Benny Abante

Who is Benny Abante?

Bienvenido Mirando Abante, Jr. is a former representative of the 6th district of Manila.

Abante was born in the outskirts of Sampaloc, Manila on July 15, 1951, the eldest of four sons of the late Rev. Ben O. Abante, Sr. and Priscilla Mirando. He has two younger brothers, Jose Hernes and Reuben, both ministers.

Abante grew up taking on odd-jobs such as shining shoes, selling newspapers and corsages and working on a construction site at a tender age to support himself. He also worked in an accounting firm as an auditor to support his college education. In 1975, he started the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church and Ministries in Sta. Ana.

He graduated with a degree in theology, and also holds a Masters degree in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and a doctorate in Theology from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. In 1986, he founded a group called Biblemode, and also heads the Abante International Ministries, the Grace and Truth Community International Foundation, Inc., and the Ben O. Abante Baptist Bible College.

He ran and won a seat in Congress in May 2004. He was subsequently named chairman of the Committee on Public Information.