He was born to Francisco Justo Senior and Ma. Lourdes Milagros Cagoco on September 21, 1941. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, but after his early death JJ had to take care of his younger brother Francisco Junior.
(Frank) and sister Edith.
As a consistent honor student he graduated as valedictorian of the Barangay Palarao Elementary School. He finished high school as Most Outstanding Graduate.
He was known as a flamboyant Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome activist. Panfilo C. Justo, widely known as Justo C. Justo or simply JJ, came from a poor family in the sitio of Manlumay, Leyte. JJ sold local delicacies to support his elementary education.
JJ enrolled at the Rizal Central Colleges in Pasay City to pursue his high school education.
They left Leyte when he was in third year at the Calubian High School. JJ sold roasted corn and lugaw to support his studies.
JJ"s boyhood hobbies included sketching men’s and ladies apparel, writing both poetry and prose, including Visayan lyrics for popular American songs. He was later encouraged and helped in his writing by novelists Rico Bello Omagap, Orlando Nadres and Pablo Gomez.
In 1968 he joined the staff of the former newspaper Philippine Sun, which allowed him to develop his controversial writing style.
He was the first to be published using swardspeak. JJ founded Pasay Aids Watch and Information Drive (PAWID), and used his own foundation JJ Barangayan (Phils) Foundation, Incorporated. to fight against the spread of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Justo used to host a television program titled Etchos Language, and gained attention for the cause when he convinced Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome victim Sarah Jane Salazar to share her story to the public. He also played a leading part in the establishment of the "Home for the Golden Gays", a retirement home for homosexuals such as Walter Dempster.
JJ was among the first media celebrities to make the transition to public office.
He started his career in the political arena as a Kagawad and later became a barangay chairman in 1987. He became a councilor of Pasay City in the 1980s, and completed three terms.
Justo died on May 18, 2012, at the Philippine General Hospital. He had been bedridden for a year with spinal column problems due to diabetes.
His remains were interred at Golden Haven Memorial, Las Piñas.
