- In full:
- Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina
- Born:
- August 19, 1878, Baler, Philippines
- Died:
- August 1, 1944, Saranac Lake, New York, U.S. (aged 65)
- Title / Office:
- president (1935-1942), Philippines
Manuel Quezon
-
Who was Manuel Quezon?
Manuel Quezon (1878-1944) was a Filipino statesman and leader of the independence movement. In 1935, he became the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, which was established under U.S. tutelage.
Quezon's early life included participation in the independence struggle against the United States. He later pursued law and entered politics, believing that cooperation with the U.S. was the path to independence. He served as governor of Tayabas province in 1905 and as a representative in the Philippine Assembly in 1907.
As president, Quezon focused on military defense, land reform, promoting development in Mindanao, and combating government corruption. In 1941, he was reelected president. During Japan's occupation of the Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States and formed a government in exile. Quezon died of tuberculosis before Philippine independence was fully realized.
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When did Manuel Quezon serve as president of the Philippines?
Manuel Quezon was elected president of the Philippine Commonwealth on September 17, 1935. In 1941, he was reelected. However, due to the Japanese invasion and occupation of the Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States and formed a government in exile. Quezon remained president until his death on August 1, 1944, before the Philippines achieved full independence.
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Why is Manuel Quezon called the 'Father of the Filipino Language'?
Manuel Quezon is often called the "Father of the Filipino Language" because of his efforts to promote a national language for the Philippines. While there are as many as 150 native languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines, Quezon, as the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, played a significant role in the development of a national language based on Tagalog.
Under Quezon's leadership, steps were taken to adopt a common language, known then as Pilipino, to foster national unity. This initiative aimed to give the Philippines a linguistic identity and to promote a sense of national pride.
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What was the Commonwealth of the Philippines that Quezon led?
The Philippine Commonwealth, with Manuel Quezon as its first president, was established in 1935 under U.S. tutelage. This government was created as a forerunner to full independence, which was to be granted after a 10-year transition period. During this time, the U.S. maintained jurisdiction over defense and foreign affairs, while the Philippines was to draft its own constitution.
As president, Quezon focused on national defense, addressing the issues of landless peasants, promoting development in Mindanao, and combating government corruption. He was reelected in 1941 and, following the Japanese invasion in 1942, established a government in exile in the United States.
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How did Manuel Quezon help prepare the Philippines for independence?
As president of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel Quezon prepared the Philippines for independence in several ways:
* He reorganized the islands’ military defenses with the help of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
* He tackled the problem of landless peasants working as tenants on large estates.
* He promoted the settlement and development of Mindanao.
* He fought government graft and corruption.
* He oversaw the building of a new national capital, Quezon City.Quezon also fought for the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act (1934), which provided for full independence for the Philippines 10 years after the creation of a constitution and the establishment of a Commonwealth government.
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What challenges did Manuel Quezon face during World War II as president?
As president during World War II, Manuel Quezon faced numerous challenges, including military and political pressures.
Japan's attack on the Philippines in December 1941 led to a rapid invasion, forcing Quezon and Sergio Osmeña to evacuate to Douglas MacArthur's headquarters on Corregidor Island. Despite wanting to surrender Manila, Quezon was persuaded to leave the Philippines in March 1942 and form a government in exile in the United States.
Other challenges Quezon faced included agrarian unrest and leftist political activity, which grew despite his efforts to implement reforms. Quezon died of tuberculosis before the Philippines achieved full independence.
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Manuel Quezon (born August 19, 1878, Baler, Philippines—died August 1, 1944, Saranac Lake, New York, U.S.) was a Filipino statesman, leader of the independence movement, and the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth established under U.S. tutelage in 1935.
Quezon was the son of a schoolteacher and small landholder of Tagalog descent on the island of Luzon. He cut short his law studies at the University of Santo Tomás 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, Quezon returned to the university, obtained his degree (1903), and practiced law for a few years. Convinced that the only way to independence was through cooperation with the United States, he ran for governor of Tayabas province in 1905. Once elected, he served for two years before being elected a representative in 1907 to the newly established Philippine Assembly.
In 1909 Quezon was appointed resident commissioner for the Philippines, entitled to speak, but not vote, in the U.S. House of Representatives; during his years in Washington, D.C., he fought vigorously for a speedy grant of independence by the United States. Quezon played a major role in obtaining Congress’ passage in 1916 of the Jones Act, which pledged independence for the Philippines without giving a specific date when it would take effect. The act gave the Philippines greater autonomy and provided for the creation of a bicameral national legislature modeled after the U.S. Congress. Quezon resigned as commissioner and returned to Manila to be elected to the newly formed Philippine Senate in 1916; he subsequently served as its president until 1935. In 1922 he gained control of the Nacionalista Party, which had previously been led by his rival Sergio Osmeña.
Quezon fought for passage of the Tydings–McDuffie Act (1934), which provided for full independence for the Philippines 10 years after the creation of a constitution and the establishment of a Commonwealth government that would be the forerunner of an independent republic. Quezon was elected president of the newly formulated Commonwealth on September 17, 1935. As president he reorganized the islands’ military defense (aided by U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur as his special adviser), tackled the huge problem of landless peasants in the countryside who still worked as tenants on large estates, promoted the settlement and development of the large southern island of Mindanao, and fought graft and corruption in the government. A new national capital, later known as Quezon City, was built in a suburb of Manila.
Quezon was reelected president in 1941. After Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States, where he formed a government in exile, served as a member of the Pacific War Council, signed the declaration of the United Nations against the fascist nations, and wrote his autobiography, The Good Fight (1946). Quezon died of tuberculosis before full Philippine independence was established.