Elpidio Quirino
Senator of the Philippines | |
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In office July 9, 1945 – May 28, 1946 | |
In office 1925 – November 15, 1935 | |
Preceded by | Santiago Fonacier |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Constituency | 1st senatorial district |
Member of the House of Representatives from Ilocos Sur's 1st district | |
In office 1919–1925 | |
Preceded by | Alberto Reyes |
Succeeded by | Vicente Singson Pablo |
Personal details | |
Born | Elpidio Quirino y Rivera November 16, 1890 Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish Empire |
Died | February 29, 1956 Quezon City, Philippines | (aged 65)
Resting place | Manila South Cemetery (1956–2016) Libingan ng mga Bayani (since 2016) |
Political party | Liberal (1946–1956) |
Other political affiliations | Nacionalista (1919-1946) |
Spouse |
Alicia Syquia
(m. 1921; died 1945) |
Relations | Victoria Quirino González |
Alma mater | University of the Philippines (LL.B) |
Profession | Lawyer |
Signature | |
Elpidio Rivera Quirino (Tagalog: [kiˈɾino]; November 16, 1890 – February 29, 1956) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 6th President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953.
A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of
After World War II, Quirino was elected vice-president in the
The Quirino administration was generally challenged by the Hukbalahap, who ransacked towns and barrios. Quirino ran for president again in November 1953 but was defeated by Ramon Magsaysay in a landslide.
Early life and career
Elpidio Quirino y Rivera was born on November 16, 1890, at the Vigan Provincial Jail in
Quirino attended the University of the Philippines in Manila. In 1915, he earned his law degree from the university's College of Law, and was admitted to the bar later that year. He was engaged into the private practice of law. During his early years as an adult he was inducted into the Pan Xenia Fraternity, a professional trade fraternity in the University of the Philippines, in the year 1950.[citation needed]
His daughter,
Congressional Career
House of Representatives
Quirino was engaged in private law practice of until he was elected as member of the
Senate
Quirino was elected as a senator in 1925 representing the First Senatorial District, serving until 1935. He then served as secretary of finance and of the interior under the Commonwealth.[citation needed]
In 1934, Quirino became a member of the Philippine Independence Commission that was sent to Washington, D.C., headed by Manuel L. Quezon, that secured the passage in the United States Congress of the Tydings–McDuffie Act. This legislation set the date for Philippine independence by 1945. Official declaration came on July 4, 1946.[citation needed]
Before World War II, Quirino was re-elected to the Senate, but was not able to serve until 1945.
After the war, the Philippine Commonwealth Government was restored. The Congress was likewise re-organized and in the Senate and Quirino was installed was Senate President pro tempore.[citation needed]
Vice-presidency (1946–1949)
Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth Government in 1945, Senators Manuel Roxas, Quirino and their allies called for an early national election to choose the president and vice president of the Philippines and members of the Congress. In December 1945, the House Insular Affairs of the United States Congress approved the joint resolution setting the date of the election on not later than April 30, 1946.
Prompted by this congressional action, President Sergio Osmeña called the Philippine Congress to a three-day special session. Congress enacted Commonwealth Act No. 725, setting the date of the election on April 23, 1946. The act was signed by President Osmeña on January 5, 1946.
Quirino was nominated as Senate President Manuel Roxas's running mate. The tandem won the election. As Vice-President, Quirino was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Presidency (1948–1953)
Presidential styles of Elpidio Quirino | |
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His Excellency | |
Spoken style | Your Excellency |
Alternative style | Mr. President |
Quirino's five years as president were marked by notable postwar reconstruction, general economic gains and increased economic aid from the United States.
Administration and cabinet
First term (1948–1949)
Accession
Quirino assumed the presidency on April 17, 1948, taking his
New capital city
On July 17, 1948, Congress approved Republic Act No. 333, amending Commonwealth Act No. 502, declaring Quezon City as the new capital of the Philippines, replacing Manila.[4] Nevertheless, pending the official transfer of the government offices to the new capital site, Manila remained to be such for all effective purposes.[4]
Hukbalahap
The term Hukbalahap was a contraction of Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon (in English: The Nation's Army Against the Japanese Soldiers), members of which were commonly referred to as Huks.
With the expiration of the Amnesty deadline on August 15, 1948, the government found out that the
Fireside chats
To bring the government closer to the people, he revived
Impeachment attempt
Riding on the crest of the growing wave of resentment against the Liberal Party, a move was next hatched to indict President Quirino himself.
Romulo becomes President of the UN General Assembly
In September 1949, the Fourth General Assembly of the United Nations elected delegate
1949 presidential election
Incumbent President Quirino won a full term as
Second term (1949–1953)
American Conference
In May 1950, upon the invitation of President Quirino and through the insistent suggestion of United Nations General Assembly President
Huks' continued re-insurgence
The Quirino administration faced a serious threat in the form of the communist HukBaLaHap movement. Although the Huks originally had been an anti-Japanese guerrilla army in Luzon, communists steadily gained control over the leadership, and when Quirino's negotiation with Huk commander Luis Taruc broke down in 1948, Taruc openly declared himself a Communist and called for the overthrow of the government.
