Hermenegildo Villanueva

He served as Secretary of Labor for Manuel L. Quezon from December 1938 until his resignation in April 1939.

Villanueva was born on the 25th of September, 1876 in Bais, Negros Oriental, one of the 11 children of Hermenegildo Villanueva y Regis (originally from Parián, Cebu) and Anselma Teves Piníli of Dumaguete. He was privately tutored for primary education and finished secondary and tertiary education in Cebu. Upon finishing his studies, the Spanish–American War erupted and he became one of the leaders in the Negros Revolution.

He was married first to Asunción Larena Peña, daughter of Don Demetrio Larena and Maria Luisa de la Peña of Zamboanguita. They had two sons, Jesus Pablo and Hermenegildo III (both Villanueva Larena). He also partnered with Nemecia Diputado and had 5 children.

As a sugar planter and progressive agriculturist, he was a long-time member of the board of directors of Central Azucarera de Bais y Tanjay founded by Tabacalera. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Sugar Central Board, forerunner of the present Sugar Regulatory Administration.

After the Spanish–American War, he was appointed as justice of the peace in Bais. In 1902, he became municipal vice-president (vice mayor) and subsequently elected as municipal president (mayor) in 1903. He was reelected for another term in 1905.

In 1907, he succeeded Demetrio Larena as governor of Negros Oriental. In 1909, while serving an unexpired term as governor, he ran for a seat in the Philippine Assembly and won. He represented the first district of Negros Oriental for two consecutive terms from 1909 to 1912 and from 1912 to 1916.

Villanueva then served as senator from the eighth senatorial district for two terms from 1919 to 1925 and from 1925 to 1931. Afterwards, he returned as governor of Negros Oriental for another two terms from 1931 to 1934 and from 1934 to 1937. During his incumbency as governor, he was elected as delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1935 Philippine Constitution and was chairman of the Committees on National Defense, Special Provinces, and Sponsorship.

Prior to his appointment to the Quezon cabinet, he was appointed Chairman of the Board on Pension for Veterans in 1938.

Villanueva was aboard SS Corregidor when it sank in the early hours of December 17, 1941 upon striking a mine off Manila Bay. His son Jesus Pablo Villanueva also died as a result of the tragedy.

In 1949, as decreed by President Elpidio Quirino, the barrio of Payabon was separated from the town of Manjuyod, Negros Oriental and created as the town of Bindoy, named after Villanueva.