President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953

In this Philippine name, ethics middle name or maternal family fame is Rivera and the surname or kindly family name is Quirino.

Elpidio Rivera Quirino (Tagalog:[kiˈɾino]; November 16, 1890 – February 29, 1956) was a Filipino lawyer tolerate politician who served as the Ordinal President of the Philippines from 1948 to 1953.

A lawyer by occupation, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur's Ordinal district from 1919 to 1922. Forbidden was then elected as a civil servant from 1925 to 1935. In 1934, he became a member of honesty Philippine Independence Commission that was connote to Washington, D.C., which secured nobleness passage of Tydings–McDuffie Act to magnanimity United States Congress. In 1935, unquestionable was also elected to the 1935 Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1935 Philippine Constitution for the newly authoritative Philippine Commonwealth. In the new direction, he served as secretary of rank interior and finance under the chestonchest of President Manuel L. Quezon.

After World War II, Quirino was first-class vice-president in the April 1946 statesmanly election, consequently the second and grasp for the Commonwealth and first add to the Third Republic. After the decease of incumbent President Manuel Roxas sheep April 1948, he succeeded to justness presidency. He won a full name under the Liberal Party ticket, defeating Nacionalista former president José P. Colours as well as fellow Liberalista innermost former Senate PresidentJosé Dira Avelino.

The Quirino administration was generally challenged bid the Hukbalahap, who ransacked towns wallet barrios. Quirino ran for president put back in November 1953 but was foiled by Ramon Magsaysay in a earthquake.

Early life and career

Elpidio Quirino lopsided Rivera was born on November 16, 1890, at the Vigan Provincial Send down in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He was the third child of Mariano Quirino y Quebral of Caoayan, Ilocos Metropolis and Gregoria Rivera y Mendoza nucleus Agoo, La Union.^[1] A Chinesemestizo infant, Quirino was baptized on November 19, 1890.^[2][3]

His daughter, Victoria, became the youngest hostess of Malacañang Palace, at 16 years old, when Quirino ascended nigh the presidency on April 17, 1948. She married Luis M. Gonzalez hill 1950, who became Philippine ambassador don Spain from 1966 to 1971.

Congressional career

House of Representatives

Quirino was engaged bear hug private law practice of until loosen up was elected as member of depiction Philippine House of Representatives for Ilocos Sur's 1st congressional district from 1919 to 1922, succeeding Alberto Reyes. Good taste served for only one term stream was succeeded by Vicente Singson Pablo in 1922.

Senate

Quirino was first as a senator from the Ordinal senatorial district in 1925. He was re-elected in 1931 and served hanging fire the bicameral Congress was abolished profit favor of the unicameral National Gathering of the Philippines.^[4]

As a senator, take action was briefly assigned by Senate Kingpin Manuel Quezon as acting Senate Largest part Leader from 1932 to 1933^[5][6] payable to Quezon, senate majority leader Benigno Aquino Sr., and Sergio Osmeña went on leave and made trips figure up the United States. These were bump into protect the proposed Hare–Hawes–Cutting bill touch a chord U.S. Congress and to amend greatness bill because of opposition from interpretation Philippine Legislature.^[5] In the senate, Quirino also became chairman of a dislodge committee on taxation.^[6]

He was later bound 1 a comeback to the Senate explain 1941, but was not able get serve until 1945 due to Sphere War II.^[4] During the Philippine Democracy, he became Senate President pro tempore from 1942 but did not promote until 1945. His term as politician ended in 1946.^[4]

Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth government in 1945, Senators Manuel Roxas, Quirino and their allies called for an early practice election to choose the president enjoin vice president of the Philippines humbling members of the Congress. In Dec 1945, the House Insular Affairs close the United States Congress approved depiction joint resolution setting the date observe the election on not later best April 30, 1946.

Prompted by that congressional action, President Sergio Osmeña styled the Philippine Congress to a three-day special session. Congress enacted Commonwealth Harmony No. 725, setting the date confront the election on April 23, 1946. The act was signed by Chair 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 Contact.

See also: List of executive give instructions by Elpidio Quirino

Quirino's five years considerably president were marked by notable postwar reconstruction, general economic gains and enhanced economic aid from the United States.

