Don Gregorio Palma of Concepcion Tarlac

Don Gregorio Palma (Born 1879 Bacolor, Pampanga, Died 1951 Concepcion, Tarlac)

Biography

Family painting provided by Casa De Palma L.P. Picture of Don Gregorio Palma

Personality

One of the most outstanding and interesting personalities that ever graced the Mayor’s chair of the Municipality of Concepcion in the Province of Tarlac is Don Gregorio Palma.

Don Gregorio Palma’s character is a personification of the spirit of the town and people of Concepcion. He was a man of impeccable honesty, aggressive leadership, progressive mind and simple dignity. He had a lighter side, his sense of humor was ever present, keen and penetrating; his sympathy for the poor and unfortunate was all embracing and sincere.

The Beginning

Don Gregorio Palma was born in Bacolor, Pampanga on October 17, 1879. In his boyhood, he was educated by the teachers of Bacolor, a town which has produced and sent forth to all parts of the country men and women of outstanding and diverse talents. He was a prankster well remembered by his playmates and classmates. His parents hail from Spain.

In his youth, Young Gregorio was sent to the Ateneo de Manila the training school for leaders of the sons of prominent families of the country. His schooling was cut short by the revolution against Spain. Young Gregorio joined the revolutionaries as a mere private. However his aggressive and daring leadership caught the attention of his superior officers and he was made a lieutenant. He was in the forefront of the most exiting battles of the revolution. After Spain fell, he continued his fight against the Americans. He was among those captured and imprisoned by the American forces. When amnesty was proclaimed, he was released.

A new Start

After the war, young Gregorio returned to the quiet days of peace in his hometown of Bacolor, Pampanga. Young Gregorio found him-self restless and eager to leave and start his life. In the year 1904, Gregorio Palma came to the town of Concepcion, Tarlac and thus begun for him and for the town of Concepcion a new era that deserves a chapter in the history of the town. In the same year of 1904 he married Genoveva Puno of Concepcion who originated from Spain with whom he had eight children namely Isolina, Filmon, Cesar, Paciencia, Felicito, Roman Genoveva and Patricia.

Gregorio Palma’s industry was prodigious. He acquired lands and became a rice and sugarcane planter. He was progressive and was among the first to build a sugarcane and rice mill in Concepcion. But his natural interest in public, matters his solicitude of welfare for his fellowmen and his in born sense of leadership turned his attention to public affairs and public office. For six years from 1907 to 1912 he served the people of Concepcion as a municipal councilor and performed his duties with seriousness and zeal. During 1911 Gabaldon schools was paid for by Gregorio Palma to be constructed so the young sons and daughters of Concepcion would grow up with a good education.

For 10 years, from 1925 to 1930 and from 1936 to 1939 Gregorio Palma was elected and re-elected mayor of the municipality of Concepcion. Don Gregorio Palma served his people well, he brought to his job his usual energy, industry, ability and zest.^[1] During his administration Concepcion rose from a third class municipality to a second class and later the first class municipality. This meant that the value of the properties of the people rose, their business increased in diversity and volume, their per capita income rose all of which contributed to an increase in the income of the municipal government of Concepcion. During the year 1929 Don Gregorio Palma asked the people of Concepcion to donate to the new municipal building. The town’s people could not really afford it so Don Gregorio Palma had the municipal building built and paid the cost using profit he has gained for his sugar cane and rice sales. But there must also be recorded in the scroll of public service of Don Gregorio Palma those intangible values which has benefited his towns people. He enforced the law and dispensed justice impartially with fear nor favor to anyone. He performed his daily duties with efficiency, Philippine Constabulary men and Internal Revenue employees within the municipality; he eradicated, small pox and other diseases which tool a heavy toll of the human and animal inhabitants of the municipality.

So outstanding was the public service record of Don Gregorio Palma that when Concepcion was liberated from the Japanese Sergio Osmena then president of the Commonwealth government of the Philippines sent his personal emissary to him requesting Don Gregorio Palma to perform again his duties of municipal mayor so as to restore the municipal government of Concepcion to its pre-war efficiency and high standing. Likewise High American Army officers as well as the prominent citizens of the town made the same overtures to him. But Gregorio Palma refused believing that there were younger sons of Concepcion who were capable and who should be given the opportunity of serving their people. However he continued to be the elder statesman and counselor of his people giving wise, fatherly advice to officials and citizens who frequently sought his counsel on public matters.

Inauguration of Concepcion Municipal Hall to be Named "Don Gregorio Palma Memorial Hall" provided by Casa De Palma L.P.

In the End

On July 12, 1951 at the age of 72, Don Gregorio Palma died. Beloved, respected and honored by his fellowmen as any religious good man and true public servant should be when he dies. Don Gregorio is remembered by his sons, daughters, nieces and nephews of the Political Palma Clan. In memory of Don Gregorio Palma, it has been a known fact that the grandson Benjamin and great-grandson Christian have been known to close random side streets of Manila and feed those who cannot afford a meal. On October 17, 1964 an Inauguration was held in Concepcion Tarlac for the naming of the Concepcion Municipal Session Hall to be named "Don Gregoio Palma Memorial Hall"

Links

1. ^ Dizon, Lino. "FIESTANG BALEN: Biography of a Town Fiesta". http://www.bsanhs.net/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=5&func=view&catid=26&id=4. Retrieved 28 March 2011. 

• [1] - Books.google.com United States Congressional serial set, Issue 4076 First Lieut. Gregorio Palma
• [2] - flickr.com Philippines Beauties, Isolina Palma daughter of Gregorio Palma
• [3] - tagsup.com Concepcion Tarlac, Statistics

Persondata
Name	Palma, Don Gregorio
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 17, 1879
Place of birth	Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines
Date of death	1951
Place of death