Defensor Sr. outlives all post Martial Law Iloilo assemblymen

“There are heroes and then there are legends, heroes get remembered but legends never die.”

—Boney Kapoor

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WITH the death of former Iloilo assemblyman and partylist Rep. Salvador “Buddy” Britanico on Good Friday (April 3, 2026), only former Iloilo governor Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. is left as the living former member of the historic 1984 Regular Batasang Pambansa.

The other deceased former Iloilo assemblymen in the 5-man seat, who also won in the May 14, 1984 elections, were Fermin “Nene” Caram, Jr. (UNIDO), Rafael “Nono” Palmares (Nacionalista), and Narciso “Narcing” Monfort (KBL).

Defensor, 84, and Caram, who died on October 6, 1986 at 66, were the only two winners from UNIDO Party. Their three other party mates Domingo Trompeta Jr., Mario Salcedo Jr., and Licurgo Tirador all wound up 10th, 11th, 12th places respectively and didn’t make it in the magic 5.

Palmares, the son of Passi City and former Iloilo governor, placed third and was the lone winner from the Nacionalista Party (NP). His fellow NP bets Fortunato Padilla, Benjamin Moreno, and Lazaro Belgica finished 13th, 14th, 15th places respectively.

Another NP bet (Roy Wing) Gualberto Opong finished 22nd or second to the last.

 

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Monfort, who died on September 5, 2005 at 77, and Britanico, who died at 88, were the only winners from the ruling KBL Party. The other KBL candidates Niel Tupas Jr., Lazaro Zulueta, Emilio dela Cruz, and Teodulo Padernal wound up 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th places respectively.

Quirino Baterna, the lone Social Democratic Party candidate, finished 16th.

Defensor, father of incumbent Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Jr., is also known as the only chief executive of the province of Iloilo who got elected six times in the office.

He was first elected in 1992, re-elected in 1995, and in 1998. After serving nine years as congressman, he was again elected governor in 2010 and re-elected in 2013 and in 2016.

The elections on May 14, 1984, were significant because, despite the ruling Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party holding the majority, the opposition, bolstered by the protest vote following the August 21, 1983 assassination of former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., gained substantial ground, winning over 50 seats.

 

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The 1984 Regular Batasang Pambansa was known for replacing the interim body. It was the first official, fully elected unicameral legislature of the Philippines under the 1973 Constitution.

When it convened on July 23, 1984, it replaced the Interim Batasang Pambansa (1978–1984) and acted as the nation's lawmaking body until its abolition by President Corazon “Cory” Aquino on March 25, 1986, following the EDSA Revolution.

It consisted of roughly 200 members known as "Mambabatas Pambansa" (MPs), with 183 elected via district elections on May 14, 1984, and 14 sectoral representatives (agricultural labor, industrial labor, and youth), plus members of the Cabinet.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Buddy Britanico: ‘Tempted but never tainted’

“I can assure you, public service is a stimulating, proud and lively enterprise. It is not just a way of life, it is a way to live fully.”

—Lee H. Hamilton

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

DURING the Regular Batasang Pambansa election on May 14, 1984 under the administration of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Deputy Minister for Education Salvador “Buddy” Britanico was one of the only two Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) candidates to win in Iloilo, which had five seats.

He finished fifth with 225,557 votes among the five winners: 1. Fermin “Nene” Z. Caram Jr. (UNIDO) 360,555 votes; 2. Arthur “Art” Defensor Sr. (UNIDO) 331,322 votes; 3. Rafael “Nono” Palmares (Nacionalista) 309,839 votes; and 4. Narciso “Narcing” D. Monfort (KBL) 248,680 votes.

During the campaign period, then 46-year-old Britanico used the battlecry, “Tempted but never tainted.”

Because he never enriched himself while in office during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship, the Ilonggos embraced Britanico’s political slogan and elected him to the national legislature.

“Tempted but never tainted” actually refers to the theological concept that Jesus Christ experienced the full range of human temptations—including hunger, power, and suffering—yet remained completely without sin.

 

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This phrase highlights that experiencing temptation is not a sin in itself, but rather a universal human experience that can be overcome through reliance on divine strength.

It reflected how Britanico served as a public servant. He was untarnished and immaculate.

Britanico was tempted many times, but he never succumbed. Ilonggos always remembered his ties with Marcos Sr. but they could not forget that he gave public service a reputable and decent meaning.

Thus, Britanico earned the respect of no less than former First Lady Imelda Marcos, now 96, who initially wanted him to run for vice president when the Mrs. Marcos ran for president in 1992.

