The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol, led by Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos, approved en masse on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, a resolution expressing deepest sympathies and profound condolences to the bereaved family of the late Governor of Bohol David B. Tirol.
The resolution likewise renders a posthumous tribute to the late Gov. Tirol for his immense contributions to the province that has benefited its people.
Born in Cebu City on May 1, 1933, David Belarmino Tirol was the son of Iluminada Belarmino and Atty. Victoriano Degamo Tirol, founder of Rafael Palma College and now known as the University of Bohol.
He worked as a dean and college professor at Rafael Palma College of Commerce from 1967 to 1975 after which he became the executive vice president of the school until 1983, and at the same time, the vice chairman of the board.
He became the president of the university from 1984 to 1992, while simultaneously serving as chairman of the board, and president emeritus of University of Bohol from 1992 to 1997.
The late Hon. David B. Tirol started his political career at the age of 26 when he won a seat as municipal councilor of Tagbilaran in 1960. Four years later, he won as a senior board member of the Province of Bohol. He served as Bohol vice governor from 1967 until 1984.
From 1984 to 1986, the late Gov. Tirol served as assemblyman in the Batasang Pambansa. He was known as “the wonder boy of Bohol politics,” because of his unbroken string of victories in the polls.
In 1987, he was elected congressman of the second district of Bohol serving until 1992. He was then elected as governor of the province of Bohol in 1992 serving until 1995.
The late Hon. David B. Tirol likewise served as head of the Philippine National Red Cross for a number of years, and was president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Tagbilaran Chapter. He was awarded as one among those named as the ‘most outstanding congressman’ from 1988 to 1991, and ‘most outstanding governor’ in 1994. He won the prestigious Aurora Aragon Quezon Medal and the International Golden Award in 1992 for his dynamic works in the Red Cross. He was also a National Awardee for the outstanding Citizen Soldier.
In the first Tigom Bol-anon Tibook Kalibutan (TBTK) held in Tagbilaran City in 1999, he was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Around the World in the field of education.
Furthermore, the late Gov. Tirol was a national delegate to the 40th session of the United Nations held in New York. He was also a Philippine delegate to the ASEAN Parliament in Manila in 1991.
He was married to Dr. Amalia Reyes Tirol, Ph.D., who was also a former member of the provincial board of Bohol representing the second district.
The late Honorable David B. Tirol died on Wednesday night, March 16, 2022, at the age of 88.
