REMEMBERING THE SENATOR. Family members and friends of the late senator Rodolfo Ganzon offer flowers at his monument in this city’s Molo district on Tuesday (Oct. 29, 2019) to commemorate his 16th death anniversary. Ganzon served the Senate from 1963 to 1969 and is remembered by the Ilonggos as the 'champion of the masses'. (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- The legacy and memories of the late senator Rodolfo Ganzon were recalled in this city’s Molo district during the commemoration of his 16th death anniversary on Tuesday.
Ganzon, dubbed by the Ilonggos as the “champion of the masses”, served the Senate from 1963 to 1969.
Before serving the national government, Ganzon devoted his service here and the province of Iloilo. He became the No. 1 councilor in this city in 1951, and Iloilo province’s 2nd District Board Member from 1953 to 1955, and 1961 to 1963.
He was also elected four times as Iloilo City mayor from 1955 to 1959, 1959 to 1961, 1971 to 1972, and 1988 to 1992.
Ganzon is best remembered by his constituents for having authored and sponsored the Iloilo City Freedom Law, which restored to the people of Jaro, La Paz, Molo, Arevalo, Manduriao, and Iloilo City proper their constitutional right to elect their own mayor, vice-mayor, and councilors.
Ganzon’s son, Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey, and his grandson, Iloilo City councilor Rudolf, are carrying on the brand of Ganzon service in this city.
Vice Mayor Ganzon remembered his father as a “very disciplinarian” yet “very religious” man. He shared that his father taught him the power of teamwork and sincerity in service, which is applicable in addressing issues in current times.
“We have enough good laws, all we need is good implementers. We are looking at the future of our city and it is not hard to help if we have sincerity,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
As vice mayor, Ganzon said his goals are aligned with that of Mayor Jerry Treñas to further the development of this city.
For his father’s legacy of helping the masses to remain, Vice Mayor Ganzon said he will push for resolutions that would benefit the villages.
“We plan to request a resolution for the villages in this city to donate blood every three months,” he said, noting that the need for blood donations can be sustained through everyone's help.
Councilor Ganzon, meanwhile, considered himself lucky as the eldest grandson of the late senator Ganzon. “I used to sleep beside him and before sleeping, he (gave) me Math problems to solve,” he said, noting that his grandfather had instilled in him the importance of education.
Councilor Ganzon attributed his close relationship to the masses to his grandfather. He said the late senator used to carry him around when he visited communities.
"Growing up, I understand that was a preparation for me to face the public and pursue public service," he said.
He assured that the Ganzon brand of leadership would continue in the succeeding generations. (PNA)
