07/08/2026
| Wenceslao Tabar Dela Cerna
The first elected Municipal Mayor of Alamada, Cotabato, serving a significant role in establishing and leading the municipality during its early years.
ℹ️ OVERVIEW
Position: First elected Municipal Mayor of Alamada, Cotabato
Years in Office:
1969–1986 (first tenure)
1988–1992 (second tenure after being re-elected)
His service was interrupted during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, when the national government replaced many local officials with Officers-in-Charge (OICs).
During this period, Jesus N. Sacdalan served as OIC Mayor from March 1986 to November 1987.
Dela Cerna returned to office after winning the 1988 local elections and served until 1992.
In the 1992 elections, instead of seeking another term as mayor, Dela Cerna ran for Vice Governor of Cotabato Province.
He was succeeded as mayor by Patricio S. Señerez Sr.
ℹ️ HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Wenceslao T. Dela Cerna is remembered as the founding elected mayor who led Alamada during its first two decades as an independent municipality.
He helped guide the municipality through its formative years after its creation under Republic Act No. 5645 on June 21, 1969.
His administration laid much of the groundwork for the municipality's local governance and development, making him one of the most influential figures in Alamada's political history.
Some historical sources also mention Wenceslao Dela Cerna among local political figures associated with organizing anti-insurgency efforts in Central Mindanao during the early 1970s.
However, this aspect of regional history (the Ilaga era) remains the subject of historical research and should be understood within the broader context of the armed conflicts in Mindanao during that period.
ℹ️ PERSONAL AND FAMILY BACKGROUND
He was born on September 6, 1941, and passed away on October 30, 2008, at the age of 67.
He was married to Teresita Balolong Dela Cerna.
They were blessed with four children:
Roland B. Dela Cerna;
Wenceslao B. Dela Cerna Jr. (deceased);
Patrick John B. Dela Cerna; and
William Bell B. Dela Cerna (deceased).
He was the son of Hon. Mayor Pacifico Dela Cerna and Hon. Mayor Lucila Dela Cerna, both of whom served as mayors of the Municipality of Libungan, Cotabato.
His parents' public service became part of a family legacy of leadership and service in the local community.
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Note: This profile is curated from publicly available online sources.
The accompanying image has been AI-enhanced for improved quality.
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