The son of former Philippine envoy to Mexico, Spain and the Court of St. James Antonio M. Lagdameo and Linda Floirendo (eldest daughter of the late banana mogul Don Antonio O. Floirendo and wife Doña Nenita P. del Rosario), Rep. Antonio F. Floirendo, Jr. is the second person in the family and the third in the clan to join politics.
Preceding him was uncle, Antonio R. ‘Tonyboy’ Floirendo, Jr., who served three terms in Congress (1998-2004). In 2010, Antonio G. del Rosario, son of incumbent Davao del Norte governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario (Doña Nenita’s younger brother), won a seat in Congress.
Curiously, Don Antonio, the patriarch, despite his popularity as a kingmaker in Davao region during his halcyon days, never threw his hat into the political arena. Instead, he acted as inspiration, supporter, father figure and motivator to emerging politicians. The old man’s inspirational role in Davao politics speaks volumes of the illustrious pedigree Rep. Lagdameo has while serving Congress for three terms (2007-16).
Education and experience
Like former senator and Interior and Local Government secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, former Socio-Economic Planning secretary Solita Collas-Monsod, and former senator and Education secretary Raul S. Roco, Rep. Lagdameo earned his degree in Business Administration from the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (USA) in 1989. His alma mater also recognized his contributions in public service when he was recently included in its prestigious “Notables List,” which is a select group of civic and political leaders from all over the world who have graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
Before joining politics, Anton, as he is fondly called, immersed himself in business, testing his Ivy league know-how in actual management and honed his personal skills in understanding the complex world of global business. He worked for Manufacturers Hanover Trust Bank in Manhattan, New York, as credit analyst (1989-92) before transferring to National Westminster Bank, also in New York, a year later. Completing his professional stint abroad was as director of Cambrick Trading Ltd. in London (1993-96).
Upon his return to the country, he joined Anflo Management & Investment Corporation, the flagship firm of his grandfather, as vice-president (1996-2007) until he was convinced to join politics to replace his uncle who was in his third term in Congress as representative of Davao del Norte’s second district.
Barangay at heart
Taking off from his uncle’s ‘Barangay una’ (community first agenda), Rep. Lagdameo institutionalized the Barangayanihan (from barangay + bayanihan), a village-based cooperative endeavor designed to bring growth directly to the grassroots. The initiative does not only reflect his political thrust but replicates the pro-masses corporate concept Don Antonio embraced when he first launched his agricultural undertakings.
Under the Barangayanihan concept, Lagdameo has focused his non-legislative efforts in strengthening socio-civic commitments to his constituents, promoting social justice and equality, encouraging education and lifelong learning, and supporting tourism and sustainable progress.
In Congress, these advocacies are translated into bills that underscore the significance of roads as channels of development in accessing remote communities, ensure the delivery of basic services to far-flung areas, and the transport of farm products to the central market.
Three of the infrastructure bills he filed in Congress are the conversion of the circumferential road of the Island Garden City of Samal, the junction highway linking Tuganay, Carmen-Kinamayan-Sto. Tomas Road, and the Tagum-Sto. Tomas road as national thoroughfares.
He also introduced HB 5489, with cousin, Rep. Anthony del Rosario, as co-author, seeking the establishment of the Philippine National Banana Research Center, to be known as the Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. Banana Research Center, in Panabo City.
Although lacking in publicity but getting good reviews from beneficiaries, Lagdameo’s livelihood initiatives, skills training and agri-based projects, and other socio-economic enterprises in remote and underprivileged communities has endeared him to the constituents. Growing up in the family plantation with his grandfather as muse, his rural engagements have become his personal inspiration and guide.
Beyond politics
A little known fact about Anton is his way in linking with people, amicably and professionally. Although coming from an affluent family, his connections, within and outside the realm of politics, reflect so much about his down-to-earth image. Having matured immensely in nine years of legislative exposure, he has become an emerging social figure, building his own niche and creating an identity that reflects his maturity in both business and politics.
In the coming 2016 elections, Rep. Lagdameo’s leadership potentials will further be highlighted by his involvement with some popular figures running for national office. As early as today, pundits have already christened him as Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s Mindanao ‘campaign strategist’, a recognition many concede is apt.
At age 48, undefiled by political propaganda, Rep. Lagdameo’s stars keep shining, prompting observers to comment the grandson of Don Antonio has finally carved out a name for himself, a distinction built on his reputation as a workaholic.
Love for the Arts
A landmark legislation Lagdameo authored but failed to pass Congress due to lack of material time was House Bill 1876, “An Act Designating Philippine National Performing Arts Companies, Defining Their Roles and Functions as such, and Appropriating Funds Therefore”, also known also as the National Performing Arts Bill.
The salient features of the bill included the provision that instead of Congress passing laws to recognize performing arts, it sought the creation of a selection committee composed of experts to screen and acknowledge national performing artists in the fields of ballet and contemporary dance, choral ensemble, orchestra, and theater group.
Under the legislation, a compromise bill integrating the position of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and some performing arts groups, the mandatory re-assessment is done every five years.
Other bills
Rep. Lagdameo’s legislative initiatives also included bills that protect the constitutional right of all citizens to quality and accessible education, promoting health development and social services, institutionalization of urban land reform and housing, and strengthening of agrarian reform and agriculture. He also filed a bill on Drivers Education Program for inclusion in the senior high school curriculum.
In addition, he advocated bills on economic and local government reforms, dispensation of justice, progressive system of taxation, protection of the sanctity of the ballots, and the adoption of measures on global warming and climate change.
Some of the significant congressional efforts he pursued tenaciously were the approval of the bill requiring the use of middle names in all documents and transactions; the renewal of the franchise granted to a broadcasting system; the declaration of March 31 as ‘Panabo Day’; establishment of addition court branches in his district; the opening of a Registry of Deeds office in Panabo City; the affirmation of August 14 as ‘Foundation Day’ of Santo Tomas town; and the establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Samal, a bill first filed by Rep. Floirendo.
Family and membership
Married to Dawn Zulueta (nee Maria Rachel Taleon) with whom he has two children, namely Jacobo Antonio and Ayisha Madlen, Lagdameo is a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments and chairs the committees on Tourism and Economic Development, and Trade and Industry.
He is also a member of the committees on Agrarian Reform, Ecology, Legislative Franchises, Mindanao Affairs, Accounts; and the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (COCAAP).
Outside Congress, he was past president of Rotary Club of West Davao, and is Board member, co-chairman, and trustee of the Bantay Bata 163 and the People Collaboration for Economic and Environment Management (PCEEM). (AVF)
