Two Capiznons have brought honor to the province as awardees of the 2023 Outstanding Men and
Women of Western Visayas.
Capiz Vice Governor James “Mitang” Magbanua and Denise Yap were among the distinguished
personalities of Western Visayas who received the award during a recent ceremony at SM City Iloilo.
The award is part of Keep Talking, a regional talk show hosted by Jorge “Boy Jorge” Favila Lopera in Iloilo
City.
The vice governor and Yap were awarded for the 3s—substance, strength and style.
Before becoming a politician, Magbanua was working in the medical field. He started his humble
beginnings as a registered nurse at The Heart Center of the Philippines. He also became a
pharmaceutical medical representative before being elected as a member of the Capiz Provincial Board
and eventually the vice governor.
Yap is the wife of former Roxas City councilor Dr. Cesar Yap Jr., who’s also a recipient of the same award
in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
Yap raised her children, four of whom are now medical doctors themselves similar to their father.
Yap survived breast cancer in 2012. (CY)
