Atty. Mauricio G. Domogan
Mauricio
“Morris” Gamsao Domogan is a 65-year old Igorot/Cordilleran Filipino lawyer-
politician known for his successful political career that is now over two
decades, with undefeated electoral matches. He is the current mayor of Baguio
City in the northern Philippines. He resides at 31 Upper Brookside, Baguio City
with his family.
On July
16, 1990 at 4: 26 in the afternoon, Baguio City was badly hit by a
7.8-magnitude earthquake. There was a massive destruction around the city. The
earthquake that covered the northern provinces of the Philippines killed an
estimated 1,621 people. This was a major challenge to Domogan’s leadership. He
was under pressure to rebuild Baguio City from the disaster. He was the elected
mayor in 1992. He assumed the office on July 1, 1992.
In
2010, Domogan ran for Mayor again in Baguio City and won. He garnered 47, 373
votes. His major opponents were lawyer Jose Molintas with 26, 712 votes and
Marquez Go with 21, 072 votes.
Earlier Life
Mauricio
Domogan was born on October 10, 1946 in the remote Bab-asig, Patiacan, Quririno
(former Angaki) in Ilocos Sur. His birthplace is within the boundaries of
Besao, Mountain Province and Tubo, Abra of the Cordillera region. He and his
sister Juana Domogan were orphaned at an early age causing the two to strive
hard during their youth.
During
speeches, Domogan accounted how he hiked a two-kilometer trail in barefoot to attend
school every day. In 1961, he graduated at Patiacan Elementary School. Since he
had no parents to pay for his studies, he took unusual jobs at Lepanto,
Mankayan in Benguet. He became a rondalla band member, utility aide and
janitor. In 1965, he finished his secondary education at Lepanto High School.
Domogan
enrolled at the University of Baguio (Baguio Tech then) and graduated Bachelor
of Arts in 1969. He finished Bachelor of Laws at the University of the
Cordilleras (Baguio Colleges Foundation then) in 1973. The new graduate took
the Bar examination and fortunately passed. “Attorney Mauricio G. Domogan” signed
the Roll of Attorney on July 16, 1974 (Roll No. 25418). Domogan married Rebecca
Napeek. The couple has three daughters namely Janice Marie, Jillian April and
Joy Allison.
Political Career
Mauricio
Domogan started practicing law after passing the Bar exam. He became a counsel
for labor unions. As a young lawyer, he worked with Lepanto Employees Union,
BPI Employees Union, Baguio Country Blub Employees Union, Hyatt Terraces
Employees Union, Associated Labor Union, Pines Hotel Labor Union and others. He
established Domogan Law Office, which offered services to businessmen in the
Baguio City Public Market.
Domogan
then started his winning political career in 1988 when he ran for a seat in the
Baguio City council. He won and served Baguio until 1992 as a councilor. After,
he ran for Vice Mayor in May 1992 and won again. However, he started serving as
Acting Mayor after taking his oath as Vice Mayor of the city. The Mayor-elect
Jun Labo was under protest due to his Australian citizenship. Labo was then disqualified
by the Philippine Supreme Court.
On July
16, 1990 at 4: 26 in the afternoon, Baguio City was badly hit by a
7.8-magnitude earthquake. There was a massive destruction around the city. The
earthquake that covered the northern provinces of the Philippines killed an
estimated 1,621 people. This was a major challenge to Domogan’s leadership. He
was under pressure to rebuild Baguio City from the disaster. He was the elected
mayor in 1992. He assumed the office on July 1, 1992.
Under
his leadership, the rehabilitation of Baguio City was pushed through. The city
was isolated due to massive road destructions, thus taunting Domogan to commit
for the modernization of Marcos High Way, the Baguio- Tuba-Itogon-Sablan-La Trinidad
(BLIST) circumferential road and the Naguilian Road. These are the entrance and
exit roads to the city. Moreover, the City Camp Lagoon received repairs. The
camp is the city’s big drainage system in Baguio’s central district. Domogan
also imposed clean-and-green programs that merited the city of the “Cleanest
and Greenest Highly Urbanized City” award for three consecutive years.
Domogan
served Baguio City, also popularly known as the City of Pines and Philippine
Summer Capital, as a three-term consecutive mayor until 2001. He was able to
raise the City’s Cash on Hand at the start of his term in 1992 from Php
86,946,517.12 to 604,202,448.54; the City’s Budget from Php 119,757,428.05 to
Php 514,747,259.31; and the City Budget, from Php 142,185,267.85 to Php
601,002,553.30 at the end of his term in 2001.
Since
it is not allowed to be a Philippine town mayor for four consecutive times,
Domogan ran for Congress. He won again. Domogan authored 20 bills and
co-authored 50. Eleven of the bills have become laws. He concentrated on the
reconstruction of the city’s drainage system, campaigning for the city’s
tourism, supporting the Baguio City Police Office etc. He also pioneered the famous
Panagbenga Flower Festival that is being held every February. Panagbenga
Festival is considered the most media-covered and a leading festival in the
Philippines.
In
2010, Domogan ran for Mayor again in Baguio City and won. He garnered 47, 373
votes. His major opponents were lawyer Jose Molintas with 26, 712 votes and
Marquez Go with 21, 072 votes.
Domogan,
to other Cordillera politicians, is more known to have introduced House Bill No.
3617, An Act Revising the Charter of the City of Baguio. In 2012, he released a
series of YouTube video to explain the real score on the controversial earth-balling
of 182 trees inside the Shoe Mart (SM) City Baguio property. Earlier in
February 2012, he urged the approval of the unremitting Cordillera autonomy
legislation. On March 28, 2012, Domogan
led in recognizing top 20 businesses and real property taxpayers in the city.
Domogan
had been an Honorary Chairman of Boy Scouts of the Philippines- Baguio City, the
Baguio Anti-Drug Abuse Council, and the Philippine National Red Cross- Baguio.
He is a member of Baguio Lions Club and a chancellor of the North Central
Diocese of the Philippines (Philippine Episcopal Church).
Recognition
Domogan’s
has been winning the heart of his people due to his remarkable efforts in
regaining back the glow of Baguio City. During the 12th Congress, he
was recognized to have a 100% attendance, as certified by the Secretary General
of the congress.
Here
is a list of his awards and recognitions as himself:
Lingkod Bayan Award (September 1995)- the 95th
Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service
Most Cooperative Local Chief Executive Award (October
9, 1995) - the National Meat Inspection Service
Likas Yaman Award (June 5, 1995) - the Department
of Natural Resources Cordillera Administrative Region
Special Kalakbay Award (September 27, 1996)- the
Department of Tourism
Select Outstanding Indigenous Leader (SOIL)
(February 26, 1996)- the Philippines- CAR
Doctor of Philosophy Degree, Honoris Causa (1998)-
the University of Baguio
Most Outstanding Congressman Award (2004)- the
Metropolitan Press and Radio TV Club of the Philippines, Inc
Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman Hall of
Famer (2004)- the Congress Magazine. He received Emiritus Congressional Honor
(2006) when he won the award for five consecutive years
Fr. Jose Burgos Achievement Award for Public
Service (February 3, 2009)- the Province of Ilocos Sur
Links: Mauricio Domogan Official Website
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Links: Mauricio Domogan Official Website