Peace campaign
With the Communist organization estimated to still have more than 40,000 duly registered members by March 1951, the government went on with its sustained campaign to cope with the worsening peace and order problem.[4] The 1951 budget included the use of a residue fund for the land resettlement program in favor of the surrendered HUKS. The money helped maintain the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR), with its settlements of 6,500 hectares in Kapatagan (Lanao) and 25,000 hectares in Buldon (Cotabato). In each group taken to these places there was a nucleus of former Army personnel and their families, who became a stabilizing factor and ensured the success of the program. Indeed, less than ten percent of the Huks who settled down gave up this new lease in life offered them by the government.[4]
To promote the smooth restructuring of the
1951 midterm election
After a sweep by the Liberals in 1949, many Filipinos doubted the election result. This brought a sweep by the Nacionalistas in the 1951 elections. There was a special election for the vacated Senate seat of Fernando Lopez, who won as vice president in 1949. The Liberals won no seats in the Senate.
1953 presidential election
Quirino ran for re-election to the presidency with
On August 22, 1953, the
Quirino was accused of a Golden arinola scandal which led him to losing the 1953 Philippine presidential election
Domestic policies
Population | |
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1948 | 19.23 million |
Gross Domestic Product (1985 constant prices) | |
1948 | Php 99,628 million |
1953 | Php 146,070 million |
Growth rate, 1948–53 | 9.32 % |
Per capita income (1985 constant prices) | |
1948 | Php 5,180 |
1953 | Php 7,596 |
Total exports | |
1948 | Php 35,921 million |
1953 | Php 34, 432 million |
Exchange rates | |
1 US US$ = Php 2.00 1 Php = US US$ 0.50 | |
Sources: Philippine Presidency Project Malaya, Jonathan; Malaya, Eduardo. So Help Us God... The Inaugurals of the Presidents of the Philippines. Anvil Publishing, Inc. |
Economy
Upon assuming the reins of government, Quirino announced two main objectives of his administration: first, the economic reconstruction of the nation and second, the restoration of the faith and confidence of the people in the government. In connection to the first agenda, he created the President's Action Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) to mitigate the sufferings of indigent families, the Labor Management Advisory Board to advise him on labor matters, the Agricultural Credit Cooperatives Financing Administration (ACCFA) to help the farmers market their crops and save them from loan sharks, and the Rural Banks of the Philippines to facilitate credit utilities in rural areas.
Social programs
Enhancing President Manuel Roxas' policy of social justice to alleviate the lot of the common mass, President Quirino, almost immediately after assuming office, started a series of steps calculated to effectively ameliorate the economic condition of the people.[4] After periodic surprise visits to the slums of Manila and other backward regions of the country, President Quirino officially made public a seven-point program for social security which included the following:[4]
- Unemployment insurance
- Old-age insurance
- Accident and permanent disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Maternity insurance
- State relief; and
- Labor opportunities
President Quirino also created the Social Security Commission and appointed Social Welfare Commissioner Asuncion Perez as its chairperson.[4] This was followed by the creation of the PACSA, charges with extending aid, loans, and relief to less fortunate citizens. Both the policy and its implementation were hailed by the people as harbingers of great benefits.[4]
Agrarian reform
As part of his agrarian reform agenda, President Quirino issued Executive Order No. 355 on October 23, 1950, which replaced the National Land Settlement Administration with Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over the responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn Production Administration.[8]
Integrity Board
To cope with the insistent clamor for government improvement, President Quirino created the Integrity Board to probe into reports of graft and corruption in high government positions. Vice President Fernando Lopez was most instrumental through his courageous exposés, in securing such a decision from President Quirino.[4]
Foreign policies
Quirino's administration excelled in diplomacy, impressing foreign heads of states and world statesmen by his intelligence and culture. He had official travels to the United States, European countries, and Southeast Asia. During his six years in office, he and his
In 1950, at the onset of the Korean War, President Quirino authorized the deployment of over 7,450 Filipino soldiers to Korea, under the designation of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK).
While I recognise the United States as a great builder in this country, I have never surrendered the sovereignty, much less the dignity and future of our country.
— Elpidio Quirino[9]
In 1951, the Philippines signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States to deter the threat of communism that existed during the Cold War. The military alliance remains to this day a key pillar of American foreign policy in Asia that also includes defense pacts with Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Australia. He controversially pardoned numerous Japanese war criminals in the Philippines who murdered, raped, and infliction other serious crimes towards Filipinos during World War II.
