ARSENIO CRUZ-HERRERA
(1863-1917)
Mayor of
The
first civilian mayor of
Nothing is known about his activities
during the first phase of the Philippine Revolution, except that he was said to
have advised General Maximo Hizon on the capture of the town of
Cruz Herrera was offered the position
of director of war in the revolutionary cabinet. When he refused, the post of
director went to Antonio Luna. He, however, accepted the position of public
instruction. It was through his initiative, as such that the revolutionary
government established in 1899 The Universidad Cientifico-Literaria de
Filipinas, where he taught law. He was also active in the management of the
official organ of the government, El Heraldo de la Revolucion.
Cruz Herrera was elected to the Malolos
Congress, representing
Realizing the futility of the armed
struggle against the superior enemy forces, Cruz Herrera opted to cooperate
with Americans in 1900. Along with others, he organized the Federal Party. On
Cruz Herrera ran during the elections
for the First Philippine Assembly in 1907 under the recognized Federal Party,
which he renamed Progressive Party, but lost. The candidates of the
Nacionalistas Party won in the majority in the elections. In 1912, he joined
the Nacionalistas and ran in the next elections for the Nacional Assembly. He
was elected assemblyman, representing the first district of Rizal. He moved to
the Democrata Party on
Before he entered politics, Cruz
Herrera had a lucrative law practice, which before he started after his
graduation from UST. He also taught law at the Academia de Leyes.
Cruz Herrera was married twice. On
Cruz Herrera died at the age of 54 on
Encoded by:
Liezl T. Desingano
IIBSCoS2