The 8th Senatorial District

Our neighboring provinces of Negros (Occidental and Oriental) were part of the 8th Senatorial District. This was from 1916 to 1935. The country was divided into 12 senatorial districts with the passage of the Jones Law in 1916 otherwise known as the Philippine Autonomy Act of 1916 when the Americans introduced the creation of the Philippine Senate, making our congress, bicameral, as it was unicameral from 1907 to 1916.

Aside from the Negros provinces comprising the 8th Senatorial District, included was the Province of Antique (of Panay Island) and Palawan. Every district, the electorate will elect two senators. From 1916 to 1935 the 8th Senatorial District elected six senators. Manuel Lopez was senator of the district from 1916 to 1922.

Espiridion Guanco was senator for three terms, this was 1916 to 1925. Senator Guanco was the son of Agustin Guanco and Filomena Cordero and was born on December 29, 1874.

Another famous name was Hermenegildo Villanueva fondly called as “Bindoy” who was born on September 20, 1876. Senator Villanueva was the son of Hermenegildo Villanueva and Anselma Pinili Teves. Senator Villanueva was also Mayor of Bais, Negros Oriental, and served as Governor of Negros Oriental. He married Asuncion Larena-Villanueva.

Another long-time serving senator of the district was Gil Montilla, who was senator from 1925 to 1935. Senator Montilla was born on September 11, 1876 and died on June 20, 1946. Montilla was from Negros Occidental and his parents were Domingo Montilla and Potenciana Miranda. Members of the Montilla Clan from Negros migrated to Cebu and established residences and businesses. Senator Montilla married Mercedes Miranda.

From 1931 to 1935 there was Senator Isaac Lacson who was from Negros Occidental. He was born on July 28, 1889 and his parents were Aniceto Lacson and Rosario Araneta. Senator Lacson was Governor of Negros Occidental from 1928 to 1931. The Philippine Senate briefly closed with the passage of the 1935 Constitution that abolished the senate and reverted to the unicameral form of government. The Senate was restored when the Constitution was amended and senate elections held in 1940. The last of the six men who served as Senators of the 8th Senatorial District was Francisco Zulueta who was senator from 1929 to 1931.