Korean War
On June 25, 1950, the world was astonished to hear the North Korean aggression against the independent South Korea. The United Nations immediately took up this challenge to the security of this part of the world. Carlos P. Romulo soon stood out as the most effective spokesman for the South Korean cause.[4] On behalf of the government, Romulo offered to send a Philippine military contingent to be under the overall command of General Douglas MacArthur, who had been named United Nations supreme commander for the punitive expedition. The Philippines, thus, became the first country to join the United States in the offer of military assistance to beleaguered South Korea.[4]
President Quirino took the necessary steps to make the Philippine offer. On a purely voluntary basis, the first contingent – the Tenth Battalion Combat Team – was formed under Colonel Azurin, and dispatched to Korea, where its members quickly won much renown for their military skill and bravery. The name of Captain Jose Artiaga, Jr., heroically killed in action, stands out as a symbol of the country's contribution to the cause of freedom outside native shores. Other Philippine Combat Teams successively replaced the first contingent sent, and they all built a name for discipline, tenacity, and courage, until the armistice that brought the conflict to a halt.[4]
Quirino-Foster Agreement
By the time of the creation of the Integrity Board, the Bell Mission, led by American banker
However, much as he tried to become a good president, Quirino failed to win the people's affection. Several factors caused the unpopularity of his administration, namely:[10]
- Failure of the government to check the Aurora province);
- Economic distress of the times, aggravated by rising unemployment rate, soaring prices of commodities, and unfavorable balance of trade.
Post-presidency and death (1953–1956)
Following his failed bid for re-election, Quirino retired private life. He offered his dedication to serve the
In the evening of February 29, 1956, Quirino was preparing to attend a meeting when he suffered a massive heart attack. He died shortly thereafter at 6:35 pm, at the age of 65, at his retirement house in Novaliches, Quezon City. President Ramon Magsaysay later declared March 1 to 15 as a "period of national mourning," wherein all flags at all government establishments in the country were flown at half-mast as a sign of mourning.[11] Quirino's remains lay in state at the Malacañang Palace from March 2 to 4. On March 5, a necrological service was held for him at the Legislative Building in Manila and his remains were later interred at the Manila South Cemetery.[12][13]
On February 29, 2016, his remains were relocated and reinterred at a special tomb site in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig, in time for the 60th anniversary of his death.[14]
Personal life
Quirino was married to Alicia Syquía (1903–1945) on January 16, 1921. The couple had five children: Tomás, Armando, Norma,
Ancestry
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Memorials
There are a number of memorials dedicated to Quirino. In 1964, the municipality of Angaki in Ilocos Sur was renamed to Quirino in his honor.[24] The province of Quirino, established in 1966, was named in his memory. Streets like the Quirino Avenue in Manila and Elpidio Quirino Avenue in Parañaque are named for him. The Novaliches–Ipo Road, where his retirement home is situated, was renamed as Quirino Highway. The Independence Grandstand in Manila's Rizal Park was also renamed to Quirino Grandstand in his honor.
Once the
In 2016, a memorial to him was established in Hibiya Park, Tokyo, Japan.[25][26][27]
Notes
- ^ "President Elpidio Quirino's 125th Birth Anniversary". BusinessMirror. November 10, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
- – via Persée.
- )
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Molina, Antonio (1961). The Philippines: Through the Centuries. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Cooperative.
- ^ Coronel, Sheila S. (November 2, 2005). "Lana's Dirty Secrets". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
- ISBN 978-1-134-75421-2.
- ISBN 0-521-56404-2.
- ^ "Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Organizational Chart". Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ "Elpidio Quirino". Retrieved August 9, 2009.
- ^ Quoted from Zaide, Gregorio (1956). "25". Philippine Political and Cultural History: the Philippines since British Invasion. Vol. 2 (1957 Revised ed.). Manila, Philippines: McCullough Printing Company. p. 25.
- ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 269, s. 1956 (March 1, 1956), Declaring a Period of National Mourning Over the Death of Former President Elpidio Quirino, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved February 23, 2024
- ^ Funeral Oration of President Magsaysay at the Necrological Services for Ex-President Quirino (Speech). Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. March 5, 1956. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ "Official Month in Review: March 1956". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- GMA News. February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
- Sun.Star. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
- ^ Vanzi, Sol Jose (November 1, 2003). "ABS-CBN's 50th Year Celebrates Philippine Television". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ a b "President Elpidio Rivera Quirino". FamilySearch. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Mariano Quirino". FamilySearch. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Juan Manuel Del Rosario". FamilySearch. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
Alternate Name • Also Known As Juan Manuel Quirino
- ^ a b "Doña Gregoria Quirino". Geni.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Doña María Rivera (Mendoza)". Geni.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Toribia Manzano Quebral". Geni.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ Republic Act No. 4035 (June 18, 1964), An Act Changing the Name of the Municipality of Angaki, Province of Ilocos Sur, to Quirino, retrieved June 8, 2023
- Japan TimesRetrieved June 14, 2017
- ^ Japan honors former PH president Elpidio Quirino in Hibiya Park June 14, 2016 Philippine Primer Retrieved June 14, 2017
- Asahi ShimbunRetrieved June 14, 2017
References
- Zaide, Gregorio (1956). Philippine Political and Cultural History: the Philippines since British Invasion (1957 Revised ed.). Manila, Philippines: McCullough Printing Company.
- Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.
External links
- Works by or about Elpidio Quirino at Internet Archive
- The Philippine Presidency Project
- "Qurino is Dead; Filipino Leader – FILIPINO LEADER; President, 1948–54, Avoided Extremes in Guiding New Nation After the War". The New York Times. March 1, 1956. Retrieved January 8, 2008.
- Malacañang Museum – Elpidio Quirino
- Newspaper clippings about Elpidio Quirino in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW