Ruperto Montinola

Dublin Core

Title

Ruperto Montinola

Subject

Governors

Creator

Latañafrancia, Remelyn

Coverage

Term: 1908-1912
2nd term: 1922-1925

Person Item Type Metadata

Birth Date

March 18, 1869

Birthplace

Bago, Negros Occidental

Death Date

February 10, 1940

Occupation

Governor

Biographical Text

Ruperto Montinola was born on March 18, 1869, in Bago, Negros Occidental. He spent his formative years in Iloilo, raised by his parents, Don Juan Montinola and Doña Martina Benedicto. Ruperto was married to Basa Benedicto, and they had five children namely; Aurelio, Remedios, Otilia, Vicente, and Gloria.

Furthermore, he pursued his studies at San Juan de Letran College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1887, and went on to receive his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Santo Tomas in 1895. In 1900, Ruperto Montinola was appointed as the first public provincial fiscal of Iloilo. His distinguished career continued in 1908 when he was appointed as governor of Iloilo, succeeding Benito Lopez, who had been tragically assassinated.

Moreover, in 1931, Montinola was elected to the Philippine Senate representing the 7th District. Renowned as a prominent Filipino politician and lawyer, he earned the title of "Colossus of the South" in the Philippine press. Montinola played a pivotal role as a member of the OsRox (Osmeña-Roxas) Mission to the United States which successfully advocated for the passage of the Hare–Hawes–Cutting Act. This landmark legislation was the first U.S. law to grant Philippine independence.

On the other hand, in 1934, Ruperto served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from the second district of Iloilo and was elected First Vice-President of the convention. During his tenure as governor of Iloilo, he was instrumental in funding several significant infrastructure projects in Iloilo City. Notably, he supported the construction of the 3-kilometer Forbes Bridge, which connected Iloilo City with La Paz and Jaro; this was the first concrete road in the Philippines. Additionally, Montinola invested in enhancing the port facilities of Iloilo City and undertook the dredging of the Iloilo River’s mouth near the capitol, further improving the region's infrastructure and connectivity.

Ruperto Montinola passed away while in office on February 10, 1940, at the age of 70. He was laid to rest in Jaro Cemetery.