Who’s Who in Bataan – Don Manuel Banzon Sr

THEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF INTRODUCTORY PERSPECTIVES

I wrote this writing on my grandfather, Don Manuel Banzon Sr because he has a place in the History of Bataan and our country (Philippines) due to the significant contributions which he has doneand given for the Progress and History of Bataan and the Philippines. I researched, explored and digged into this work for the pertinent Biographical Highlights relevant to the lifetime, career and works of my grandfather, Don Manuel BanzonSr, for several months and it was only now that I was able to come up with this writing on him. Through some references such as the Talambuhay ni Ginoong Manuel Banzon Sr as well as other sources of information and facts from my mother (Concepcion Linda Banzon Madamba) plus other sources, I have finally come up with this writing about my grandfather. It is therefore with great honor that I write this in memory of my grandfather (Don Manuel Banzon Sr) whom I consider, look up to and emulate as a God centered, great, simple, humble and soft spoken man who has done significantly not only for Bataan but also for our country (Philippines) in his own simple ways.

Lucas Manuel Banzon Madamba II

BIOGRAPHICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF DON MANUEL BANZON SR

By: Lucas Manuel Banzon Madamba II

August 2015

Don Manuel Salvador De Leon Banzon Sr or simply Don Manuel Banzon Sr (as he is well known for) or Kuya Uwing (as he is fondly called) came from a wealthy family in Bataan. His grandfather (Lolo Inkong), Kapitan Julian Banzon, was a rich farmer who owned vast lands of sugar, rice, and livestock (cattle, goats and sheep) as well as anil in Bataan. Born in Balanga, Bataan on June 13, 1884, Don Manuel Banzon Sr is the eldest of 10 children born to Candido Banzon (a Cabeza de Barangay during Spanish Times which is equivalent to Mayor or Alkalde in Present Times) and Juliana de Leon who are both from Balanga, Bataan. He got his 1^st taste of education in their house. Among his 1^st line of teachers were Maestro Catalino Rodriguez, Maestro Victor Abad and Professor Pablo Baenas. He went to a private school in Quiapo, Manila for a while after which he transferred to Ateneo and eventually finished his degree in Law and took and passed the Bar Exam in the Supreme Court. Sometime in 1905, he also studied at the Escuela de Leyes of Don Isidro Paderes in Calle Solana, Intramuros for 2 years.

In 1907, he was elected as Councilor of Balanga. Two years after, he became the Secretary of the Mayor (G. Amado de Leon). He was also named “Procurador Judicial” to handle civil and criminal cases in the De Paz Law Office. Moreover, he was also Secretary, Writer, Researcher and Right Hand Man of the Representative/Legislator (Diputado) of Bataan (Don Tomas del Rosario, who was Congressman of Bataan in the 2^nd Philippine Legislature) until July 04, 1914 during the latter’s duty/job in Congress. It was his main job as Secretary of the Diputado of Bataan (Don Tomas del Rosario) which prompted him to enter politics.

In 1918, Don Manuel Banzon Sr was elected President of the Bataan Lawyers League and Bataan Sugar Planters Association. He was the 1^st President of the Bataan Sugar Planters Association. He was President of the Bataan Lawyers League until 1941, the time when the Philippines was invaded by Japan. When war broke out between Japan of the Axis Powers and America of the Allied Forces, General Douglas MacArthur chose Bataan to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines against the Japanese Imperial Army forces which were under General Masaharu Homma. The Fall of Bataan was a big devastating loss but this paved the way for the delay in the invasion of South East Asia by the Japanese Imperial Army for 3 months.

In 1925, Don Manuel Banzon Sr was elected and served as Congressman of the Lone District of Bataan under the Democrata Party led by Senator Don Juan Sumulong (grandfather of President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino) who was Senator of the 4^th district comprising Manila, Rizal, Laguna and Bataan during those times. Bataan was composed of one lone district during those times and it was during the 8^th Congress when Bataan was redistricted to two legislative districts (1^st and 2^nd districts) under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Don Manuel Banzon Sr represented Bataan as Congressman in the 7^th Philippine Legislature from 1925-1928. He worked with well known political and historical figures such as Elpidio Quirino, Manuel Roxas, Benigno Aquino, Antonio delas Alas, Jose Laurel Sr and other famous political and historical figures. He used to host his fellow colleagues (Congressmen and Senators) in Congress as well as Senator Don Juan Sumulong and President General Emilio Aguinaldo who also visited him and slept in his huge ancestral home in Pilar, Bataan which was burned down during the war.

After the liberation, President General Emilio Aguinaldo visited him and was looking for his ancestral homewhere he used to sleep before. As a Congressman, he passed bills to alleviate and improve the living conditions of Muslims (Moros) in Southern Philippines as well as to improve the budget of the Philippines. He was also part of the Congressional Committee where they studied the needs of Mindanao. He and his colleagues went to several places in Mindanao particularly in Zamboanga, Cotabato and Jolo to communicate with and interview the Muslims and Datus. They saw the situation in Mindanao during those times and their committee agreed to help for the establishment of railroads and roads for Mindanao (especially in Zamboanga, Cotabato and Jolo) because of the vast lands.

He worked as Secretary under Major General Leonard Wood who was then Governor General of the Philippines. He met Franklin Delano Roosevelt (32^nd United States President) when he went to the United States for a mission before Roosevelt ran for President.  Don Manuel Banzon wrote Franklin Delano Roosevelt particularly during the times when he won as President in order to congratulate him. They continued writing each other for several years until World War II started. He had 5 letters from President Roosevelt which were burned during the war.

He was married to Arcadia Arca (1st wife). Then, he was married to Teofila Velasco Garcia (2nd wife) due to the demise of his 1st wife. He had 17 children and many grandchildren as well as great grandchildren who are all professionals.

He died in Balanga, Bataan on February 3, 1976 at the age of 91.

References:

Talambuhay ni Ginoong Manuel Banzon Sr

Interview with Concepcion Linda Banzon Madamba (my mom)

Sources from other records