The First President of the Commonwealth

Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (Manual L. Quezon) was the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philipines during U.S. colonial rule. Manuel Luis Quezon was taught Spanish at five years of age and Latin, religion, geography, and Spanish grammar by the time he was seven. Quezon had completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with the highest honors at 16 years of age while attending the Colegio of San Juan de Letran. He served as a major in Philippine-American War for independence. He went back to school following the surrender of Emilio Aguinaldo. He pursued a law degree at the University of Santo Tomas and passed the bar fourth in his class. In 1905, he successfully ran for governor of Tayabas and was elected as a representative in the first established Philippine Assembly after two years of his Governor term. During 1909 - 1916 he was the appointed as a Resident Commissioner to the US. His position only allowed him to speak in front of the US House of Representatives but not to vote in any matter. From a soldier to a politician he continually fought for Filipino independence, only now his voice was his weapon rather than a firearm. His Commissioner position allowed to fight diplomatically for Philippine Independence; his efforts, managed to pass the Jones Act. This act granted Philippine independence but without a specific date. independence but without a specific date.

In 1935 Quezon appointed General Douglas Macarthur the Field Marshal of the Philippine Army. In order to combat the potential threat the Japanese military who posed a Naval threat in the Pacific. Strange considering the Philippines desire to be an independent nation when giving control of the military to the Imperialist force. Quezon’s choice reflected his desire to strengthen the country before considering establishing an independent nation. On December 1937, President Quezon issued a proclamation declaring the adoption of a national language. Some can argue that the language “Filipino” sometimes referred to as “Tagalog” due to their similar natures created class divisions in the country since now the Filipino tribes who spoke other dialects would be classified as ethnic minorities. President Quezon held a direct vote on April 3, 1937 regarding the initiation of Women's Suffrage in the Philippines during his term. This would be the starting of point of Filipina politicians to run and eventually win the Presidential candidacy. Quezon also sought a second term following his first term despite the Philippine Constitution’s limit to one term. The ratification of the Constitution in 1940 allowed him to become re-elected. One could argue the Philippines starting to become Democracy modeled after their imperialist big brother. Quezon is the reason why a Independent Phillipines exists today as a united country instead of a commonwealth of separate tribes. As an educated, diplomatic civilized leader, Quezon became a role model for Filipinos from the homeland as well as on the U.S. mainland/Hawaii because of what he represented as a leader. He displayed Filipino nationalism but maintained his position as the President because he understood that in order for the Philippines to be Independent bloodshed must be avoided. He became the model for the modern Filipino combating the idea of the primitive, servile tribesman. He maintained that in order for the U.S. to view the Commonwealth as an Independent Nation they must show that they are capable of governing themselves as well as conducting their country in a civilized manner; what better way to show the U.S. than by adopting U.S. styled government and advocating for Independence by diplomatic means. He became the catalyst for modernization in the Philippines.

http://www.philippine-history.org/presidents.htm

http://bentley.umich.edu/research/guides/philippines/philint.php

http://philippines-archipelago.com/people/presidents/manuel_l_quezon.htm

Ty Tran Nguyen