Gerardo Sabinay Espina Sr.
Incumbent Mayor, Kawayan, Biliran Former Congressman 10th, 11th and 12th Congress.
Was also Deputy Speaker 11th Congress, Chairman, Committee on Public Information,
10th Congress and Majority Leader, Commission on Appointments, 12th Congress
Former National Spokesperson, League of Municipalities of the Philippines
President, League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Biliran Chapter
Former Mayor, Municipality of Naval, Biliran Province,
Gerardo "Gerry" S. Espina, Sr. is a recipient of three US scholarship grants, the Smith/Mundt, Ford Foundation and Fulbright scholarships all at the same time, 1962-1964, University of Oregon, USA. A self-made man, he was a ward of Boys Town Orphanage as a young boy, his father having died during the Second World War. He did odd jobs to support himself through high school and college yet, was an outstanding student leader, scholar and campus journalist.
Well known all over Metro Manila where he was a tri-media journalist and where he was elected in 1971 and 1978 as Manila Constitutional Convention delegate and Assemblyman respectively, he decided to relocate to Biliran province in 1994 when Biliran, his birthplace and a former sub-province of Leyte province, became a regular province in 1992.
He therefore holds the distinction of being the first elected Congressman of Biliran and perhaps the only one who has experienced representing in the Legislature an urban and a rural constituency. In the nine years that he was in congress, he was well respected and admired as an eloquent and articulate speaker and a very effective debater. In the words of Mayor Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City who was a colleague of Gerry for several years "Gerry is the only one in Congress I know who delivers eloquent speeches without codigo", a quotation from an item which appeared in the Philippine Free Press.
In the province of Biliran, most of the national circumferential and cross country roads were cemented when he became congressman of the province. All barangays practically were given electricity; 234 school rooms were built all over the province. Also, all 132 barangay roads became mostly concrete, a total of 104.220574 Km.
Hundreds received college scholarships; one in fact finished medicine and is now in the U.S., the daughter of Mr. Apolinario Gervacio.
As a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from 1978-1984 and its Assistant Majority Leader, then President Marcos who had a keen sense of getting brilliant minds to join his executive team, also appointed Gerry as concurrent Deputy Minister of Trade & Industry, Minister of State for Labor, Administrator of EPZA now PEZA, and member of the Presidential Special Committee on Government Reorganization.
Presently three of his children are elected officials of Biliran province while his eldest son is the City Auditor of the City of Pasay. A daughter is an ortho dentist who has a dental clinic in Burbank, California, USA for about 20 years now while also operating a clinic at the 2nd Floor, Vira Mall, Greenhills, San Juan hence, she travels to and from Los Angeles, USA several times a year.
| Place of Birth | Naval, Biliran |
| Profession | Businessman/Real Estate Developer/Educator/Journalist/Farmer and Cattle Rancher |
| Spouse | Asuncion Jimenez Espina, CPA; College Professor retired Central Bank Executive |
| Children | Gabriel J. Espina CPA-Lawyer, City Auditor, City of Pasay |
| Rogelio J. Espina *Incumbent Congressman, Lone Dist., Biliran * Governor (2001 -2010) Province of Biliran *Orthopedic Surgeon, FPOA, Diplomate |
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| Rodolfo J. Espina *Incumbent Vice-Mayor Kawayan, Biliran *Mayor (2001-2010) Kawayan, Biliran |
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| Eilene J. Espina *Former Recording and Concert Artist; now a very successful ortho dentist with her own clinic in Burbank, California, USA and in 2nd Floor, Vera Mall, Green Hills, San Juan |
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| Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. *Incumbent Governor, Biliran Province *Former Commissioner, Philippine Racing Commission *Congressman (2004-2007) Lone District, Biliran *Mayor (1998-2004), Naval, Biliran; *B.S.B.A., *Businessman |
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| Roselyn Espina-Paras *Councilor, Naval, Biliran (2004-2010) *Businesswoman *Former President of the Councilors League Biliran Province *Businesswoman |
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| Father | Vivencio J. Espina (deceased) of Cebu & Libagon, Southern Leyte |
| Mother | Francisca A. Sabinay (deceased) of Naval, Biliran |
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
| Post Graduate | Master in Public Administration U.P., 1962 |
| Master of Arts, Political Science Major University of Oregon, U.S.A., 1963 |
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| Doctor of Philosophy, Developmental Administration, passed Comprehensive Written Examinations University of Oregon, U.S.A., 1964 |
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| 2nd Year Law Proper University of the East, 1960-1962 Consistent Dalupan Law Scholar |
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| College | Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, FEU, Manila, 1957 Was undefeated in three (3) campus elections, while writing in the school paper. |
| High School | Cosmopolitan Academy, Cavite City, 1953 |
| Elementary Education | Tabunan Elementary School, Almeria, Biliran Cubao Elementary School, Quezon City, 1948 (Graduated) |
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
1. Fulbright Scholar, U.S.A. 1962-1964
2. Smith/Mundt Scholar, U.S.A. 1962- 1964
3. Ford Foundation Scholar, U.S.A. 1962- 1964
4. Consistent Dalupan Law Scholar, U.E. College of Law 1960-1962
5. Consistent College Scholar, Graduate School of Public Admin., U.P. 1962
6. Consistent Scholar, Far Eastern University 1953-1957
PRESENT ACTIVITIES
He operates several businesses among others trading, a supermarket, a cattle ranch, also a coconut farmer, and a real estate developer.
