Eulogio Balao

The Honourable Eulogio Balao
Senator of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1957 – December 30, 1963
Secretary of National Defense
In office January 3, 1956 – August 28, 1957
President	Carlos P. Garcia Ramon Magsaysay
Preceded by	Sotero Cabahug
Succeeded by	Jesus M. Vargas
Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
In office 1954–1956
President	Ramon Magsaysay Carlos Garcia
Preceded by	Jesus Vargas
Succeeded by	Alfonso Arellano
Military Attache, Philippine Embassy to China
In office 1949–1953
Personal details
Born	(1907-03-11)March 11, 1907 Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippine Islands
Died	August 22, 1977(1977-08-22) (aged 70) Tuguegarao, Cagayan, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Spouse	Carmen Cepeda
Children	Praxedes, Julianita, Eulogio Jr., Ramon and Antonia
Alma mater	Philippine Constabulary Academy
Profession	Soldier, Politician
Awards	Distinguished Service Star Legion of Honor
Website	Philippine Senate Profile
Military service
Branch/service	Philippine Army Philippine Constabulary
Years of service	1931 - 1956
Unit	2nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division (Regular) 11th Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Division (Reserve)
Commands	Vice Chief of Staff, AFP Military Attache, Nangking, China

Eulogio Balao (March 11, 1907 – August 4, 1977) was a Filipino soldier and politician.

Early life and education

The son of Matias Balao and Praxedes Baluitan, Balao graduated high school in his hometown of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, in 1926. He had five children with his wife, Carmen Cepeda, namely Praxedes, Juliana, Eulogio Jr., Ramon, and Antoinette

Career

Balao graduated from the Philippine Constabulary Academy in 1931 and joined the Philippine Constabulary. He was first stationed in Davao as third lieutenant. In 1935, he was severely injured during operations to suppress the Sakdal Uprising in Laguna, and was promoted to second lieutenant in 1936. That same year, he attended Officer School in Fort Benning, Georgia and became an ROTC instructor at the University of the Philippines. In 1937, he became executive officer of the 2nd Infantry Regiment and in 1940, became an instructor at the General Services School in Baguio.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Forces Far East,. As a Major, Balao served as Donald Blackburn's Inspector General for his guerrilla force. He participated in the Battle of Bataan in 1942. As a commanding officer, he led 11th Infantry Battalion troops to a victorious engagement during the Battle of Bessang Pass in June 1945 against the Japanese troops of General Tomoyuki Yamashita. A few days later, he participated in the liberation of Aparri. Following the war, Balao, then a Colonel, turned his military efforts towards quelling the Hukbalahap forces of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Luzon. Thereafter, in 1949, Balao was assigned to service in Nanking, China as the Philippines' Military Attaché. In 1953, he became a brigadier general and in 1954 was appointed Vice Chief of Staff before, in 1956, assuming the office of Secretary of National Defense. Balao served in that capacity from January 3, 1956, to August 28, 1957. In 1957, he was elected to the Senate of the Philippines, where he remained until 1963.

Balao received a number of awards and honors throughout his career, including the Distinguished Service Star and induction into the Philippine Legion of Honor, where he was bestowed the rank of Commander.

Balao, who was closely identified with President Ferdinand Marcos, died in 1977.

External links

• Eulogio B. Balao, Department of National Defense, Philippines.
• Eulogio Balao, Senate of the Philippines.