MANILA – Every August, the country commemorates the life and accomplishments of the Philippines’ first Commonwealth President and the “Father of the National Language,” Manuel Luis Quezon, who dared Filipinos to dream.
Born on Aug. 19, 1878 in the quiet coastal town of Baler in Tayabas, now Aurora, Quezon’s childhood was molded in the resilience of a people under a colonial rule, and shaped by the revolution against Spain, that ignited his patriotism.
His parents, both primary school teachers, instilled in him a deep respect for education and a strong love for his country.
However, his childhood was also marked by tragedy when he lost his mother when he was eight due to cholera, while his father was killed fighting Spanish forces.
Despite being orphaned, he worked his way through school, until he graduated from law and passed the Bar.
From his humble beginnings, Quezon wrestled his way up to becoming a statesman, and fought for the Philippines greater autonomy from the United States.
In 1934, as Resident Commissioner to the United States, he fought for the Tydings–McDuffie Act, also known as the Philippine Independence Act that set the stage for the Philippines’ independence from the United States.
It established a 10-year transition period, during which the Commonwealth of the Philippines was formed, leading to full independence on July 4, 1946.
“My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins,” Quezon once said, which served as his guide to his political journey.
And in 1935, Quezon became the first President of the Philippine Commonwealth.
In office, he declared Filipino as the national language, championed land reform and tenant farmers’ rights, expanded public education, and strengthened national defense by creating the Philippine Army under General Douglas MacArthur.
Meanwhile, Quezon’s compassion was noted in the late 1930’s. While the world turned its back, he opened the Philippines’ doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, saving thousands of lives.
It was not a popular policy at the time, but for Quezon, humanity came before politics.
His fiery nationalism often startled even his allies, especially when reiterated his preference for Filipino self-governance despite its potential imperfections.
“I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans,” Quezon said.
At home, family first
In an interview with Quezon’s grandson, Enrique Quezon-Avanceña, he said his mother, Maria Zeneida Quezon Avanceña, second child of the late former president, shared a telling memory of his grandmother’s school performance:
“Sabi ng nanay ko, laging may panahon yun sa kanila kahit na gaano ka busy yun. Minsan nga daw may maliit lang na papel isang school play nila, naroon, dumating yung presidential limousine (My mother said she always had time for them no matter how busy they were. She said once, she had a small role in a school play, and there, the presidential limousine arrived),” he said in an interview on the Quezon City government’s web show, “Usapang QC” on Wednesday, noting this small yet meaningful gesture that underscored his commitment to family.
Meanwhile, he also recalled Quezon’s deep belief in social responsibility, that when he ran for president, he promised “land to the landless.”
“Ang masasabi ko, eto talagang legacy na hiniwan niya, na buhay pa, nadarama pa hanggang ngayon dito sa lalawigan ng Aurora. Sabi niya nang tumakbo siyang Pangulo, ang sakit natin sa Pilipinas, yung social justice, kailangan may land reform, land to the landless, so sabi niya, pag ako yung binoto niyo, ang unang akong gagawin, yung akin mismo bilang halimbawa (I can say that this is the legacy he left behind, which is still alive, and can still be felt here in the province of Aurora. He said when he ran for President, our sickness in the Philippines is social justice, we need land reform, land for the landless, so he said, if you vote for me, the first thing I will do, I will set myself as an example),” Quezon-Avanceña narrated.
“Eh nanalo, tinawag yung register of deeds, hiningi ang titulo at hinati sa gitna. 800 hectares lahat, kaya yung mga taga Baler nagkalupa sa San Luis, tsaka yung mga walang lupa doon, nagkaroon (And he won, so he called for the register of deeds and asked for his title, and divided it. 800 hectares in total, so those from Baler got land in San Luis, including those who didn’t have land there),” he added.
The city that bears his name
In 1939, Quezon envisioned a new capital city that would symbolize a modern, independent Philippines, and this dream became Quezon City.
QC was planned to relieve congestion in Manila and serve as the seat of government. Today, it remains a living tribute to Quezon, the visionary leader.
Landmarks such as the Quezon Memorial Circle, where his remains lie beneath a towering mausoleum, and the Quezon Heritage House in the city preserve his memory.
Meanwhile, in Baler, the Quezon Park and Museo de Baler stand as tributes to his roots, telling the story of a local boy who rose to national greatness.
Quezon Day, celebrated every Aug. 19, should not just be a public holiday but an occasion for Filipinos to reflect on the values he embodied.
Eighty-one years after his passing in exile in 1944, Quezon’s firm, passionate, and unwavering voice still resonates, urging every Filipino to celebrate his life and ideals.
The whole month of August is also observed as Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month, as a homage to Quezon’s push for a unifying national language, a reminder that even in death, he remains among his people with his memory intertwined with the language they speak, the city they inhabit, and the independence they cherish. (PNA)