PATRICIA M. VELEZ
Outstanding
• Mother
• Citizen
• Civic Leader
• Social Worker
• Philanthropist
Biographical Sketch
Mrs. Patricia Mercado Velez was born in August 25, 1896 in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental , into the family of Zoilo Francisco Mercado and Pelagia Edmilao. She finished her primary education at the Carmen Primary School, her intermediate at the Misaamis Oriental Intermediate School, and her 2 year secondary at the Misamis Oriental High School (There were no third and fourth year classes at the time). During her school days, “Cocay”, as she is fondly called by relatives and close friends, distinguished herself as a soloist, debater and declaimer. She was appointed teacher at the Carmen Primary School in 1915 for the newly opened Grade I and II classes. In 1917 she was transferred to the Cagayan Central School to teach music.
Cocay became Mrs. Mariano A. Velez, Sr., also of Cagayan on Novemeber 29, 1917. The fruits of the blissful union are 5 children, all boys, namely,
From the Eldest to the youngest:
Plutarco, the first mining engineer of Misamis Oriental and who graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology’ a guerilla 1st Lieutenant during World War II; former president of the Cagayan de Oro Rotary Club; and married to the former Sofia Hizon of Davao City;
Homer, a bachelor of science in commerce graduate of Far Eastern University; a guerilla second Lieutenant during World War II; former tax investigator in the office of the late Mayor Justiniano R. Borja of Cagayan de Oro City; formerly Chief of the secret service division of the Cagayan de Oro Police Department with the rank of captain; and married to the former Sarah Alagaban of Davao City. (Deceased) At the necrological services, he was pronounced honest and heroic officer.
Mariano Jr., a bachelor of business administration graduate of Far Eastern University where he excelled in athletics; national decathlon champion in 1948; national amateur welterweight boxing champion; FEU basketball varsity player and track and field mainstay; RP welterweight boxing representative in the 1948 London World Olympic; former operations manager of the Provincial Telephone System in Cagayan de Oro City; and married to the former Linda Lopez, also of the same city;
Puro, a bachelor of arts graduate of Siliman University; bachelor of science in jurisprudence and bachelor of laws graduate of the University of the Philippines; member of the Philippine Bar; a realtor and a Rotarian; former legal officer during the late Governor Alfonso Dadole and then Governor Pedro N. Roa’s administration; private secretary of office of late Misamis Oriental Governor Concordio C. Diel; former General manager of City General Services, Former City Prosecutor and RTC Judge in Dumaguete, Gingoog and Cagayan de Oro City; member of Philconsa; a freemason; a member of the Sigma Rho Fraternity UP College of Law; member of Philippine Judges Association; cowboy and a weekend farmer and married to the former Ligaya Marban of Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental and
Alejandro, a bachelor of laws graduate of Manuel Luiz Quezon University; member of the Philippine Bar; former councilor of Cagayan de Oro City for two terms, 1959-1967. a Rotarian; engaged in the practice of law in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental until he was appointed RTC Judge at Cagayan de Oro City; appointed executive judge; member Philippine Judges Association; and married to the former Ester Gabor, a pharmacist at the city hospital.
An active social worker, Mrs. Patricia M. Velez joined the Cagayan Women’s Club way back on December 30, 1926. She became president of Cagayan Women’s club and Peuriculture Center League of Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon in 1953-58, during which she along with other equally active club members were able to put up the Peuriculture Center Building and the Maternity Hospital. She also helped in putting up Peuriculture centers in such municipalities of Misamis Oriental as Opol, Balingoan, Talisayan, Balingasag, Kinoguitan, Salay, Alubijid, Initao, and Manticao.
She carved her name in the then town of Cagayan (now Cagayan de Oro City) when she was elected no. 1 councilor in 1938. Following the demise of then Mayor Julio Pacana, Cocay assumed the position of vice mayor after having been extended an appointment for the second top position of the town by the Late President Manuel L. Quezon in 1940. She is the only woman since then to have been elected to the municipal council. (As of 1972)
During the Second World War, the Velez family fled to the hills where they worked, hand in hand with the guerilla forces. The older boys, Plutarco and Homer joined with the guerrillas. Mrs. Patricia Velez was elected chairman of the committee of procurement in Talakag, Bukidnon, the guerilla headquarters. Her task involved the solicitation of foodstuffs, clothing, medicines, and other materials for the guerillas as well as the quartering of evacuees from the enemy sector. Harassed by the Japanese, the guerillas were routed from their stronghold. The Velez family trekked down to the seacoast barrio of Lourdes (Alubijid), Misamis Oriental, where Mrs. Velez was elected supervisor of the Women’s Auxiliary Services a procurement arm of the guerilla movement in the area.
