Jose Maria Veloso

Jose Maria Morte Veloso (April 30, 1886 – April 13, 1969) was a Filipino lawyer, politician and legislator. Son of Isidro Veloso and Casiana Morte and educated at Cebu's Seminary College in 1903, he proceeded to take up law at the University of Santo Tomas, became a lawyer in 1909 in the same year he graduated from the university, and in the next year, established a law firm called Veloso and Singson.

From 1912 to 1922, he was the governor of the province of Leyte although he renounced the position on his second term from 1916 to 1919.[1] He was also elected as representative of Leyte's third district from 1922 to 1925, the first district from 1935 to 1938, National Assembly during World War II from 1943 to 1944, and 1st Congress of the post-war Commonwealth for the province's 5th district in 1945.[2][3] He was voted senator (1916–1919, 1925–1935) and congressman (1922–1925, 1935–1938, 1943–1945).[1][4]

His family later on became one of the oldest political dynasties in the country and oldest in Leyte, pre-dating that of the Romualdezes whose descendants include Imelda Marcos.[3][5]