Don Pío Banogon y Salimbagat (1876–1938)

 Revolutionary, Nation-Builder, and Patriarch of the North 

By : Negros Historian Prof. Penn T. Larena ,MPA,KGOR,DSM

Don Pío Banogon y Salimbagat was a revered revolutionary leader, visionary statesman, and founding father of towns in northern Negros Oriental. Born on May 5, 1876, in Tanjay, he belonged to a generation of Filipinos who witnessed the twilight of Spanish rule and the dawn of a nation striving for independence.

After completing his primary education, young Pío was sent by his parents to San Juan de Letran in Manila, where he imbibed the classical education and patriotic fervor that would shape his future. Upon returning to Negros, he journeyed northward in 1896, eventually settling in Jimalalud, a fertile frontier rich in potential and promise. There he met and married Petra Sevilla, a woman from the distinguished Facturan clan. Together, they would build a life rooted in service, land, and legacy.

In 1898, Don Pío answered the call of revolution. He joined the forces of General Diego de la Viña, marching to Dumaguete during the Negros Revolution, and played a significant role in the province’s liberation from Spanish colonial rule. He became one of the few recorded local heroes of that historic Heritage March, a movement that contributed to the establishment of the short-lived but symbolic Negros Republic.

With the birth of a new nation came the challenge of building communities from the ashes of colonial rule. Don Pío emerged as a trailblazer in public service. He was appointed and later elected as Presidente Municipal of Tayasan, and later became the first Presidente Municipal of Jimalalud, serving from 1910 to 1916, where he laid the foundations of modern governance in the north. His leadership was marked by integrity, a strong sense of justice, and an unshakeable commitment to the welfare of the people.

A man of vision and ambition, Don Pío was also one of the founders of the town of La Libertad, a name believed to reflect the revolutionary spirit that inspired his life. He served as a Municipal Councilor of La Libertad from 1919 to 1922, and his influence continues to echo in the town’s identity. Today, a public elementary school in La Libertad bears his name—a testament to his enduring contribution to education and civic life.

Beyond politics, Don Pío was also a pioneering landowner. He acquired farmland in the lush plains of Canlaro in San Jose and Binatangan in Martilo, drawn by the fertility of the soil and the promise of prosperity. The Banogon family would become a prominent clan in the area, remembered not only for their wealth but for their deep roots in public service and civic engagement.

Don Pío Banogon y Salimbagat passed away in 1938, but his name remains etched in the history of Negros Oriental. A patriot in the age of revolution, a builder in the era of peace, and a father to future generations of leaders—Don Pío’s legacy is that of a life devoted to freedom, progress, and the Filipino people.