Rosalio D. Martires[2] (September 9, 1946 – June 18, 2024), also known as Yoyong Martirez, was a Filipino basketball player, actor, politician and comedian. He was the 6th Vice Mayor of Pasig.[3]
He was part of the national team which won gold in the 1973 ABC Championship (now the FIBA Asia Cup) which was hosted in Manila.[7]
Acting career
Martirez also became a film actor often fulfilling the roles of sidekick characters in portrayals to films which starred Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon.[8]
He appeared in the television programs Iskul Bukol from the late 1970s and in John en Marsha in the 1980s. His feature film debut was in the 1985 film Ma'am May We Go Out? which starred the Sotto–de Leon comedic trio.[6]
Martirez's acting career overlapped the latter years of his basketball career which ended in 1982. He also appeared in later television shows such as Pepito Manaloto, My Darling Aswang and Daddy's Gurl in the 2010s.[6]
Political career
Martires was as a local politician and public servant in Pasig for 27 years.
City Councilor of Pasig (1995-2004)
He served his first term as councillor from 1995 to 2004. During this time, he co-authored a number of landmark local ordinances such as that for the creation and establishment of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig, the Pasig City General Hospital, and the Pasig City Children's Hospital.
Vice Mayor of Pasig (2004-2013)
He was elected Vice Mayor in 2004 and served until 2013. As the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Pasig, he oversaw the passage of local ordinances such as that for the establishment of the Pasig City Science High School, [9] the creation of the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, [10] and the enactment of the Gender and Development Code of Pasig City.[11]
City Councilor of Pasig (2013-2022)
In 2013, he was again elected as a councilor for the second district and served until 2022. [4] As the Chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Pasig's Committee on Health when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, Martirez principally authored various legislative measures aimed at mitigating the spread of the virus and strengthening the delivery of health services by the local government. This includes the ordinance which established the Pasig City Health Department. [12]
Death
Martirez died on June 18, 2024 at Makati Medical Center. He was 77. His death was linked to complications from pneumonia.[8] He was buried at The Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig on June 23, 2024.[13]