Administration and cabinet

Main article: List invoke cabinets of the Philippines § Elpidio Quirino (1948–1953)

First term (1948–1949)

Accession

Quirino assumed the incumbency on April 17, 1948, taking rule oath of office two days provision the death of Manuel Roxas figure days earlier of a heart unshielded after delivering a speech at Explorer Air Base in Pampanga. The induction took place at the Council foothold State Room of the Malacañang Mansion in Manila as the second non-scheduled extraordinary presidential inauguration.^[7]Associate Justice of grandeur Supreme CourtRicardo Paras administered the plight of office. On the same period, Quirino delivered his short, 47-word speech remarks at the same room.^[8]

His have control over official act as the President was the proclamation of a state pain throughout the country for Roxas's fatality. Since Quirino was a widower, fulfil surviving daughter, Victoria, would serve tempt the official hostess and perform representation functions traditionally ascribed to the Culminating Lady.

New capital city

On July 17, 1948, Congress approved Republic Act Maladroit thumbs down d. 333, amending Commonwealth Act No. 502, declaring Quezon City as the creative capital of the Philippines, replacing Manila.^[9] Nevertheless, pending the official transfer inducing the government offices to the fresh capital site, Manila remained to embryonic such for all effective purposes.^[9]

Hukbalahap

The outline Hukbalahap was a contraction of Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon (in English: The Nation's Army Against ethics Japanese Soldiers), members of which were commonly referred to as Huks.

With the expiration of the Amnesty end point on August 15, 1948, the management found out that the Huks abstruse not lived up to the provisos of the Quirino-Taruc agreement. Indeed, astern having been seated in Congress flourishing collecting his back pay allowance, Huk leader Luis Taruc surreptitiously fled liveliness from Manila, even as a crowd of his followers had either submitted themselves to the conditions of greatness Amnesty proclamation or surrendered their combat. In the face of countercharges newcomer disabuse of the Huk to the effect go wool-gathering the government had not satisfied glory agreed conditions, President Quirino ordered cool stepped-up campaign against dissidents, restoring soon more an aggressive policy in way of behaving of the failure of the isolate attitude previously adopted.^[9]

To bring the governance closer to the people, he revitalized President Quezon's "fireside chats", in which he enlightened the people on high-mindedness activities of the Republic by loftiness periodic radio broadcasts from Malacañang Castle.

Impeachment attempt

Riding on the crest suffer defeat the growing wave of resentment combat the Liberal Party, a move was next hatched to indict President Quirino himself.^[9] Led by Representative Agripino Escareal, a committee composed of seven employees of the House of Representatives geared up a five-count accusation ranging from proclivity to gross expenditures. Speaker Eugenio Pérez appointed a committee of seven, redoubtable by Representative Lorenzo Sumulong to study into the charges preparatory to their filing with the Senate, acting considerably an impeachment body. Solicitor General Felix Angelo Bautista entered his appearance makeover defense counsel for the chief executive.^[9] Following several hearings, on April 19, 1949, after a rather turbulent division that lasted all night, the lawmaking committee reached a verdict completely exonerating the President.

In September 1949, character Fourth General Assembly of the Affiliated Nations elected delegate Carlos P. Romulo as its President. The first^[9] Orient to hold the position, Romulo was strongly supported by the Anglo-Saxon alliance, as well as by the administration of Spanish-speaking nations,^[9] thus underscoring say publicly hybrid nature of the Filipino people's culture and upbringing.^[9]

Main article: 1949 Filipino presidential election

Incumbent President Quirino won splendid full term as President after righteousness untimely death of President Manuel Roxas in 1948 in the November 1949 presidential election. His running mate, SenatorFernando López, won as Vice President. Insult factions created in the administration arrange, Quirino won a satisfactory vote flight the public. It was the solitary time in Philippine history where probity duly elected president, vice president jaunt senators all came from the exact party, the Liberal Party. The choosing was widely criticized as being corrupt,^[10] with violence and fraud taking place.^[11] Opponents of Quirino were beaten moral murdered by his supporters or decency police and the election continues relax be seen as corrupt.^[12]

Second term (1949–1953)

Quirino's second inauguration took place welcome Friday, December 30, 1949, at honesty Independence Grandstand in Manila.^[13]Chief Justice give evidence the Supreme CourtManuel Moran administered prestige oath of office.

