Eulogio Rodriguez

Eulogio "Amang" Rodríguez
7th and 10th President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
January 25, 1954 – April 5, 1963
President Ramón Magsaysay (1954–1957)
Carlos P. Garcia (1957–1961)
Diosdado Macapagal (1961–1963)
Preceded by José Zulueta
Succeeded by Ferdinand Marcos
In office
April 30, 1952 – April 17, 1953
President Elpidio Quirino
Preceded by Camilo Osías
Succeeded by Camilo Osías
Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce
In office
July 26, 1934 – 1935
Appointed by Governor General Frank Murphy
In office
November 15, 1935 – 1938
President Manuel Quezon
Senator of the Philippines
In office
July 5, 1945 – December 30, 1947
In office
December 30, 1949 – December 19, 1964
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Rizal's Second District
In office
1925–1928
Preceded by Mariano Melendres
Succeeded by Santiago Luis
In office
1931–1935
Preceded by Santiago Luis
Succeeded by Emilio de la Paz
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Nueva Vizcaya's Lone District
In office
February 1924 – May 1925
Preceded by Evaristo Panganiban
Succeeded by Antonio G. Escamilla
Mayor of Manila
In office
January 5, 1940 – August 28, 1941
Vice Mayor Hermenegildo Atienza (1940-1941)
Preceded by Juan Posadas, Jr.
Succeeded by Juan G. Nolasco
In office
July 17, 1923 – February 8, 1924
Vice Mayor Juan Posadas, Jr. (1923-1924)
Preceded by Ramón Fernández
Succeeded by Miguel Romuáldez
Personal details
Born Eulogio Adona Rodríguez, Sr.
(1883-01-21)January 21, 1883
Montalban, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died December 19, 1964(1964-12-19) (aged 81)
Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Nacionalista Party
Spouse(s) Juana Santiago
Luisita Canóy

Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodríguez, Sr. (January 21, 1883 – December 19, 1964) was a Filipino politician, the longest serving Senate President after Manuel L. Quezon, serving the post from April 30, 1952 to April 17, 1953 and May 20, 1953 to April 5, 1963.

Early life

Coming from a poor family, Rodríguez was born in Montalban (renamed Rodriguez in his honor), Provincia de Manila on January 21, 1883 to Petronilo Rodríguez and Monica Adona. He first studied at the Spanish-run public school in Montalban, then took his secondary course at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1896. He then studied law under a private tutor. To help himself in his studies, he worked as a farmer.

Political life

Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez first served as Municipal President of Montalban, Rizal from 1906–1916; became Governor of Rizal in June 1916; and was reelected in June 1922. He was appointed mayor of Manila by Governor General Leonard Wood on July 23, 1923, and later served as Representative of Nueva Vizcaya District from February 1924 to May 1925. He became the Representative of the Second District of Rizal in 1925 and was reelected in 1931 and 1934. He was also appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce by Governor Frank Murphy on July 26, 1934, re-appointed by President Manuel L. Quezon on January 15, 1940, and served as such until August 28, 1941. After his resignation as mayor of Manila, he campaigned for a seat in the Senate and was elected senator in 1941. On May 20, 1953, he was elected Senate President, a position he occupied for the next ten years. As the third highest government official, he steered the Senate into greater heights in terms of legislation. He was replaced by then Senator Ferdinand Marcos, then the Minority Floor Leader as Senate President in a leadership coup on 1963, ending his long leadership of the Upper Chamber.

Rodríguez started his political career as a Democrata or a member of the opposition party, and not until there was a general realignment of parties due to the divisive struggle over the approval of the Independence Law in 1933, did he switch to the majority or the Nacionalista Party, to which he remained faithful until the day of his death three decades later. He nursed the party during its darkest hours, and steered it successfully through the political reefs and typhoons that rocked the local scene, thus earning him the nickname "Mr. Nacionalista". Unlike many politicians of his time, he did not switch parties for personal convenience.

As a legislator, he always supported measures improving the lot of common man, for he knew that the upgrading of the masses was the best way of retaining democracy in the country. Many were sometimes politically at odds with him, but they always found him to be a reasonable opponent who played clean in a game known for its mendacity and unpricipled moves. A man of integrity, who played fair even with his opponents, and who could be generous in victory, Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez was a man, a politician and a public official of sterling attributes.

He had seven children by his first wife, Juana Santiago, namely Eulogio, Jr., Jose, Ruperto, Leonor, Isidro, Constancio and Adelaida. With his second wife, Luisita Canoy, he had three children, namely, Adelaida (Baby), Erlinda, and Rafael (Boy).

References

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