Francisco Felipe Villanueva

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Felipe and the surname or paternal family name is Villanueva.

The Honourable Francisco Felipe Villanueva
Villanueva depicted in a publication of Philippine Education, published April 1917
Senator of the Philippines from the 7th Senatorial District
In office October 16, 1916 – June 3, 1919
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	José María Arroyo
Senate Majority Leader
In office October 16, 1916 – June 3, 1919
Senate President	Manuel L. Quezon
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Francisco Enage
Member of the Philippine Assembly from Iloilo's 1st district
In office October 16, 1909 – October 16, 1916
Preceded by	Amando Avanceña
Succeeded by	José María Arroyo
Personal details
Born	(1867-10-10)October 10, 1867 Molo, Iloilo, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	August 25, 1923(1923-08-25) (aged 55) Manila, Philippine Islands
Political party	Nacionalista
Other political affiliations	Progresista
Spouse	Sofia Conlu

Francisco Felipe Villanueva (October 10, 1867 – August 25, 1923) was a Filipino political leader during the Philippine–American War.

Biography

Villanueva was born in the then-town of Molo, Iloilo. He was the youngest of six children of Eusebio and Maria Felipe Villanueva. He studied law in San Juan de Letran, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in April 1883 at a young age of sixteen.

Due to financial reverses, he interrupted his studies to help his parents in the farm. However, due to his insistence to finish his studies, he gain a small capital to continue by working as a secondary school teacher. He then studied at the University of Santo Tomas. There, he gained his law degree in March 1894.

In June 1894, he returned as a lawyer to his home province where he practiced his profession.

Villanueva married Sofia Conlu and fathered 12 children.

Political career

Villanueva served as the Visayan member to the Malolos Congress, where he conferred with General Emilio Aguinaldo and Apolinario Mabini to assure that the Visayas would be included in nascent First Philippine Republic.

Villanueva also co-owned and founded the newspaper "El Pais" and "El Tiempo". He was subjected to a court martial by the American military government of Iloilo due to his article published in "El Pais", which was a reproduction of an article from another newspaper in Cebu, "El Nueva Dia". He was tried on counts of supporting "revolutionary ideas".

In 1904, he became the registrar of titles for the province of Iloilo. In 1907, he fully dedicated his career to politics under the Insular Government. Villanueva subsequently served two terms as representative of the first district of Iloilo from 1909 to 1916, and as the one of the first senators (alongside Jose Altavas) of the seventh senatorial district comprising Iloilo, Capiz and Romblon from 1916 to 1919. He also served as Senate majority floor leader during the Fourth Legislature in 1916–1919.

As a senator, Villanueva was one of the respected members of the Nacionalista Party.

Death

Villanueva suffered a fatal heart attack at his Senate office in the Legislative Building in Manila on August 25, 1923.