Roxas’ name returns to Capiz politics with Paolo’s Congress bid

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

(This story is the last of a series of election reports examining political dynasties in Western Visayas)

Paolo Gerardo Roxas, the great-grandson of former Philippine president Manuel Acuña Roxas, is running for the representative of Capiz’s 1st district — signaling a new chapter in the Roxas family’s political saga in the province.

Paolo graduated from Yale University in 2017, earning a degree in economics. He reactivated his voter registration in Brgy. Baybay, Roxas City in February 2024.

He received the endorsement of ONE CAPIZ Party, a political coalition seeking to  unite political leaders from both the 1st and 2nd districts of Capiz. Paolo’s father, Manuel “Mar” Roxas, is the chairman of the advisory council.

He also earned the support of incumbent 1st district Rep. Emmanuel “Tawi” Billones, who appointed him as the focal person for the congressman’s social services programs last year.

Paolo faces a notable challenger in Howard Guintu, the incumbent representative of the PINUNO Party List, an organization advocating for affordable and decent housing for Filipinos, particularly targeting informal settler families and the homeless.

A Century of Political Influence

For over a century, the Roxas family has stood as a dominant force in the political landscape, leaving an indelible mark on both local and national governance.

It all began with Manuel Acuña Roxas, whose political career took root in 1917 when he served as a municipal councilor of Capiz. By 1919, at just 27 years old, he became the province’s youngest governor, a position he held until 1922.

But this was merely the start of a storied political career. In 1922, Manuel was elected as the representative of Capiz’s 1st district. For 12 years, from 1922 to 1934, he served as the Speaker of the House.

By 1935, he continued his service as a member of the National Assembly under the Commonwealth government.

The outbreak of World War II disrupted his senatorial term, which he had won in 1941. But as the war ended, Manuel emerged once more.

On May 28, 1946, he assumed the role of the third and last President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines.

Just weeks later, on July 4, 1946, as the United States granted the country its independence, he became the first President of the Third Philippine Republic. His inauguration marked the formal end of nearly five decades of American colonial rule.

Manuel, unfortunately, saw his tenure abruptly end with his sudden death from a heart attack on April 15, 1948.

Son continues legacy

Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas Sr., Manuel’s son, inherited not only the Roxas name but also the family’s political aspirations.

At the age of 33, Gerry was elected as the representative of Capiz’s 1st district in 1957. Six years later, he ascended to the Senate.

His political journey saw both triumph and disappointment—he resigned in 1965 to run for vice president as the running mate of President Diosdado Macapagal, only to lose.

Gerry reclaimed his seat in the Senate in the tumultuous elections of 1969, becoming the lone Liberal Party member to survive the electoral debacle.

As Senate Minority Leader from 1970 to 1972, he became a vocal critic of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. until Martial Law dissolved Congress in 1972.

A Tale of Two Sons

Gerry’s legacy continued through his two sons, Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas Jr. and Manuel “Mar” Araneta Roxas II.

Dinggoy, at 26, became the youngest congressman in 1987, representing Capiz’s 1st District.

Yet tragedy struck in 1993 when he succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 32. His untimely death left a void not only in his family but also in the political landscape of Capiz.

It was then that Mar stepped into the political arena. Running unopposed in a special election, he became the representative of Capiz’s 1st District in 1993.

Over the years, Mar’s career spanned key government positions. From serving as House Majority Leader from 1998 to 2000, he transitioned to executive roles as Secretary of Trade and Industry, Secretary of Transportation, and later Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

Mar’s national ambitions also came to the forefront. In 2010, he set aside his presidential aspirations to run as vice president under the ticket of Benigno Aquino III, only to narrowly lose to Jejomar Binay.

In 2016, he ran for president but was defeated by Rodrigo Duterte. From then on, Mar stepped away from politics and focused on his twin children with Korina Sanchez, Pilar and Pepe.

As Paolo embarks on his own political journey, Capiz voters are once again presented with a familiar name on the ballot.

Will the Roxas legacy endure in the province’s 1st district, or will Capizanos seek a new direction in leadership? (Graphics by Maybelle Jabian, WVSU intern)