Daniel Romualdez
Encyclopedia
Daniel Z. Romualdez was a Filipino
politician who served as Speaker
of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
from 1957 to 1962.
He was named after his paternal grandfather, Daniel Romualdez, of Pandacan, Manila
and former owner of the Malacanang Gardens, the huge expanse of land dedicated to entertaining guests of the Philippine presidents. Another namesake is a first cousin once removed, Daniel Gomez Romualdez, the New York
architect and son of former ambassador and governor Benjamin Trinidad Romualdez (brother of Imelda Marcos
).
. His father, Miguel, once served as an assemblyman for Leyte and mayor of the city of Manila. His great grandfather was involved in the Sumoroy Revolt but narrowly escaped Spanish execution when he was allowed by David Dula to visit his ailing mother. Dula and his seven trusted men were later executed in Palapag, Northern Samar
and were buried in unmarked graves without Roman Catholic rites. Superstitions existed that a Romualdez was to die that day in Palapag. More than fifty years later, Supreme Court Associate Justice Norberto Romuáldez
, Danieling's famous uncle and the man who made their surname distinguished in society, would suddenly die of a heart attack in Palapag, hometown of his second wife Beatriz, daughter of the parish priest Fray Salustiano Buz, who insisted on campaigning at the grassroots level for the Philippine Senate elections when he was almost guaranteed to win on account of his nationwide reputation.
Romualdez enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas
in Sampaloc, Manila
. He obtained his law degree in 1931.
during World War 2 who was known to ride his chauffeur-driven American car in the streets honking at the Japanese soldiers and Korean stevedores who would immediately part away like Moses splitting the Red Sea. Don Miguel was the most prosperous Romualdez during his lifetime. So eager for wealth was he that he amassed Japanese currency notes in the staggering millions thinking it would increase in value. After the Liberation of Manila and Japan's defeat, Don Miguel's money became worthless. He suffered a heart attack.
Danieling's father was the second of the three sons of Trinidad "Tidad" Lopez, eldest daughter of Spanish friar, Don Francisco Lopez
of Granada
, Spain
(later of Burauen, Leyte
), and Daniel Romualdez of Pandacan, Manila
, a tuberculosis survivor and Cabeza de Barangay
.
Danieling's mother was Brigida Zialcita of Manila.
Danieling, a Spanish Mestizo, like his uncle Dean Vicente Orestes Romualdez y Lopez (father of Imelda Marcos
) and current Leyte congressman Alfred Romualdez, inherited their Spanish friar ancestor's Castillian skin.
His siblings include Attorney Estela Zialcita Romualdez Sulit married to Mariano Sulit, Miguel Zialcita Romualdez Jr. married to Cecilia Planas (distantly related to Rosario Planas), Alberto Zialcita Romualdez married to the Spanish mestiza Covadonga del Gallego of Paco
, Manila
(their son is former Department of Health Secretary Alberto G. Romualdez), Amelia Zialcita Romualdez Janairo married to Maximiano Janairo, Froilan Zialcita Romualdez married to Josefina Cervo and Philippine Central Bank Governor Eduardo Romualdez married to Concepcion Veloso, popularly nicknamed Conchita, who also hailed from a powerful Leyte
political family.
Danieling was married to Paz or "Pacing" Gueco of Magalang, Pampanga
, member of the Kahirup, supporter of fashion designer Ramon Valera, an aunt of Benigno Aquino Jr from nearby Concepcion
, Tarlac
, and heiress to vast tracts of ricelands from her industrious Chinese-Filipino Gueco clan.
He has four daughters.
Seeing the potential of his cousin Imelda, who was by then the undisputed Rose of Tacloban titlist and was renowned throughout the provinces for her singing voice, Danieling and other cousin Loreto Romualdez Ramos brought Imelda to Manila who in ten years would be First Lady of the Philippines
, Imelda Marcos
. Before that, Pacing Gueco would ask her nephew Benigno Aquino, Jr (Ninoy) to escort her husband's first cousin Imelda in the taxicab on her way home from her job at the Escolta and at the Central Bank of the Philippines. (Ninoy and Imelda first met during a Gueco family picnic on the Parua river which straddles Magalang
to the south and Concepcion
to the north).
His old home along Dapitan Street Extension, Quezon City
was a regular meeting place of the Nacionalista Party
of which the Romualdezes were original members.
, Romualdez was re-elected in 1953 and 1957. In 1961, Romualdez was elected Representative of the First District of Leyte.