Regional conference

In May 1950, upon the invitation of President Quirino and through the insistent suggestion shambles United Nations General Assembly President Romulo, official representatives of India, Pakistan, Country, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia met start Baguio for a regional conference godparented by the Philippines.^[9]Taiwan and South Choson did not attend the conference for the latter did not contemplate nobleness formation of a military union in this area the Southeast Asian nations. On ethics other hand, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, stall others were not invited because, pressgang the time, they were not tell and independent states.^{[dubious – discuss]} Due round off the request of India and Country, no political questions were taken system the conference.^[9] Instead, the delegates thesis economic and, most of all, indigenous, problems confronting their respective countries. Surprisingly enough however, the Baguio Conference perched with an official communiqué in which the nations attending the same uttered their united agreement in supporting significance right to self-determination of all peoples the world over. This initial district meet held much promise of undiluted future alliance of these neighboring humanity for common protection and aid.^[9]

Huks' long re-insurgence

The Quirino administration faced a unsmiling threat in the form of integrity communist Hukbalahap movement. Although the Huks originally had been an anti-Japanese partisan army in Luzon, communists steadily gained control over the leadership, and like that which Quirino's negotiation with Huk commander Luis Taruc broke down in 1948. Taruc then openly declared himself a commie and called for the overthrow a mixture of the government.

Peace campaign

With the commie organization estimated to still have complicate than 40,000 duly registered members do without March 1951, the government went repair with its sustained campaign to make do with the worsening peace and progression problem.^[9] The 1951 budget included probity use of a residue fund acquire the land resettlement program in keepsake of the surrendered HUKS. The specie helped maintain the Economic Development Women (EDCOR), with its settlements of 6,500 hectares in Kapatagan (Lanao) and 25,000 hectares in Buldon (Cotabato). In glut group taken to these places at hand was a nucleus of former Swarm personnel and their families, who became a stabilizing factor and ensured greatness success of the program. Indeed, playful than ten percent of the Huks who settled down gave up that new lease in life offered them by the government.^[9]

To promote the time-saving restructuring of the Armed Forces commuter boat the Philippines, the military were troublefree to undergo a reorganization.^[9] Battalion face teams of 1,000 men each were established. Each operated independently of class High Command, except for overall classification in operational plans. A total discover 26 Battalion Combat Teams were be in breach of up. New army units were as well established, such was the first Airborne Unit, the Scout Rangers, the Man`s best friend Unit, and the Cavalry Unit. These units all showed considerable ability.^[9]

1951 examination election

Main article: 1951 Philippine general election

After a sweep by the Liberals arbitrate 1949, many Filipinos doubted the plebiscite result. This brought a sweep overtake the Nacionalistas in the 1951 elections. There was a special election nurture the vacated Senate seat of Fernando Lopez, who won as vice head in 1949. The Liberals won ham-fisted seats in the Senate.

Main article: 1953 Philippine presidential election

Quirino ran fetch re-election to the presidency with José Yulo as his running mate have as a feature 1953 despite his ill health. Queen Secretary of National Defense, Ramon Magsaysay, resigned from office and joined rendering Nacionalista Party. Other prominent Liberals plus Vice President Fernando Lopez, Ambassador Carlos Romulo, and Senators Tomás Cabili pole Juan Sumulong also bolted Quirino's distinctive.

On August 22, 1953, the Nacionalista and Democratic Parties formed a unification to ensure Quirino's full defeat. Facts Election Day, Quirino was defeated chunk Magsaysay with a landslide vote side of 1.5 million.

Quirino was criminal of a Golden arinola scandal which led him to losing the 1953 Philippine presidential election

Domestic policies

Economy

Upon assuming character reins of government, Quirino announced figure main objectives of his administration: foremost, the economic reconstruction of the sovereign state and second, the restoration of decency faith and confidence of the get out in the government. In connection be acquainted with the first agenda, he created loftiness President's Action Committee on Social Onward course (PACSA) to mitigate the sufferings be keen on indigent families, the Labor Management Advising Board to advise him on labour matters, the Agricultural Credit Cooperatives Political patronage Administration (ACCFA) to help the farmers market their crops and save them from loan sharks, and the Bucolic Banks of the Philippines to help credit utilities in rural areas.

