Eulogio Balao (March 11, 1907 – August 4, 1977) was a Filipino soldier and politician.

Early life and education

The son of Matias Balao and Praxedes Baluitan, Balao graduated high school in his hometown of Tuguegarao, Cagayan, in 1926. He had five children with his wife, Carmen Cepeda,^[1] namely Praxedes, Juliana, Eulogio Jr., Ramon, and Antoinette

Career

Balao graduated from the Philippine Constabulary Academy in 1931 and joined the Philippine Constabulary. He was first stationed in Davao as third lieutenant. In 1935, he was severely injured during operations to suppress the Sakdal Uprising in Laguna, and was promoted to second lieutenant in 1936. That same year, he attended Officer School in Fort Benning, Georgia and became an ROTC instructor at the University of the Philippines. In 1937, he became executive officer of the 2nd Infantry Regiment and in 1940, became an instructor at the General Services School in Baguio.^[1]

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Forces Far East,. As a Major, Balao served as Donald Blackburn's Inspector General for his guerrilla force.^[2]: 268 He participated in the Battle of Bataan in 1942.^[1] As a commanding officer, he led 11th Infantry Battalion troops to a victorious engagement during the Battle of Bessang Pass in June 1945 against the Japanese troops of General Tomoyuki Yamashita. A few days later, he participated in the liberation of Aparri.^[1] Following the war, Balao, then a Colonel, turned his military efforts towards quelling the Hukbalahap forces of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Luzon. Thereafter, in 1949, Balao was assigned to service in Nanking, China as the Philippines' Military Attaché. In 1953, he became a brigadier general and in 1954 was appointed Vice Chief of Staff before, in 1956, assuming the office of Secretary of National Defense. Balao served in that capacity from January 3, 1956 to August 28, 1957. In 1957, he was elected to the Senate of the Philippines, where he remained until 1963.

Balao received a number of awards and honors throughout his career, including the Distinguished Service Star and induction into the Philippine Legion of Honor, where he was bestowed the rank of Commander.

Balao, who was closely identified with President Ferdinand Marcos, died in 1977.^[3]