Education
Philippine Military Academy.
Philippine Military Academy.
Balao joined the Philippine Constabulary as a young man and rose through its ranks. During World World War II, he served in the United States. Army Forces Far East. As a Major, Balao served as Donald Blackburn"s Inspector General for his guerrilla force.
As a commanding officer, he led 11th Infantry Battalion troops to a victorious engagement during the Battle of Bessang Pass against the Japanese troops of General Tomoyuki Yamashita.
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.
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, who was closely identified with President Ferdinand Marcos, died in 1977.
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 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.
