Manuel Banzón

MANUEL DE LEON BANZON SR. (1884-1976) was Bataan’s sixth Congressman. He represented the province in Congress from 1925 to 1928. One of his major accomplishments was the completion of the old Bataan National Road from Dinalupihan to Lamao, Limay.

Congressman Banzon was born in Balanga on June 13, 1884. He was the eldest of seven children of Candido Banzon and Juliana de Leon. He completed his secondary education at the Bataan High School in Orani and enrolled at the Escuela de Leyes in Manila in 1905.

In 1907, while still in college, he was elected as councilor of Balanga at age 23. In addition, he also worked as confidential secretary of his uncle, Balanga Mayor Amado de Leon (1910-1912). After two years, he returned to Manila and continued his studies to become a lawyer. He supported his schooling by working as chief of s taff of former Congressman Tomas del Rosario (1910-1912). He passed the Bar examinations in 1912.

His affiliation with Congressman Del Rosario became very handy when he ran for the same congressional position in 1925. He beat the incumbent Representative Antonio G. Llamas of Mariveles (1922-1925). It was during his term (1925-1928) that he joined forces with Governor Gregorio R. Quicho of Orion (1925-1928, 1928-1931) to complete the Bataan National Road, specifically the Orion-Limay portion.

Don Manuel was a former president of the Bataan Lawyers League and the Bataan Sugar Planters. He was married twice, to Arcadia Arca and Teofila Velasco Garcia of Bulacan. He had a total of 17 children and passed away in February 1976.

Official Directory of the House of Representatives (1926, p. 38-39)