Rene Relampagos
Encyclopedia
Rene Lopez Relampagos is a Filipino
politician
. He is currently a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
. He is on his first term as representative of the first legislative district of Bohol
, Philippines
, being elected congressman in the 2010 elections.
, Bohol
, Philippines
. He is the son of the former Loon, Bohol
mayor Juan "Aning" M. Relampagos and Esperanza "Nene" Lopez Relampagos who capped her public service career as the field officer of the Social Security Service or SSS. She is a pillar of the Catholic Women’s League.
Relampagos finished his elementary education at the Holy Spirit School
in Tagbilaran City
, Bohol
in 1976. He went to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
or IHMS for high school and graduated as valedictorian in 1980. It was at IHMS that he nurtured the dream of becoming a priest, an inclination favored by his entire family. He went to the Ateneo de Manila University
where he had his academic training while at the same time getting his spiritual training from San Jose Seminary where he graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy
. He was employed at the Holy Name University
(Divine Word College) as a college instructor in 1984.
Provincial Government from 1988 to 1989. He then became board member of the Province of Bohol
from 1989 to 1992. In 1992, he was elected as Vice Governor of the Provincial Government of Bohol
and served until 1995. He became Governor
of the province of Bohol
from 1995 to 2001. In the 2010 elections, he run and won as a member of the House of Representatives
as representative of the first district of Bohol.
From 1989 to 1992, Relampagos was Youth Sector Representative of the Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council. He was also the Provincial Action Officer for the Kabisig Movement; Action Officer for Operation Drugwatch; and Youth Sector Representative to the Bantay Dagat Provincial Council. In the Regional Convention of the National Coalition of All Filipino Youth, he was elected Regional President of Central Visayas. At the same time he was president of the National Movement of Young Legislators. He served in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from May 1989 to March 1992.
As chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, he focused on self-sustainability in basic food crops. As chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development he fostered educational upliftment. From 1990 to 1992 he was elected Regional Secretary of the Provincial Board Members Association of the Philippines, Region VII.
After serving the Province as a board member, Relampagos ran for the position of vice governor, won and this became the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. At the same time, he was a columnist of the Bohol Chronicle
.
Being the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, he successfully rationalized incomes and expenditures of the province. He also became the founding chairman of the Carlos P. Garcia Scholarship Program.
In 1995, the ruling administrative party made him the official candidate for governor. After the first term, he ran again for governor and won the race on 1998.
It was also during his six years as governor that the province underwent several infrastructure improvements. He transformed the old Provincial Capitol Complex into a modern and environment-friendly edifice, while observing cultural and historical values. He constructed the Garcia Provincial Memorial Hospital in Talibon, and the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center at Cabawan District in Tagbilaran City. Aware of its crucial need, he established the Crisis Center for Abused Women and Children. Governor Relampagos also made the Provincial Capitol Annex Building, and completed the Provincial Health Office. It is worth noting that all these constructions were built out of the available province funds, unprecedented accomplishments in the history of Bohol.
Governor Relampagos made a master plan for the development of Bohol for eco-tourism, agro-industrial development and a revival of Bohol arts and culture, which has instilled in the Boholano a deep pride of place. He also initiated “LAELEP” (Legal Assistance for Effective Law Enforcement Project for Policemen).
Relampagos, abreast with his career in public service finally decided priesthood was not for him. He married Imelda “Imee” Adiong. She used to work with the Philippine National Bank, but later, pressured by the responsibilities of being the first lady of Bohol while caring for a growing family, she decided to devote her time to her husband and children: Kristine Nicole, Kristine Louise and Juan Marcelo.
A hiatus in his political career made him decide to go into business; as the proprietor of ELR Printers, and as president of JM Relampagos Ventures, Inc.
In the 2010 elections, he was elected as representative of the First Legislative District of Bohol.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is currently a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
. He is on his first term as representative of the first legislative district of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, being elected congressman in the 2010 elections.
Biography and career
Rene Lopez Relampagos was born on December 28, 1963 in Tagbilaran CityTagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City is a 2nd class component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines and serves as its capital. Tagbilaran lies on the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area of 32.7 km², with about 13 km of coastline...
, Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He is the son of the former Loon, Bohol
Loon, Bohol
Loon is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 42,441 people. The town has an old church dating from the 1850s.-Socioeconomic profile:* Class of municipality: Second...
mayor Juan "Aning" M. Relampagos and Esperanza "Nene" Lopez Relampagos who capped her public service career as the field officer of the Social Security Service or SSS. She is a pillar of the Catholic Women’s League.
Relampagos finished his elementary education at the Holy Spirit School
Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran
The Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran , most commonly known simply as Holy Spirit or madre, is a private, Catholic, secondary, co-educational institution in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines. It is run by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, also known as the SSpS congregation or...
in Tagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City
Tagbilaran City is a 2nd class component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines and serves as its capital. Tagbilaran lies on the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area of 32.7 km², with about 13 km of coastline...
, Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
in 1976. He went to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary or IHMS, located at Pacifico Cabalit St., Taloto, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines, is a diocesan college seminary established in 1950 by Julio Rosales, Bishop of Tagbilaran, in implementation of Canon 1354, no. 2 of the 1917 Code of Canon Law that required...
or IHMS for high school and graduated as valedictorian in 1980. It was at IHMS that he nurtured the dream of becoming a priest, an inclination favored by his entire family. He went to the Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
where he had his academic training while at the same time getting his spiritual training from San Jose Seminary where he graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He was employed at the Holy Name University
Holy Name University
Holy Name University or HNU is a Catholic institution of higher learning located in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines. It is a private, non-profit, co-educational university run by the Society of the Divine Word or SVD...
