Abra Provincial Library

The Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. – Cordillera Administrative Region Librarians Council (PLAI-CARLC) successfully conducted its Seminar and General Assembly, during which the Abra Provincial Library was among the recipients of the Book Donation Program.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Director Marilou Pasion, VP Liza Tamargo and Ma’am Sharone Benedicta Balderas of PLAI-CARLC Abra for their support and dedication.

Advance Happy Cordillera Day! 🥳

📍𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 - 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 #𝟏𝟑

𝐃𝐑. 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐁. 𝐏𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐎 (𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟑)

He was a leader with great dreams for Abra. Aside from being the loving husband of Ms. Verena Domingo and a doting father to 8 children, he was an example of a hardworking, honest, and caring leader.

During his brief stint as governor, he helped his provincemates get decent jobs in and outside Abra. He also provided 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 for the children of those who cannot afford to send them to school. It is with pride that up to this day, the products and successes of those scholars still live as concrete proof of his generosity and goodwill. After two months he was then appointed by President Diosdado Macapagal as 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 (𝐒𝐒𝐒). It was again in this capacity that he was able to continue helpingAbreniansin employment and thereby uplifting their lives.

📍𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 - 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 #𝟏𝟏

𝐃𝐑. 𝐋𝐔𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍, 𝐒𝐑. (𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟕-𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟏)

Dr. Luis F. Bersamin was a distinguished figure known for his multifaceted roles as a 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐈 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧. Born to Longino Villamor Bersamin and Luisa M. Ferraren. His father served his constituents as a Municipal Mayor of Bangued for some years. On his father's side, he traced his lineage to the prominent Villamor clan of Abra. He was deeply rooted in a family dedicated to public service. Dr. Luis had three siblings, an older brother, Roman Bersamin, a physician, and two younger sisters, Ester Bersamin-Abaya, an educator, and Eliza Bersamin-Estrada, a social worker/pharmacist.

Throughout his life, Dr. Luis demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his community and country. His medical career spanned both private practice and government service, while his military career saw him bravely participate in the harrowing events of World War II, including the infamous Bataan Death March. His political career was marked by his tenure as the Provincial Governor of Abra, where he focused on rebuilding infrastructure projects post-World War II. Establishing the first Abra Provincial Hospital, rebuilding the Provincial Capitol, adopting the existing Provincial Seal of Abra, and constructing crucial roads like the Abra-Kalinga Road and the Abra-llocos Norte Road are all significant achievements.

Dr. Luis was not only a devoted professional but also a family man, married to Rosario V. Purugganan and father to seven children, each with their unique accomplishments:
▪️𝐋𝐮𝐢𝐬 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, 𝐉𝐫., a Municipal Mayor of Bangued for three consecutive terms, then as Vice-Governor of Abra, and Representative of the Lone District of Abra.
▪️𝐄𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐨 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, Governor-elect, previously served as governor from 2007- 2016. His leadership and dedication to public service continued the legacy of his father and family.
▪️𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, served as Barangay Chairman of Zone 7 and then as municipal councilor.
▪️𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐬 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, had a distinguished legal career. He became an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and retired as Chief Justice of the Philippines. Shortly after, he was elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the GSIS. Lucas was appointed as Executive Secretary of the Philippines by President Ferdinand Marcos.
▪️𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, before serving as a Barangay Kagawad of Zone 7, Bangued, he worked as financial analyst in the private sector
▪️𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧-𝐋𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧, the only daughter, a medical doctor by profession. Matilde currently resides in London continuing the family’s tradition of dedication and service in the field of medicine.
▪️𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐨 𝐏. 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧, retired medical technologist and currently resides with his family in Illinois.