Pablo Cuneta

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Pablo and the surname or paternal family name is Cuneta.

Pablo Pablo Cuneta Sr. (Tagalog pronunciation: [kuˈnɛtɐ]; February 2, 1910 – September 27, 2000) was a Filipino politician who served as the mayor of Pasay for three terms between 1951 and 1998, making him the longest-serving mayor in the history of the Philippines. He was the father of actress and singer Sharon Cuneta.

The Honorable Pablo Cuneta
10th Mayor of Pasay
In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1998
Preceded by	Norman Urbina
Succeeded by	Jovito Claudio
In office December 30, 1971 – March 26, 1986
Preceded by	Jovito Claudio
Succeeded by	Eduardo Calixto (OIC)
In office December 30, 1951 – December 30, 1967
Preceded by	Primitivo Lovina Sr.
Succeeded by	Jovito Claudio
Deputy Governor of Rizal
In office December 30, 1947 – December 30, 1949
Personal details
Born	Pablo Pablo Cuneta Sr. (1910-02-02)February 2, 1910 Pasay, Rizal, Philippine Islands
Died	September 27, 2000(2000-09-27) (aged 90) Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines
Resting place	Manila Memorial Park, Parañaque, Philippines
Political party	LDP (1995-2000)
Other political affiliations	Nacionalista (1947-1978, 1988–1995) KBL (1978–1986)
Spouse(s)	Generosa Francisco Elinor "Elaine" Gamboa
Relations	Helen Gamboa (sister-in-law) Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (brother-in-law) KC Concepcion (granddaughter)
Children	12 (including Sharon)

Early life

Cuneta was born on February 2, 1910, in Pasay (then a municipality of Rizal) to Catalino Cuneta y García (c. 1871 – c. 1948) and Miguela Pablo y de la Cruz (c. 1873 – October 15, 1948).

Personal life

He was first married to Generosa Francisco. They had ten children: Edgardo, Reynaldo, Leonides, Rosauro, Leticia, Jaime, Carmencita, Pablo Jr., Generoso, and Aida.

After Generosa’s death, he married Elinor "Elaine" Gamboa (born 31 December 1934- died 5 November 2014) until his death in 2000. Together, they had two children: César "Chet" and Sharon.

Political career

Cuneta started his political career when he served as deputy governor of Rizal from 1947 to 1949. In 1951, he was appointed Pasay mayor. Five years later, he ran for mayor and won. He ran again and won, in the 1959 and 1963 elections. In 1967, he was defeated by Jovito Claudio. He bounced back in the 1971 national elections and was re-elected again in 1980. He stepped down when the Aquino government was swept into power in 1986. Two years later, he again won in the local elections. He would top the local elections again in 1992 and 1995. At the end of his term in 1998, he had been Pasay mayor for 41 years, the longest-serving mayor in Philippine history. He is the only mayor to have served under seven different presidents: Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos.

Health and death

Cuneta was in good health until December 1996 when he started suffering from rheumatism and arthritis. In 1997, he suffered a mild seizure and was confined at the Makati Medical Center and died due to cardiac arrest on September 27, 2000, at the age of 90. He was the longest-serving mayor in Philippine history. He was buried at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque.

Legacy

Cuneta's administration is credited for the construction of the Maricaban Settlement, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay (now City University of Pasay), Pasay City General Hospital and the Cuneta Astrodome, among other projects.