Matias Castillon Ranillo Sr. (February 28, 1898 – December 18, 1947) was a Governor of then Province of Zamboanga and later Congressman of the lone Legislative District of Zamboanga during the

1st Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines The First Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines ( fil, Unang Kongreso ng Komenwelt ng Pilipinas), also known as the Postwar Congress, and the Liberation Congress, refers to the meeting of the bicameral legislature composed of the Senat ...

. During the Japanese occupation in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, he was made

Military Governor A military government is generally any form of government that is administered by military forces, whether or not this government is legal under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occup ...

of the province.

Early life and career

Ranillo was born February 28, 1898, to Primo Ranillo and Laureana Castillon in Dipolog, Zamboanga Peninsula. Handsome and bright, he was the only candidate from the Manila Law College to pass the Philippine Bar Examinations in 1926. A very articulate lawyer, he then became a judge in

Basilan Basilan, officially the Province of Basilan ( cbk, Provincia de Basilan; yka, Wilayah Basilanin; tsg, Wilaya' sin Basilan; fil, Lalawigan ng Basilan), is an island province of the Philippines located primarily in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ...

Political career

Ranillo was elected Governor of the Province of Zamboanga in 1937. In 1939, he was present when President Manuel L. Quezon and his daughters Zenaida and Aurora "Baby" inaugurated the first bridge linking Dipolog and Dapitan, now called the Quezon Bridge. He also welcomed then-Vice-president Sergio Osmena when the latter inaugurated

Dipolog Airport Dipolog Airport ( Cebuano: ''Tugpahanan sa Dipolog'') is the main airport serving the general area of Dipolog, the capital city of Zamboanga del Norte, in the Philippines. The airport is one of the busiest in Mindanao, especially considering its ...

in October 1941, who came in on board a Philippine Army Air Corps flight and almost crashed at landing. They immediately proceeded to

Dipolog Cathedral Dipolog Cathedral ( ceb, Katedral sa Dipolog, fil, Katedral ng Dipolog), canonically recognized as the Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral Parish ( ceb, Katedral sa Balaang Birhen sa Santo Rosario, fil, Parokyang Katedral ng Mahal na Bir ...

to have a Thanksgiving mass for landing safely.

Japanese occupation

Already an elected assemblyman at the outbreak of

in Manila on December 7, 1941, he was captured by the Japanese and later recaptured and imprisoned by the American forces in June 1942. He was subsequently released in December 1942 and was appointed civilian governor of the Province of Zamboanga under the auspices of the US Tenth

Military District Military districts (also called military regions) are formations of a state's armed forces (often of the Army) which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and ...

. During this time, he ensured that the people Zamboanga did not starve as much by conducting a food production campaign and coordinating with other Filipino guerilla-controlled areas to allow necessary supplies to flow to the peninsula. His efforts also provided American and Filipino troops refuge and staging area for the liberation of the peninsula from the Japanese occupation.

Family

Ranillo married Sotera Colana Kaper and had children named Virginia Ranillo-Papa and Matias Ranillo Jr. (died in 1969). He has grandchildren named

Mat Ranillo III Matias Archibald Ranillo III (born October 5, 1956), also known by his screen name Mat Ranillo III is a Filipino-born American actor. Personal life Matias Archibald Ranillo III is the second of seven children and the first son of actors Mat Ran ...

Suzette Ranillo Maria Suzette Sevilla Ranillo (born January 11, 1961) is a Filipino actress who started at the age of 12 as an actress with the screen name, Nadia Veloso. She is well known for her awards and successes in film, television and theater. Biograph ...

, and a great-grandchild named Krista Ranillo.

Death

Due to his imprisonment and continued work in harsh mountainous environments as civilian governor, Ranillo's health deteriorated rapidly. To avoid capture, he had to move his government seat month after month through mountains and rivers, often on wet clothes. Nevertheless, he continued on with his food production campaign and finally, his ill health led to his untimely death on December 18, 1947, at the age of 49 at Brent Hospital in Zamboanga City. His remains were brought back to his hometown Dipolog for burial.

Legacy

*A street in Dipolog, originally named Lincoln Street, from the corner of Quezon Avenue in Barangay Central (facing the entrance gate of the Dipolog Central Public Market) to Dipolog Boulevard is named Ranillo Street. *In 2012, a movement was started, spearheaded by Ranillo's daughter, Virginia Ranillo-Papa, to propose the renaming of the

to Matias Castillon Ranillo Airport, to recognize his efforts and sacrifices for his hometown and the peninsula. Though unsuccessfully fulfilled, he was then given a place inside Dipolog Airport with the Governor Matias C. Ranillo Commemorative Wall situated at the departure area, unveiled in 2018. *In 2017, Lawigan National High School in

Labason, Zamboanga del Norte Labason, officially the Municipality of Labason ( ceb, Lungsod sa Labason; Subanen: ''Benwa Labason''; Chavacano: ''Municipalidad de Labason''; tl, Bayan ng Labason), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, Philippine ...

was renamed as Matias C. Ranillo National High School in his honor.

Gallery

File:Governor Ranillo as Deputy Governor 1932-1934, taken at Sindangan, Zamboanga peninsula.jpg, Ranillo as Deputy Governor 1932–1934, taken at Sindangan, Zamboanga peninsula. Ranillo is at center, Bartolome Lira (who became the first Municipal President of Sindangan in 1936) 3rd from right. File:Governor Ranillo's office stationary.jpg, Office Stationery as Representative of Zamboanga File:Philippine Congress Resolution -36.jpg, First Congress of the Philippines Resolution upon Ranillo's death on December 18, 1947

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ranillo, Matias C. Sr. 1898 births 1947 deaths Matias People from Dipolog Governors of Zamboanga del Norte Governors of Zamboanga del Sur Politicians from Zamboanga del Norte Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Zamboanga del Norte Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Zamboanga del Sur