appointed Governor, and Nong Ondoy as City Mayor. During the first meeting of the city Council with him presiding, he said, "I don't in any way consider myself the best qualified to sit on the Mayor's chair. In this small group there are others better qualified than I. But I would like to have you know that I did not lust for this position. I did not ask anyone to bat for me..."
After Martial Law, President Marcos called for a snap election. The phenomenon that was Edsa toppled the conjugal dictatorship; Corazon Aquino was installed as President, and "local officials began to fall, like rotten apples from trees". On March 19, 1986 Mayor Rocha was booted out of office charged guilty by association. He can look at anybody in the eye and say he wasn't, and he isn't a rotten apple. His life as a public official has always been an open book.
In 1992 he ran for Mayor and won. In 1995, he decided to cut clearly from politics. The then Congressman Ernesto Herrera offered him to head this Congressional Office here. He thanked him, but declined the offer. His wife was then terminally ill. His wife passed away on October 1, 1998. The offer was renewed. He accepted, to detract his mind from the heavy loss. After the election of Julius Herrera, Nong Ondoy accepted a job at the Vice-Governor's Office.
Former Jose Ma. Rocha is a well-traveled man. In 1958 he was Philippine delegate to the International Conference on Community Development in Seoul, Korea. The same year he was a member of the presidential entourage to Japan. On the way home he stayed for a week in Hongkong. His first US visit was with his wife in 1966-67. In 1973 he went in Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam and finally Sweden for a 17-day study of local governments. It was Bonn, Germany that followed. From July 1 to 5, together with some local officials, he went to Spain to sign a twinning agreement with Zumarraga, the birthplace of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Biarritz, France, and Berlin, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg followed this, where Dr. Jose Rizal studied ophthalmology. Going home, he passed by Bangkok.
Looking back, Nong Ondoy considers himself lucky, after the ordeals he encountered. He can walk with head up high, not because he is proud man, but because he has cruised through life's ups and downs with integrity and honor. And until today he knows that his parents' daily prayers propelled him in his struggles.
"They were good, kind, honest, and deeply religious, he reminisced. "I know God heard their prayers, or where would I have gone...?"
--------------------------------------
by Loy M. Palapos
from "The Boholano Today"
January 13 - 19, 2003
Orphaned But Not Of Integrity
"I am only child; rather, I am only one who survived. I had two older brothers who both died young, and a younger brother who died at birth...on April 5, 1932, a few weeks after I finished grade five, my mother succumbed to cancer at age 49. I was eleven then. Six years later to the very same date (April 5, 1938), two weeks after I finished high school at seventeen, my father had a fatal massive heart attack and passed away. My world crumbled, and I even contemplated suicide..." These words were from former Mayor Jose Maria Rocha, fondly called Nong Ondoy as a term of endearment.Searing recollection by a self-made man, formative years were wrought with loneliness and pain, with death a devastating deluge that engulfed his loved ones to oblivion and worth forever haunt him. There was neither aunt nor uncle to cling to. His future was bleak, as he felt he would amount to nothing. Nevertheless, despite the onslaught of an outrageous fate, he survived.
In his freshman year at UP, Assemblyman Genaro Visarra took him in as his secretary. When he was a senior, he was inducted into the service of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East with the rank of Duty Sergeant, with a salary of P30. 00 a month. It was in 1941. The impending war was hovering. He was one of the key men of the 81st Field Artillery Regiment sent to Camp Del Pilar in Pampanga to train in handling 105's and 75's artillery pieces. The plan was for them to train in turn those to be recruited to the Regiment. After one month, he was promoted to First Sergeant, with a salary of P70. 00 a month. He felt like a millionaire.
He went to Cebu to recruit reservists. After four days, he and his group proceeded to Carmen, bringing with them the ammunitions for the heavy 75's, with a promise that the guns would follow. They never did.
The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. On December 9, 1941 their unit was moved to Tagbilaran and was assigned to patrol the coast from Guindulman to Tubigon. They were issued vintage World War I riffles. Springfields and Einfields had 60 rounds of ammunitions. Trained as artilleryman, they would fight the war as infantryman.
On December 15, they were shipped to Dumaguete, motored to Manjuyod, where they used 5 rounds for target practice, leaving 55 rounds for the Japanese. On January 3, they marched to Bais, boarded M/V Lapus for the Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. In February 1942 he earned a field commission as Third Lieutenant. On May 3, the Japanese landed in Tagoloan. A two-day fighting ensued. With ammunition gone, there was an order to withdraw, with every soldier left to his own. Then began the trek through rivers, mountains, and forests. From Balingoan, they reached Camiguin by boat, and then later Loay, from where they hiked to Tagbilaran, where he joined the Bohol armed Command and was given command of the Signal Company, he earned another promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, and later captain. He was honorably discharged on December 1945. Of the 12 strugglers from Tagoloan, only two survived today. Nong Ondoy and Luis of Corella.
