Manuel Luis Quezon, Father of Philippine National Language

by: Team Emanila Friday, April 18th, 2008
This article may comprise more than one page. To find out see Page numbers at bottom of this post.

It was on August 19, 1878, that this great Filipino patriot was born in Baler, Tayabas (now Quezon) – a ‘dreamy little town bathed in the glow of the morning sun.’ He was the son of Lucio Quezon and Maria Dolores Molina, a beloved and highly respected of their town.

At the age of five, young Manuel was taught by his mother how to read and write Spanish and learn the catechism. Two years later, he lived with the parish priest of Baler, Fr. Teodoro Fernandez, under whom he studied religion. Latin, geography and grammar. Even as a youth Manuel had demonstrated traits which were to remain with him as his assets when he became the leader of his people. He was endowed with aptitudes and qualities, such as great ambition and pride, earnest desire to learn, readiness to render service, a good sense of humour and lack of inferiority complex. He was besides being handsome, naturally gifted with a strong personality and the fine presence and tact.

At the age of eleven, young Quezon was brought to Manila by his father to study at San Juan de Letran. At Letran, he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1894 with the highest honors. In his study of law and jurisprudence in the University of Santo Tomas, he obtained again high scholastic honours along with Sergio Osme�a, his friend and rival, and with whom he later had a colourful political career.

At the time he was studying jurisprudence, the Revolution broke out. He laid aside his books and joined the forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo, and fought in the bloody battles of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bataan. Because of his bravery and heroism, he was promoted from second lieutenant to brigade captain and then to major. After the Revolution, he resumed his law studies and passed the bar, fourth place, in 1903. He had started a lucrative law practice in Manila and Tayabas when the Civil Government appointed him provincial fiscal of Mindoro and later, Tayabas, his native province. In 1905, he was elected Governor of Tayabas; and in 1907, first assemblyman from the same province to the First Philippine National Assembly.

In 1909, he was appointed Resident Commissioner to the United States. As a Commissioner, he obtained for the Philippines three important measures, namely, a Filipino majority in the Philippine Commission; the surrender of all legislative rights to the Filipinos by the creation of Philippine Senate; and the solemn pledge of independence for the Philippines by the Congress of the United States. For eight years he was a Resident Commissioner in the United States.

Despite a busy life, Quezon was not behind in bringing in a romantic chapter. It was at this time, when our gallant, generous and affectionate patriot sought the hand of his cousin, Aurora Aragon. Their romance culminated in a simple and unobtrusive ceremony in Hong Kong on December 14, 1918. Out of their happy successful wedlock, three children were born, namely: Zenaida, Maria Aurora, and Manuel, Jr.

At the end of his term as Resident Commissioner, he returned to the Philippines and became the President of the Philippine Senate. On September 17, 1935, he was elected first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. Having been re-elected in 1941, he assumed office at the outbreak of the Pacific War, and headed the Philippine Government-in-exile in the United States.

Death overtook Quezon in the midst of his war efforts in a foreign land. He died of tuberculosis on August 1, 1944, at Saranak Lake, New York. As a symbol of respect for President Quezon, the Americans caused his remains to be buried at Arlington Cemetery, in Virginia, where only American heroes lie. Two years later, the remains were brought to the Philippines and interred at North Cemetery, Manila.

Acknowledgment: This biography is from the files of the National Historical Institute, Manila, and contributed to emanila.com by Renato Perdon. We have retitled the file “Manuel L. Quezon (1878-1944)” to “Manuel L. Quezon – Ama ng Wikang Pambansa” on the occasion of Linggo ng Wika, August 2002.

Other articles by Team Emanila

« | Home | »

Comments are closed.

 

Adverts



*** Your text links here. Details.