National Socialist Party of Cebu

In the first Presidential Election in the Philippines held in 1935 of which President Manuel Luis Quezon with Cebuano political leader Don Sergio Suico Osmeña as Vice President won. There was a contending party called the National Socialist Party. The Socialist Party led by General Emilio Aguinaldo, the party's presidential candidate challenged the Nacionalista Party.

In Cebu, on July 7, 1935 the Cebu Branch of the National Socialist Party was formed. Elected as provincial chairman was Joaquin Natividad, a lawyer, admitted to the Philippine Bar on September 7, 1904. Natividad was the first Filipino Insular Collector of Customs of Cebu.

Natividad of the Cebu Customs House represented the government in numerous cases that reached the Supreme Court, among them was the case filed by American Express Co. Inc. (decided by the Supreme Court En Banc on September 25, 1924) and the case against Chua Cho Pack & Co. and Tomas Liao Lamco (decided by the Supreme Court on August 4, 1927).

Natividad convinced the former generals of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo to support the Partido Sosyalista of Cebu, making Generals Gabino Sepulveda and Enrique Lorega (both have streets named after them). Generals Sepulveda and Lorega names were held in esteem as they were considered as heroes in the revolution against Spain and America. Sepulveda was made honorary president, while Lorega was made honorary vice president.

The provincial committee of the Partido Sosyalista sa Sugbo were Don Vicente Sotto, Eduardo de Roda (a businessman, once owned a launch named Emma, his co-owner was Vicente Pelaez, Eduardo married Benita Antioquia), Felicidad Climaco, the "Tandang Sora" of Cebu, as she supported the revolution against Spain and the Americans. Felicidad was a relative of Juan Faller Climaco and Arsenio Climaco. Felicidad, was an advocate for women's suffrage, it was only after the passage of the 1935 Constitution that a law was passed giving women the right to vote and be elected into public office. Felicidad Climaco was the first woman to speak in a public rally, the historical speech was made on February 10, 1933 at Washington Park.

In her honor, the Cebu City Council named a street in the name of "Felicidad Climaco" on October 14, 1968. It is the street within the Espina Subdivision, it is contained under City Ordinance No. 641. Doña Felicidad was also a pianist, and rendered a concert on December 4, 1931.

Other members of the executive committee Panfilo Canton, a mayor of Talisay, Vicente Pelaez, a lawyer and a businessman, Romualdo Solon, a physician and married to a member of the Veloso Clan and Angel Ancajas.

To support the candidacy of General Emilio Aguinaldo, the Pundok Sosyalista put up its roster of candidates. Of the seven congressional districts, they came up with four candidates. Remigio Murillo, a lawyer, admitted to the Bar on January 16, 1925 and an active member of the Free Masonry of Cebu. He became part of the "Eureka Masons Club" after the war. Murillo was the candidate for the second district. Teodorico Adarna, a wealthy landowner, was the party's candidate for the third district. The Adarnas of today became hoteliers and developers. For the sixth district, its candidate was Vicente Sotto, and Angel Ancajas for the seventh district. Angel Ancajas became a member of the Frente Popular and was its candidate for the seventh district in the 1938 elections.

attypauloaminal@yahoo.com.

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