Rafael Palma

Rafael Palma y Velásquez (Spanish: [rafaˈel ˈpalma]: October 24, 1874  – May 24, 1939) was a Filipino politician, Rizalian, writer, educator and a famous Freemason.

His younger brother was the soldier-poet José Palma, the author of the Spanish poem Filipinas, which is, along with its subsequent translations, used in the Philippine National Anthem.

[2] He was also a reporter in La Independencia, the first Filipino daily newspaper, founded and directed by Antonio Luna.

In the 1907 Philippine Assembly elections, he ran and subsequently won as an assemblyman representing the province of Cavite.

[2] In the later years of his life, Palma was appointed by President Quezon as chairman of the National Board of Education.