By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited yesterday the wake of former Negros Oriental Rep. Herminio “Meniong" Teves in Dumaguete City.
House Speaker, Pampanga Representative and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Teves, who won as representative of the first district of Negros Occidental in 1969, died Wednesday at the age of 99.
During the visit yesterday afternoon, the former President extended her sympathies to the bereaved family of Teves. She was accompanied by her eldest granddaughter, Mika, who is the daughter of incoming second district Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo.
It was Herminio’s eldest son Margarito “Gary” Teves who welcomed the former President. Gary Teves, who was named as “Best Finance Minister” in Asia in 2009, served as finance secretary under the Arroyo presidency.
Teves’ first congressional stint was cut short due to the declaration of martial law in 1972.
He was appointed as OIC governor of Negros Oriental from 1986 to 1988.
Teves, who represented the third district of Negros Oriental for three terms from 1998 to 2007, obtained a degree in maritime transportation from the Philippine Nautical School with flying colors in 1941.
Prior to his congressional stint, he served as manager of the lloilo Negros Shipping Company’s Cebu City operations from 1947 to 1951.
Teves was born on April 25, 1920, in Valencia, Negros Oriental. He is the third son of Margarito Pinili Teves and Francesca Guivelondo.