Cong Corrales  “Anything that I love or hold dear, even the smallest thing, will always matter to me. My sense of loyalty is such that I will always rise to protect what are of value to me.” – Rosauro Prosia Dongallo Sr., 20th Governor of Misamis Oriental (Aug. 31, 1916 – June 7, 1984) I WAS planning to write a scathing column for today but opted to give way to the centenary of a revered provincial governor. Sa wala’y pabor-pabor, he is the grandfather of a good friend Cai “Bokikay” Panlilio, photojourn par excellence. At the outset, I’d like to thank Cai for the background research for this piece. Anyway, back to my homage. This column is about Rosauro Prosia Dongallo Sr., the 20th governor of Misamis Oriental. He would have been 100 years old today. He was governor at a time when government officials comport themselves like statesmen, as if they were diplomatic envoys. He was a self-made man. He was born on Aug. 31, 1916 in barrio Macaas, municipality of Catmon; the fifth child of Angelo Dongallo and Anastacia Prosia. He completed his primary and secondary education at the Catmon Central School. He had 12 other siblings so much as he desired of becoming a doctor, it was to be his greatest frustration. He started working as a Sacada for the sugar magnates of Bacolod to sustain himself and enrolled in the Cebu School of Arts and Trade in 1939. Dongallo was drafted into military service when he was 20 years old and was sent to Camp Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga. He once wrote: “Achievement always came with earnest determination, so long as I was also prepared to take the risks.” When World War II broke out, he was assigned to Camp Carmen in Bohol; in Majuyod, Negros Oriental; and eventually in Bugo, Misamis Oriental. Ross later married the former Didi Valmores Dongallo of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental on Nov. 15, 1944.  They have five children: Rosauro Jr., Beverly, Emmanuel, Jessie and Josephine and 18 grandchildren. Upon his retirement from the military service, Dongallo ventured into several businesses and socio-civic activities. Aided by his astute and business-minded wife, he became a successful businessman with interests in logging and real estate. He established the Dongallo Enterprises Inc. in 1951 that was engaged in logging concessions in Butuan City. He was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the Cagayan de Oro Industries, the Adgawan Timber Inc., the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Construction and Supply Co., the Desamparados Real Estate Development Inc and the Himatagon Lumber Inc. At first, Dongallo was hesitant to enter politics. Hesitant enough to decline two offers. He was invited to run for governor of Misamis Oriental in 1959 and was also offered a bid as a congressional candidate for the first district of Cebu. He only relented in 1969 and was sworn in as vice governor by Judge Meynardo A. Tiro on Jan. 1, 1972. When Gov. Concordio C. Diel was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government in 1974, Dongallo became the Acting Governor of the province.  His oath of office was administered by Judge Benjamin K. Gorospe. On March 30, 1976, Rosauro P. Dongallo was sworn into office as the 20th governor of Misamis Oriental by President Ferdinand E. Marcos at Malacanang. Gov. Dongallo’s administration focused on the promotion and development of the cooperative programs of Misamis Oriental.  “The foundation and the center of my administration is not only for political and social development, but more importantly for the development of our people’s economic welfare through ‘cooperativism’ to instill in them selfeliance and discipline,” he once said. One of the highlights of Dongallo’s stint as governor was the inauguration of the Philippine Sinter Corp. in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental in 1977.  This event was graced by then-President Marcos and First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. As a public official, he belonged to the “old school” of public service, which meant that he denied himself the benefits and trappings that came with his office. Some of the old people still remember him as the governor who took the “motorela” to office.  In 1976, he was awarded “Most Outstanding Governor of the Philippines.” There is a photo exhibit in the lobby of the Capitol today and everyone is invited to check it out and see what “old school” governance is all about.