BAIS CITY POLITICAL HISTORY

  A Legacy Rooted in Honor: The Life and Legacy of Don Juan Montenegro y Trasmonte of Bais, Negros Oriental  By : Prof. Penn T.Larena ,MPA,MA In the rich and storied landscape of Negros Oriental’s history, few names carry the weight of tradition, leadership, and legacy like that of Don Juan Montenegro y Trasmonte . A man of heritage and vision, he stood at the crossroads of colonial legacy and Filipino self-governance in the early 20th century, steering the province with dignity and foresight during a transformative era.  Born into a family of stature and influence in Bais City , Don Juan was the proud son of Don Joaquín Mascato Montenegro and Doña Simeona Trasmonte y Palacio , herself the daughter of Don Leon Trasmonte and Doña Manuela Palacios —families woven into the aristocratic and economic fabric of the island. The Montenegros were known not only for their haciendas and wealth but also for their civic involvement and loyalty to public service.  The family’...

 Prof. Penn T. Villanueva Larena ,MPA,DPA candidate Negros Historian Guillermo Zosimo Teves Villanueva, born on April 4, 1893, in Bais, Oriental Negros, was a prominent Filipino legislator and public servant. He received his education from Silliman Institute ( Silliman University), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912. He pursued further studies in law at the University of Michigan, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1913, and later took postgraduate MASTERS OF  law courses at the University of Wisconsin.  Villanueva began his political career as a municipal councilor of Bais in 1920 and was elected as the representative of the first district of Oriental Negros in 1922. He was reelected in 1925, 1928, and 1931. As a legislator in the Tenth Philippine Legislature, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Public Works, and External Relations, and was a member of various committees, including Public Instruction, Ways and Means, Rules, Bank...