11. Part I, 20 LITTLE-KNOWN THINGS ABOUT JOSE ABAD SANTOS, CHIEF JUSTICE AND HERO

(19 Feb. 1886-d.2 May 1942)

Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos y Basco (b.1886/d/1942), jurist and martyr-hero of the last World War, is perhaps, one of the more nationally-known patriots ever to come from Pampanga. Who can forget his last, parting words to his son?: "Do not cry, Pepito, show to these people that you are brave. It is an honor to die for one's country. Not everybody has that chance”. Here are a few lesser-known aspects of his short, but heroic life

 1. THE DOUBLE SURNAME 'ABAD SANTOS' CAME TO BE, IN COMPLIANCE WITH A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
“Abad” was added by Vicente (Jose’s father) to his existing Santos surname to differentiate his family from other Santoses, a common patronymic in the country. On the other hand, Esteban, Vicente’s brother, appended “Ferre”, making his surname “Ferre Santos”.

 2. THE YOUNG ABAD SANTOS WAS NICKNAMED ' SENGSENG'.
 Abad Santos was one of 10 children of Vicente Abad Santos and Toribia Basco. His father was already 56 when he was born. Nicknamed “Sengseng”, Jose, together with Quirino and Salvador who followed him, were affectionately called “Los Tres Reyes” by their mother, who was especially fond of the three. When he became a parent, his children addressed him as “Tatang” and their mother, “Ima”, as he preferred.

L-R. Amanda Teopaco, wife of Abad Santos, as a pensionado in the U.S.

3. ABAD SANTOS WAS A 'PENSIONADO' WHOSE BATCH INCLUDED 3 WELL-KNOWN KAPAMPANGANS. 
 Abad Santos was one of 2nd batch of 18 government scholars sent to study in the U.S. in 1904. Included in this group were his own kabalens—Sotero Baluyot, the future Pampanga governor who studied civil engineering in Iowa; Fabian de la Paz of Macabebe, who was enrolled at the Western Illinois State Teachers’ College; and medical student Gervacio Santos Cuyugan, who would become one of Pres. Quezon’s personal physicians. Cuyugan and Abad Santos, both from San Fernando, would become fast friends and roommates while both enrolled at University of Illinois. On his 2nd year, Abad Santos moved to Northwestern University.

 4. ABAD SANTOS FLUNKED THE 1910 BAR EXAMS.
Abad Santos returned to the Philippines in 1909 to become a member of the bar. He took the 1910 Bar Exams—but failed. That was because the test covered Spanish codes while his training abroad emphasized American laws. The next year in September, he again, took the bar exams, and this time, passed it. He was admitted to the bar on 12 October 1911.

 5.AMANDA TEOPACO, THE WIFE OF ABAD SANTOS WAS A NATIONAL BEAUTY QUEEN.

Amanda Teopaco (b.1901) was the daughter of the revolutionist Pedro Teopaco and Miguela Hizon, sister of patriot Gen. Maximino Hizon. While an “interna” at the Centro Escolar de Señoritas in Manila, her pictures would often appear in newspapers like El Renacimiento and La Vanguardia, often with poems dedicated to her. One picture of hers found its way to the Philippine Free Press which was then conducting a beauty search. The winners were selected by the Free Press readers at the end of 1909. Amanda finished in 6th place among the Top 13 Beauties.

 6. THOUGH A KAPAMPANGAN, ABAD SANTOS HAD A TASTE FOR SIMPLE, NATIVE FOOD. 
At home, Abad Santos favored simple native food. For dessert, he preferred “panocha” (peanut candy) over leche flan. he was fond of “pindang” and “halo-halo”. His breakfast consisted of fried rice, tuyo, coffee and fruit—a regular morning fare that he never got tired of eating.

L-R. Daughters Luz and Amanda, national swimmers;

 7. THE DAUGHTERS OF ABAD SANTOS WERE MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL SWIMMING TEAM. 
Amanda Jr. was a member of the 1934 Far Eastern Games swimming team representing the Philippines in the 50-meter free style and 100-meter backstroke with sister Luz Abad Santos. Both were champion swimmers of Philippine Women’s College. This skill was learned from their father, who learned to swim in the San Fernando river. When Abad Santos had their house built in San Juan, he also had a swimming pool added, where he trained his daughters to swim.

 8. JOSE'S BROTHER, ANTONIO, MARRIED AMANDA' SISTER, RAMONA, MAKING HIM HIS BROTHER'S OWN BROTHER-IN-LAW.
 Amanda Teopaco was actually a distant cousin of Abad Santos. The sponsors at their wedding on 21 September 1918 were Pedro Abad Santos and Mrs. Aurea Ocampo- Escaler. When Jose’s elder brother Antonio married Ramona Teopaco, he became his brother’s own brother-in-law and Ramona, became his sister-in-law twice. By coincidence, two Abad Santos daughters married two brothers.

 9. TWO ABAD SANTOS DAUGHTERS MARRIED TO TWO MADRIGAL BROTHERS.
Amanda Jr. married industrialist Antonio Paterno Madrigal ( he founded Consolidated Bank and Trust Company, East-Asia Capital Corporation, Susana Realty Incorporated, Rizal Cement Company and Corinthian Gardens). Victoria, married Jose Paterno Madrigal who was at the helm of Madrigal Properties. Both brothers were sons of business tycoon and Senator Vicente Madrigal and Susana Paterno.

 10. ABAD SANTOS HELD THE POSITION OF SECRETARY OF JUSTICE THREE TIMES.
Under Gov. Gen. Leonard Wood (1922-1923, resigned due to a conflict with Wood), Under Gov. Generals Henly L. Stimson, Dwight F. Davis and Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (1928-1932), and finally under Pres. Manuel L. Quezon (1938-1941). In between, Abad Santos engaged in private practice, first with brother Pedro, then partnered with Dean Conrado Benitez. He later joined the law firm of Camus, Delgado & Recto.

Sources:

Aquino, Ramon C., A CHANCE TO DIE, A Biography of Jose Abad Santos, the Late Chief justice of the Philippines, Alemar-Phoenix Publishing House and Jose Abad Santos Memorial Society of the Philippines. 1967

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