Former Sadanga mayor passes away

By Angel Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – After years of public service, former Sadanga town mayor Estanislao Fagto succumbed to a lingering illness last Oct. 1 leaving behind a legacy worth remembering by his constituents and other people who were touched by his self-styled leadership.

Fagto, fondly called by his friends as Eslao, was born in Sadanga on June 6, 1945. He went to school at the nearby Sadanga Central School then moved to Bontoc where he enrolled at the Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School . He could only finish second year due financial constraints.

He entered politics in 1972 as member of the Sadanga Municipal Council up to 1980. Just after his term, he was elected municipal mayor until 1986. He was given a fresh three years term mandate as chief executive in 2001 but lost in his re-election bid in 2004.

He returned to the municipal hall in 2007 but during that time, he was already inflicted with a kidney trouble.

He underwent kidney transplant that year and stayed on medication for the rest of his term.

His physical condition made him retire from politics hoping that freeing himself from the rigors of public life would improve his health.

His health became worse however. As recounted by his wife Mary, Fagto suffered from infections and other complications just as he stepped out from office.

This led to travels to hospitals in Quezon City for medical check-ups where doctors assured that the transplanted organ was functioning well and that he was suffering from other illnesses. Just after his check-up last month, Fagto reportedly surrendered his fate to the Almighty.

So against the advice of one of his doctors, he went back to Sadanga. “I am tired. I am giving whatever tomorrow holds for me to the Lord,” Fagto told his wife.

Late last month, he was rushed to the Bontoc General Hospital where he died Oct. 1.

Fagto is one who cherishes friendship. Board member Alfonso Kiat-ong, a long-time Bontoc mayor, said Fagto never did any act to drive away friends and was amiable even to people perceived not to socially or politically agree with him.

More than this however, he is known as a fighter and a person with principle.

Gov. Leonard Mayaen recounted how he was determined to regain his seat as mayor despite set backs in his re-election bids and he fought off his illnesses to satisfactorily dispose his functions as mayor during his last term.

As a man of principle, Mayaen detailed how Fagto would not yield to issues and concerns if these were not according to his code and even if it would mean sacrificing personal gains.

Fagto was laid to rest last Oct. 5 in his hometown. He left behind his wife Mary, and four children.