02/01/2026
TUDELA HONORS LOCAL HISTORIAN FOR RESTORING TOWN'S 'TRUE ROOTS', ECHOING ASENSO VISION OF IDENTITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT
via Bhal Abad Cabrera | January 3, 2026
TUDELA, Misamis Occidental — The Municipality of Tudela honored Fr. Atty. Lhem J. Naval, a priest, lawyer, and local historian whose decades-long research has reshaped how Tudelanhons understand their past—an effort local leaders say mirrors the Asenso brand of service championed by Governor Henry Sevilla Oaminal, where development is anchored not only on infrastructure, but on identity, culture, and shared memory.
During the inauguration of a historical marker on December 28, 2025, Mayor Estela Obut-Estaño described Naval as “a true son of Tudela,” whose contribution went beyond pastoral ministry and scholarship to strengthening the community’s sense of self.
“His greatest legacy to our town is his research into our past—connecting historical records and tracing the true roots of Tudela,” the mayor said. “Because of his work, Tudelanhons are enlightened, and future generations will grow up knowing the real story of where we came from.”
Local officials said the recognition aligns with the provincial thrust under Governor Oaminal’s leadership, which underscores that true Asenso is achieved when communities are grounded in history and values—ensuring progress that is Malinawon, Malambuon, ug Malipayon.
Naval’s research, drawn from church archives, colonial records, and local accounts, clarified long-standing questions about Tudela’s origins and evolution. By grounding the town’s story in documented evidence rather than fragmented memory, his work reframed local history into a clearer, shared narrative.
According to Naval’s findings, Tudela was founded in the late 19th century by Recollect friar Padre Antonio Olleta as a visita of Tudela named after Olleta’s hometown in Navarre, Spain. By 1884, the settlement had grown into a pueblo with four barrios, and in 1893 it became a parish carved out from its mother parish of Misamis, now Ozamiz City.
The research also detailed Tudela’s political evolution during the American colonial period. Through the efforts of Senator José F. Clarin and Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison, Tudela became an independent municipality effective January 1, 1921, with Primitivo Ninang serving as its first municipal president. Spanish remained the language of official records until 1928, reflecting the town’s colonial administrative roots.
Naval further traced changes in Tudela’s territorial boundaries, including the transfer of Barrio Balicacao to Clarin in 1924 and later adjustments linked to the creation of Don Mariano Marcos, now Don Victoriano.
The historical marker, inscribed Ad Perpetuam Rei Memoriam (For the perpetual memory of the event), was inaugurated by the local government led by Mayor Estela Obut-Estaño, Vice Mayor Wilma L. Parajinog, members of the Sangguniang Bayan for the 2025–2028 term, and residents of Tudela.
As part of the ceremony, the mayor also extended birthday greetings to Naval, thanking him for a legacy that restored Tudela’s collective identity—an enduring contribution, officials said, that reflects the very heart of the Asenso brand of service.
“Daghan kaayong salamat,” the mayor said. “You gave us back our identity.”
