Manuel L. Quezon

Manuel L. Quezón
2nd President of the Philippines
In office November 15, 1935 – August 1, 1944
Vice President	Sergio Osmeña
Preceded by	Emilio Aguinaldo
Succeeded by	José P. Laurel (De facto)
1st President of the Senate
In office August 29, 1916 – September 17, 1935
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Manuel Roxas
Member of the House of Representatives from the Philippines' At-large district
In office November 23, 1909 – October 15, 1916
Preceded by	Pablo Ocampo
Succeeded by	Teodoro R. Yangco
Born	August 19, 1878(1878-08-19) Baler, Philippines
Died	August 1, 1944(1944-08-01) (aged 65) Saranac Lake, United States
Political party	Nacionalista Party
Other political affiliations	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Aurora Aragón
Alma mater	Colegio de San Juan de Letran University of Santo Tomas
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Pres.Manuel L. Quezón

President Manuel L. Quezón prepares for his inaugural address.

Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina (August 19, 1878 in Baler, Tayabas, Philippines – August 1, 1944 in Saranac Lake, New York, United States) was the first Filipino president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines under U.S. colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century, serving from 1935 to 1944.

Quezón is considered by most Filipinos to have been the second President of the Philippines, after Emilio Aguinaldo. He has the distinction of being the first Senate President elected to the presidency, the first president elected through a national election, and the first incumbent to secure re-election (for a partial second term, later extended, due to amendments to the 1935 Constitution). He is known as the "Father of the National Language".

During his presidency, Quezón tackled the problem of landless peasants in the countryside. Other major decisions include reorganisation of the islands military defence, approval of recommendation for government reorganisation, promotion of settlement and development in Mindanao, tackling foreign strangle-hold on Philippine trade and commerce, proposals for land reform and the tackling of graft and corruption within the government. Quezón established an exiled government in the US with the outbreak of the war and the threat of Japanese invasion. During his exile in the US, Manuel Quezón died of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake, New York.

Early life and career

Quezón, was born in Baler, Tayabas (now Aurora). His Spanish mestizo parents were Lucio Quezón and María Dolores Molina. His father was a primary grade school teacher from Paco, Manila, and also a retired Sergeant in the Spanish colonial army, while his mother was a primary grade school teacher in their hometown. During the Philippine-American War he was an ayuda-de-campo to Emilio Aguinaldo. He rose to the rank of Major and fought in the Bataan sector during the retreat and surrender in 1901.

He received his primary education from his mother and school teacher in their home town and tutors, and later boarded at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where he completed secondary school. In 1898, his father Lucio and brother Pedro were ambushed and killed by armed men while on their way home to Baler from Nueva Ecija, because of their loyalty to the Spanish government. He cut short his law studies at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila in 1899 to participate in the struggle for independence against the United States, led by Emilio Aguinaldo. After Aguinaldo surrendered in 1901, however, Quezón returned to the university and passed the bar examinations in 1903, placing fourth. He worked for a time as a clerk and surveyor, entering government service as an appointed fiscal for Mindoro and later Tayabas. He became a councilor and was elected governor of Tayabas in 1906 as an independent. In 1907, he was elected to the first Philippine Assembly, where he served as majority floor leader and chairman of the committee on appropriations. From 1909–1916, he served as one of the Philippines' two resident commissioners to the U.S. House of Representatives, lobbying for the passage of the Philippine Autonomy Act or Jones Law.

Senate presidency and independence missions

Quezón returned to Manila in 1916 to be elected into the Philippine Senate and later became Senate President, serving continuously until 1935 (19 years). He headed the first Independent Mission to the U.S. Congress in 1919 and securing passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Independence Law in 1934.

In 1922, Quezón became leader the of Nacionalista Party.

