heritage
iRINEO lopez sANTIAGO
1905 - 1972
- He was born on the 29th of June 1905 to Feliciano
Santiago and Lucila Lopez - They were humble and hard-working farmers-caretakers of Hacienda Lazatin in San Fernando, Pampanga
A consistent A-Lister since elementary grades, Irineo graduated Cum Laude from San Juan de Dios School of Nursing in Manila
He was one of the first three (3) male-nurse graduates in 1929
When Gen. Paulino Santos was ordered by Pres. Manuel L. Quezon to recruit professional and technical personnel to open new settlement in Mindanao, he was one of the 20 professionals who came on board SS Basilan which dropped anchor at Sarangani Bay on February 27, 1939.
SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION
- During the Commonwealth Period, he served in the American Red Cross as Surgical Nurse
- He was the first Nurse of the National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA) and worked with Dr. Jorge Royeca and Nurse Leonor Griño in the administration of NLSA Hospital located in Lagao
He was first appointed and elected Mayor of the then Municipality of Buayan covering Polomolok, Tupi, Malungon, Malapatan, Kiamba, for a time, Glan from 1948 to 1956.
In 1957, Irineo Santiago together with Mr. Eligio “Amang” Leyva, filed with the Supreme Court Case No. G.R. No. L-25469 – A Restraining Order to Stop the Creation of Rajah Buayan City per Republic Act No. 4413, Series of 1965 against the Commission on Election (COMELEC), Municipal Mayor, Municipal Vice Mayor and the Municipal Council
On 29th October 1966, a victorious community of settlers celebrated the Final and Executory declaration of the Supreme Court.