09/08/2026
THE REAL REASON WHY SAMAMARESA HAS TWO (2) ASSOCIATIONS:
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, SAMAMARESA celebrated its 52nd Anniversary (either in 2019 or 2020). During this gathering, then-President Emil Zosa turned over the leadership to Adelfa Roma-Dumlao. On the same occasion, the organization honored Magsohongnon members who had made significant contributions to the growth and development of SAMAMARESA, including several former officers.
However, for reasons known only to the organization's leadership, a number of members who were equally deserving were ignored and were not recognized. This event also revealed what appeared to be an emerging plan to use the association as a vehicle to advance the political interests of the Zosa family. At that time, Gemma Parente-Zosa was the incumbent Mayor of Sta. Margarita, already serving her final term, while preparations were underway for her husband to succeed her.
Despite these concerns, one group of members chose to remain silent out of respect for the leadership. They also did not know the criteria used in selecting the awardees. They assumed that perhaps they were simply not qualified to receive such recognition, even though the only known qualification was being a member in good standing and having served as a member of the Board of Trustees.
On August 6, 2023, during the 56th Anniversary Celebration, SAMAMARESA resumed its annual gathering at Aberdeen Court after two years without any celebration due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly elected municipal officials led by Mayor Felix Panganoron, together with several councilors, attended the event to show their support.
Most members attended because it had been announced that the association would finally hold an election. Instead of presenting a transparent accounting of the association's finances after two years without celebrations, the President instead lectured the members in front of the entire gathering, including the newly elected officials of Sta. Margarita. Many members became disappointed because the financial report lacked important figures, and there were unanswered questions regarding donations made during previous celebrations. Donors wanted to know where the funds they had contributed had gone.
As a result, the newly elected municipal officials decided to leave because no election was held as expected. Instead of witnessing an election, the members were left with a rant and an incomplete financial report.
This marked one of the saddest chapters in the history of SAMAMARESA. It became the turning point when the majority of the members lost confidence in the organization's leadership.
Because most members strongly desired an election, they appealed to Mano Bebot Roma, the most senior member of SAMAMARESA, to intervene. He invited representatives from both groups to meet at his residence on August 13, 2023, in an effort to settle their differences.
One side was represented by Ricardo Capistrano, who was serving as Officer-in-Charge while the President was abroad. The other side was represented by Jojo Doinog and Ronnie Escuadra. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the best way to move the association forward, especially since elections had not been held for a long time.
During the meeting, Ricardo Capistrano, as OIC, was urged to call an election so that the officers would receive a fresh mandate from the membership. The participants explained why an election was necessary and emphasized that it was required under the Constitution and By-Laws of SAMAMARESA, which had been ratified when the association was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2011.
Ricardo Capistrano responded by saying, "Since you do not recognize Adelfa's presidency, then you yourselves should call the election."
This statement was inaccurate. The issue was not the recognition of SAMAMARESA's leadership, although there were acknowledged infirmities in its administration. Rather, the objective was to ensure that an election would be conducted in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of SAMAMARESA.
Accordingly, on August 17, 2023, we sent a "Petition for Election and Accountability" through LBC to the following officers of SAMAMARESA:
Adelfa Roma-Dumlao – President
Geoffrey D. Gan – Vice President
Luzviminda V. Elarde-Delos Angeles – Secretary
Enrique B. Castillo – Treasurer
Ricardo N. Capistrano – Auditor/OIC
Since we received no response regarding the status of the association, we subsequently sent a "Petition/Notice for Call of a General Membership Meeting and Election of the Board of Directors," dated September 4, 2023.
This petition was likewise sent through LBC to:
Adelfa Roma-Dumlao – President
Geoffrey D. Gan – Vice President
Luzviminda "Lani" Velarde Delos Angeles – Secretary
Enrique B. Castillo – Treasurer
Jojit D. Salomon – Assistant Treasurer
Ricardo N. Capistrano – Auditor
Abegail P. Deloraya – Assistant Auditor
Edwin M. Doinog – Business Manager (served personally)
The petition also bore the signatures of more than 300 members of the association. It scheduled the General Membership Meeting and Election for September 17, 2023, at the Manresa Covered Court, Barangay Manresa, Quezon City.
