Col. Banal began working as a reporter for various Manila newspapers in 1950 before becoming editor of Counterpoint Magazine in 1952. In 1953, he joined the US Embassy as a writer-photographer and worked for the AID, USIS and US Air Force both in Manila and Guam. In 1956, he covered Operation Brotherhood in Vietnam as a photojournalist.
In 1958, he embarked on a second career – law enforcement – when he joined the Manila Police Department where he rose to the rank of colonel and was top aide to then Manila chief of police, Gen. Alfredo Lim. A graduate of the Philippine College of Criminology, Col. Banal also taught courses at the Philippine National Police Academy in Laguna.
On his retirement from the police force in 1991, he embarked on yet a third career as security consultant to the Gokongwei group of hotels and apartelles in Metro Manila and Cebu.
Aside from Chelo and Conrad, he is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jovencia Rojas of Tarlac, other children May, Joel, Kaye, Koy, Gina, Dang and Honey, children-in-law, 24 grandchildren, mother Josefa, brother Jorge, a Quezon City councilor, and sister Carmen Padilla.
His remains lie at Chapel 1, Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina City where he will be interred on Sunday, Oct. 28 after the 9 a.m. Mass.