[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOSE RONALDO JARABO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. PABLO JOSE HERNANDEZ

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2025

  Mr. HERNANDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Jose Ronaldo Jarabo, known to many of us as Rony, whom we said 
goodbye to on June 29, 2025. He was a son of Puerto Rico, a brilliant 
speaker, a sharp parliamentarian, and a courageous defender of Puerto 
Rican democracy.
  Rony began his activism during difficult times--the four-year period 
from 1969 to 1972. The Popular Democratic Party (PPD) had just lost the 
elections for the first time, and Rony was one of many young people who 
stepped up to renew the institution. At 25, he was one of the young 
people who organized the march on July 25, 1969, under the slogan 
``growth without assimilation.'' The march took place against all odds. 
Munoz Marin opposed it; Rafael Hernandez Colon supported it. And the 
young people, with Rony among them, prevailed with dignity.
  From then on, he stood out as one of the brightest young talents in 
the Popular Party. He finished second in a youth public speaking 
contest in 1970--something my grandfather never failed to remind him 
of, jokingly. He lost to Papo Vazquez, and as Hernandez Colon wrote, 
Rony claimed, half seriously and half-jokingly, that he lost because 
Papo brought a claque that applauded him louder. I saw them laugh about 
it years later at a Popular Youth event.
  In 1972, Rony successfully ran for representative by accumulation, a 
position he held until his retirement in 1992. He won the support of 
his caucus to preside over the House on three occasions, although he 
did not prevail the first time, and he is the only one since Ernesto 
Ramos Antonini to have presided over the body for two consecutive 
terms.
  My grandfather said that Rony had a gift for words like few others, 
and that he had what it takes to be governor. And although he did not 
hold that position, he did hold a permanent place in the history of our 
country.
  I met Rony in the halls of the Capitol when I was just 13 years old. 
Despite my age, he never treated me like a child. He spoke to me as 
adults speak to each other, with respect, affection, and purpose. I 
remember him at every public event, with his lively greeting and that 
fiery rhetoric that came from his soul.
  I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends, as well as 
my brotherly embrace. May Rony's legacy not only be a memory in the 
halls of the Capitol, but a force that inspires us to be better 
speakers, better thinkers, better public servants.
  Rest in peace, Rony.
  Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my constituents, I include in the 
Record my remarks in Spanish.

       El 29 de junio, despedimos a un hijo de Puerto Rico, a un 
     orador brillante, a un parlamentario agudo, a un defensor 
     valiente de la democracia puertorriquena: Jose Ronaldo 
     Jarabo, o como muchos lo conocimos, Rony.
       Rony empezo su activismo en tiempos dificiles--el 
     cuatrienio de 1969 a 1972. El Partido Popular Democratico 
     (PPD) acababa de perder por primera vez las elecciones, y 
     Rony fue de los muchos jovenes que se abrieron paso para 
     renovar la institucion. A sus 25 anos, fue uno de los jovenes 
     que organizaron la marcha del 25 de julio de 1969, bajo la 
     consigna de ``crecimiento sin asimilacion''. Marcha que se 
     celebro contra viento y marea. Munoz Marin se oponia; Rafael 
     Hernandez Colon la respaldaba. Y los jovenes, con Rony entre 
     ellos, se impusieron con dignidad.
       Desde entonces, se destaco como uno de los talentos jovenes 
     mas brillantes del Partido Popular. Llego segundo en un 
     concurso de oratoria juvenil en 1970--algo que mi abuelo 
     nunca dejo de recordarle en tono de broma. Perdio ante Papo 
     Vazquez, y como dejo escrito Hernandez Colon, Rony alegaba, 
     medio en serio y medio en chiste, que perdio porque Papo 
     llevo una claque que lo aplaudia mas duro. Los vi reirse de 
     eso, anos despues, en una actividad de la Juventud Popular.
       En 1972, Rony aspiro con exito a representante por 
     acumulacion, posicion que ocupo hasta retirarse en 1992. 
     Obtuvo el respaldo de su caucus para presidir la Camara en 
     tres ocasiones, aunque en la primera no prevalecio y es el 
     unico, desde Ernesto Ramos Antonini, que ha presidido el 
     cuerpo por dos terminos consecutivos.
       Mi abuelo decia que Rony tenia el don de la palabra como 
     pocos, y que tenia madera de gobernador. Y aunque no ocupo 
     ese cargo, lo que si ocupo fue un lugar permanente en la 
     historia de nuestro pais.
       Yo conoci a Rony en los pasillos del Capitolio, cuando 
     tenia apenas 13 anos. A pesar de mi edad, nunca me trato como 
     a un nene. Me hablaba como se habla entre adultos: con 
     respeto, con afecto, y con proposito. Lo recuerdo en cada 
     actividad popular, con su saludo animado y ese verbo 
     encendido que le salia del alma.
       A su familia, les ofrezco mi mas sentido pesame. A sus 
     amigos, mi abrazo fraterno. Que el legado de Rony no sea solo 
     un recuerdo en los pasillos del Capitolio, sino una fuerza 
     que nos inspire a ser mejores oradores, mejores pensadores, 
     mejores personas de estado.
       Descansa en paz, Rony.

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