Gov Badong Socrates

SALVADOR “BADONG” SOCRATES OUTSTANDING CUYONON AWARDEE

Badong Socrates was born on March 13, 1933 in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, to parents Francisco Socrates and Ines Magbanua Paredes Socrates. He was the third in a brood of six.

It was in 1940 when his parents decide to take the entire family, except Nicasio, the eldest, to Cuyo Palawan, and that was where the young Badong completed his elementary and high school studies. He completed his Grade 1 – 4 at the Miller School while Grades 5 and 6 were at the Cuyo Central School. Then he finished high school at the St. Joseph Academy, where he graduated as the class salutatorian. He was then automatically accepted at the University of the Philippines by virtue of his being a salutatorian.

He enrolled in a Liberal Arts course and went on to get his Bachelor of Laws degree at the UP College of Law.

Although his father had a good job at the La Carlota Sugar Central, money was scarce, and during his first year in college, Badong had to live with an aunt, Nay Clara Paredes.

On his second year in Manila, Badong was invited by another aunt, Mother Consuelo Magbanua Dangan, A.R., to move to Sta. Rita College, where he just had to pay half for his board and lodging in exchange for his working as their janitor. Together with Leandro Feria, (Uncle Andong) Badong would clean the halls and corridors of St. Rita before going to school.

He lived for 3 years in St. Rita College - Manila. In his last 2 years in Law School, he moved into the residence of the Sandoval family, upon the invitation of his classmate, Job Sandoval.

Badong passed the Bar exams in 1959 and became a full-fledged lawyear. He worked for a short time at the Chipeco Law Office at Escolta and then he joined the staff of Palawan Congressman Gaudencio Abordo.

In 1960, he married Elsa San Juan Macalinao, and moved back to Cuyo, where he practiced his profession. His son, Victorino Dennis was born the following year, 1961, and was immediately followed by a daughter, Maria Nancy in 1962.

Badong moved his young family to Puerto Princesa in 1963. It was the same year that he entered the world of Palawan politics as the Vice-Gubernatorial candidate of Mr. Neil Setias, who was then running for Governor. Unfortunately, they did not win.

Undeterred, he run again as Independent - Nacionalista candidate for Governor in 1967. This time, he won against 3 seasoned politicians. At 34, he was one of the youngest Governors.

At 35, he became a widower, with the passing away of his wife, Elsa, from breast cancer. The following year, he married Dr. Natividad Quicho.

Considered a visionary by some, Badong was a planner, an implementor, a pioneer. He had the foresight, the ability to envision what Palawan may become, and should become. He planned not for the short term but for the long term. His was a 10-year development plan for Palawan, drafted in 1968.

As Governor, he implemented projects and programs that were considered pioneering. Among his accomplishments are the following: 1. Setting-up of the Palawan Economic Development Council (PEDC) which became the precursor and model for all development councils in the country and qualified the province of Palawan as an early recipient of various USAID programs. 2. Creation and operation of the Provincial Engineering Office that implemented his program for rural toads under local funds. 3. Piloting the Tax Mapping program in Palawan, which was the first of the 8 pilot provinces to complete the said program. 4. Construction of new farm to market roads with meager local funds, thereby opening areas for agricultural development. 5. Rural water projects and the creation of Paltubig, in cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany, that provided potable drinking water in the rural areas. 6. Together with other government agencies, secured a loan package from the Asian Development Bank for the construction of the concrete north rural road (North National Highway) from Puerto Princesa to Roxas. 7. Co-founded the Palawan Electric Cooperative (PALECO). It was due to his innovative and forward-thinking approach to governance that President Ferdinand E. Marcos took notice of the young Governor Salvador P. Socrates and appointed him Undersecretary of the Department of Local Government and Community Development in 1974.

His accomplishments as Undersecretary of the DILGCD include the following: 1. Implementation of the Special Projects of the Provincial Development Assistance Program (PDAP) of the DILGCD as its Executive Director, with initial funding from the USAID, in all provinces of the country. The Special Projects included the Rural Roads Program (RRP), the Barangay Waterworks Program (BWP), and the Rural Property Tax Administration (RPTA), among others. The RPTA under Badong, together with its excellent manager and staff, produced a book of operations that that is being referred to up to the present time. And through the BWP, rural areas gained access to clean and safe drinking water. With the RRP, farm to market roads were constructed in all municipalities, cities and provinces, following a reimbursement scheme. 2. The strengthening and improvement of local governance in the entire country through various programs and continuous leadership trainings for local officials. But more than his accomplishments, it was his humility, empathy and approachability that earned him the affection of his constituents and the admiration of his colleagues.

We lost Badong tragically in the seas off Cagayancillo. But his contributions to the development of Palawan and the entire country will never be lost. It is our duty as his family to ensure that what he had done will not be forgotten, and what he stood for will be remembered and emulated with these services: Governor Palawan 1967 – 1986 and 1992 – 2000

Undersecretary Department of Local Government and Community Development 1974 – 1986

Executive Director Provincial Development Assistance Program 1974 – 1986

An honest, dedicated, hardworking public servant with a sincere love for Palawan and its people. That was who and what the humble Badong was.