Pedro Gil

Pedro Gil (November 13, 1889 in Capiz – January 5, 1965) was a physician, journalist, and legislator in the Philippines. Pedro Gil lived life of service in different distinguished roles - as a labor leader, as a doctor of medicine, as a crusading newspaperman, as a social worker, and as a conscientious legislator. He was born in Capiz on November 13, 1889, the youngest of the seven children of Pedro Gil Sr., a Spanish government employee in Capiz and Petra Hernandez. His mother died when he was hardly six months old, and he was brought to Manila and reared in the home of his sisters in Ermita. He was eight years old when his father died. Today, a street in Manila is named after him.

He was married to Consuelo Cabangis. They had only one child, Patria, who became the wife of Deogracias Puyat, a lawyer. When Consuelo died, Pedro Gil met Virginia Amacio in Capiz and had two daughters, Carmencita and Guia.

Student

The Gils were not wealthy, and left no fortune to their children. But in spite of their difficulties, his brothers and sisters managed to send him to the Escuela Normal de San Javier, where he completed a commercial course. How he was able to do that was a story of hardship and sacrifices. To support him through his studies his sisters accepted some sewing work. He himself did odd jobs for the school's Jesuit priest and so was exempted from paying tuition fees.

Pedro Gil Street

Pedro Gil Street (formerly Herran Street) is an east-west inner city main street in south-central Manila, Philippines. It is 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) long, and spans the entire length of Ermita, Malate, Paco and Santa Ana districts, as well as portions of San Andres.

The street originates at the intersection with Calderon Street fronting the Santa Ana Church in Santa Ana district where it is divided by a median of greenery and sculptures known as Plaza Felipe Calderon. Heading west, it passes through the Santa Ana Market and an SM Savemore outlet before it narrows into a four-lane undivided road west of Suter Street. Continuing past old heritage houses and a few commercial establishments, Pedro Gil crosses into the northern portion of San Andres and Paco district where it is interrupted by the Paco railway station and busy Quirino Avenue. The downtown portion of Paco, as well as Ermita and Malate, lie across this intersection passing through the Paco Church, Robinsons Place Manila shopping mall, and universities such as University of the Philippines Manila and Saint Paul University Manila. The Ermita-Malate portion in which the street serves as boundary also contains several hotels like the New World Manila Bay Hotel (formerly Hyatt Hotel & Casino Manila). Roxas Boulevard lies at its western end.