Manuel Briones

Briones was born to parents Pedro Cabahug y Seno and Apolonia Engracia Briones on January 1, 1893. After his mother died, Reverend Father Domingo Briones, his maternal uncle, took care of him and looked after his studies in Cebu City. == Education and career ==

Briones studied in a private school owned by Antolin Frías, a writer and journalist in Cebú. Later, he acquired his bachelor's degree at the Colegio y Seminario de San Carlos and took up law at the Escuela de Derecho in Manila. He was part of the law firm together with Dionisio Abella Jakosalem and Paulino Gullas. Additionally, he was a member of various international associations including the Royal Academy of Spanish-American Sciences and Arts, and of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. == Journalism ==

While he was studying, he began his journalistic career as part of the first newspaper in Cebuano language, Vicente Sotto's Ang Suga (The Light), in 1910. Then in 1911, he worked as a reporter for El Ideal, the publication of the Nacionalista Party and edited the Spanish newspapers La Revolucion (The Revolution), a periodical founded by Filemon Sotto, the brother of Vicente Sotto, Historian and scholar Epifanio delos Santos included his name on the list of promising young Filipino journalists. == Politics ==

Briones was elected as representative of Cebu's old first congressional district for the 5th Philippine Legislature on June 3, 1919, and served for three more terms until the 8th Philippine Legislature in 1931. The old first district was composed of the towns Bogo, Borbon, Carmen, Catmon, Danao, Pilar, Poro, San Francisco, Sogod Tabogon, and Tudela,. In 1931, he ran and won as senator together with Sergio S. Osmeña Sr. During this time, the country was split into 12 districts with each district represented by 2 senators. He and Osmeña represented Cebu, which was the 10th senatorial district. During the Philippine Presidential Election on November 8, 1949, Briones ran for vice-president under the Nacionalista Party. == Supreme Court ==

On February 5, 1942, Briones became Court of Appeals Associate Justice and afterwards as the 51st Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by the appointment of Sergio S. Osmeña on September 15, 1945, becoming the first Cebuano to hold such position in the country's judiciary. He served in the Supreme Court until May 24, 1949. == Death and legacy ==

Briones died on September 29, 1957. == Historical commemoration ==

• The Manuel Cabahug Briones Street (popularly known as M.C. Briones) in Mandaue, which forms part of Cebu North Road, is named in his honor. • The Mandaue City Council passed an ordinance declaring the first Friday of January as Manuel Briones Day. == References ==