FLORENTINO JOYA (1880 -?)
A
PRACTISING lawyer of Sta. Cruz de Malabon (now Tanza), Florentino Joya was the
third representative of Cavite to the National Assembly was replaced by the
two-chamber Philippine Legislature established under the Jones Law (1916-1935).
Born in Sta. Cruz de Malabon on March 14,
1880, Joya finished his elementary grades in his hometown, then took the segunda ensemanza in the Instituto de
Burgos headed by Enrique Mendiola, “Educator of the Revolution.” He transferred to the Letran College where
he obtained his A.B. degree, and then took up law at the University of Sto.
Tomas. However, his law studies were
interrupted by the outbreak of the Philippine-American War on February 4, 1899.
In the same year (1899) Felipe G.
Calderon, one of the first Filipinos to collaborate with the Americans, founded
the Escuela de Derecho, the first law
college in the Philippines. Here Joya
resumed his law studies and graduated in 1903.
He passed the bar examinations the same year. After a brief law practice he became justice of the peace of San
Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) from 1906 to 1908 after which he
returned to his law practice.
Joya ran for representative to the
Philippine Assembly in 1912, and was elected over three other opponents
including reelectionist Emiliano Tria Tirona.
It was Joya who secured the approval of Act No. 2390 by the Philippine
Assembly in 1914 changing the name of the town from Sta. Cruz de Malabon to
Tanza which is said to have originated from the Spanish word “Santa” (holy).
[Sources: (1) Directo Oficial dela Asamblea Filipina, Manila, Bureau of Printing,
1915; and (2) Fr. Mariano P. Limbag, “Ang Parokya ng Santa Cruz,” in souvenir
magazine entitled Ika-200 Taon ng
Pagkakatatag ng Parokya ng Santa Cruz, 1780-1980.]