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Famous Batangueños: From the Pages of History and Beyond

Can you gauge influence with popularity? It’s amazing how we take pride when a kababayan becomes famous (in a positive way, that is). With popularity comes influence. Agree? It’s like the popularized ‘with-power-comes-great-responsibility’ quote from Spiderman.

I’ll try to list down the names of these famous Batangueños who left a mark in their chosen endeavor. If in case you know someone deserving to be on the list, let us know.

From the Pages of Philippine History

Apolinario Mabini – the Sublime Paralytic and Brain of the Revolution

Marcela Agoncillo – one of the women who made the Philippine flag

Miguel Malvar – a notable Filipino General during the Philippine-American war

Teodoro M. Kalaw – an outstanding writer and historian

Claro M. Recto – a politician, a jurist, and a literary writer

Jose P. Laurel – the third President of the Republic of the Philippines

Segunda Katigbak – Dr. Jose Rizal’s first love

Public Servants

Jejomar Binay – our current Vice President’s father, Diego Medrano Binay, hails from the municipality of Bauan

Ralph Recto – Senator and the better half of Batangas Governor and Star for All Season, Vilma Santos-Recto

Salvador Laurel – Vice President to President Corazon Aquino

Renato de Villa – Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the Aquino administration

Eduardo Ermita – Executive Secretary of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Leandro Mendoza – Department of Transportation and Communication
Secretary of the Arroyo administration

Hernando Perez – became Secretary of the Department of Justice also in the Arroyo administration

The Musicians

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab a.k.a Mr. C – I did not know he’s a Batangueño, but he is

Ogie Alcasid – we all know he’s a native of Taal. He’s probably one of the most famous Batangueños in the Philippine entertainment industry as he belongs to the array of the country’s best music performers, composers, and comedians.

Jovit Baldivino – currently the most popular Batangueño talent as he became the first Pilipinas Got Talent grand champion

Franco Laurel – a well-known musical play artist

Francis Reyes – lead guitarist, The Dawn

Darius Semaña – lead guitarist, Parokya ni Edgar

The Fashionista

Renee Salud – one of the country’s stellar fashion designer from San Juan

Gem of the Philippine Literature

Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera – National Artist for Literature, 2006

The Stars

Ai-Ai Delas Alas – the Comedy Concert Queen hails from San Luis

Ryan Agoncillo – the award-winning host and actor is a scion of Marcella Agoncillo

Zanjoe Marudo – a ramp model who started out as a Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition housemate and is now one of ABS-CBN’s leading male actors

Jayson Gainza – also a PBB alumnus, he is now among the favorite Kapamilya comedians

Denise Laurel – now one of the most in-demand leading ladies of ABS-CBN

Susan Africa – character actress

Leo Martinez – a famous comedian known by his moniker “Don Robert” from his ’90s sitcom, Ober Da Bakod

Marie Lozano – ABS-CBN reporter

About Publisher

JR Cantos is the Publisher of WOWBatangas.com. Some of the articles here on the website have been contributed over the years, so please just email us at help (at) wowbatangas.com if you have any concerns. Salamat!

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12 comments

  1. Proud to be Batangueño here! keep up the good works guys.

  2. Proud to be Batangueño here! keep up the good works guys.

  3. learn more about country

  4. i dont know if u consider him not famous but i think Teodoro Agoncillio should be in the list, he is a son of lemery batangas(was born there), also Don Felipe Agoncillio (husband of Marcela Agoncillio) he is the 1st ever Diplomat of our country…. and then there are the Diokno’s as well from Gen. Diokno to his son assemblyman Ramon diokno and jose Pepe Diokno (Former senator), to the now more visible former member of Estradas cabinet Benjamin Diokno… yan lang maisio ko sa ngaun im sure marami pa hehe

  5. Thanks for the info…

    For musicians, can we include Carol Banawa and Vincent Dapalong? For Stars, we have also Dingdong Dantes and Ahron Villena

  6. This is truly amazing. Iam not a Batangueño but still, Iam a Filipino. Im proud that the people that i admire most are living in the country where i live. I will be more than proud to be a Filipino who cant end the day without laughing or even smiling. AKO AY PILIPINO! TAAS NOO KAHIT KANINO! well, baka gus2 niyong i-check itong video ni bogart that shows talent of the filipinos when it comes to comedy ito po yung link >

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKxncpfZLQc.

  7. From PBA players
    L.A Tenorio
    Aries Dimaunahan
    Eric Camson

  8. We should also mention Raymond Townsend, a first ever Filipino-American NBA player. His mother, Virginia Marella, is a Batangueño and native of Balayan. Also include actor Ahron Villena from San Jose Sico, Batangas City.

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