In January 1946 Jose Ma. Rocha was offered the position of Secretary by Dr. Mariano Cordova, administrator, Bohol Chapter, Philippine National Red Cross. Mr. Kenneth Lattimen of the American Red Cross later offered him the position of Administrator, which he accepted. He went to Manila for training.
It was during this time when love beckoned. He was given a one-week leave to get married, and came back to Tagbilaran with his new bride, Lydia Ramos, the love of his life.
President Ramon Magsaysay organized the office of the Presidential Assistance on Community Development (PACD). Five lead provinces were identified, one of them was Bohol for the Feeder Road Program. When offered the job, Mr. Rocha politely declined twice. An emissary was sent to Bohol, and his wife prevailed on him to accept the job, which had higher salary than his Red Cross position.
After training in Manila, he approached Governor Juan Pajo to commence on the self-help road-building scheme, but was repudiated. But later, after the success of his first project, Governor Pajo and all Mayors swamped him with requests. Of the five pilot provinces, Bohol topped in accomplishments. Another feather to Nong Ondoy's cap.
Magsaysay's plane crashed on March 17, 1957. Then the Vice President Garcia was flown from Australia, where he was presiding a SEATO meeting, and was sworn in as President, Mr. Rocha was in Tacloban City when he was offered the position of Presidential Executive Assistant, working directly under the President.
During the first year he was designated Acting Financial Assistant. After CPG failed in his re-election bid he and his wife came back to Bohol. Pasay City Mayor Pablo Cuneta offered him a job, which he declined. CPG suggested that he build his house in Manila. "With what?" Nong Ondoy retorted. For 4 years and 10 months that he worked Malacañang, and despite his access to money and power, Nong Ondoy never dirtied his fingers. He came home with his integrity still intact.
The 1963 election came. Former Mayor Belderol asked him to run for mayor three times, and thrice he refused. Incumbent Mayor Veranco Inting wanted him to be his running mate. He declined. In July 1966 Tagbilaran became a city. Mr. Jose Ma. Rocha was offered the job of Secretary of the First City Council. He accepted.
He was voted number one councilor in 1967. The fate was repeated in the 1971 election. Martial Law was declared in 1972. In 1978 City Mayor Rolando Butalid was appointed Governor, and Nong Ondoy as City Mayor. During the first meeting of the city Council with him presiding, he said, "I don't in any way consider myself the best qualified to sit on the Mayor's chair. In this small group there are others better qualified than I. But I would like to have you know that I did not lust for this position. I did not ask anyone to bat for me..."
After Martial Law, President Marcos called for a snap election. The phenomenon that was Edsa toppled the conjugal dictatorship; Corazon Aquino was installed as President, and "local officials began to fall, like rotten apples from trees". On March 19, 1986 Mayor Rocha was booted out of office charged guilty by association. He can look at anybody in the eye and say he wasn't, and he isn't a rotten apple. His life as a public official has always been an open book.
In 1992 he ran for Mayor and won. In 1995, he decided to cut clearly from politics. The then Congressman Ernesto Herrera offered him to head this Congressional Office here. He thanked him, but declined the offer. His wife was then terminally ill. His wife passed away on October 1, 1998. The offer was renewed. He accepted, to detract his mind from the heavy loss. After the election of Julius Herrera, Nong Ondoy accepted a job at the Vice-Governor's Office.
Former Jose Ma. Rocha is a well-traveled man. In 1958 he was Philippine delegate to the International Conference on Community Development in Seoul, Korea. The same year he was a member of the presidential entourage to Japan. On the way home he stayed for a week in Hongkong. His first US visit was with his wife in 1966-67. In 1973 he went in Kuala Lumpur, Amsterdam and finally Sweden for a 17-day study of local governments. It was Bonn, Germany that followed. From July 1 to 5, together with some local officials, he went to Spain to sign a twinning agreement with Zumarraga, the birthplace of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. Biarritz, France, and Berlin, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg followed this, where Dr. Jose Rizal studied ophthalmology. Going home, he passed by Bangkok.
Looking back, Nong Ondoy considers himself lucky, after the ordeals he encountered. He can walk with head up high, not because he is proud man, but because he has cruised through life's ups and downs with integrity and honor. And until today he knows that his parents' daily prayers propelled him in his struggles.
"They were good, kind, honest, and deeply religious, he reminisced. "I know God heard their prayers, or where would I have gone...?"
--------------------------------------
by Loy M. Palapos
from "The Boholano Today"
January 13 - 19, 2003