Filemon Sotto

Filemón Yap Sotto (; November 22, 1872 – October 10, 1966) was a Filipino lawyer, legislator, and politician from Cebu, Philippines. He was a newspaper publisher and founded the periodicals El Imperial, Ang Kaluwasan, La Opinion, and La Revolucion. He served as member of Cebu municipal board, congressman of Cebu's 3rd district for the Philippine Assembly (1907–1916), senator of the Philippine Legislature (1916–1922), delegate to the 1934 Constitutional Convention, and delegate to the Institute of National Language.

Early life Filemon Y. Sotto was born in Cebu, Philippines on November 22, 1872. The son of Marcelino Antonio Legaspi Sotto of Binondo, Manila and Pascuala Lim Yap-Sotto of Binondo, Manila, he was the elder brother of former Senator Vicente Y. Sotto, Sr. He acquired a bachelor's degree from Colegio de San Carlos Musically-minded, he played guitar, violin, and violoncello.

Personal life In 1909, Filemon had a son with Cebuana beauty queen Remedios Duterte, but the child didn't survive. They bore another child, Pascuala Sotto, who was named after his mother and born on February 9, 1913. The couple separated ways. He married Carmen Rallos, continued to look after the welfare of Pascuala, paying for her education and needs, and even extended his generosity to her children.

During World War II, Filemon escaped to Carmen, Cebu with his family. When the war ended, he settled in Cebu City in a house constructed along V. Ranudo Street and when the property was sold, his family relocated to Lahug. He was then appointed as fiscal for Negros Occidental and assistant fiscal for Cebu. and La Opinion. Through the influence of the members of the Asociacion Feminista Ilonga (Feminist Association of Ilongo) that was formed by Pura Villanueva-Kalaw in 1906, he sponsored the first bill that would allow women the right of suffrage. It was not until 1936 that Filipino women were granted the right to vote under the administration of President Manuel L. Quezon.

Senate

From 1916 until 1922, he was elected senator for two terms, serving together with Celestino Rodriguez in the Fourth Legislature and Fifth Legislature for Cebu, which was the 10th senatorial district. At that time, the Philippines was split into 12 senatorial districts, with each district voting two senators.

Constitutional Convention

By 1934, when the United States Congress approved the Philippine Independence Act which would pave the way for the creation of the Philippine Constitution, Filemon was elected as delegate to the Constitutional Convention. who had significant contribution to the draft of the 1935 Constitution.

Later years On November 25, 1960, Pascuala would later petition the courts to recognize her as natural child of Filemon, and the Supreme Court decided in her favor on July 15, 1968. Filemon died in Cebu City on October 10, 1966.

Historical commemoration Filemon Y. Sotto Drive, which starts from Gorordo Avenue to Maxilom Avenue, in Cebu City was named in his honor by virtue of City Ordinance No. 1123.