Kaban ni D_BystandeR: PAGHANDOM ALANG NI DODONG HOLGANZA

Dodong Holganza's stint in the States earned him a resolution passed by the City Council of Weslaco City in Texas, through the efforts of a group of Filipinos living there, honoring him  every September 30 of the year starting in 2010, calling it "Ribomapil Holganza Day," in honor  of his role in bringing back freedom and democracy to the Filipino people. Dodong became a good friend of mine during the time when he used to transact business with NAPOCOR towards the late 1970's. And I used to see him and exchanged pleasantries with him whenever he goes  to NPC Banilad Warehouse. I remember one time he wrote an article that was published in a  local daily decrying the stand of General Josephus Ramas who hailed from one of the southern towns in Cebu because the General was one of the active henchmen of FM in carrying out his martial law regime. Dodong likened him to a powerful man sitting on a throne adorned with  bayonets. I cannot clearly recall anymore if his having been detained in a military camp in Cebu as a political detainee took place at the same time with former Senator Nene Pimentel, who was likewise detained in Cebu at one time during martial law on account of his vocal campaign against human rights abuses. Whenever there was a political rally held in Fuente Osmena and Dodong  would notice me in the crowd, he usually gave me a wink of an eye perhaps to acknowledge my presence and with a friendly smile. Surely, his demise at such unexpected occurrence at a young age of 79 is sending shock waves to those who knew him. May his soul rest in peace.

Footnote: This comment came out in connection with a news item in The FREEMAN, entitled, "Dodong Holganza passes away." His full name is Jose Ribomapil "Dodong" Holganza. Ribomapil is an acronym taken from Ri - Dr. Jose Rizal, Bo - Andres Bonifacio, Ma - Apolinario Mabini, and Pil - Gregoio del Pilar. True to his name which his parents coined from the names of our leading national heroes, he left an indelible mark of a true and dynamic personality which catapulted him to gain more prominence in his vigorous and fearless campaign against the martial law regime of FM, the dictator, hand in hand with the equally prominent and charismatic Inday Nita Cortes Daluz, and others, like the famous orator for the whole Visayas and Mindanao, Talyux Bacalso. The news report on his death came out on January 25, 2015.