The former national president of the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association started his checkered political career as municipal councilor of Oton, Iloilo and was one of the youngest delegates to the 1973 Constitutional Convention.

“After a long and difficult illness,” according to the statement released by the Britanico family, the former Banat Partylist representative passed away on Good Friday. He was 88.

We mourn the passing of a great Ilonggo leader, an epitome of decency in public service, public servant, father, teacher, unlce, patriot rolled into one. Rest in peace, Sir Buddy.

 

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THE United States and the Republic of the Philippines signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to establish a framework for health cooperation to transition the Philippines to greater autonomy and self-reliance in its health systems April 9.

The signing strengthened the Philippines’ capacity to detect and respond to global health threats, including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and other infectious diseases. 

Signed through the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy, the U.S. Department of State said the Joint Declaration of Intent commits to co-funding mutually agreed upon global health objectives in the near future, furthering U.S.-Philippine bilateral collaboration in the health sector. 

“This Joint Declaration is complemented by the U.S. health assistance announced in September 2025 to combat tuberculosis, advance maternal health, and strengthen disease surveillance and outbreak response,” announced the U.S. Department of State.

Under the Joint Declaration, the United States and the Philippines will negotiate a five-year Strategic Objective Agreement that advances all three pillars of the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy.

 

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The new arrangement will reportedly save American and Filipino lives, increase the resiliency of the Philippine health system through coordinated co-funding, and promote innovations in program delivery to slow the spread of infectious diseases like TB and HIV. “The Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy helps safeguard Americans from health threats while enhancing the well-being of people in the region,” added the U.S. Department of State.

America’s First Global Health Strategy Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed so far represent more than $20.6 billion in new health funding including more than $12.8 billion in U.S. assistance alongside $7.8 billion in co-investment from recipient countries, building on decades of progress fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases around the world.

The State Department has signed 30 bilateral global health MOUs with Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, and Uganda as of April 7.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

Our dollar, your peso in times of war

“Money is my military, each dollar a soldier. I never send my money into battle unprepared and undefended. I send it to conquer and take currency prisoner and bring it back to me.”

—Kevin O'Leary

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

WHILE war continued to rage in Iran, one US dollar is now equal to P60.41 as of April 5, 2026, an Easter Sunday and the last time I sent money to the Philippines.

The exchange rate generally fluctuates between 60.18 and 60.43 Philippine Pesos (PHP) for one US dollar (USD) depending on the financial institution and market volatility.

Key Exchange Data (approximate): $1= P60.41, $10 = P604.1, and $100 = P6,04.

Financial experts have recommended checking live, specific rates from our banks or money transfer service centers, as rates change frequently throughout the day.

If we have a $100 bill, the highest value of denomination currently in production, it is equivalent to P6,041.

I first checked the latest exchange rate in the remittance center inside a Filipino grocery store on Queens Boulevard in New York and started comparing the peso to dollar at $100 mark before sending money to the Philippines.

It’s easy to figure out the amount to send via direct bank deposit or Western Union, RIA, Viamericas, Logo, Dolex, and Moneygram, among other methods of remittance if, for instance, the exchange rate is P6,000 for $100.

 

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Some foreign-based dollar earners are “satisfied” if the current exchange rate doesn’t fall below P5,000 for one hundred U.S. dollar.  

Families in the Philippines that rely on remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) relatives anywhere in the world rejoice if the exchange rate is higher because they will receive more.

Officially crowned the world's reserve currency and backed by the world's largest gold reserves, the U.S. dollar is still mightier thanks to the Bretton Woods Agreement.

Other countries accumulated reserves of U.S. dollars instead of gold reserves.

Some people are concerned that a higher peso to dollar exchange rate might have a bad effect on the wallet of those who don’t have OFW family members.

While it is cause for celebration for OFW families, this might mean, on the other hand, a weaker economy as a country.

 

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The theory is that the higher the exchange rate, the weaker the peso will be and the weaker the economy. But let us leave the matter to the economists.

The most important is the U.S. dollar-dominated world economy continues to be stable despite the economic sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine four years ago and despite the ongoing standoff between Iran and the United States.

This can alway be considered a healthy sign for the Philippines in as far as dollar remittances from OFWs are concerned.

This is also the reason why we don’t want the war Russia had initiated against Ukraine to escalate and why we all wish the conflict between the US-Israel versus Iran will end immediately.

If we have a peaceful geopolitics and foreign relations, we will continue to have a peaceful and stable world economy.