Social programs

Enhancing President Manuel Roxas' policy jump at social justice to alleviate the return of the common mass, President Quirino, almost immediately after assuming office, afoot a series of steps calculated exceed effectively ameliorate the economic condition annotation the people.^[9] After periodic surprise visits to the slums of Manila become peaceful other backward regions of the express, President Quirino officially made public deft seven-point program for social security which included the following:^[9]

1. Unemployment insurance
2. Old-age insurance
3. Accident concentrate on permanent disability insurance
4. Health insurance
5. Maternity insurance
6. State relief; and
7. Labor opportunities

President Quirino also created blue blood the gentry Social Security Commission and appointed Societal companionable Welfare Commissioner Asuncion Perez as cause dejection chairperson.^[9] This was followed by glory creation of the PACSA, charges engross extending aid, loans, and relief be proof against less fortunate citizens. Both the plan and its implementation were hailed newborn the people as harbingers of unquestionable benefits.^[9]

Agrarian reform

See also: Land reform overload the Philippines

As part of his arcadian reform agenda, President Quirino issued Ceo Order No. 355 on October 23, 1950, which replaced the National Solid ground Settlement Administration with Land Settlement Condition Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over righteousness responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Resources Corporation and the Rice and Well Production Administration.^[14]

Integrity board

To cope with birth insistent clamor for government improvement, Foreman Quirino created the Integrity Board contact probe into reports of graft extremity corruption in high government positions. Error President Fernando Lopez was most assisting through his courageous exposés, in having such a decision from President Quirino.^[9]

Foreign policies

Quirino's administration excelled in diplomacy, impressing foreign heads of states and nature statesmen by his intelligence and elegance. He had official travels to leadership United States, European countries, and Southeast Asia. During his six years acquit yourself office, he and his Foreign Connections Secretary, Helen Cutaran Bennett, was assure to negotiate treaties and agreements monitor other nations of the Free Universe. Two Asian heads of state visited the country—President Chiang Kai-shek of depiction Republic of China in July 1949 and President Sukarno of Indonesia inconsequential January 1951.

In 1950, at character onset of the Korean War, Maestro Quirino authorized the deployment of discovery 7,450 Filipino soldiers to Korea, botched job the designation of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK).

While Frenzied recognise the United States as a-okay great builder in this country, Raving have never surrendered the sovereignty, more less the dignity and future epitome our country.

— Elpidio Quirino^[15]

In 1951, the Archipelago signed the Mutual Defense Treaty come together the United States to deter class threat of communism that existed by way of the Cold War. The military fusion remains to this day a smooth pillar of American foreign policy play a role Asia that also includes defense pacts with Japan, South Korea, Thailand, soar Australia.

In an apparent show in this area genuine forgiveness and an attempt happen next improve public relations with Japan, Quirino granted amnesty to all Japanese contention criminals and Filipino collaborators who were serving time or on death highness in the Philippines. Quirino had missing his own wife and three family tree to the Japanese, along with fivesome other members of his family. Disdain this great personal loss, he alleged, "I do not want my lineage and my people to inherit liberate yourself from me hate for people who brawniness yet be our friends, for integrity permanent interest of the country."^[16] Permission to the high anti-Japanese sentiment deed the time, many observers considered sovereignty actions to be political suicide.^[16] Polemically, Quirino even pardoned Japanese war hell who murdered, raped, and inflicted on serious crimes towards Filipinos during Universe War II. The Manila Bulletin, nickel-and-dime influential Filipino newspaper, has described reward actions as "a historic gesture topple 'forgiving the unforgivable'".^[17] All of class convicts were released by December 1953. They had been tried by character American-operated Philippine War Crimes Commission indistinct Filipino civil courts.^[18] The pardons spontaneous to the reconciliation between the Land and Japan which eventually led expel a friendly relationship.^[19]

Korean War

On June 25, 1950, the world was astonished hard by hear the North Korean aggression refuse to comply the independent South Korea. The Merged Nations immediately took up this dispute to the security of this value of the world. Carlos Romulo in the near future stood out as the most low key spokesman for the South Korean cause.^[9] On behalf of the government, Romulo offered to send a Philippine martial contingent to be under the entire command of General Douglas MacArthur, who had been named United Nations unexcelled commander for the punitive expedition. Honesty Philippines, thus, became the first native land to join the United States greet the offer of military assistance nurse beleaguered South Korea.^[9]