For a long time he was a tri-media journalist. He wrote a regular daily English and Tagalog columns in the national newspapers of the well-known Manila Times Publishing Company prior to Martial Law. He also had a regular n ationwide daily radio program and a regular weekly TV program previously with IBC Channel 13 and later with Channel 7 for several years.
Presently he hosts a daily radio program over MBC Radyo Natin, 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. @ 103.9FM.
WORK EXPERIENCES
As Educator :
1. College Textbook Author, Philippine Constitution and Government (Published, 1981)
2. Political Science professor at FEU; 1957-1962, 1964-1965
elected first President of FEU Faculty Club
3. Teaching/Research Fellow, University of Oregon, USA, 1963-1964
4. Lecturer/Professor, UP Graduate School of Public Administration, 1964 -1971
5. Dean, Lyceum of the Philippines School of Public Administration, 1972 -1978
6. Over several years was lecturer before several seminars on organization and management, leadership, marketing such as those before the Executive
Development Academy of the Philippines and The Marketing Association of the Philippines among others. Was also a lecturer at the U.S. Peace Corps Training Program, San Francisco State College, USA.
As Business Executive:
- Chairman & President, Land Resources Development Corp. (present)
- Chairman & President, G.S. Espina Realty Corp (present)
- Proprietor, GSE Supermarket (present)
- Main – Brgy. Calumpang, Naval, Biliran
- Branch – Brgy. Poblacion, Kawayan - Proprietor , Biliran Agri Center (BAC) (present)
- Twice elected president of REAP, an association of BOI registered export companies, previous
- President, Karbayan Inc. (Marketing Firm for Volkswagen Cars), previous
- Vice-President for Administration, Redson Textile Mills Corp., previous
- Gen. Manager, G & S Transport, Guevarra Group of Companies, previous
- Gen. Manager, R T C Machineries, Guevarra Group of Companies, previous
As Government Official (Previous):
| April 2003-May 2004 | Chairman, Committee on Accounts, Commission on Appointments |
| 2001 - March 2003 | Majority Floor Leader, Commission on Appointments |
| 11th Congress | Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives |
| 1995 – 2004 | Representative, Lone District, Biliran |
| 1981 – 1984 | Administrator, Export Processing Zone Authority (now PEZA) |
| 1981 – 1984 | Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry |
| 1981 – 1984 | Minister of State for Labor |
| 1978 – 1984 | Assemblyman and Assistant Majority Floor Leader Interim Batasang Pambansa |
| 1971 – 1972 | : Manila Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention received highest and biggest percentage of vote; elected chairman of Executive Power Committee over former UN Ambassador Felixberto Serrano |
MEMBERSHIPS IN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
1. Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Fatima Parish – Member
2. Holy Name of Society, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bacood Sta. Mesa, Manila - Twice Elected as President
3. Manila Host Lion's Club – Member
4. Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA)
5. University of the Philippines Alumni Association – Lifetime member
6. National Press Club of the Philippines – Lifetime Member
7. Radio-TV Federation of the Philippines – Former Chairman
8. Manila Bay Breakfast Club – Former Officer
9. 369 Breakfast Club, Intercontinental Hotel, Makati City – Member
10. Philippine Fullbrighters Association of the Philippines – Member