 He married Jovita Cabitlas of Zarraga, Iloilo on April 26, 1939 and had five children.The young Jose took courses in Typewriting, Stenography and Bookkeeping at Iloilo Gregg College and at Iloilo Business School, and graduated on such courses in 1935 at Manila Gregg College.He studied high school at Central Philippine University, finishing in 1938.