Domingo Franco was born in 1856 in Mambusao, Capiz, and grew up mostly in Manila, where he studied law and formed close ties with Filipino reformists like Jose Rizal and Apolinario Mabini. He married Concepcion Gonzales and became a successful tobacco businessman, gaining respect for his sharp business skills. Franco was active in Masonic lodges that promoted liberty and equality, which influenced many Filipino reformists. Rizal entrusted him with organizing La Liga Filipina in Manila, where Franco served as the head of its Supreme Council. He remained loyal to the reform movement until his execution in 1897, becoming one of ...