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Baguio ex-mayor Lardizabal dies

BAGUIO CITY (Nov. 7) — Luis Lardizabal, who served Baguio as councilor and mayor in a colorful political career for 27 years, succumbed to lingering illness at 8:55 p.m. Monday at the National Kidney Institute.

Current and former city officials paid tribute to Baguio’s longest-serving elected official during the necrological services Friday at the Mt. Carmel Church in Quezon City. He was 90.

Lardizabal was buried yesterday at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.

Rep. Mauricio Domogan paid his last respects through a baya-o, a traditional Igorot way of honoring the departed during wakes through prayers and narration of his or her contributions to the village.

Mayor Braulio Yaranon in turn had the national flag infront of the city hall placed at half-mast Tuesday morning in honor of his former political rival. The two ran against each other for mayor twice, but Yaranon campaigned for Lardizabal when the latter made his bid for Batasang Pambansa in 1984.

Tang Luis’ days

Addressed as Tang Luis by many residents, Lardizabal is remembered for his public works and parks development projects, brilliance and eloquence as a speaker, aside from his wit and humor.

He was born on June 21, 1914 in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. He studied at the National University and worked his way through law at the University of the Philippines as member of the university band.

“I was the best piccolo player because I was the only piccolo player then in the university,” he used to tell his staff at the city hall.

After passing the bar in 1937, he practiced law here and was soon serving clients from all over the country. His legal service for workers and the poor prompted him to organize the first labor union in the Cordillera.

His political career began in 1946 when he was appointed city councilor. He was elected twice for the same position before defeating Benito Lopez in 1959 to become Baguio’s first elected mayor.

The Nationalista Party stalwart lost the mayorship in 1964 to Norberto de Guzman, his former runningmate, but was appointed by then President Ferdinand Marcos as presidential assistant on local government affairs.

Lardizabal lost to Andres Cosalan in the 1965 race for the lone Baguio-Benguet congressional seat. He returned in 1967 for his longest term as mayor, defeating Yaranon that year and again i 1971. With elections suspended following the declaration of martial law in 1972, he served as mayor until the end of 1979.

Still, he found time to serve as governor of Lions District 301-C, president of the Host of Baguio Lions, chair of Baguio Red Cross fund campaign, director of provincial governors and city mayor’s league, and chair of the mayor’s league.

He also taught law and became dean of the college of law of the Baguio Colleges Foundation.

In 1980, Marcos appointed him elections commissioner after replacing him with Philippine Air Force deputy chief, Brig. Gen. Ernesto Bueno, as mayor. Lardizabal returned to local politics in 1983 but lost to fellow lawyer Honorato Aquino for a seat in the then Batasang Pambansa. He made a last bid again as mayor in 1987 but again lost, this time to faith healer Ramon Labo Jr.

Labo was, however, unseated over questions on his citizenship in a court battle waged by Lardizabal. Vice mayor Jaime Bugnosen, Labo’s runningmate, took over the top post.

Lardizabal then retired from politics and moved to the family home in Quezon City.

Relatives said Tang Luis remained mentally alert until last August, before he turned semi-conscious and had to be hospitalized for six weeks due to kidney failure and pneumonia. He is survived by wife Cresencia and daughter Caroline. # Ramon Dacawi via NORDIS

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