The phenomenal growth of women’s power in Davao’s political landscape did not explode until after 1986 when gender equality started to be strengthened and the voice of women empowered as a vital facet of partisan exercises. Many of those who have been thrust into the electoral limelight, particularly in Davao cities and provinces, is post-millennial revelations.
Outside the earlier rosters (provided in the first two columns), other lady politicians from Davao region who are deserving of honorable mention are Aileen C. Almendras, daughter of ex-Davao City councilor and Santa Cruz mayor Alexis Almendras, who became Davao del Sur vice-governor. Prior to her provincial stint, she was municipal councilor of Santa Cruz. In 2016, Maria S. Sagarino also became the first lady mayor of Sulop.
In pre-martial law years, Araceli Villafuerte-Malag, elected to two consecutive terms (1968-71 and 1972-75), became the first lady municipal mayor of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. In Malalag, Givel Montejo-Mamaril held the mayoralty for three consecutive terms (1998-2001; 2001-04; and 2004-07) was among the post-Marcos lady councilors in the region. In 2001, Concepcion P. Caminero became the first lady mayor of Kiblawan, and not too long ago, Gladys A. Razonable-Gascon became the first lady mayor of Padada in 2013. Three years later, Bansalan had its first lady town mayor in Quirina T. Sarte; she was reelected in 2019.
Though Davao Oriental has registered the greatest number of ladies to become city or town mayor, its Sangguniang Panlalawigan list also counts board member Marietta D. Palmera. In Tarragona town, Aurora D. Enriquez became the town’s first lady mayor in 1998; she was reelected three years. Banaybanay, meanwhile, has already been under two lady mayors, namely Eva T. Geollegue (2001-04), and Adalia Lopez-Tambuang (2013-16, 2016-19 and 2-019-2022).
Davao del Norte has produced, among others, two distinguished board members, namely Shirley Belen R. Aala and Jannet Tanong-Maboloc, while Davao del Sur’s list of lady politicos includes board members Anna Margarita Razonable and Norma Rivera, an IPMR or indigenous peoples’ mandatory representative.
The provincial legislature of Davao de Oro has also given its share of famous ladies, namely: Maria Carmen Zamora-Apsay (as SK federation president), Kristine Caballero-Rañon, Marie Jude Lopoz, Vicencia Secuya, Nena G. Atamosa, and Joanna Aileen A. Gentugaya (later Monkayo vice-mayor). Teopista Tenorio-Jauod became Montevista mayor in 2003; and was reelected twice.
Janet Brillantes-Diel, sister of ex-Monkayo mayors Joselito, and Manuel Brillantes, first won as municipal councilor and later elected as vice mayor. Several others made it to the municipal council, namely: Sarah C. Tanghian, Concepcion L. Ayes, Erlinda H. Tumaob, Grace Lily Amacio-Gabato, Kimberly Benazir May R. Codilla, and Mary Queenstar C. Baltazar, representing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).
Meanwhile, the component cities of Tagum, Panabo, and Samal in Davao del Norte also have their share of lady luminaries, namely: Eva Lorraine E. Estabillo, as Tagum vice-mayor and Ester L. Angoy, Ana A. Alvarez, and Jessica Pandacan-Ado (IPMR) as city councilors.
While Devona H. Jumamil represents the Panabo city council, Genaphine S. Cañete and Helen S. Perez (ABC president) grace Samal’s sangguniang panlungsod as city councilors. For her part, Digos City’s roster of councilors include Concepcion R. Cadungog.
For the record, Davao City has been home to two lady vice-presidential bets. In 1998, Irene Morada-Santiago ran for the country’s second highest post under the Aksyon Demokratiko while Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio launched her own bid in 2022 under the Lakas-CMD party.
