José E. Romero

The Honourable
Jose E. Romero
Romero in 1949 as Philippine foreign minister, later ambassador, to the United Kingdom.
Secretary of the Philippine Department of Education
In office
June 1, 1959 – September 14, 1961
President Carlos P. Garcia
Preceded by Manuel L. Lim
Succeeded by Jose Y. Tuazon
1st Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Kingdom
In office
1949–1953
President Elpidio Quirino
Succeeded by León María Guerrero III
Personal details
Born José Romero y Muñoz
March 3, 1897
Bais, Negros Oriental, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died 23 October 1978(1978-10-23) (aged 81)
Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Spouse(s) Pilar Guzmán Sinco
Elisa Zuñiga Villanueva
Children Edgar Romero
Maria Luisa Romero-Gabaldon
Jose Emeterio Romero Jr.
Teresita Romero-Romulo
Ernesto Romero
Rodolfo Romero
Racquel Romero-Smith
George Albert Romero
Alma mater University of the Philippines
Silliman University
Profession Diplomat, Parliamentarian, Lawyer, Publisher

José E. Romero (3 March 1897 – 23 October 1978) was a statesman from the Philippines. From 1931, he served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the second district of Negros Oriental. When the National Assembly of the Philippines effectively replaced the Senate and the House of Representatives in 1935, he continued as an Assemblyman until 1941. After the war he served in various government posts as Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James's in the United Kingdom, Secretary of the Department of Education, and chairman of the Rizal Centennial Commission.

Personal life

Romero was born 3 March 1897, one of three children born to Francisco Romero Sr., a retainer of the Tabacalera in Bais, and Josefa Calumpang Muñoz, daughter of Tanjay gobernadorcillo Don José Teves Muñoz and Doña Paula Calumpang.[1]

He was primarily educated in the public schools of Tanjay, Negros Oriental and moved to Manila High School for secondary education where he finished in 1915. In 1917, Romero completed his Associate of Arts degree at Silliman Institute and then went on to the University of the Philippines and finished a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1922.[2]

He married Pilar Guzmán Sinco, a schoolteacher and sister of University of the Philippines president and Foundation University founder Vicente G. Sinco, and had one child:

After the premature death of his first wife, he married Elisa Zuñiga Villanueva on 6 September 1930 and had seven children:

Political career

Romero was elected to the House of Representatives in 1931. In 1934, he became majority floor leader and delegate to the Constitutional Convention. In 1935, he became a member of the National Assembly during the Philippines' time as a Commonwealth. In 1939, Romero called for an indefinite suspension of the planned 1946 Philippine independence during a meeting convoked by then President Manuel L. Quezon to consider how best to secure the safety of the Philippines under the threat of World War II.[4] He completed his service in 1941.

On 9 November 1949, Romero was received by the Court of St. James's as the first Minister of the Philippine Legation to the UK thereby setting up relations between the two countries. The legation was later on upgraded to embassy status with Romero serving as the first Philippine Ambassador to the UK. He ended his tour of duty in 1953.

References

  1. ↑ Merlie M. Alunan; Bobby Flores Villasis; Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation (1993). Kabilin: legacies of a hundred years of Negros Oriental. Negros Oriental Centennial Foundation. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "Jose E. Romero". Government of the Philippines. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. ↑ "National Artist - Ramon Valera". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  4. ↑ Simms, William Philip (28 September 1939). "Filipinos Shy at Complete Independence". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 17 October 2010.

Further reading

  • Romero, José E. (1979). Not So Long Ago: a Chronicle of My Life, Times, and Contemporaries. Alemar-Phoenix Pub. House.
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