Alimodian Firsts: Esteban A. Amparo

Esteban A. Amparo

First Newspaper Editor and Journalist

       Esteban A. Amparo was born to Aquilino Amparo and Antonina Amande on December 26, 1914. He had his first education under his mother who taught him the alphabet and the cartilla. Esteban spent only five years in the elementary school instead of seven because he was promoted from one grade to another.

      After finishing Grade VII, he enrolled in the Iloilo Normal School and graduated in 1937. In 1937 he was called to teach in Island Municipality of Cagayancillo in Palawan. After a year he transferred to Tarug and later to Cabacanan.

      During the war Esteban Amparo joined the military outfit of then Col. Macario Peralta, where he rose from the assimilated rank of private to the highest non-commissioned rank of master sergeant.

     When he was discharged from military service, he returned to teaching career. Later tired of teaching, he landed a clerical position in the Provincial Capitol. While working as a clerk, he earned a living by contributing articles to the Philippines Free Press and other Manila dailies.

     He was elected president of the Iloilo Press and Radio Club on May 2, 1971. Then on December 29, 1972 he was elected president of Sumakwelan, Iloilo Chapter, an association of newspaperman and poets of Western Visayas.

     Esteban A. Amparo has been a member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Alimodian and was chosen by the members to represent Alimodian in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. He was able to get an appropriation of P75,000 pesos which was used in the construction of the ACES Social Hall and the cementing of Almacen Street and the repair of the Home Economics Building of Bancal Elementary School and the repair of Pajo Primary School.