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Filipino soldier, lawyer, legislator, and Spanish-language writer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Valenzuela Guevara (February 23, 1879 – January 19, 1938), was a Filipino soldier, lawyer, legislator, and Spanish-language writer who became Resident Commissioner of the Philippines during the American occupation.
![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (March 2013) |
![]() | This article was imported from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. |
Pedro Guevara | |
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Resident Commissioner to the U.S. House of Representatives from the Philippine Islands | |
In office March 4, 1923 – February 14, 1936 | |
Preceded by | Jaime C. De Veyra |
Succeeded by | Quintin Paredes |
Senator of the Philippines from the 4th district | |
In office 1916–1923 | |
Preceded by | Post created |
Succeeded by | Ramon J. Fernandez |
Member of the Philippine National Assembly from La Laguna's 2nd District | |
In office 1909–1916 | |
Preceded by | Crispin Oben |
Succeeded by | Crisanto Guysayko |
Personal details | |
Born | Pedro Guevara y Valenzuela February 23, 1879 Santa Cruz, Laguna, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
Died | January 19, 1938 58) Manila, Philippine Commonwealth | (aged
Resting place | Loyola Memorial Park, Marikina, Philippines |
Political party | Nacionalista |
Spouse | Isidra Baldomero |
Children | 1 |
Education | Ateneo Municipal de Manila |
Alma mater | Colegio de San Juan de Letran |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Battles/wars | Philippine Revolution Spanish–American War Philippine–American War |
Pedro Guevara was born in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines on February 23, 1879, to Miguel Guevara and María Valenzuela.
Guevara attended Ateneo Municipal de Manila and graduated from Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila in 1896.
Guevara joined the Filipino forces during the Philippine Revolution and assisted in promoting the peace agreement of the Biak na Bato at San Miguel, Bulacan, in 1897. He later rejoined the Filipino forces during the revolution, and also served throughout the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was the aide and private secretary to General Juan Cailles.
Later, Guevara became a journalist for the Spanish-language newspaper Soberania Nacional and Vidas Filipinas. He entered politics as a municipal councilor of San Felipe Neri, Rizal (present-day city of Mandaluyong) in 1907. He studied law at La Jurisprudencia and became a lawyer in private practice. He later became a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the 2nd district of La Laguna from 1909 to 1912 and a member of the Philippine Senate from the 4th senatorial district from 1916 to 1923. In 1921, Guevara was chair of the Philippine delegation to the Far Eastern Bar Conference at Beijing, China.
He gave up his Senate seat in 1923, less than two years before his second term expired, as he was elected as a Nationalist resident commissioner to the House of Representatives of the United States Congress. He would serve for four three-year terms from March 4, 1923, to February 14, 1936. During this time, Guevara worked tirelessly for the approval of the Tydings–McDuffie Act, which would establish the Commonwealth of the Philippines and eventually its independence in 10 years. Later, he served as delegate of Laguna during the Constitutional Convention of 1934 which framed the 1935 Philippine Constitution. His term ended on February 14, 1936, when a successor qualified in accordance with the newly established Commonwealth of the Philippines was selected.
Upon retirement, Guevara resumed his law practice. He died of a heart attack in Manila on January 19, 1938, and was buried at the Manila North Cemetery. In 1993, his remains were transferred to Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina.