05/08/2016
Why is August 5 a HOLIDAY in the whole Samar island?
Today, we commemorate the birthday of the "Father of the Philippine Workmenโs Compensation Law", who happens to be a Samareรฑo.
Jose Dira Avelino was born in Calbayog, Samar on August 5, 1890. He was the first Senate President in the Third Philippine Republic. He ran for President in the 1949 election but lost to Elpidio Quirino.
He was instrumental in the passage of the Social Security System and pushed for the establishment of public high schools in every province in the Philippines. He was also instrumental in the creation of the first city in Samar- Calbayog City.
A brilliant lawyer, Avelino pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Ateneo de Manila (where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with Claro M. Recto) and then went to the University of the Philippines where he graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Laws. In 1934, he was admitted to the Philippine bar and was conferred with a degree of Master of Laws by the University of Santo Tomas.
He married Enriqueta Casal and had 5 children. (He is great-grandfather to actor Paulo Avelino)
He died in 1986 at the age of 95.