Pedro Gil
Encyclopedia
Pedro Gil was a physician, journalist, and legislator in the Philippines
. Pedro Gil lived life of service in different distinguished roles - as a labor leader, as a doctor of medicine, as a crusading newspaperman, as a social worker, and as a conscientious legislator. He was born in Capiz
on November 13, 1889, the youngest of the seven children of Pedro Gil Sr., a Spanish government employee in Capiz and Petra Hernandez. His mother died when he was hardly six months old, and he was brought to Manila and reared in the home of his sisters in Ermita
. He was eight years old when his father died. Today, a street in Manila is named after him.
He was married to Consuelo Cabangis. They had only one child, Patria, who became the wife of Deogracias Puyat, a lawyer.
When Consuelo died, Pedro Gil met Virginia Amacio in Capiz and had two daughters, Carmencita and Guia.
Gil next enrolled at the San Juan de Letran, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree. He then proceeded to take up medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
, supporting himself by teaching at the Instituto de Burgos in the evening. In due time, he finished the course, passed the examination given by the Board of Medical Practitioners, and established a clinic which immediately became popular with the masses of Paco
and Ermita.
Dr. Gil started his political career as a rabid oppositionist. Even while he was still a student, he was already closely identified with opposition groups. He was an active writer on political subjects and a frequent leader of movements censuring the party then in power for abuses in the government. He once led a strike against Meralco.
When the Jones Law was still pending in Congress, he organized mass meetings and in a popular manifestation, led in the signing of a manifesto urging the legislative body to include in the said law "a definite date for independence."
on the Democratra party ticket. He became Minority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives of the Philippines
and distinguished himself as a fiscalizer of the abused and the tyranny of those in power. He was designated member of the 1930 independence mission to the United States and stayed for some time in Washington, D.C. together with Sergio Osmeña
, Manuel Roxas
, Ruperto Montinola, and Emiliano Tria Tirona. This mission is credited with having worked for the passage of the first independence law for the Philippines
.
He was elected to the first National Assembly and became chairman of the committee on the city government and several other important committees.
As an assemblyman, he worked for the reduction of public utility rates in the city of Manila, such as those charged by Meralco
and the Manila Gas Corporation. He himself presented a test case against them with the Public Service Commission
. Arguing that their rates were "boom period" rates and needed to be reduced, he offered comprehensive statistics to show that Manila residents were paying more than they should for gas and electric power services. He stressed that the current rates were too heavy for the poor to shoulder.
Likewise, he pioneered the movement for higher wages for laborers, authoring a bill to this effect.
from 1959 to 1962 and was a recipient of the General San Martín medal, Argentina's highest diplomatic award.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Pedro Gil lived life of service in different distinguished roles - as a labor leader, as a doctor of medicine, as a crusading newspaperman, as a social worker, and as a conscientious legislator. He was born in Capiz
Capiz
Capiz is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north...
on November 13, 1889, the youngest of the seven children of Pedro Gil Sr., a Spanish government employee in Capiz and Petra Hernandez. His mother died when he was hardly six months old, and he was brought to Manila and reared in the home of his sisters in Ermita
Ermita, Manila
Ermita is a district of Manila, Philippines located halfway between Intramuros and Malate.-History:Ermita was founded in the late 16th century...
. He was eight years old when his father died. Today, a street in Manila is named after him.
He was married to Consuelo Cabangis. They had only one child, Patria, who became the wife of Deogracias Puyat, a lawyer.
When Consuelo died, Pedro Gil met Virginia Amacio in Capiz and had two daughters, Carmencita and Guia.
Student
The Gils were not wealthy, and left no fortune to their children. But in spite of their difficulties, his brothers and sisters managed to send him to the Escuela Normal de San Javier, where he completed a commercial course. How he was able to do that was a story of hardship and sacrifices. To support him through his studies his sisters accepted some sewing work. He himself did odd jobs for the school's Jesuit priest and so was exempted from paying tuition fees.Gil next enrolled at the San Juan de Letran, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He then proceeded to take up medicine at the University of Santo Tomas
University of Santo Tomas
The Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines , is a private Roman Catholic university run by the Order of Preachers in Manila. Founded on April 28, 1611 by archbishop of Manila Miguel de Benavides, it has the oldest extant university charter in the...
, supporting himself by teaching at the Instituto de Burgos in the evening. In due time, he finished the course, passed the examination given by the Board of Medical Practitioners, and established a clinic which immediately became popular with the masses of Paco
Paco, Manila
Paco, is a district of Manila, Philippines. It is located south of Pasig River, and San Miguel, west of Santa Ana, southwest of Pandacan, north of Malate, northwest of San Andres, and east of Ermita. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 64,184 people in 13,438 households...
and Ermita.
Dr. Gil started his political career as a rabid oppositionist. Even while he was still a student, he was already closely identified with opposition groups. He was an active writer on political subjects and a frequent leader of movements censuring the party then in power for abuses in the government. He once led a strike against Meralco.
Journalist
Ever eager to reach the masses, he published a newspaper dedicated to the laboring classes, Los Obreros. When it folded, he edited a number of others, like La Nación. He directed this last newspaper until 1923.When the Jones Law was still pending in Congress, he organized mass meetings and in a popular manifestation, led in the signing of a manifesto urging the legislative body to include in the said law "a definite date for independence."
Politician
In 1927, he was elected representative for the south district of ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
on the Democratra party ticket. He became Minority Floor Leader in the House of Representatives of the Philippines
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
and distinguished himself as a fiscalizer of the abused and the tyranny of those in power. He was designated member of the 1930 independence mission to the United States and stayed for some time in Washington, D.C. together with Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
, Manuel Roxas
Manuel Roxas
Manuel Acuña Roxas was the first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines and fifth president overall. He served as president from the granting of independence in 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948...
, Ruperto Montinola, and Emiliano Tria Tirona. This mission is credited with having worked for the passage of the first independence law for the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
He was elected to the first National Assembly and became chairman of the committee on the city government and several other important committees.
As an assemblyman, he worked for the reduction of public utility rates in the city of Manila, such as those charged by Meralco
Meralco
The Manila Electric Company , also known as MERALCO or Meralco, is the Philippines' largest distributor of electrical power.The word MERALCO, is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light COmpany, which was the company's original name from 1903 to 1919.MERALCO is the Metro Manila's only...
and the Manila Gas Corporation. He himself presented a test case against them with the Public Service Commission
Public Utilities Commission
A Utilities commission, Utility Regulatory Commission , Public Utilities Commission or Public Service Commission is a governing body that regulates the rates and services of a public utility...
. Arguing that their rates were "boom period" rates and needed to be reduced, he offered comprehensive statistics to show that Manila residents were paying more than they should for gas and electric power services. He stressed that the current rates were too heavy for the poor to shoulder.
Likewise, he pioneered the movement for higher wages for laborers, authoring a bill to this effect.
Diplomat
Dr. Gil served as envoy to ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
from 1959 to 1962 and was a recipient of the General San Martín medal, Argentina's highest diplomatic award.