Presidency

First Term (1935-1941)

In 1935 Quezón won the Philippine's first national presidential election under the banner of the Nacionalista Party. He obtained nearly 68% of the vote against his two main rivals, Emilio Aguinaldo and Gregorio Aglipay. Quezón was inaugurated in November 1935. He is recognized as the second President of the Philippines. However, in January 2008, House Representative Rodolfo Valencia of Oriental Mindoro filed a bill seeking instead to declare General Miguel Malvar as the second Philippine President, having directly succeeded Aguinaldo in 1901.^[1]

Administration, cabinet, and Supreme Court appointments 1935–1941

President Quezón was given the power under the reorganization act, to appoint the first all-Filipino Supreme Court of the Philippines in 1935. From 1901 to 1935, although a Filipino was always appointed chief justice, the majority of the members of the Supreme Court were Americans. Complete Filipinization was achieved only with the establishment of the Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935. Claro M. Recto and José P. Laurel were among Quezón's first appointees to replace the American justices. The membership in the Supreme Court increased to 11: a chief justice and ten associate justices, who sat en banc or in two divisions of five members each.

• Ramón Avanceña – 1935 (Chief Justice) – 1935–1941
• José Abad Santos – 1935
• Claro M. Recto 1935–1936
• José P. Laurel – 1935
• José Abad Santos (Chief Justice) – 1941–1942

Women's Suffrage

President Quezón initiated Women's Suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth Era.^[2] As a result of the prolonged debate between the proponents of women's suffrage and their opponents, the Constitution finally provided that the issue be resolved by the women themselves in a plebiscite. If no less than 300,000 of them were to affirmatively vote in favour of the grant within two years would be deemed granted the country's women. Complying with this mandate, the government ordered a plebiscite to be held for the purpose on April 3, 1937.

Following a rather vigorous campaign, on the day of the plebiscite, the turn out of women was impressive. The affirmative votes numbered 447,725, as against 44,307 who opposed the grant.^[3]

National Language

Another constitutional provision to be implemented by President Quezón's administration dealt with the question of The Philippines' national language. Following a year's study, the Institute of the National Language - established on 1936 - recommended that Tagalog be adopted as the basis for the national language. The proposal was well received, considering that the Director - the first to be appointed - at the time Jaime C. de Veyra, was an ethnic Visayan.

On December 1937, Quezón issued a proclamation approving the constitution made by the Institute and declaring that the adoption of the national language would take place two years hence. With the presidential approval, the Institute of National Language started to work on a grammar and dictionary of the language.^[4]

Second Term (1941-1944)

Quezón had originally been barred by the Philippine constitution from seeking re-election. However, in 1940, constitutional amendments were ratified allowing him to seek re-election for a fresh term ending in 1943. In the 1941 presidential elections, Quezón was re-elected over former Senator Juan Sumulong with nearly 82% of the vote.

In a notable humanitarian act, Quezón, in cooperation with United States High Commissioner Paul V. McNutt, facilitated the entry into the Philippines of Jewish refugees fleeing fascist regimes in Europe. Quezón was also instrumental in promoting a project to resettle the refugees in Mindanao.

Government-in-exile

President Quezón, with some of his family members, are welcomed in Washington, D.C. by President Roosevelt

After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II he evacuated to Corregidor, then the Visayas and Mindanao, and upon the invitation of the US government, was further evacuated to Australia and then to the United States, where he established the Commonwealth government in exile with headquarters in Washington, D.C.. There, he served as a member of the Pacific War Council, signed the declaration of the United Nations against the Axis Powers, and wrote his autobiography (The Good Fight, 1946).

War cabinet 1941–1944

The outbreak of World War II and the Japanese invasion resulted in periodic and drastic changes to the government structure. Executive Order 390, December 22, 1941 abolished the Department of the Interior and established a new line of succession. Executive Order 396, December 24, 1941 further reorganized and grouped the cabinet, with the functions of Secretary of Justice assigned to the Chief Justice of the Philippines.

Sources:

The Sixth Annual Report of the United States High Commission to the Philippine Island to the President and Congress of the United States, Covering the Fiscal Year July 1, 1941 to June 30, 1942 Washington D.C. October 20, 1942

Executive Orders of the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Manila, Bureau of Printing 1945

Death

Quezón suffered from tuberculosis and spent his last years in a "cure cottage" in Saranac Lake, New York, where he died on August 1, 1944. He was initially buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His body was later carried by the USS Princeton and re-interred in Manila at the Manila North Cemetery before being moved to Quezon City within the monument at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Personal life

Quezón was married to his first cousin, Aurora Aragón Quezón, and had four children: María Aurora "Baby" Quezón (1919–1949), María Zeneida "Nini" Quezón-Avancena (born 1921), Luisa Corazón Paz "Nenita" Quezón (1923–1923) and Manuel L. "Nonong" Quezón, Jr. (1926–1998). His grandson, Manuel L. "Manolo" Quezón III (born 1970), a prominent writer and political pundit, was named after him.

