Rafael Nantes

Rafael "Raffy" Puchero Nantes (January 4, 1957 – May 17, 2010) was the governor of the Province of Quezon, Philippines from 2007 to 2010. He was the national treasurer of the Liberal Party. He first served as a congressman of the 1st District of Quezon from 1998 to 2007.

Early life[]

He was born on January 4, 1957 in Polillo, Quezon to Dr. Alban Nantes and Eufemia Puchero. As a boy, he grew up with his grandmother Eleuteria, fondly called Nana Teryang, who was a fish dealer. Raffy helped in selling fish going from house to house.^{[citation needed]}

When their family moved to Manila and transferred near Camp Aguinaldo, he became a shoeshine boy, shining shoes of generals and other officers in the Camp, to have needed funds for his studies and daily family expenses.

Personal life[]

He was married to Betty Buenaobra, the President of People's International Enterprises Company. They had only one son named Samuel, who currently serves as the vice governor of Quezon.

Education[]

• Elementary – Camp Crame Elementary School (1970–1974)
• Secondary – Sibulan Barangay High School, Polillo, Quezon (1974–1978)
• College – National University: BS Mechanical Engineering (1979–1983)
• Post Graduate – Philippine Christian University: Master's degree in Business Administration (1983)

Organization and position held[]

Socio-civic organizations[]

• National University Alumni Foundation Inc., President (2000–2005)
• Boy Scout of the Philippines (Quezon Chapter), Provincial chairman (2001–2007)
• Tipan, Governor and Presiding chairman (1999–2007)
• Club Filipino, Member (1999) and Board Director (2000)
• Quezonians 1923 Inc., President (1999)
• Rotary Club of Lucban, Member (1998–2004)
• Southern Tagalog Inventors Association, Member (1997–2002)
• Infanta (Quezon) Lions Club, President (1996–1998) and Adviser (1999–2004)
• Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity, Secretary General & Convenor of Supreme Grand Council
• World Safety Organization, Member
• Safety Organization of the Philippines Business Establishment, Member

Positions[]

• Neutron Broadcasting Network, Inc. – President and chairman of the board (1997–1998)
• Banahaw Utilities Corporation – President and chairman of the board (1995–1998)
• Neutron Battery Company – President and general manager (1990–1998)
• People's International Enterprises Company – President and general manager (1984–1998)

Awards received[]

• Kapalaran Award 2002 (Outstanding Congressman of the New Millennium, Best in Public Service and Landmark Legislation), Asia Pacific Youth Outreach Development, Inc. on July 27, 2002
• Handog kay Itay – 2002 Celebrity Father Awardee for Public Service, 22nd National Celebration of Father's Day, June 16, 2002
• Gawad Makamasa – Gawad Lingkod Uliran Award, May 25, 2002
• Hall of Fame Award – Top 20 Most Accomplished Personalities of the Philippines on May 12, 2002 (by ADE International Foundation)
• Leadership for Progress Awards 2002: Outstanding Congressman of the Year, Civic and Political Leader of the Philippines. Media Writer's Research for Community Development and Progress, Inc., March 16, 2002
• Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for the Three Consecutive Years (From 1999 to 2001) on February 6, 2002 – by Congress Magazine, Makati Graduate School, Berhard Lending Investments and Reserved Soldiers Union Who's Who in the Philippines: 18th Annual People's Choice Awards, Huwarang Filipino Awardee for Government and Public Service On September 17, 2000
• Most Outstanding Legislator Award, Media Excellence Awards for Progress 2000 – Philippine Media Research and Progress Report Inc.,

September 9, 2000

• Most Outstanding Congressman – 11th Congress – by Phoenix Express Press Club, February 2, 2002
• Most Outstanding Neophyte Congressman of the 11th Congress on December 15, 1999 – by Congress Magazine, Makati Graduate School,

Berthard Lending Investments and Franco Cultural Properties Explosion System.

• Kapatiran Award 2002 (Outstanding Congressman of the New Millennium, Best in Public Service and Landmark Legislation), Asia Pacific Youth Outreach Development, Inc., on July 27, 2002
• The Golden Record of Excellence Award for Outstanding Inventor and Mechanical Engineer, Best in Entrepreneurship, given by the Sons and Daughters of Charity, Inc.
• 1997 Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan Awardee Lions Club International President's Award for Humanitarian Service

Outstanding Lions Club Leadership Awardee

• 1998 Infanta (Quezon) Lions Club Leadership Awardee Outstanding Triskelion Awardee – by Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity

International Region, U.S.A.

• Southern Tagalog Inventors Association Awardee
• Recipient of Appreciation from the National University Alumni Foundation Inc., for exemplary achievements in PUBLIC SERVICE and ENTREPRENEURSHIP, July 2000
• Kapatiran Award 2002 (Outstanding Congressman of the New Millennium, Best in Public Service and Landmark Legislation), Asia Pacific Youth Outreach Development, Inc. on July 27, 2002
• Best Utility Model Awardee – DOST Inventor's Week, November 2000
• Recipient of Congressional Commendation, Adopted by the House of Representatives (H. 163) on December 28, 2000 as Outstanding Filipino Inventor DOS Hall of Fame Awardee
• Parangal ng Bayan 2001 and Who's Who in the Philippines National Excellence Awardee for Government and Public Service.

Death[]

Governor Nantes died in a helicopter accident that crashed into two houses at Jael Subdivision 1, Barangay Iyam, Lucena City on Monday, May 17, 2010, about 3:15 p.m. He had just attended a regular weekly flag raising ceremony at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, Quezon, Philippines.^[1][2]

References[]