Prospero Amatong
Encyclopedia
Prospero “Pros” S. Amatong (October 18, 1931 - May 16, 2009) was a Filipino
politician
. Amatong served as the Governor of Davao del Norte
from 1992 until 1998 and as a Congressman in the House of Representatives of the Philippines
from 1998 until 2007. He also served as interim governor of Compostela Valley
upon its creation.
, on October 18, 1931. He earned his bachelor's degree
in civil engineering
. He moved to Nabunturan in 1960, where he taught at Assumption College from 1960 until 1971.
member. He was elected the Mayor of Nabunturan in 1972, an office he held for 14 years. He also served as the mayor of New Corella early in his career.
Amatong was elected the Governor of Davao del Norte
, which consisted of 21 towns, in 1992. As governor, Amatong spearheaded the creation of a new province Compostela Valley
, which consists eleven municipalities which were formerly part of Davao del Norte.
Amatong became the interim
governor of the newly created Compostela Valley
province for three months in 1998. He was later elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines
, representing Compostela Valley's second congressional district as a congressman. Amatong remained in Congress until his retirement in 2007. His son, Rep. Rommel Amatong
, was elected as his successor in the district in 2007.
Throughout his long political career, no complaints were ever filed against him by the Ombudsman
. Politicians from both Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley continued to consult was Amatong following his retirement, earning him the nickname as the “grand old man” of Davao
politics.
park in May 2009 while on vacation with his wife, Luz, their children and other family members. He was hospitalized with head injuries, leaving him in a coma
. Amatong died in a New York City hospital on May 16, 2009, at the age of 77. His body was flown back to the Philippines
for burial.
Tributes poured in following news of Amatong's unexpected death. Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy called Amatong, "...exceptional as a leader, a master politician. I would say no one could ever duplicate his performance in our lifetime. He is the real Mr. Service." Laak
Mayor Reynaldo Navarro referred to Amatong as, "a legend
, a real champion
who has never tasted defeat." Former Davao del Norte Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio Jr., a friend of Amatong during his governorship, spoke of him am saddened by the death of a great man whose life was dedicated to mankind. It's a loss to all of us. My prayers to the bereaved family. Farewell my brother." Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario also sent condolences to Amatong's family.
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...
. Amatong served as the Governor of Davao del Norte
Davao del Norte
Davao del Norte , and once known simply as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south...
from 1992 until 1998 and as a Congressman in 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...
from 1998 until 2007. He also served as interim governor of Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
upon its creation.
Early years
Prospero Amatong was born in Dipolog, Zamboanga del NorteZamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte or simply known as ZANORTE is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Dipolog City and the province borders Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay to the south and Misamis Occidental to the east...
, on October 18, 1931. He earned his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. He moved to Nabunturan in 1960, where he taught at Assumption College from 1960 until 1971.
Political career
Prospero's career in politics began in 1963 with his election as a Nabunturan city councilCity council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
member. He was elected the Mayor of Nabunturan in 1972, an office he held for 14 years. He also served as the mayor of New Corella early in his career.
Amatong was elected the Governor of Davao del Norte
Davao del Norte
Davao del Norte , and once known simply as Davao, is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Tagum City. It borders the province of Agusan del Sur to the north, Bukidnon to the west, Compostela Valley to the east, and the city of Davao to the south...
, which consisted of 21 towns, in 1992. As governor, Amatong spearheaded the creation of a new province Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
, which consists eleven municipalities which were formerly part of Davao del Norte.
Amatong became the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
governor of the newly created Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley
Compostela Valley is a province of the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. The province, called Comval for short, used to be part of Davao del Norte until it was made independent in 1998. It is the third newest province of the Philippines, behind Dinagat Islands and Zamboanga...
province for three months in 1998. He was later elected to 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...
, representing Compostela Valley's second congressional district as a congressman. Amatong remained in Congress until his retirement in 2007. His son, Rep. Rommel Amatong
Rommel Amatong
Rommel C. Amatong is a Filipino politician. A member of the LAKAS-CMD Party, he was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the Second District of Compostela Valley beginning in 2007. He succeeded his father, Prospero Amatong, who respresented the same...
, was elected as his successor in the district in 2007.
Throughout his long political career, no complaints were ever filed against him by the Ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
. Politicians from both Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley continued to consult was Amatong following his retirement, earning him the nickname as the “grand old man” of Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
politics.
Personal life
Prospero Amatong suffered a fall in a New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
park in May 2009 while on vacation with his wife, Luz, their children and other family members. He was hospitalized with head injuries, leaving him in a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. Amatong died in a New York City hospital on May 16, 2009, at the age of 77. His body was flown back to the 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...
for burial.
Tributes poured in following news of Amatong's unexpected death. Compostela Valley Governor Arturo Uy called Amatong, "...exceptional as a leader, a master politician. I would say no one could ever duplicate his performance in our lifetime. He is the real Mr. Service." Laak
Laak
-Places:*Laak, Compostela Valley*Laak, The Hague*Laak, a river in Belgium...
Mayor Reynaldo Navarro referred to Amatong as, "a legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
, a real champion
Champion
A champion is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition.There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, and even further divisions at one or more of these levels, as in soccer. Their champions...
who has never tasted defeat." Former Davao del Norte Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio Jr., a friend of Amatong during his governorship, spoke of him am saddened by the death of a great man whose life was dedicated to mankind. It's a loss to all of us. My prayers to the bereaved family. Farewell my brother." Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario also sent condolences to Amatong's family.