Jose Cortes Altavas (September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

politician, legislator and man of letters. He was a municipal councilman of Capiz (present day

Roxas City Roxas City, officially the City of Roxas ( Capiznon/ hil, Dakbanwa sang Roxas; fil, Lungsod ng Roxas), is a 3rd class component city and capital of the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 179,29 ...

Capiz Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; tl, Lalawigan ng Capiz), is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Roxas. It is ...

), provincial board member (1906–1907), congressman (1907–1909 and 1925–1927), governor of Capiz (1910–1916),

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the e ...

(1916 to 1922), and 1934 Constitutional Convention delegate.

Early life and education

Born on September 11, 1877, Jose Altavas was from the town of Balete of the province of Capiz,

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

. His parents, Jose Altavas Sr. and Andrea Cortes, sent him to Ateneo de Manila for school and later at the

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (also known as UST and officially as the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, Manila) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Mig ...

for his law degree. His studies were disrupted by the Philippine Revolution of which he had an active involvement in his hometown under the command of Santiago Bellosillo. He was 20 years old at that time. When the revolution ended, he finished his studies and practiced law in Capiz on May 6, 1901, after passing the bar. He was also a newspaperman and writer who wrote Spanish poems and a 54-volume memoir that contained recollections of his life.

Politics

Altavas began his political career as an elected member of the Capiz (present day Roxas City) municipal council in 1903 and later as provincial board member from 1906 until 1907. From 1907 to 1909, he was voted as a legislator to the First Philippine Legislature for the 2nd district of the province. In 1910, he became governor of Capiz and served until 1916. It was during his term that the construction of the provincial capitol building, bridges, and roads between

Aklan Aklan, officially the Province of Aklan (Akeanon: ''Probinsya it Akean'' k'ɣan hil, Kapuoran sang Aklan; tl, Lalawigan ng Aklan), is a province in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Its capital is Kalibo. The province is situate ...

and Capiz began. From 1916 to 1922, Altavas was elected senator during the Fourth Philippine Legislature and the Fifth Philippine Legislature, representing the 7th senatorial district that was composed of the provinces of Capiz,

Iloilo Iloilo (), officially the Province of Iloilo ( hil, Kapuoran sang Iloilo; krj, Kapuoran kang Iloilo; tl, Lalawigan ng Iloilo), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is the City of Iloilo, the ...

and

Romblon Romblon ( , ), officially the Province of Romblon, is an archipelagic province of the Philippines located in the Mimaropa region. Its main islands include Tablas, the largest, which covers nine municipalities; Sibuyan with its three towns; as ...

. By 1925, he again won as 2nd district representative, and his term ended in 1927. He was also voted to be the 1st district delegate to the 1934

Constitutional Assembly A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...

Personal life

Jose Cortes Altavas NHCP Historical Marker

Altavas was married to Socorro Barrios Laserna and had seven children. On August 21, 1952, he died in Roxas City, Capiz. A historical marker was installed by the

National Historical Commission of the Philippines The National Historical Commission of the Philippines ( fil, Pambansang Komisyong Pangkasaysayan ng Pilipinas, abbreviated NHCP) is a government agency of the Philippines. Its mission is "the promotion of Philippine history and cultural herit ...

in his memory at the entrance of the Altavas municipal hall, and his bust can be found at the park outside the building.

References

1952 deaths Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Capiz University of Santo Tomas alumni 1877 births Governors of Capiz Ateneo de Manila University alumni 20th-century Filipino lawyers Members of the Philippine Legislature {{DEFAULTSORT:Altavas, Jose Senators of the 4th Philippine Legislature Senators of the 5th Philippine Legislature Provincial board members in the Philippines Filipino city and municipal councilors