During the 3rd Congress of the Philippines
, Romualdez served as Speaker Pro-Tempore. After House Speaker Jose Laurel, Jr.
vacated his congressional seat in 1957 following an unsuccessful bid for the Vice-Presidency
, Romualdez replaced him as Speaker upon the opening of the 4th Congress
in 1957. Romualdez served as Speaker until March 1962, when his Nacionalista Party ceded its congressional majority to the Liberal Party
. Cornelio Villareal
succeeded him as Speaker. Romualdez assumed the post of Minority Floor Leader, in which capacity he was serving upon his death in office from a heart attack in 1965. Within months, his beloved first cousin Imelda Marcos
would become First Lady of the country beginning a 21-year rule with husband President Ferdinand Marcos
.
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...
politician who served as Speaker
Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines is the presiding officer of the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives....
of 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...
from 1957 to 1962.
He was named after his paternal grandfather, Daniel Romualdez, of Pandacan, Manila
Pandacan, Manila
Pandacan is a district of the City of Manila in the Philippines, located south of the banks of the Pasig River and belongs under the 6th congressional district of Manila, divided into thirty eight barangays that includes Zone 90 to Zone 95 and barangays 833 to 872.-Profile:Based on a year 2000...
and former owner of the Malacanang Gardens, the huge expanse of land dedicated to entertaining guests of the Philippine presidents. Another namesake is a first cousin once removed, Daniel Gomez Romualdez, the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
architect and son of former ambassador and governor Benjamin Trinidad Romualdez (brother of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
).
Early life
Daniel "Danieling" Romualdez was born in Tolosa, LeyteTolosa, Leyte
Tolosa is a 5th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,539 people in 2,963 households....
. His father, Miguel, once served as an assemblyman for Leyte and mayor of the city of Manila. His great grandfather was involved in the Sumoroy Revolt but narrowly escaped Spanish execution when he was allowed by David Dula to visit his ailing mother. Dula and his seven trusted men were later executed in Palapag, Northern Samar
Northern Samar
Northern Samar is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catarman and is located at the northern portion of the island of Samar. Bordering the province to the south are the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar...
and were buried in unmarked graves without Roman Catholic rites. Superstitions existed that a Romualdez was to die that day in Palapag. More than fifty years later, Supreme Court Associate Justice Norberto Romuáldez
Norberto Romuáldez
Norberto Romuáldez y López was a Philippine writer, politician, jurist, and statesman. He was the first Lopez-Romuáldez to attain national prominence, and is deemed the "Father of the Law on the National Language"...
, Danieling's famous uncle and the man who made their surname distinguished in society, would suddenly die of a heart attack in Palapag, hometown of his second wife Beatriz, daughter of the parish priest Fray Salustiano Buz, who insisted on campaigning at the grassroots level for the Philippine Senate elections when he was almost guaranteed to win on account of his nationwide reputation.
Romualdez enrolled 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...
in Sampaloc, Manila
Sampaloc, Manila
Sampaloc is a district of Manila which is primarily a residential and educational center. Part of the Malacañang Palace is located in Sampaloc. The University of Santo Tomas, University of the East Manila are part of the University Belt to name a few, the famous Dangwa flower market at Dimasalang...
. He obtained his law degree in 1931.
Family
His father was Don Miguel Lopez Romualdez, the Mayor of ManilaMayor of Manila
The Mayor of Manila is the head of the executive branch of the City of Manila's government. The mayor holds office at Manila City Hall. Like all local government heads in the Philippines, the mayor is elected via popular vote, and may not be elected for a fourth consecutive term...
during World War 2 who was known to ride his chauffeur-driven American car in the streets honking at the Japanese soldiers and Korean stevedores who would immediately part away like Moses splitting the Red Sea. Don Miguel was the most prosperous Romualdez during his lifetime. So eager for wealth was he that he amassed Japanese currency notes in the staggering millions thinking it would increase in value. After the Liberation of Manila and Japan's defeat, Don Miguel's money became worthless. He suffered a heart attack.
Danieling's father was the second of the three sons of Trinidad "Tidad" Lopez, eldest daughter of Spanish friar, Don Francisco Lopez
Francisco López
Francisco López or Francisco Lopez may refer to:*Francisco López 16th century, Spanish Renaissance painter*Francisco López , Spanish Renaissance painter*Francisco López Contreras , Guatemalan footballer...
of Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(later of Burauen, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
), and Daniel Romualdez of Pandacan, Manila
Manila
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,...
, a tuberculosis survivor and Cabeza de Barangay
Cabeza de Barangay
The Cabeza de Barangay was the leader or chief of a barangay in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. The post was inherited from the first datus who became cabezas de barangay when the many independent barangays fell under the rule of the Spanish Crown...
.
Danieling's mother was Brigida Zialcita of Manila.
