Benigno Aquino Sr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honorable Benigno Aquino Sr.
6th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines 1st Speaker of the National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic
In office September 25, 1943 – February 2, 1944
Appointed by	National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic
President	José P. Laurel
Preceded by	José Yulo
Succeeded by	Jose Zulueta
Member of the National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic from Tarlac's at-large district
In office September 25, 1943 – February 2, 1944 Serving with Sergio L. Aquino
Commissionner of the Interior
In office 1942–1942
Presiding Officer, PEC	Jorge B. Vargas
Succeeded by	José P. Laurel
Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce
In office 1938–1941
President	Manuel L. Quezon
Preceded by	Eulogio Rodriguez
Succeeded by	Rafael Alunan
Member of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from Tarlac's 2nd district
In office June 11, 1945 – May 25, 1946
Preceded by	Jose Urquico as Member of the National Assembly
Succeeded by	Alejandro Simpaoco
Member of the National Assembly of the Philippines from Tarlac's 2nd district
In office December 30, 1935 – December 30, 1938
Preceded by	Feliciano B. Gardiner as Representative
Succeeded by	Jose Urquico
Senate Majority Leader
In office July 16, 1931 – June 5, 1934
Senate President	Manuel L. Quezon
Preceded by	José P. Laurel
Succeeded by	Claro M. Recto
Senator of the Philippines from the 3rd Senatorial District
In office 1928 – 1934 Served with: Teodoro Sandiko (1928–1931) Sotero Baluyut (1931–1934)
Preceded by	Luis Morales
Succeeded by	Hermogenes Concepcion
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Tarlac's 2nd district
In office 1919–1928
Preceded by	Cayetano Rivera
Succeeded by	Jose G. Domingo
Vice President of the Philippines
De facto
In office January 15, 1944 – August 17, 1945
President	José P. Laurel
Personal details
Born	Benigno Simeón Aquino y Quiambao (1894-09-03)September 3, 1894 Murcia, Tarlac, Tarlac, Captaincy General of the Philippines (now Concepcion, Tarlac, Philippines)
Died	December 20, 1947(1947-12-20) (aged 53) Manila, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista
Other political affiliations	KALIBAPI (1942–1945)
Spouses	Maria Urquico ​ ​ (m. 1916; her death 1928)​ Aurora Aquino ​ (m. 1930)​
Children	11 (incl. Ninoy, Butz and Tessie)
Parents	Servillano Aquino (father) Guadalupe Quiambao (mother)
Relatives	Aquino family
Alma mater	University of Santo Tomas (LL.B)
Occupation	Farmer, politician
Profession	Lawyer, civil servant

Benigno Simeon "Igno" Quiambao Aquino Sr. (born Benigno Simeón Aquino y Quiambao; September 3, 1894 – December 20, 1947) was an important Filipino politician. He served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from 1943 to 1944. This was during the time when the Philippines had a government supported by Japan.

He was also the leader of KALIBAPI, a political group formed during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. His grandson, Benigno S. Aquino III, later became the 15th President of the Philippines from 2010 to 2016.

Early Life and Education

Benigno Aquino Sr. was born on September 3, 1894, in Murcia, which is now part of Concepcion, Tarlac. His father, Servillano "Mianong" Aquino, was a general during the Philippine Revolution. His mother was Guadalupe Quiambao.

Benigno had two siblings, Gonzalo and Amando, and a half-brother, Herminio. He went to school at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila. Later, he studied at the University of Santo Tomas, where he earned his law degree in 1913. He became a lawyer the next year.

A Career in Philippine Politics

Aquino began his political journey in 1919. He was first elected to the Philippine Legislature as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives. He represented the 2nd district of Tarlac. He was reelected twice, in 1922 and 1925.

In 1928, he won a seat in the Philippine Senate. He represented the 3rd Senatorial District, which included Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and his home province of Tarlac.

Working for Independence

In 1931, Benigno Aquino Sr. was part of the Philippine Independence Mission. This group worked to discuss how the Philippines could gain its freedom from the United States.

When the Commonwealth of the Philippines government was formed in 1935, he ran for election again in Tarlac. He won and became a member of the National Assembly. In 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon chose him to be the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce.

Leading the National Assembly

Aquino (left) with Jose P. Laurel (right) and Jorge B. Vargas (center)

During World War II, when the Japanese occupied the Philippines, many Commonwealth officials stayed in the country. Aquino was one of them. The Japanese asked him to help form a new government.

He became the director-general of KALIBAPI, a political organization. He also helped lead the group that prepared for Philippine independence. When the Second Philippine Republic was officially started, he was chosen as the Speaker of the National Assembly.

After the War

Aquino (center) with Jose P. Laurel (2nd from left) and José Laurel III (2nd from right) in 1945.

In December 1944, as Filipino and American forces were taking back the Philippines from Japanese forces, the government of the Second Philippine Republic, including Aquino, moved to Baguio. They later traveled to Japan.

On September 15, 1945, in Nara, Japan, Aquino was taken into custody by American forces. This happened after Japan surrendered. He was held in prisons in Yokohama and Sugamo. In July 1946, he was brought back to the Philippines. He was questioned about his leadership role during the Japanese occupation. He was later released on bail.

Family Life

First Marriage

In May 1916, Benigno Aquino Sr. married Maria Urquico. She was the daughter of Antonio Urquico, a hero from the Katipunan movement. Benigno and Maria had four children: Antonio, Servillano II, Milagros, and Erlinda. Maria passed away in March 1928.

Second Marriage

On December 6, 1930, he married Aurora Lampa Aquino. With Aurora, he had seven more children: Maria Aurora, Benigno Simeon Jr. (Ninoy), Maria Gerarda, Maria Guadalupe, Agapito (Butz), Paul, and Maria Teresa (Tessie).

Death

Benigno Aquino Sr. passed away on December 20, 1947. He had a heart attack while watching a boxing match at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

See also

• Second Philippine Republic
• National Assembly of the Second Philippine Republic
• Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines