John Geesnell Yap
Filipino politician (born 1977)
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John Geesnell Lim Yap II (born October 16, 1977), popularly known as Baba Yap, is a Filipino politician who has been the representative for Bohol's first district in the House of Representatives of the Philippines since 2025. He was previously the mayor of Tagbilaran, Bohol from 2013 to 2022 until he was succeeded by his wife Jane Yap.
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John Geesnell Yap | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Bohol's 1st District | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Edgar Chatto |
| Mayor of Tagbilaran | |
| In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022 | |
| Vice mayor | Jose Antonio Veloso |
| Preceded by | Dan Lim |
| Succeeded by | Jane Cajes Yap |
| City Councilor of Tagbilaran | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Geesnell Lim Yap II[1] October 16, 1977 |
| Party | NUP (2012–2015; 2016–2024; 2026–present) |
Other political affiliations | LDP (2024–2026) Liberal (2015–2016) NPC (2009–2012) |
| Spouse | Jane Cajes Yap |
| Website | babayap.com |
| Nickname(s) | Baba, Nell |
Early life and education
Yap,[1] is the second son of John U. Yap and Geesnell N. Lim. He finished his elementary at Holy Spirit School of Tagbilaran in 1989 and secondary at Divine Word College of Tagbilaran, now Holy Name University in 1993. He took up accountancy at the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. He became the chief accountant of their family business at Bohol Tropics Resort Club and owns a nightclub called Lazer Party Club in Tagbilaran City.
Yap is married to Jane Censoria Cajes, a former Sangguniang Kabataan Bohol provincial president and national president who is 13 years his junior. They have one daughter Janah Geesnell.
Political career
Yap's first stint in politics began when he was elected as city councilor of Tagbilaran City during the 2010 elections.
In 2013, he ran for mayor and won against lawyer Agustinus Gonzaga of the Liberal Party and Dr. Abraham N. Lim (UNA), the brother of then outgoing mayor, Dan Lim. At the age of 35, he became the youngest city mayor of Tagbilaran. He ran for reelection in 2016 and won.[2]
On May 13, 2019, Yap was reelected for a 3rd consecutive term and won with a landslide.[3]
Awards
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Party | Votes received | Result | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | % | P. | Swing | |||||
| 2010 | Councilor of Tagbilaran | NPC | 26,300 | N/a | 1st | N/a | Won | |
| 2013 | Mayor of Tagbilaran | NUP | 14,975 | 38.63% | 1st | N/a | Won | |
| 2016 | Liberal | 39,390 | 83.20% | 1st | N/a | Won | ||
| 2019 | NUP | 43,924 | 88.39% | 1st | N/a | Won | ||
| 2025 | Representative (Bohol–1st) | LDP | 130,661 | 46.84% | 1st | N/a | Won | |