Dumanjug Celebrates Dioniso Jakosalem Day

The Municipality of Dumanjug celebrated Don Dionisio Jakosalem Day with short program entitled “A Life Celebration of Dionisio Jakosalem” made in his honor at the Dionisio Jakosalem Plaza. Mayor Efren Guntrano “Gungun” Z. Gicaand Vice Mayor Rainero G. Asentista led the laying of wreaths together with some of Dionisio’s heirs and relatives.

Dionisio Jakosalem was born on May 8, 1878 to Alfonso Jakosalem and Apolonia Abella. He finished his early education in Dumanjug. He then went to college in College of San Carlos where he became classmates with Sergio Osmeña. He proceeded to Manila where he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 and Bachelor of Laws after.

During the 1900, Dionisio started his public service as a municipal secretary in Dumanjug. He was appointed as secretary of peace in 1903 until being elected to the town council.Encouraged by Sergio,Dionisio entered politics and got elected as a provincial board member in 1906. When Sergio was elected to the Philippine Assembly in 1907, he was appointed to continue the former governor’s term. In November 1907 election,he ran as governor and won under Nationalista Party. He was re-elected in 1909 and became president of the provincial governor’s federation in 1910.

As governor, he was responsible of the several infrastructure improvements in the province such as public structures and roads that connected the southern and northern parts of Cebu. He finished his term of office in October 1912. He was appointed as provincial fiscal in 1913 and held the position for one year. In January 1917, Gov. Gen. Francis B. Harrison appointed him as Secretary of Commerce and Communications and became the first Filipino cabinet member during the American Regime. In 1919, he was a member of the Philippine Independence mission during the presidency of Manuel L. Quezon. Dionisio A. Jakosalem died on July 1, 1931.

According to Mayor Gica, he will ask the Sangguniang Bayan to make a resolution to transfer the Dionisio Jakosalem Day celebration from July 1 to May 8 which is Dionisio Jakosalem’s birthday. It will be a bigger celebration next year in time for the completion of the Dionisio Jakosalem Multi-Purpose Building that includes a food court inside.

Present during the celebration were 7th District Board Members Christopher Baricuatro and Jerome Librando, some of the heirs and relatives of Dionisio Jakosalem, Dumanjug Department of Education officials, barangay captains and other officials as well as fellow Dumanjuganons. (Dumanjug PIO)

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