Wenceslao Vinzons was part of the 1935 Constitution Convention and a leader of the armed resistance against the Japanese occupying forces during World War II.
By 1934, the Tydings-McDuffie Act had laid the groundwork for independence. Vinzons was elected as a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention tasked with drafting a new constitution. As a member of the Convention, he was instrumental in prescribing Tagalog as an official language of the Philippines. At 24, he was the youngest delegate, and the youngest signer of the 1935 Constitution.
Vinzons resumed political life in 1940, when he was elected governor of Camarines Norte. The following year, he successfully ran for election to the National Assembly, representing the lone district of Camarines Norte. His service in the legislature was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in December 1941.
Vinzons began to organize armed resistance in the Bicol region against the invasion army. His guerrilla forces soon grew to around 2,800 strong, and in May 1942, Vinzons would lead these forces to successfully liberate the provincial capital of Daet. Vinzons was seized by the Japanese military on 8 July 1942 and refused to pledge allegiance to his captors and was bayoneted to death after refusing one final entreaty to cooperate with the Japanese forces. .
Famous Filipinos #1862, 9 Aug 1987
Birth Centenary #3356, 3 May 2011
Province of Camarines Norte - 100 Years Founding Anniversary #xxx, 14 Sept 2020
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