(Divine Word College) as a college instructor in 1984.
Political career
He started his political career as Technical Consultant for Youth and Sports Development of the BoholBohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
Provincial Government from 1988 to 1989. He then became board member of the Province of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
from 1989 to 1992. In 1992, he was elected as Vice Governor of the Provincial Government of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
and served until 1995. He became Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the province of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
from 1995 to 2001. In the 2010 elections, he run and won as a member of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
as representative of the first district of Bohol.
From 1989 to 1992, Relampagos was Youth Sector Representative of the Bohol Provincial Peace and Order Council. He was also the Provincial Action Officer for the Kabisig Movement; Action Officer for Operation Drugwatch; and Youth Sector Representative to the Bantay Dagat Provincial Council. In the Regional Convention of the National Coalition of All Filipino Youth, he was elected Regional President of Central Visayas. At the same time he was president of the National Movement of Young Legislators. He served in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan from May 1989 to March 1992.
As chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, he focused on self-sustainability in basic food crops. As chairman of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development he fostered educational upliftment. From 1990 to 1992 he was elected Regional Secretary of the Provincial Board Members Association of the Philippines, Region VII.
After serving the Province as a board member, Relampagos ran for the position of vice governor, won and this became the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. At the same time, he was a columnist of the Bohol Chronicle
Bohol Chronicle
The Bohol Chronicle popularly known as the Chronicle, is the most widely read local community newspaper in the province of Bohol. It is distributed every Wednesday and Sunday.-History:The Bohol Chronicle was founded on 1954...
.
Being the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, he successfully rationalized incomes and expenditures of the province. He also became the founding chairman of the Carlos P. Garcia Scholarship Program.
In 1995, the ruling administrative party made him the official candidate for governor. After the first term, he ran again for governor and won the race on 1998.
It was also during his six years as governor that the province underwent several infrastructure improvements. He transformed the old Provincial Capitol Complex into a modern and environment-friendly edifice, while observing cultural and historical values. He constructed the Garcia Provincial Memorial Hospital in Talibon, and the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center at Cabawan District in Tagbilaran City. Aware of its crucial need, he established the Crisis Center for Abused Women and Children. Governor Relampagos also made the Provincial Capitol Annex Building, and completed the Provincial Health Office. It is worth noting that all these constructions were built out of the available province funds, unprecedented accomplishments in the history of Bohol.
Governor Relampagos made a master plan for the development of Bohol for eco-tourism, agro-industrial development and a revival of Bohol arts and culture, which has instilled in the Boholano a deep pride of place. He also initiated “LAELEP” (Legal Assistance for Effective Law Enforcement Project for Policemen).
Relampagos, abreast with his career in public service finally decided priesthood was not for him. He married Imelda “Imee” Adiong. She used to work with the Philippine National Bank, but later, pressured by the responsibilities of being the first lady of Bohol while caring for a growing family, she decided to devote her time to her husband and children: Kristine Nicole, Kristine Louise and Juan Marcelo.
A hiatus in his political career made him decide to go into business; as the proprietor of ELR Printers, and as president of JM Relampagos Ventures, Inc.
In the 2010 elections, he was elected as representative of the First Legislative District of Bohol.
Committee membership
- Chairman, Committee on Human Rights
- Vice Chairman, Committee on Information and Communications Technology
- Member, Committee on Accounts
- Member, Committee on Transportation
- Member, Committee on Tourism
- Member, Committee on Higher and Technical Education
- Member, Congressional Oversight Committee on Biofuels
Awards
For two 3-year terms he labored hard for the Boholanos. It was during those two terms that Bohol was acknowledged, and won several prestigious national awards and recognitions. Among them are the following:- Top Province in Assessment Efficiency – Region VII (1988)
- Regional Silver Award, Most Outstanding Province in Local Budget Administration (1997 and 1998)
- Website of the Year (Government Category, Philippine Webby Awards) – 1999
- Galing Pook Award and Cash Prize: Cultural Renaissance Program (Galing Pook Foundation, AIM, Ford Foundation) – 2000
- Galing Pook Award: Bohol Investment Promotion Program (Galing Pook Foundation, AIM, Ford Foundation) – 2000
- Outstanding Library of the Philippines (The National Library) – 2000
- Guhit Award for Cultural Heritage (for the Diocese of Tagbilaran and the Province of Bohol given by Design and Architecture Magazine) – 2000
- Best Performing Peace and Order Council – Region VII (DILG) – 2000
- Best Performing LGU-Province Category (PADAC) Anti-Illegal Drugs Campaign – Region VII (DILG)-2000
- Cash Award for Attaining the Program Benchmarks for CY2001 Ahead of Schedule under the LGU Performance Program (LPP) on Health (DOH/USAID) – 2000
- Most Outstanding Province: Philippine Plan of Action and Nutrition – Region VII (CSC) – 2000
- Province with the Highest Number of Participating Municipalities Nationwide in its Real Property Data Computerization Program under MDP III (BLDGF-DOF) – 2000
- Most Outstanding Travel Mart Exhibitor – Visayas Travel Mart (DOT and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry) – 2000
- Presidential Awardee, Cleanest and Greenest Province – 1999
- Outstanding Province in Real Property Tax Collection – Region VII (BLGF-DOF) – 1999
- Outstanding Provincial Disaster and Coordinating Council – Region VII (DILG) – 1999