Ignacio Villamor

Justice Ignacio Borbon Villamor (February 1, 1863 – May 23, 1933) was a Filipino lawyer, Associate Justice of Supreme Court from Abra, Philippines and the first Filipino president of the University of the Philippines. Justice Villamor is also the father of the World War II Filipino aviation hero, and 6th Pursuit Squadron Commander, Capt. Jesús A. Villamor of the Philippine Army Air Corps.

The Honourable Ignacio Villamor
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
In office May 19, 1920 – May 25, 1933
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Florentino Torres
Succeeded by	Ramón Avanceña
Solicitor General
In office July 17, 1906 – July 1, 1908
Preceded by	Gregorio S. Araneta
Succeeded by	George R. Harvey
Attorney General of the Philippines
In office July 1, 1908 – June 30, 1914
Preceded by	Gregorio S. Araneta
Succeeded by	Ramon Avanceña
President of the University of the Philippines
In office 1915–1921
Preceded by	Murray S. Bartlett
Succeeded by	Guy Potter Benton
Personal details
Born	February 1, 1863 Bangued, Abra
Died	May 23, 1933 (aged 70)
Nationality	Filipino
Relations	Jesus Antonio Villamor (child)
Profession	Lawyer

Early life

Ignacio B. Villamor was born in Bangued, Abra on February 1, 1863 to parents Florencio Villamor and Wenceslawa Borbon. His father died when he was young. Wanting to be a priest, he attended at the Seminario Conciliar of Vigan,[1] Ilocos Sur but did not push through with the vocation.[2]

In 1882, he studied at the San Juan de Letran in Manila and acquired a bachelor's and master's degrees. At the University of Santo Tomas, he acquired his law degree in March 1893 while completing two-year work on literature and philosophy at the same time. Married to Mariquita Flores,[1] he was the father five children, including the decorated war veteran Jesus Antonio Villamor.[3]

Career

Academe

He established the College of San Antonio de Padua in 1889,[4] and he was his province's delegate to the Malolos Congress and participated in the drafting of the new Philippine constitution, particularly on the provision of universal education for all. Together with Enrique Mendiola, he co-founded the Liceo de Manila[1] on June 29, 1900,[2] where he was a professor and secretary.[1]

Judiciary

On February 16, 1901, he served as prosecuting fiscal of Pangasinan and then judge of the Court of First Instance of the sixth judicial district, which was composed of Cavite, Laguna, and Tayabas. He then was appointed as Solicitor General from July 17, 1906 to July 1, 1908 and appointed as Attorney General of the Philippines from July 1, 1908 to June 30, 1914.[1]

Government

In 1913, Villamor became the Philippine Commission Executive Secretary of the Philippine Islands and director of the Bureau of Customs on 1918.[1]

University of the Philippines

He was appointed the president of the University of the Philippines (UP) in 1915, becoming its first Filipino president when he replaced American Murray Bartlett.[1] The school expanded during his term, adding new units like Conservatory of Music[5] and opening the College of Education and the University High School.[6] The Junior College of Liberal Arts in Cebu City was also established. Through the initiative of then Cebu Governor Manuel Roa who petitioned for its establishment on April 30, 1918, it was created by virtue of Act No. 2759 that was backed up by Speaker of the Philippine Commission Sergio Osmeña. When the college opened on July 1, 1918, its first registrar was Paulino Gullas with Dr. Lawrence Wharton as first dean.[3]

Villamor was replaced by Guy Potter Benton as UP President.

Supreme Court

After his term at the University of the Philippines ended, he served as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921 and remained in the position until his retirement.[1][2]

Author

Throughout his career, he had written several published works including Commentaries on the Election Law, Election Frauds and Their Remedies, and others.[7]

Later years

He died on May 23, 1933.[1]

Publication

• Criminality in the Philippine Islands[8]
• Commentaries on the Election Law
• Election Frauds and Their Remedies[9]
• Japan’s Educational Development
• Slavery in the Philippines
• Industrious Men[10]
• Ancient Filipino Writing[11]
• The University of Santo Tomas in Her Third Century.

Historical commemoration

• Through City Ordinance No. 594 that was enacted on July 10, 1967, the Justice Ignacio Villamor Street, which stretches from Justice Abad Santos up to Gochan Subdivision, Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City, was named in his honor.[3]
• Villamor Hall in University of the Philippines was named after him.

Further reading

• Rodriguez, Eulogio Balan. Ignacio Villamor: the Savant and the Man, Bureau of Print (1939)

References

1. "On May 24, 1915, Ignacio Villamor was elected president of the University of the Philippines". The Kahimyang Project. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
2. Bilgera, Melchora A. Damian (2017-10-31). The Beasts, Beams, and Beauty of Abra, Philippines. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781543446319.
3. Oaminal, Clarence Paul (September 27, 2014). "Justice Ignacio Villamor Street". www.pressreader.com. The Freeman through Pressreader. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
4. "Senators Profile - Ramon Diokno". www.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
5. "History of the College". music.upd.edu.ph. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
6. "University History". University of the Philippines. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
7. Galang, Zoilo M.; Osias, Camilo (1936). Encyclopedia of the Philippines: Biography. Philippine Education Company.
8. Villamor, Ignacio (2018-01-30). Criminality in the Philippine Islands, 1903-1908 (Classic Reprint). Fb&c Limited. ISBN 9780267237845.
9. Villamor, Ignacio (1913). Fraudes electorales y sus remedios: conferencia ante "The Philippine Columbian Association" en el auditorium. De la Escuela Normal de Manila el día 13/X/1812 (in Spanish). Impr. I. R. Morales.
10. Villamor, Ignacio (1932). Industrious Men. Oriental Commercial Company.
11. Villamor, Ignacio (1922). La antigua escritura filipina deducida por Dn. Ignacio Villamor del Belarmino y otros antiguos documentos. Islas Filipinas.