Teófilo Sison

Governor of Pangasinan, October 16, 1922 to June 25, 1928 Senator, June 5, 1928 to November 15, 1935 1st Secretary of National Defense, November 1, 1939 to July 15, 1941 Secretary of Justice, July 18, 1941 to November 27, 1941 and December 4, 1942 to October 14, 1943

Teófilo Sison y Leuterio was born on February 29, 1880 in Dagupan, Pangasinan to Benito Sison y Bengson and Escolástica Leuterio y Romero.

He studied at the College of San Alberto Magno, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896 and the University of Santo Tomas, B.A., in the same year. He taught in the public schools of Binmaley, Pangasinan from October 1990 until June 1901.

On July 1, 1901 he was appointed interpreter for the Court of First Instance Third Judicial District. It was during his term as court interpreter that he got married to Filomena Solis in Lingayen, Pangasinan on November 19, 1910. He served in such capacity until July 1, 1914, when he was reappointed to a similar position in the 5th District where he remained until September 30, 1914.

After he passed the Philippine Bar examination on September 7, 1914, he established his own law office and engaged in the active practice of his profession.

In June 1916, he was elected Municipal Councilor of Lingayen, a position he held until October 1919. He went on to become Provincial Governor of Pangasinan during the June 1922 election and was re-elected in the general elections of 1925.

Then in June 1928, he was elected for the Senatorial District, comprising the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union and Zambales. As Senator during the period 1928-1931, he was Chairman of the Committees on Civil Service and National Enterprise, and member of the following committees: Finance, Public Works and Communication, Appointments, Justice, Municipal and Provincial Governments, Election and Privileges, City of Manila, Commerce and Industry, Labor and Immigration.

During the 9th Legislative Assembly, he was chairman of the Committee of Justice and member of the following committees: Finance, Public Works and Communication, Appointments, Public Instruction, External Relations, Banks Corporations and Franchise, Commerce and Industry, City of Manila, Municipal and Provincial Governments, Labor and Immigration, Civil Service and Library.

He was appointed Secretary of National Defense in November 1, 1939 during the presidency of Manuel L. Quezon pursuant to the enactment of Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the National Defense Act.

Wikipedia

New Philippines: A Book on the Building Up of a New Nation (1934), by Felixberto Bustos and Abelardo Fajardo (p. 431)

Encyclopedia of the Philippines: The Library of Philippine Literature, Art and Science, Volume 9: Builders of the New Philippines (1936, p. 606, Image 316)

Cornejo’s Commonwealth Directory of the Philippines (1939), by Miguel Cornejo (p. 2146)

Marriage certificate