Cebu's delegates to the 1934 Constitutional Convention
A month after the Senatorial Elections, an election was held for the position as Delegate of the 1934 Constitutional Convention, this was held on July 10, 1934. Prelude to the convention was the Tydings-McDuffie Law enacted by the American Congress on March 24, 1934. The law mandates that as requirement for the policy of Philippine Independence was that we as a nation must have its own Constitution drafted by Filipinos elected by the Filipino people.
As response to the Tydings-McDuffie Law, Philippine Congress enacted Batas Bilang 4125 enacted on May 26, 1934 calling for an election of delegates to form part of the Constitutional Convention.
Cebu, with its seven congressional district, was allocated two delegates for every district, therefore, 14 were to be elected. There were 45 candidates in that election, the following won:
Filemon Sotto (lawyer, newspaperman, congressman, and senator); Vicente Sotto (lawyer, newspaperman, congressman, and senator); Manuel C. Briones (lawyer, jurist, congressman, and senator); Mariano Jesus Cuenco (lawyer, newspaperman, congressman and senator); Nicolas Rafols (lawyer, novelist, and congressman); Paulino Gullas (founder of The Freeman, Bar topnotcher of the 1916 exams with a grade of 93 percent, and congressman); Antonio Mansueto (mayor of Bogo, Cebu); Antonio B. Ybanez (lawyer, admitted to the Bar on January 29, 1925); Casiano Carin (first lawyer of Dalaguete); Cesar Kintanar (city fiscal, Bar topnotcher, admitted to the Bar on January 3, 1928); Dionisio Niere (first doctor of medicine of Boljoon, Cebu); Felismeno Vergara Rivera (lawyer, admitted to the Bar on December 5, 1931, from Dumanug, Cebu); Juanito T. Maramara (graduate Bachelor of Arts Major in Education, Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Denver, United States of America, 1922); Hilario Camino Moncado (Bachelor of Laws, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Civil Law, Commissioned as Brigadier General). Of the 14 delegates, 8 belonged to the Anti, 5 with the Pro, and 1 Modernista or of the group founded by Moncado now known as the Moncadista. There were 202 delegates all over the country. There were 104 lawyers. The delegates from Cebu were active and brought us to national fame.
Filemon Yap Sotto became chairman of the sponsorship committee composed of 87 members. Out of the 87 members was a special group called the famed "Seven Wise Men," aside from Filemon Sotto another Cebuano was part thereof, Manuel C. Briones.
Vicente Sotto was elected chairman of the Committee on Style and was a member of the committees on Preamble, Nationalization of Public Utilities, and Impeachment.
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