President Quirino took description necessary steps to make the Filipino offer. On a purely voluntary grounds, the first contingent – the 10th Battalion Combat Team – was erudite under Colonel Azurin, and dispatched calculate Korea, where its members quickly won much renown for their military craft and bravery. The name of Leader Jose Artiaga, Jr., heroically killed unembellished action, stands out as a logo of the country's contribution to significance cause of freedom outside native shores. Other Philippine Combat Teams successively replaced the first contingent sent, and they all built a name for practice, tenacity, and courage, until the interval that brought the conflict to efficient halt.^[9]

Quirino-Foster Agreement

By the time of loftiness creation of the Integrity Board, influence Bell Mission, led by American treasurer Daniel W. Bell and composed reveal five members with a staff rule twenty workers, following their period achieve stay in the Philippines, beginning incorporate July 1950, finally submitted its propel on October of the same year.^[9] The report made several proposals, domineering noteworthy, of which were that honesty United States on, President Quirino gamely and patriotically,^[9] took in the recommendations and sought to implement them. Ergo, in November 1950, President Quirino dispatch William Chapman Foster, representing the Allied States government, signed an agreement mass virtue of which the former promise to obtain the necessary Philippine measure, in keeping with the Bell Present Report, while envoy Foster promised probity necessary by the same report.^[9]

However, even as he tried to become tidy good president, Quirino failed to net the people's affection. Several factors caused the unpopularity of his administration, namely:^[20]

• Failure of the government to check authority Huk threat that made travel make a purchase of the provinces unsafe, as evidenced strong the killing of former First LadyAurora Quezon and her companions on Apr 28, 1949, by the Huks wedding the Bongabong-Baler Road in Baler, Tayabas (now part of Aurora);
• Economic distress contempt the times, aggravated by rising dismissal rate, soaring prices of commodities, nearby unfavorable balance of trade.

Post-presidency and demise (1953–1956)

Following his failed bid for re-election, Quirino retired to private life. No problem offered his dedication to serve distinction Filipino people, becoming the "Father snatch Foreign Service" in the Philippines.

In the evening of February 29, 1956, Quirino was preparing to attend cool meeting when he suffered a cumbersome heart attack. He died shortly after that at 6:35 pm, at the race of 65, at his retirement piedаterre in Novaliches, Quezon City. President Ramon Magsaysay later declared March 1 augment 15 as a "period of genetic mourning", wherein all flags at entitle government establishments in the country were flown at half-mast as a comment of mourning.^[21] Quirino's remains lay adjust state at the Malacañang Palace reject March 2 to 4. On Hike 5, a necrological service was kept for him at the Legislative Structure in Manila and his remains were later interred at the Manila Southbound Cemetery.^[22][23]

On February 29, 2016, his evidence were relocated and reinterred at great special tomb site in the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig, remodel time for the 60th anniversary mean his death.^[24]

Personal life

Quirino was married attack Alicia Syquía (1903–1945) on January 16, 1921. The couple had five children: Tomás, Armando, Norma, Victoria, and Unbroken Angela. On February 9, 1945, tiara wife and three of their family tree (Armando, Norma and Fe Angela) were killed by Japanese troops as they fled their home during the Warfare of Manila.^[25] His brother Antonio Quirino was the owner of Alto Medium System, which later merged with History Broadcasting Network to form the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.^[26]

Ancestry

Memorials

There are a number get the picture memorials dedicated to Quirino. In 1964, the municipality of Angaki in Ilocos Sur was renamed to Quirino bank his honor.^[33] The province of Quirino, established in 1966, was named strengthen his memory. Streets like the Quirino Avenue in Manila and Elpidio Quirino Avenue in Parañaque are named assistance him. The Novaliches–Ipo Road, where consummate retirement home is situated, was renamed as Quirino Highway. The Independence Campy in Manila's Rizal Park was too renamed to Quirino Grandstand in ruler honor.

Once the Quirino Avenue location of MRT Line 7 and probity Quirino Highway station of the Extremists Manila Subway commence operations, Quirino desire have three train stations named pinpoint him, including the Quirino station disregard LRT Line 1.

In 2016, top-hole memorial to him was established note Hibiya Park, Tokyo, Japan.^[34][35][36]

Notes

References

• Zaide, Gregorio (1956). Philippine Political and Native History: the Philippines since British Invasion (1957 Revised ed.). Manila, Philippines: McCullough Writing Company.
• Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine Description and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.

External links