Emiliano Alcala Gala (February 8, 1881 — January 19, 1942) was a Filipino physician and lawyer who became a member of the

Philippine Assembly The Philippine Assembly (sometimes called the Philippine National Assembly) was the lower house of the Philippine Legislature from 1907 to 1916, when it was renamed the House of Representatives of the Philippines. The Philippine Assembly ...

representing Tayabas's 2nd congressional district from 1907 to 1909.

Biography

He was born in Sariaya, Tayabas on February 8, 1881. He studied at the

Colegio de San Juan de Letran The Colegio de San Juan de Letran (), also referred to by its acronym CSJL, is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution owned and run by the friars of the Order of Preachers in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. I ...

where he gained his Bachelor of Arts degree and studied medicine at the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (UST; ), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as ''Ustê'' (), is a Private university, private Catholic school, Catholic researc ...

. Due to the Filipino revolution against Spain, he postponed his studies and returned to Sariaya. After the revolution, he went to Manila and gained his medical degree in 1901. He also took his second-year medical exam that same year. He went abroad to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

to study law at the

University of Michigan Law School The University of Michigan Law School (branded as Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Comparati ...

. After receiving his law degree in 1906, Gala became a practicing lawyer in the United States. During his time in the US, he opposed a bill in the

Indiana State Senate The Indiana State Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-yea ...

banning Americans from marrying Filipinos. He initiated Filipino protests which gained attention from the American press and gained the attention of the

US Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

in Washington. In July 1906, he returned to the Philippines. Gala ran for the Philippine Assembly and was elected as a representative for Tayabas's 2nd district. Gala was the only assembly member educated in the United States. Aside from his political career, Gala dedicated his time to his coconut plantation and became president of the Tayabas Bar Association until his death.

Death

In January 19, 1942 after visiting the Candelaria municipal office for business purposes, Gala died in a road accident after a coconut tree fell on the carromata he was riding.

References

{{Authority control 1881 births 1942 deaths Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Quezon Members of the Philippine Legislature Colegio de San Juan de Letran alumni University of Santo Tomas alumni University of Michigan Law School alumni