Luisa Lloren Cuaresma Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honorable
Luisa Lloren Cuaresma
Office:Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Nueva Vizcaya
Predecessor:Carlos Padilla
Order1:20th
Office1:Governor of Nueva Vizcaya
Term Start1:June 30, 2004
Term End1:June 30, 2013
Predecessor1:Rodolfo Agbayani
Successor1:Ruth Padilla
Office2:Vice Governor of Nueva Vizcaya
Term Start2:June 30, 1998
Term End2:June 30, 2004
Predecessor2:Natalia Dumlao
Successor2:Jose Gambito
Office3:Mayor of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya
Term Start3:June 30, 1988
Term End3:June 30, 1998
Birth Date:18 January 1955
Birth Place:Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines
Nationality:Filipino
Party:Lakas–CMD (2021–present)
Spouse:Benjamin Roque Cuaresma
Children:Benjamin Cuaresma III
Residence:Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines
Occupation:Politician
Honorific Prefix:The Honorable
Termstart:June 30, 2016
Otherparty:NUP (2018–2021)
UNA (2012–2018)
Nacionalista (until 2012)

Luisa "Banti" Lloren Cuaresma (born January 18, 1955) is a Filipina politician who currently serves as the representative of the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya since 2016. Previously, she served as governor of Nueva Vizcaya from 2004 until 2013 and vice-governor from 1998 until 2004. She is the province's fourth female governor.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Early life

Cuaresma, a pharmacist by profession, was married to Bambang Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma, who was abducted and assassinated by the New People's Army on the eve of the 1988 local elections.[5]

Political career

After her husband's murder, Cuaresma ran for mayor in the 1988 election and won, serving the three-term limit until 1998. Afterwards, she was elected vice governor for two terms before becoming the fifth woman to become governor of Nueva Vizcaya in 2004.[6] She served in that post until 2013, when she made an unsuccessful bid to run for the lone district of Nueva Vizcaya in the 16th Congress. She was finally elected to the 17th Congress in 2016 and was reelected in 2019 and 2022.[7]

Cuaresma was a critic of large-scale mining operations in the province such as the open-pit mine operated by the Australian mining firm OceanaGold in the town of Kasibu. In 2008, she and other officials of the provincial government were sued for blocking the mine's operations.[8]

Personal life

Cuaresma has four children, the eldest of which, Benjamin III, has served as mayor of Bambang.[5]

Electoral history

Election YearPositionPartyVotes for CuaresmaResult
Total%.Swing
1988MayorLakas6,18748.62%1stN/A
1992LDP7,76457.38%1st+9.12%
1995Lakas–CMD12,562100.00%1st+42.62%
1998Vice GovernorLAMMP64,44451.45%1stN/A
2001LDP73,60962.82%1st+11.37%
2004GovernorLDP56,00839.62%1stN/A
2007Nacionalista83,64357.60%1st+17.98%
2010Nacionalista108,18265.97%1st+8.37%
2013RepresentativeUNA51,31339.33%2ndN/A
2016UNA78,12545.77%1st+6.44%
2019NUP114,33856.08%1st+10.31%
2022Lakas–CMD165,36072.25%1st+16.17%

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Historical Background . . Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines .
  2. Web site: Results of 2007 Local Elections . ABS-CBN News . December 11, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071023195856/http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/microsites/halalan07/LOCAL.html . October 23, 2007.
  3. http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/philippines_local.htm Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership: Philippines Local Leaders
  4. Web site: House of Representatives House Members: Hon. Cuaresma, Luisa Lloren. House of Representatives. September 20, 2022.
  5. News: Lagasca. Charlie. Reds behind 1988 slay of Vizcaya gov's husband – police . August 19, 2022. The Philippine Star . January 8, 2008.
  6. Web site: Vizcaya gets woman gov, too . March 28, 2023 . Philstar.com.
  7. Web site: Padilla, Cuaresma retain posts in Nueva Vizcaya . . May 11, 2022 .
  8. Web site: Vizcaya gov, others face raps for stalling mining project . . August 5, 2008.