Danieling, a Spanish Mestizo, like his uncle Dean Vicente Orestes Romualdez y Lopez (father of Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
) and current Leyte congressman Alfred Romualdez, inherited their Spanish friar ancestor's Castillian skin.
His siblings include Attorney Estela Zialcita Romualdez Sulit married to Mariano Sulit, Miguel Zialcita Romualdez Jr. married to Cecilia Planas (distantly related to Rosario Planas), Alberto Zialcita Romualdez married to the Spanish mestiza Covadonga del Gallego of Paco
Paco
Paco is - together with Pancho - the Spanish nickname for Francisco, as in Pancho Villa, the legendary Mexican revolutionary.The nickname has its origins in Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the father of the Franciscan order...
, Manila
Manila
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,...
(their son is former Department of Health Secretary Alberto G. Romualdez), Amelia Zialcita Romualdez Janairo married to Maximiano Janairo, Froilan Zialcita Romualdez married to Josefina Cervo and Philippine Central Bank Governor Eduardo Romualdez married to Concepcion Veloso, popularly nicknamed Conchita, who also hailed from a powerful Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
political family.
Danieling was married to Paz or "Pacing" Gueco of Magalang, Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, member of the Kahirup, supporter of fashion designer Ramon Valera, an aunt of Benigno Aquino Jr from nearby Concepcion
Concepcion, Tarlac
Concepcion is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 135,213 people in 20,851 households. The 2007 Municipal Survey counted Concepcion with 133,011 of Population....
, Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
, and heiress to vast tracts of ricelands from her industrious Chinese-Filipino Gueco clan.
He has four daughters.
Seeing the potential of his cousin Imelda, who was by then the undisputed Rose of Tacloban titlist and was renowned throughout the provinces for her singing voice, Danieling and other cousin Loreto Romualdez Ramos brought Imelda to Manila who in ten years would be First Lady of the Philippines
First Lady of the Philippines
The First Lady/ Gentleman of the Philippines is the unofficial title of the hostess/host of the Malacañang Palace, the nation's residence of its head of state...
, Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
. Before that, Pacing Gueco would ask her nephew Benigno Aquino, Jr (Ninoy) to escort her husband's first cousin Imelda in the taxicab on her way home from her job at the Escolta and at the Central Bank of the Philippines. (Ninoy and Imelda first met during a Gueco family picnic on the Parua river which straddles Magalang
Magalang, Pampanga
Magalang is a 1st class municipality in the province of Pampanga, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 98,595 people in 15,257 households.-Barangays:Magalang is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.* Camias* Dolores...
to the south and Concepcion
Concepcion, Tarlac
Concepcion is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 135,213 people in 20,851 households. The 2007 Municipal Survey counted Concepcion with 133,011 of Population....
to the north).
His old home along Dapitan Street Extension, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
was a regular meeting place of the Nacionalista Party
Nacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
of which the Romualdezes were original members.
Political career
Romualdez first entered politics in 1949 when he was elected to represent the Fourth District of Leyte in the House of Representatives. A member of the Nacionalista PartyNacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
, Romualdez was re-elected in 1953 and 1957. In 1961, Romualdez was elected Representative of the First District of Leyte.
During the 3rd Congress of the Philippines
3rd Congress of the Philippines
The Third Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 25, 1954 until December 10, 1957.-Sessions:*First Regular Session: January 25 – May 20, 1954**First Special...
, Romualdez served as Speaker Pro-Tempore. After House Speaker Jose Laurel, Jr.
Jose Laurel, Jr.
José Bayani "Pepito" Laurel, Jr. , also known as José B. Laurel, Jr., was a Filipino politician who was elected twice as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines...
vacated his congressional seat in 1957 following an unsuccessful bid for the Vice-Presidency
Vice President of the Philippines
-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
, Romualdez replaced him as Speaker upon the opening of the 4th Congress
4th Congress of the Philippines
The Fourth Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from January 27, 1958 until December 13, 1961.-Sessions:*First Regular Session: January 27 – May 22, 1958**First Special...
in 1957. Romualdez served as Speaker until March 1962, when his Nacionalista Party ceded its congressional majority to the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
. Cornelio Villareal
Cornelio Villareal
Cornelio T. Villareal was a Filipino politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1962 to 1967, and again from 1971 to 1972. Popularly known as Kune, his congressional career representing the Second District of Capiz spanned six decades.- Early...
succeeded him as Speaker. Romualdez assumed the post of Minority Floor Leader, in which capacity he was serving upon his death in office from a heart attack in 1965. Within months, his beloved first cousin Imelda Marcos
Imelda Marcos
Imelda R. Marcos is a Filipino politician and widow of 10th Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. Upon the ascension of her husband to political power, she held various positions to the government until 1986...
would become First Lady of the country beginning a 21-year rule with husband President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
.