After hostilities ended, the family returned to Cagayan de Misamis and reconstructed their possessions. Mrs. Velez resumed her first love – social work. In 1961, she was chosen national committee woman of the Philippine Veterans Legion for Mindanao. In 1965, Mrs. Velez was elected national vice president for Mindanao of the Reserve Officers Legion of the Philippines convention held in Cagayan de Oro City.
Mrs. Velez was given the Outstanding Mother of the Year award by the United Evangelical Church of Cagayan de Oro City in 1951. In 1952, she was acclaimed Outstanding Mother of the Year by the Misamis Oriental Provincial High School. In 1956, she was honored by the Cagayan de Oro Press Club as Civic Leader of the Year.
In 1954, Cocay widened her horizons by joining the Round the world tour sponsored by the National Federation of Womens Club under the guidance and leadership of Mrs. Concepcion Calderon-Martelino. During the globe girding trip, she attended the International Federation of Women’s club convention held at New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.. She and her fellow travelers were accorded the honor of being name “honorary citizens of Davies County” thru the order of Judge T.B. Birk of the said county.
At present, Mrs. Patricia Velez is the President of the Misamis Oriental Federation of Women’s Club and is also one of the incorporators of Cagayan de Oro Women’s Club, Incorporated when the same was registered with the SEC in 1952. she has been elected many times as member of the Red Cross Council and Girl Scout Council. She had been elected Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, Filipinas Chapter, Maguindanao Lodge No. 40. Recently, she was elected president of the Peuriculture center league of Misamis Oriental and Camiguin. She is also a member of the coordinating council of Project Tulungan.
On September 5, 1970, officials of the Misamis Oriental Federation of Women’s club laid the cornerstone on the 400 square meter lot donate by Mrs. And Mrs. Mariano Velez Sr. for the site of the MOFWC and Puericulture center headquarters in the future. In is situated on the road leading to the JR Borja Memorial City Hospital and Mt. Carmel Church in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City. In recognition of her donation and her many activities in social work and civic work since 19265, the MOFWC passed a resolution citing Mrs. Velez as one of the best president of the Federation of Women’s Clubs and urging the national convention to be held in Manila in February, 1971, recognize her many contributions by giving her an award.
Much of the humanitarian work of Mrs. Patricia M. Velez has been inspired by her husband, Mariano A. Velez., who was born on September 8 1887, into the family of Alejandro Velez y Roa and Petrona Castro. A self made man, he started as a pier hand at the age of 15 and later worked as a clerk and paymaster. He had his ABC training during the Spanish regime. In January, 1906, he was appointed municipal teacher and soon became the principal of the Cagayan Central School. In 1907, he was promoted temporary insular teacher. A year later, he hurdled the Filipino Teachers Examination and became a regular insular teacher. In 1911, he quit teaching to devote his time to farming, planting coconuts, rice and corn and ranching. He still is a farmer and a businessman to boot.
“Itoy, as his friends called him, was appointed councilor of the municipality of Cagayan by the Misamis Oriental provincial board in 1912. Having seen the former Patricia Mercado and having fallen in love with her, Itoy pursued her until she said yes in 1917. In 1925, he was elected municipal vice mayor of Cagayan and was re-elected in 1928. He was elected chairman four times of the local Nacionalista Party in different election years. He still is a Nationalista, although an open minded one.
During the Japanese Occupation, Itoy served the resistance movement as chairman of the hauling of military supplies from the seacoast to Talakag, Bukidnon, furnishing the guerillas with 10 working carabaos and 10 men weekly, risking his life several times. When liberation came, he was appointed military mayor of Cagayan, and during his brief tenure of the office, Itoy refused to receive any salary offered by the American PCAU and military authorities.
He has been a Mason since 1911. He is at present a member of the Cagayan de Oro Rotary Club and the Knight of Rizal. He is also the chairman of the Local chapter of the Coconut Planters Association, vice chairman of the provincial council of the Coconut Planters Association and member of the national board of directors of the Philippine Producers Federation
Prepared by: Mrs Josefa A. D. Serina
Updated by: Titus Velez March 28, 2006
