Pablo Paras Garcia (September 25, 1925 – August 18, 2021)[1] was a Filipino lawyer and politician who have been the patriarch of the Garcia political clan of Province of Cebu. He was a longtime congressman and governor.

Pablo P. Garcia
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines for Visayas
In office
May 2008 – June 30, 2013
Preceded byRaul Del Mar
Succeeded bySergio Apostol
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cebu
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2013
Preceded bySimeon Kintanar
Succeeded byWilfredo S. Caminero
Constituency2nd District
In office
June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1995
Preceded byPost Established
Succeeded byJohn Henry Osmeña
Constituency3rd District
Governor of Cebu
In office
June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2004
Vice GovernorApolonio A. Abines Jr. (1995–1998)
Fernando S. Celeste (1998–2001)
John Gregory H. Osmeña Jr. (2001–2004)
Preceded byVicente L. dela Serna
Succeeded byGwendolyn F. Garcia
Vice Governor of Cebu
In office
December 30, 1969 – December 30, 1971
Preceded byOsmundo G. Rama
Succeeded bySalutario J. Fernandez
Personal details
Born(1925-09-25)September 25, 1925
DiedAugust 18, 2021(2021-08-18) (aged 95)
NationalityFilipino
Political partyNUP (2011–2021)
Other political
affiliations
One Cebu (2007–2021)
Lakas–CMD (2007–2011)
LDP (1987–1995)
SpouseEsperanza Fiel Garcia (deceased 2016)
ChildrenGwen (daughter)
Pablo John (son)
Winston (son)
Alma materUniversity of San Carlos
OccupationLawyer
ProfessionPolitician
NicknamePabling Garcia

Early career

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A topnotcher in the 1951 Bar Examinations (3rd place), he was a distinguished trial lawyer, law professor, and respected constitutionalist.[2] Garcia was an opposition lawyer during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship.[3][4] He is one of the many lawyers who helped the opposition in Cebu when 1986 snap elections happen.[5][6]

Political career

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Garcia served as governor of Cebu from 1995 to 2004. He had previously served as the vice-governor of Cebu from 1969 to 1971. Garcia has been elected to three terms as a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. From 1987 to 1995, Garcia represented the Third District of Cebu. He was again elected to Congress in 2007, this time representing the Second District of Cebu.[7] He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2013.

His daughter Gwendolyn succeeded him as governor in 2004, while his son Pablo John was elected to Garcia's previous congressional seat in 2007. In 2007, the Garcia family established the One Cebu political party. Garcia was also a member of Lakas Kampi CMD.[citation needed]

His son, Byron, the former security consultant for the Cebu provincial government, gained attention in 2007 after instituting a program of choreographed exercise routines for the inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) and uploading the routines on YouTube, including the popular Thriller viral video. Garcia's other son, Winston Garcia, is the former president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (Philippines) and the official candidate of One Cebu for provincial governor on May 9 (date of 2016 Philippine general election).[citation needed]

In 2010, his son Nelson Gamaliel was elected in large margin as Mayor of Dumanjug, Cebu. At the same time Marlon, the younger brother of Nelson Gamaliel was also elected Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Barili, Cebu.[8]

He was elected Chairman of the Committee on Revision of Laws on 7 August 2007; and, when the House leadership was changed, he was consequently appointed Deputy Speaker in May 2008.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Former Cebu Governor Pabling Garcia dies at 95". CNN Philippines. August 19, 2021. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  2. ^ Palaubsanon, Mitchelle L. "'An icon in public service': Noy Pabling passes on". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "PJ Garcia steps down as One Cebu secretary general after Marcos endorsement". RAPPLER. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  4. ^ "PJ Garcia not recommending One Cebu to endorse Marcos". RAPPLER. December 13, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  5. ^ "Poll Watching in Cebu: Fraud and Unlikely Heroes". Los Angeles Times. February 9, 1986. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  6. ^ "PJ Garcia not recommending One Cebu to endorse Marcos". RAPPLER. December 13, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Diaz, Perry (June 13, 2008). "The Garcias, the Aboitizes and Meralco". Inquirer Mobile. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011.
  8. ^ "Philippine jailhouse rocks to Thriller". BBC News. July 26, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
Preceded by Representative, 3rd District of Cebu
1987–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Representative, 2nd District of Cebu
2007–2013
Succeeded by