 

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RECORD BROKEN. THE Artemis II astronauts were in the middle of a seven-hour flyby of the moon as of this writing. They have now traveled farther from Earth than anyone in human history, breaking the record previously set by Apollo 13 in 1970.

HIGHEST GAS PRICE. At $6.72 a gallon, this rural county has the highest average gas price in the US. It’s gotten so bad that even some hybrid vehicle owners say driving has become a luxury they can’t afford.

We’re referring to June Lake, California, a picturesque community of 300 people near Yosemite National Park and the Nevada state line. June Lake is part of Mono County, which has the highest average gas price in the United States.

WATER TREATMENT EFFECTIVE TO CURE MAJOR DISEASES. We learned from the Japanese medical society that drinking water in the morning for consecutive days will cure cancer, diabetes, meningitis, TB, high blood pressure, arthritis, all eye diseases, constipation, throat diseases, menstrual disorders, etcetera.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Unholy weeks next

“Today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news.”

—Ethel Waters

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME of us were able to heave a sigh of relief the previous week, the Holy Week, when peace and order improved temporarily and political bickering took a back seat while many Christian believers engaged in increased prayer and fasting, particularly on Good Friday, as a form of spiritual discipline.

We are now back to reality. In the news, a man, burdened by casino debts, tried to wipe out his entire family but succeeded only in killing his wife. During a drunken spree, three people were stabbed and shot and were in critical condition in the hospital as of this writing, and so on and so forth.

Crime is back to an alarming rate. There is bedlam in the streets as traffic snarl once again is giving terrible inconvenience to a lot of motorists despite the massive restructuring and repair of main roads and highways.

After reenactments of the stations of the cross took place in the streets in relation to the Holy Week, some people are reenacting their old mischievous and felonious ways.

The main problems of Filipinos remain to be deeply intertwined.  Widespread corruption undermining Philippine governance, fueling poverty, and hindering development; significant inequality, including poverty and lack of opportunities; persistent issues with crime and illegal drugs, exacerbated by the controversial war on drugs; and challenges in governance.

 

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These factors contribute to broader issues like insufficient infrastructure, poor public services, and disparities between urban and rural areas.

Adding to the conundrum is the impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, which gained momentum in early 2025 and 2026, primarily focus on allegations of misusing over P612.5 million in confidential funds, betrayal of public trust, and corruption.

The complaints, largely fueled by a falling-out with the Marcos administration, accuse her of submitting fraudulent liquidation reports, threatening the President, and violating the constitution.

While the emboldened House of Representatives voted to impeach her in February 2025, the Supreme Court has previously intervened to stop proceedings based on the "one-year rule" (no more than one impeachment per year), but new complaints for 2026 are now advancing.

It seems there will be another “unholy” weeks and even months ahead after the Holy Week.

 

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Below is the email I received from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, which she also sent to fellow New Yorkers:

Alex, This week, Jewish communities across New York and throughout the world are gathering together around the Seder table to rejoice in shared tradition and celebrate the story of their liberation.

Passover reminds all of us that if we are willing to summon our courage and believe in ourselves, there’s nothing we cannot accomplish.

This lesson of Passover is especially important to keep in mind today, in these difficult times where we see rising antisemitism at home and abroad. As your Governor, I am doing everything in my power to protect our Jewish neighbors — from making historic investments to tackle hate crimes to fighting for strong buffer-zone protections around synagogues and other religious sites.

I was raised as a social justice Catholic in Buffalo.

My parents taught us that life is all about fighting for a better, more just and equitable world.

As our Jewish neighbors say at the Seder every year as they hold up the matzah: “This is the bread of poverty which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, come and eat… all who are needy, come and celebrate.”

These words are an important reminder that our own freedom is bound up with the freedom of others — and that we must continue to work together to create a world where no one struggles for the basic freedoms that are the natural born right of every human being.

To all those celebrating, Chag Kasher v’Sameach! Gov. Kathy Hochul

 

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FEAR OF UNDRESSING. Dishabiliophobia is the fear of undressing in front of someone: In the first place, who would have the guts to undress in front of someone? Even some couples possess this fear. Undressing in front of a mirror is even nerve-tingling!

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (P.M.S.). For two to ten days before the onset of menstruation, millions of women are affected by a wide range of physical discomforts and mood disorders--from bloating, depression, and insomnia to severe pains, uncontrolled rages, crying spells, and even suicidal depression. This is known as P.M.S. (Vitamin Bible)

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)