Jovenal Villanueva Somoza Hero and Martyr 1906-1944

Jovenal is the son of Don Alejandro Somoza and Doña Narcisa Visitacion- Villanueva from Bais and La-Liberated landed clan. Educated in Dumaguete and Manila's prestigious institution and finished his degree in Engineering, he joined the City Engineering Dept. under Mayor Jose Teves-Pastor, his first project is to put up Health Centre in Piapi,Daro and Taclobo. He later worked with the Provincial Engineering Dept.one of the biggest projects was schools in Siaton,Bais,Dumaguete,la liberated and Amlan. He made many proposals to the Bureau of Public Works and Highways of the United States of America for road construction.

 

     Before and during the Outbreak of World War II he became an assistant district engineer. Among his projects was to build a road from Bais to Kabankalan, bridges connecting Sta.Catalina to Bayawan. During the War he was dubbed as " Pied Piefer" He went to places and countryside to deliver the messages to the guerrilla about the different plan of the Resistance Group of Dumaguete. He became a volunteer for Civilian Clubs and Red Cross to distributing rice, can goods and other supplies. Eduardo J. Blanco and Jovenal made a detailed ground plan of the Dumaguete Sibulan Airfield and installations, together with other Dumaguetiños organized the Underground Movement. September 11,1944 in the afternoon.

 He was captured by the Japanese Imperial forces imprisoned in the Silliman University " Davao Cottage".One week later, the four were loaded in a banca and thrown to the sea near Piapi Beach.Gervacia Lezana Somoza the wife of Jovenal narrated this incident in1969. She describes it as the most tragic incident that would ever happen to any family especially upon her husband's dead body floating in Piapi beach and bathing with his blood. 

After the War Gov. Lorenzo G.Teves has given the family a posthumous award for Jovenal's for his heroism and the National Veteran's Federation Bayani ng Bayan Awardee. A street in Dumaguete somewhere in Piapi & Bantayan area is named after him the former Mango Ave now J.V.Somoza Ave

History of the Somoza- Rubio Clan of Bais City

The Someza- Rubio Clan are generally regarded as a Spanish mestizo family, like so many of the Old Negros Oriental aristocracy.Started with patriarchal Jose Rodrigo Carmilo Rubio established Hacienda in San Isidero ,Katagachan, Manlipac, Panalaan ,Tanjay ,Tayasan and  la Liberated.Don Romualdo Somoza ,his brother and the Rubio sisters made a waves in the landmark in the Sugar Industry since 1865. It is said that if you are not from Negros you will find it difficult to understand the temperament of a Negrosanon. We have to face the fact that hacienda culture is dominant in Negros society. The “hacendados” and the “hacenderos” have always provided us a power image and influence in community building of Faith and Character.

Many of our sugarcane planters have considered their workers as the extended members of the family. The grandparents, parents and the children are still working in the hacienda until now. The “amo-obrero” relationship still lingers on. The sugar industry may not be in good shape now, but the sugarcane planters and the workers still cling to each other. Those who disagree with the hacienda system send their children to school and gradually find a greener pasture outside of the hacienda.The down to Somoza- Rubio Hermanos will continue to shape lives of the people in the sugar industry