Blas Ople was a politician who held several high-ranking positions including Senate President from 1999 to 2000, and as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death.

RAFAEL PALMA

Palma was a reporter and later the editor of La Independencia, the first Filipino daily newspaper. He was also a co-founder of the first daily newspaper in Cebu, El Nuevo Dia in February 1900.

In June 1909, Palma was appointed as a member of the second Philippine Commission and served up to 1916.

In 1916 he was elected as Senator. In 1917, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of Interior and became the first official to hold concurrently legislature and executive positions until his term in the Senate ended in June 1922.

Palma was again elected to the Senate in 1933.

24 October 1874

to 24 May 1939