Eugenio A. Antonio, Jr.
EUGENIO ADALID ANTONIO, JR.
1910 – 1992
Eugenio “Nonoy” Antonio, as he was popularly and lovingly known, was born on September 4, 1910 to a Caviteño fisherman, Eugenio Antonio, Sr. and Agatona Adalid of Barrio Guadalupe, San Carlos City.
He led an exemplary life of public and community service. A man of courage and of strong character and convictions, he believed in discipline as a way of life.
He married Pacita Villaester of La Libertad, Negros Oriental and raised 9 children, all named in alphabetical order (A to I) Alfonso (deceased), Belinda, Cynthia, Diana, Eugenio III, Frances, Gilberta, Hernan and Irene, all professionals and successful in their various fields of endeavor, who because of their family upbringing have proved to be assets to their community.
Nonoy Antonio led a colorful life. He served the government of San Carlos in various capacities. In 1934 to 1938 as Vice Municipal President; in 1940 – 46 as Municipal Mayor; in 1952 – 57 as Deputy District Governor for the first district of Negros Occidental.
He also unselfishly and devotedly served his country during World War II as a guerilla fighter and organizer of the Resistance Movement. He earned the distinction of being the only Municipal Mayor in Negros Occidental who did not surrender to the Japanese. Instead, he went to the mountains and organized a guerilla unit.
During the Reign of Terrorism in Negros Occidental under then Governor Rafael Lacson, he was one of those mayors who was blacklisted and targeted for elimination because he would not kow-tow to him. Fortunately, he was able to escape to Negros Oriental when Lacson’s Special Police came for him, thus averted the sad fate of Moises Padilla.
After the war, he was active in promoting the cause and interest of the Veterans, having been District Commander of the North-Eastern Command of Negros Occidental and of the Veteran’s Federation of the Philippines (VFP), Chapter Commander of the Philippine Veteran’s Legion; Chapter Commander of the Negros Veteran’s Association and Post Commander of the American Legion Post No. 34
He was also active in numerous civic and community affairs. President of the Lion’s Club; President Emeritus of the YMCA; President of the Y’s Men’s Club; District Chairman of the Boy Scout of the Philippines for 30 years; received the highest Honorary degree in Masonry 33 degree after having been Venerable Master of the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry from 1972 to 1984.
He also served his Alma Mater Silliman University as member of the Board of Trustees from 1971 – 1981. He was Chair of the Board of Elders and Church council of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in San Carlos City, for several years, earning another distinction of being an ordained lay preacher granted to him by the Negros District Conference.
While rich people buy mansions, limousines or go on expensive trips abroad, Mr. Antonio decided to invest his money on the lives of young people by using his backpay and war damage pay to establish a school for the children of the poor and average-incomed laborers of the hacienda in San Carlos City.
In Tañon College, he left a lifetime legacy and gave the poor an equal opportunity to get an education and rise above their station.
All these efforts did not go unnoticed. His Alma Mater, Silliman University honored him with the “Outstanding Alumni Award” in the field of Community Service.
Thus, Eugenio “Nonoy” Antonio, Jr. lived a full life dubbed the “Grand Old Man of San Carlos City” and left his life, his children and his school, Tañon College, as a legacy to San Carlos City.
