Angelica Amante-Matba

Maria Angelica Rosedell Malbas Amante Matba (born April 16, 1970) is a Filipino politician who has served as the governor of Agusan del Norte since 2022, a position she previously held from 1995 to 2004 and from 2013 to 2019. She has also served as the representative for Agusan del Norte's 2nd district for three intermittent terms between her three governorships.

Early life and education Amante-Matba was born and raised in Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte. She is the daughter of former Executive Secretary and Congressman Edelmiro Amante and former Cabadbaran Mayor Rosario Malbas-Amante. Her brother Erlpe John Amante is also a politician.

She took up nursing at St. Luke's College of Nursing, Trinity University of Asia in 1991. She passed the licensure examination for nursing in 1991 and the California State Board Exam in Nursing in 1994. She also holds a master's degree in public administration from Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan. From 1995 to 1998, she was the chairperson of the Regional Development Council of Caraga. She served for one term before running as mayor of Butuan in 2007 which she lost to incumbent Democrito Plaza.

In 2010, she ran for congress again while her brother ran for governor. They both won their respective races. In 2013 and 2016, Amante-Matba and her brother swapped their positions wherein the latter served as congressman while Amante-Matba served governor. They won and Amante-Matba served as governor until 2019. She ran and won again the congressional seat in 2019 and served for one term before returning as governor in 2022.

2016 presidential elections Amante is a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte. She was once quoted by President Duterte as the girl who he has love at first sight. He admitted publicly that a governor from Mindanao whom he once fell in love with was one of his supporters during the campaign.

Personal life Amante is married to Tawi-Tawi congressman Rashidin H. Matba.

On March 27, 2015, she survived an ambush attempt at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte perpetrated by members of the New People's Army.

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