Prospero Sybico Amatong (October 18, 1931 – May 16, 2009) was a Filipino

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

. Amatong served as the governor of

Davao del Norte Davao del Norte (; ), officially the Province of Davao del Norte (; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital and largest city is Tagum. The province also includes Sam ...

from 1992 until 1998 and as a

Congressman A member of congress (MOC), also known as a congressman or congresswoman, is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The t ...

in the

House of Representatives of the Philippines The House of Representatives (; '','' thus commonly referred to as ''Kamara'') is the lower house of Congress of the Philippines, Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the Senate of the Philippines as the upper house. The ...

from 1998 until 2007. He also served as interim governor of

Compostela Valley Davao de Oro, officially the Province of Davao de Oro (; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Davao Region in Mindanao. Its capital is Nabunturan while Monkayo is the most populous. It used to be part of the province of Davao del ...

upon its creation.

Early years

Prospero Sybico Amatong was born in

Dipolog Dipolog (), officially the City of Dipolog (; Subanen languages, Subanen: ''Gembagel G'benwa Dipuleg/Bagbenwa Dipuleg''; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, prov ...

, Province of Zamboanga, on October 18, 1931, to Amando Borja Amatong and Felicidad Mabanag Sybico who were founders of

Andres Bonifacio College Andres Bonifacio College (ABCollege or ABC) is a community college institution in the Philippines. Its campus is located at College Park, Brgy. Miputak, Dipolog. ABCollege offers course programs from kindergarten to postgraduate levels. Alumni an ...

. He earned his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Medieval Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years ...

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

. 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 council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, borough counc ...

member. He was elected the Mayor of

Nabunturan Nabunturan, officially the Municipality of Nabunturan (; ), is a municipality of the Philippines, municipality and capital of the Philippine Province, province of Davao de Oro, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 8 ...

in 1972, an office he held for 14 years. He also served as the mayor of

New Corella New Corella, officially the Municipality of New Corella (; ), is a municipality in the province of Davao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 57,913 people. History New Corella was named after the town of ...

early in his career. Amatong was elected the Governor of

, which consisted of 21 towns, in 1992. As governor, Amatong spearheaded the creation of a new province

, which consists eleven

municipalities A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...

which were formerly part of Davao del Norte. Amatong became the interim governor of the newly created

province for three months in 1998. He was later elected to the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

, 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 An ombudsman ( , also ) is a government employee who investigates and tries to resolve complaints, usually through recommendations (binding or not) or mediation. They are usually appointed by the government or by parliament (often with a sign ...

. Politicians from both Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley continued to consult Amatong following his retirement, earning him the nickname as the "grand old man" of Davao politics.

Personal life

Prospero Amatong suffered a fall in a

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

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 A coma is a deep state of prolonged unconsciousness in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to Nociception, respond normally to Pain, painful stimuli, light, or sound, lacks a normal Circadian rhythm, sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate ...

. 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 The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

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 legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the ...

, a real

champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amatong, Prospero

Prospero Prospero ( ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of William Shakespeare's ''The Tempest''. Character Twelve years before the play begins, Prospero is usurped from his position as the rightful Duke of Milan by his brother Antonio, ...

1931 births 2009 deaths People from Dipolog Governors of Davao de Oro Governors of Davao del Norte Mayors of places in Davao de Oro Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Davao de Oro Accidental deaths from falls Accidental deaths in New York (state)