Benito Soliven

A 1921 graduate of the UP's College of Law, he began his stint as a three-term congressman in 1928 representing the first district of Ilocos Sur. One of the bills he sponsored was The University Land Grant Bill, which proposed that 200,000 hectares of public agricultural lands be given to the UP for the purpose of making the UP self-supporting. He participated in the First Independence congress held in February 1930. He served in the military during WW2, survived the Death March, and was released from Camp O'Donnell in Tarlac in 1942.

References:

1) "Benito Soliven: A Patriot for All Seasons"; Guillermo Villaflor Soliven; 2010; https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/259

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benito_Soliven_Academy

3) "Unveiling of the Benito Soliven statue and opening of Soliven Memorabilia"; Philippine Star; 28 March 2003

4) The Philippine Magazine; p 288; October 1929

5) "A Woman so Valiant by Pelagia Villaflor Soliven'; pp. 111 - 112; The Other Empire: Literary Views of Japan from the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia; Ronald D. Kline; July 2009

6) Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930

Photo courtesy of "Benito Soliven: A Patriot for All Seasons"; Guillermo Villaflor Soliven; 2010; https://journals.ateneo.edu/ojs/index.php/budhi/article/view/259