In their column on the pronunciation of names, The Literary Digest wrote "The President and his wife pronounce the name keh'-zon. The pronunciation keh-son', although widely heard in the Philippine Islands, is incorrect." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)

Electoral History

Presidential election, 1935:

• Manuel L. Quezón (Nacionalista Party) - 695,332 (67.99%)
• Emilio Aguinaldo - 179,349 (17.54%)
• Gregorio Aglipay (Republican Party) - 148,010 (14.47%)

Presidential election, 1941:

• Manuel L. Quezón (Nacionalista Party) - 1,340,320 (81.78%)
• Don Juan Sumulong (Popular Front) - 124,035 (7.90%)

Quotes

Tomb of President Manuel L. Quezón, inside Quezon Memorial, Quezon City.

"My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins."^[5]

"Social Justice is far more beneficial when applied as a matter of sentiment, and not of law."^[6]

"I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a country run like heaven by the Americans, because however a bad Filipino government might be, we can always change it."^[7]

"Pray for me so that I can return to the Philippines. I feel so weak that I'm afraid I cannot make it"

"I'd rather be called "Quezón the Letranite" than "Quezón the President"."

CIVICS AND ETHICS CODE As promulgated by the Manuel L. Quezón The First President of the Philippine Commonwealth

1. Have faith in Divine Providence that guides the destinies of men and nations.

2. Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affections, and the sources of your happiness and well-being. It's defense is your primary duty. Be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.

3. Respect the Constitution which is the expression of your sovereign will. The government is your government. It has been established for your safety and welfare. Obey the laws and see that they are observed by all and that public officials comply with their duties.

4. Pay your taxes willingly and promptly. Citizenship implies not only rights but also obligations.

5. Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions of the majority.

6. Love and respect your parents. It is your duty to serve them gratefully and well.

7. Value your honor as you value your life. Poverty with honor is preferable to wealth with dishonor.

8. Be truthful and be honest in thought and in action. Be just and charitable, courteous but dignified in your dealings with your fellowmen.

9. Lead a clean and frugal life. Do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. Be simple in your dress and modest in your behavior.

10. Live up to the noble traditions of our people. Venerate the memory of our heroes. Their lives point the way to duty and honor.

11. Be industrious. Be not afraid or ashamed to do manual labor. Productive toil is conductive to economic security and adds to the wealth of the nation.

12. Rely on your own efforts for your progress and happiness. Be not easily discouraged. Persever in the pursuit of your legitimate ambitions.

13. Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well. Work badly done is worse than work undone. Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.

14. Contribute to the welfare of your community and promote social justice. You do not live for yourselves and family alone. You are part of society to which you owe definite responsibilities.

15. Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines. Patronize the products and trades of your countrymen.

16. Use and develop our natural resources and conserve them for posterity. They are the inalienable heritage of our people. Do not traffic with your citizenship.

The vital lesson we must learn from our past is that we can triumph if we only persevere. The Filipino people, by grit, hard work, and faith in God, will march forward to fulfill their destiny.

Death and legacy

• Manuel L. Quezón was memorialized on Philippine coinage. He appears on 2 commemorative One Peso coins, 1 alongside with Frank Murphy and another with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. See, Coins of the Philippine peso.
• Manuel L. Quezón died of Tuberculosis Tubercolosis in Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.A.

Recording of speech

President Quezón delivered a speech entitled "Message to My People" in English and in Spanish. According to Manuel L. Quezón III, the speech was "recorded in the 1920s, when he was first diagnosed with tuberculosis and assumed he didn't have much longer to live." ^[8]

References

• McArthur, Douglas (1964). Reminiscences. 
• Quezón, Manuel L. (1946). The Good Fight. 
• Perret, Geoffrey (1996). Old Soldiers Never Die: The Life of Douglas MacArthur. 

Notes

External links

• The Philippine Presidency Project: Manuel L. Quezon
• Bonnie Harris, Cantor Joseph Cysner: From Zbaszyn to Manila.