Crispín Oben

Crispín Oben y Ballesteros was a Filipino lawyer and politician born in Lumban, Laguna, Philippines.

Early life and education

Born during Spanish colonial rule, he belonged to the prominent and wealthy Oben family who were of the Illsutrado class. A learned man who was born into a bilingual Spanish-Tagalog household, he also learned the English language from an ex-American soldier. Crispín Oben finished his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Colegio [de San Juan de Letran] in 1895. He then proceeded to study at the University of Santo Tomas from 1895–1898. He studied law at the Escuela de Derecho from 1900–1902.

Political career

He was a member of the First [Philippine Assembly] from 1907 to 1909 representing the second district of La Laguna.

Personal life

He was married to Victoria Capistrano with whom he had twelve children, four of whom became nuns. His son, Ramón Tomás Oben, went on to become the Commissioner for the Bureau of [Internal Revenue (Philippines)|Bureau of Internal Revenue] under the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal and the Dean of Law at the University of Santo Tomas.