Corazon Nuñez Malanyaon

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Toroba, the birth surname or paternal family name is Nuñez, and the marital name is Malanyaon.

Corazon "Cora" Toroba Nuñez-Malanyaon (August 22, 1949 – June 28, 2023) was a Filipina politician, lawyer, and accountant. She served as the representative of Davao Oriental's 1st district twice, from 2001 to 2007 and again from 2016 to 2022. She also served twice as the governor of Davao Oriental: from 2007 to 2016 and from 2022 until she died in 2023. She started her political career as a member of the Davao City Council from 1986 to 1987 and 1988 to 1992.

The Honorable Cora Malanyaon
Nuñez–Malanyaon official portrait during the 18th Congress
9th Governor of Davao Oriental
In office June 30, 2022 – June 28, 2023
Vice Governor	Niño Uy
Preceded by	Nelson Dayanghirang
Succeeded by	Niño Uy
In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Vice Governor	Joel Mayo Z. Almario
Preceded by	Ma. Elena T. Palma Gil
Succeeded by	Nelson Dayanghirang
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Davao Oriental's 1st district
In office June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Nelson Dayanghirang
Succeeded by	Nelson Dayanghirang
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007
Preceded by	Ma. Elena T. Palma Gil
Succeeded by	Nelson Dayanghirang
Vice Mayor of Davao City
Acting 12 November 1990 – 11 January 1991
Mayor	Dominador B. Zuño Jr.
Preceded by	Dominador B. Zuño Jr.
Succeeded by	Dominador B. Zuño Jr.
Member of the Davao City Council from the 3rd district
In office 11 January 1991 – June 30, 1992
In office February 2, 1988 – 12 November 1990
Officer in Charge May 9, 1986 – November 27, 1987
Personal details
Born	Corazon Toroba Nuñez (1949-08-22)August 22, 1949 Cateel, Davao, Philippines
Died	June 28, 2023(2023-06-28) (aged 73) Davao City, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista (from 2009)
Other political affiliations	PDP–Laban (1986–1992) NPC (2000–2005) KAMPI (2006–2009) Hugpong ng Pagbabago (from 2018)
Spouse	Luis Malanyaon Jr.
Children	1
Alma mater	Ateneo de Davao University (BS, LLB)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Accountant Lawyer

Early life

Corazon Toroba Nuñez was born on August 22, 1949,^[1] and raised in Cateel, Davao province (now part of Davao Oriental) and graduated valedictorian in elementary and high school. She moved to Davao City to study commerce (major in accountancy, minor in finance and management) at Ateneo de Davao University, where she graduated cum laude. She later earned her Bachelor of Laws at the same university, also graduating cum laude.^[2][3]

Before entering politics, she worked as an accountant and lawyer specializing in corporate law and taxation, and also taught at her alma mater. She married businessman Luis Malanyaon Jr.^[2] They had a daughter, Michelle.^[1]

Political career

Malanyaon became involved in politics during the final years of Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarian presidency, when she joined the opposition party PDP–Laban and the Davao City-based Yellow Friday movement which supported Corazon Aquino in 1986 snap election.^[2] After the 1986 People Power Revolution, Malanyaon was appointed by the revolutionary government of President Aquino as an Officer in Charge (OIC) member of Davao City's Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) until November 1987. The city council was presided by OIC Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.^[4] After the revolutionary government was dissolved, Malanyaon became a duly elected councilor of the 3rd district in the 1988 local elections, where she earned the most votes; she served in that position until 1992.^[2][4][5]

In 2001, Malanyaon returned to her hometown of Cateel and successfully ran for the House of Representatives seat of the province's 1st district in the 2001 elections.^[2][6] She served for two consecutive terms until 2007 and was a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).^[4][7] Although eligible to run for another term in the House, she chose to run for provincial governor in the 2007 elections, where she challenged the incumbent Maria Elena Palma Gil, who was her relative and former political ally.^[8] Running under KAMPI, Malanyaon was elected.^[8][9] In the 2010 elections, she ran under the Nacionalista Party (NP) and won a landslide victory over PMP's Ruben Feliciano; Malanyaon garnered 96.52% of the votes while Feliciano had 3.48%.^[10][11] She was unopposed in the 2013 elections and completed her three consecutive terms in 2016.^[4][12]

In the 2016 elections, Malanyaon endorsed 1st district representative Nelson Dayanghirang as her successor, while she ran for Dayanghirang's position.^[13] Malanyaon and Dayanghirang won their respective bids, with Malanyaon returning to the House of Representatives.^[14] She was re-elected in 2019, running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition while remaining a member of the NP.^[15]

In the 2022 elections, she ran unopposed and was again elected governor, switching offices once again with Dayanghirang.^[16][17]

Death

Malanyaon died aged 73 at a hospital in Davao City on June 28, 2023, after experiencing difficulty breathing during an event in Banaybanay.^[18][19] Prior to her death, she was reported to have had health problems^[20][1] and suffered a series of strokes in January 2022. She was buried at the Davao Memorial Gardens in Davao City on July 7.^[21]

References

1. Zuasola, Ferdinand (June 28, 2023). . Rappler. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
2. Honculada, Jurgette (March 2014). "Sol Matugas and Cora Malanyaon: The Governor as Babaylan" (PDF). Kababaihan at Kapayapaan. No. 1. Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process. pp. 28–31. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
3. . davaooriental.gov.ph. Province of Davao Oriental. 2022. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
4. Arguillas, Carolyn (May 24, 2019). . MindaNews. Mindanao Institute of Journalism. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
5. . Sun.Star Davao. February 9, 2014. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
6. . The Philippine Star. May 20, 2001. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
7. "Mindanao Representatives 1987–2013" (PDF). mindanews.com. Mindanao Institute of Journalism. (PDF) from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
8. . GMA News. April 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
9. . MindaNews. Mindanao Institute of Journalism. August 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
10. Zuasola, Ferdinand (May 11, 2010). . Balita. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
11. . electionresults.comelec.gov.ph. Commission on Elections. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010.
12. Alconaba, Nico (April 27, 2013). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 24, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
13. "Dayanghirang's bid backed". Sun.Star Davao. October 19, 2015. p. 14.
14. Zuasola, Ferdinand (May 16, 2016). "Dayanghirang, Malanyaon secure top posts in DavOr". Sun.Star Davao. p. 18.
15. Manlupig, Karlos (May 15, 2019). . Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
16. Mendoza, Iona Finlay C. (May 12, 2022). . SunStar Davao. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
17. Palicte, Che (May 12, 2022). . Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
18. Bravo, Neil; Padillo, Maya M. (June 30, 2023). "Davao Oriental mourns passing of Governor Cora Malanyaon". Edge Davao. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
19. Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (June 29, 2023). "Nacionalista Party mourns death of Davao Oriental Gov. Malanyaon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
20. . GMA Integrated News. June 29, 2023. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
21. Zuasola, Ferdinand (July 7, 2023). "Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon laid to rest". Rappler. Retrieved July 8, 2023.