Remembering Nong Ondoy Rocha

 Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha

Today marks the First Death Anniversary of the well- loved and highly- respected former Tagbilaran City Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha

Grief, bereavement and a collective sense of loss was felt not only in Tagbilaran City but also in the province of Bohol when news came out that Nong Ondoy had passed away.

He was 91

Before he became mayor of Tagbilaran City, he worked for President Carlos P. Garcia in Malacanang as Presidential Executive Assistant.

When Pres. Garcia didn’t succeed in his presidential re- election bid in December 1961, Nong Ondoy and family went home to Bohol

When the 1963 local election came, both of the opposing parties wanted him to either be the standard bearer or running mate for municipal mayor of Tagbilaran.

He firmly but politely declined.

Three years later when Tagbilaran became a city, Mr. Jose Ma. Rocha accepted the offer to become the Secretary of the First City Council of Tagbilaran

 Nong Ondoy Rocha watches as Pres. Garcia shakes hands

with Pres. Macapagal before they left for Macapagal's 

Presidential Inauguration, December 1961

Armed with the experience and emboldened with the desire to serve the Tagbilaranons, he ran for City Councilor and came out as Numero Uno Konsehal.

This feat would be duplicated in the 1971 elections.

He was on his way to a higher calling when Martial Law was declared on September 21, 1972.

Ultimately, he was appointed by then President Ferdinand Marcos as City Mayor in 1978

He was elected by Tagbilaranons as City Mayor and served the city from 1992 to 1995. 

Mayor Rocha and Miss DWCT 1976 Lety Tinampay 
crowns Marisel Bumaat as DWCT Summer Queen of 1980

After working as consultant for various government offices, he quietly retired but from time to time, he would speak his mind out when crucial issues concerning Tagbilaran City would come out

Coming Up:

The reminiscence and recollection on the kind of man and public official Nong Ondoy was as intimated to me by Maam Hospicia Matuod Evardone, mother of two Miss Tagbilaran titleholders; 1991’s Joanna Cheryl Evardone and 1994’s Vanessa Joyce Evardone who would later be crowned the 1994 Miss Bohol Sandugo.

She is also the mother of 1994 Miss Tagbilaran 2nd Runner Up Michelle Evardone now Dr. Sarigumba