As secretary of agriculture and natural resources, Alunan--a sugar planter and miller--joined Philippine tariff and parliamentary missions to the U.S. around 1929. Born December 16, 1885 at Talisay, Negros Occidental, son of Raymundo Alunan and Josefa Rivas; married Assuncion de la Rama, at Bacolod (Negros Occidental), January 1, 1913; children, Rafael, Jr., Lourdes, Elsa, Josefa, Sergio, and Oscar. Alunan attended San Jose College, Negros Occidental; the Ateneo de Manila, Commercial School, Manila; and La Jurisprudencia, Manila; and was admitted to the bar in September, 1910. He began the practice of law in Negros Occidental in 1910, he was a member of the Philippine Assembly, 1912-16, and a member and floor leader of the House of Representative, 1916-22. He was appointed as Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources on September 6, 1928. A lawyer, statesman and sugar planter, he was president and manager of the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Co., Inc., 1920-28, and he was president of the Philippine Sugar Association, 1923-28. In 1929 he was a member of the Philippine Mission which went to the United States to promote agricultural and economic development of the Islands and to attend the hearings of congressional committees held on the proposed revision of the tariff affecting Philippine trade.

Rafael R. AlunanCaption Note)