HERE comes March this year as Women’s Month. Gone are the days that Boholano women are good only at home as Holy Name University survey once said, think again. Not anymore as time has changed, of course, for the better.
Boholano women show their prowess in engaging, in fact holding top positions, in the local government and even Congress. Look. Two of the three of the congressional districts are occupied by Congw. Vanvan Cadorna Aumentado (second district & wife of the Gov Aris Aumentado) and last-termer Congw. Kristine Alexie Besas Tutor (third district), daughter of incumbent Vice-Gov. Nick Sarabia Besas.
Five of the 14-member (including vice-gov.) of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the highest policy-making body, are women. Provincial Board Member (BM) Lucille Lagunay topped in the 1st district last polls (2025) slimly followed by Mutya Kismet Tirol, who is a doctor of medicine by profession.
Both BMs Jamie Aumentado Villamor, a lawyer by profession, and then three-time Garcia-Hernandez municipal mayor Tita Virtudazo Baja emerged as number one in the second and third districts, respectively, in 2005 polls and Joahna Cabalit-Initay, a doctor of philosophy and educator, is now the new president of Philippine Councilors’ League (PCL) Bohol chapter.
Eleven of the 48 municipal mayors, including city mayor, Jane Censoria Cajes Yap, rule their turfs with priority to serve their respective constituents.
They are Dauis Mayor Marietta Tocmo Sumaylo, Anda Mayor Angelina “Inday” Simacio, Candijay Mayor Thamar Olaivar, Mabini Mayor Onjie Bernales Lim, Ubay town Mayor Violeta Diangco Reyes, Talibon Mayor Janette Aurestila Garcia, Danao Mayor Celeste Cepedoza Lerion, Balilihan Mayor Atty. Trisha Veloso Chatto, Sagbayan Mayor Siony Ybanez and Carmen Mayor Conchita Toribio delos Reyes, the incumbent president, League of Mayor of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol chapter.
At the provincial government, some, if not most, of the department/office heads are women who are able and expert in their respective fields of local governance. Let us count and identify them.
Gov. Aumentado named the former Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI) assistant secretary Aster Cabagnot Caberte as provincial administrator. Governor’s office chief of staff Atty. Filipina Asoy Piollo (wife of Lila Mayor Atty. Jed Piollo), Bohol Provl tourism officer Joane Mendez Pinat, Bohol Devt Cooperative officer Conrada Fuentes, Provl Employment Placement officer Vilma Yorong, Provl Veterinarian Meydallyn Paman, Provl Agriculturist Liza Migrino Quirog, Provl Accountant Clarissa Baluma, Bohol Provl Investment Maria Fe Dominise, Provl Internal Auditor May Limbaga, Bohol Provl Environment Office Jovencia Ganub, Provl Social Welfare Devt officer Mita Tecson, OIC Provl Engineer officer Engr. Evelyn Ayuban, and OIC Provl Health Office Dr. Fruserma Uy and OIC Provl Budget officer Muriel Pagud. (Ric Obedencio)
