Mónico R. Mercado

Biography Early life and career He was born in Sexmoán, Pampanga, on May 4, 1875, to Rómulo Mercado, a gobernadorcillo of the town from 1880 to 1897, and Simona del Rosario. He studied at the private school of Professor Vicente Quirino of San Fernando, Pampanga in 1883 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1889 from the Colegio de San Juan de Letran. He earned degrees in Canon Law and Theology in 1890 as well as Civil Laws, Philosophy and Letters from the University of Santo Tomas and became a secondary school teacher. He served as Justice of the Peace in Sexmoan during the Philippine Revolution and was a Notary Public until 1902. In March 1903, he became a lawyer and worked at Dr. Rafael Palma's law office until June 1904, then practiced law in his hometown until February 1906.

Political career

In 1904, he attempted to run for the governorship of Pampanga and was elected but his electoral victory was not approved by Governor General Luke Edward Wright due to his lack of five votes to win the absolute majority. However, his appointment as representative of Nueva Vizcaya was protested by the Manila-based Vizcaino Association.

As a politician, he was known for co-sponsoring a bill that created the first Philippine irrigation systems. It was published in the La Republica Filipina newspaper by Don Pedro Paterno.

He was one of the chief figures of Kapampangan literature alongside Aurelio Tolentino and Juan Crisostomo Soto.

Quetang Milabas (1932) As a writer, Mercado was well known for his Kapampangan novel in verse "Quetang Milabas" (1932) It was published by the Banaag Press. He also co-founded the Katipunan Mipanampun (KM), a civic organization created by Zoilo Hilario dedicated for teachers and local residents which originated in Pampanga then spread to other parts of the Philippines.

Personal life Mercado belonged to the ilustrado class and was married to Doña Tomasa Lorenzo in 1900, and was married again to Doña Gregoria Andres in 1916 after Lorenzo's death in 1912.

Death and legacy

Mercado died on January 26, 1952, in Manila, Philippines. In 1966, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines built a historical marker for him in Sexmoán, Pampanga as commemoration.

Selected publications