Filipino Martyr: SALVADOR K. DEMETRIO

SALVADOR K. DEMETRIO

(1875-?)

Assemblyman

Salvador K. Demetrio was born in Macrohon, a town created from Maasin, Leyte, on

December 24, 1875. His parents were Monico Demetrio and Monica Kuyzon.

He spent his early schooling in his hometown under a private teacher. From 1890 to

1896, he studied at the University of San Carlos in Cebu, San Juan de Letran in Manila, and at

the University of Sto. Tomas, where he took up law, obtaining high marks in all his subjects.

When the revolution against Spain broke out in 1896, he quit his studies to return to his

hometown, where he devoted his time to agriculture.

From 1899-1901, he worked as a municipal secretary and as judge’s delegate. He

acquitted himself in the latter post with such integrity that he also became a notary public while

being an official in the Bureau of Census, particularly in the years 1902 and 1903.

When Macrohon was decreed as a separate municipality in 1904, he was elected as one

of its councilors. He was reelected as such in 1906.

With Petronilo Gonzalez, Eduardo A. Enage, Anatolio Gaviola, Gorgoño Arito, and Victor

Diores, he laid the foundation for a school which would offer the first two years of secondary

education in the municipality of Maasin in 1904.

When this school, the Lyceum of Maasin, where he taught, was temporarily closed, he

turned to his agricultural pursuits once more.

On July 10, 1907, he was unanimously chosen by various municipalities in his province

to run as delegate to the First Philippine Assembly. Henceforth, he authored a manifesto

enjoining all elected officials to serve the public good and not their private interests. In his

campaign, he was helped by Fr. Domingo Javier, Eustaquio Rafols, and Jesus de Veyra.

The elections for Assembly delegates was held on July 30, 1907. Demetrio, who ran as a

Nacionalista, won by a great majority.

References:

Reyes, P. et. al. Directorio Biografico Filipino. Manila: Imp. y Litografia “Germania,” 1908.

Tuohy, Anthony. Album historico de la Asamblea Filipina. Manila, 1908.