Before September 17 could arrive, instead of responding to or acting upon the petition of the majority of the members, the incumbent officers conducted their own election on September 10, 2023, at the Barangay Hall of Barangay Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City.
Fewer than fifty members attended this election. It was obvious that it represented only a small group and demonstrated a lack of sincerity in responding to the request of the majority of the membership for a properly conducted election at the previously announced venue.
During this election, Emil Zosa was proclaimed President, Abegail Deloraya became Vice President, and the other officers were likewise selected. It appeared that the officers had simply been handpicked, as even individuals who were not present were instantly named as officers.
The purpose of this gathering was clearly to preempt the election scheduled for September 17, 2023. Rather than submitting themselves to the will of the membership for a legitimate mandate, they conducted what we viewed as a self-serving election that lacked the support of the majority of the members. They invited only their own group and did not include the majority of members who had petitioned for an election.
On September 17, 2023, the petitioning members proceeded with the scheduled election of SAMAMARESA. A properly conducted election was held at the Manresa Covered Court, where more than 300 Magsohongnon from Metro Manila gathered to vote for the candidates for the Board of Trustees. The elected Board of Trustees would later choose the Corporate Officers of the association.
The fifteen (15) candidates elected to the Board of Trustees were:
Edwin M. Doinog – 228 votes
Mila Arga Bautista – 221 votes
Reginal D. Padilla – 217 votes
Sergio D. Taladoc, Jr. – 211 votes
Manuel V. A. Escuadra, Jr. – 207 votes
Bernardo M. Ignacio – 186 votes
Judith J. Dote – 177 votes
Joel C. Begonte – 169 votes
Roberto P. Raz, Jr. – 164 votes
Joselito B. Belardo – 162 votes
Eduardo M. Valle – 157 votes
Michael Lester Gomez – 154 votes
Valentino G. Estores – 148 votes
Rolando Adamero – 128 votes
Arman Castaneros – 127 votes
It was through this process that the New SAMAMARESA was born.
The New SAMAMARESA did not come into existence by mere chance. It was established through the mandate of the majority of the Magsohongnon residing in Metro Manila.
The New SAMAMARESA was not created to establish a second association because, legally, there can only be one SAMAMARESA—the one that derives its mandate from the members rather than from only a handful of individuals. The other group continues to exist today primarily because of what we view as the political agenda of the Zosa family.
If one examines the officers of the New SAMAMARESA, no active politician holds an official position. In contrast, it is evident that the other group has been used to advance the political agenda of the previous administration of Sta. Margarita. While some politicians may support the New SAMAMARESA, they do so only in recognition of the association's legitimate mandate. The direction and governance of the organization remain under the authority of its duly elected Board of Trustees.
The New SAMAMARESA has demonstrated transparent and responsible leadership and has faithfully respected the mandate entrusted to it by the Magsohongnon community in Metro Manila. Evidence of this is the organization's growing financial resources, which have been devoted to socio-civic projects, including improvements to the church in our hometown.
The New SAMAMARESA has never failed to reach out to the other group, even though they have consistently tried to hold their own celebrations ahead of every event organized by the New SAMAMARESA. They have always been invited to our activities, and we have continually reminded our fellow Magsohongnon that the New SAMAMARESA will always take the first step toward unity whenever they are willing to unite with us.
The New SAMAMARESA will not stop reaching out to those members who have become separated from the association. It remains our hope that, one day, we will all become one in purpose, vision, and mission for the benefit of the land of our birth—Sta. Margarita, Samar—and that the legitimacy of the association will ultimately prevail.
18/08/2026
11/08/2026
11/08/2026
08/08/2026
05/08/2026
05/08/2026