Manuel L.

Quezon

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
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 Luis Quezon y Molina is a Filipino statesman, leader of the independence

movement, and 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, 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
ACHIEVEMENTS and CONTRIBUTIONS;
His most significant achievement was the passage of the Jones Act that provided for the grant
of Philippine independence. He was elected senator in 1916 and eventually became Senate
President. He headed the first Independence Mission to the U.S. Congress, and brought home
the Tydings-McDuffie Independence Law in 1934.The “Star of Baler “shone as the First
President of the Commonwealth after his brilliant performance as the First Senate President.
He was steadfast in his vision to deliver the masses from the shackles of colonialism which
intensified his efforts to secure independence for his country. Such vision culminated in the
establishment of political stability within the framework of the 1935 Constitution, the
formulation of policies to ensure the social well-being of the people, and the adjustment of the
national economy to the challenges of independent nationhood. He was a dynamic Filipino
leader and a true friend of the poor and the oppressed whom he loved and cared so well.

Quezon signing the Women's Suffrage Bill after the 1937 plebiscite
Quezon signs Executive Order No. 134.

Educational reforms
With his Executive Order No. 19, dated 19 February 1936, Quezon created the National Council
of Education. Rafael Palma, former president of the University of the Philippines, was its first
chairman. Funds from the early Residence Certificate Law were devoted to maintaining public
schools throughout the country and opening many more.

Council of State expansion

In 1938, Quezon expanded the Council of State in Executive Order No. 144. This highest of
advisory bodies to the president would be composed of the President, Vice President, Senate
President, House Speaker, Senate President pro tempore, House Speaker pro tempore, the
majority floor leaders of both chambers of Congress, former presidents, and three to five
prominent citizens.

Economy
When the commonwealth was created, its economy was stable and promising. With foreign
trade peaking at ₱400 million, the upward trend in business resembled a boom. Export crops
were generally good and, except for tobacco, were in high demand. The value of Philippine
exports reached ₱320,896,000, the highest since 1929.

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References;

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Manuel-Quezon
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/the-commonwealth-of-the-philippines/
https://legacy.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/manuel_quezon.htm#:~:text=His
%20most%20significant%20achievement%20was,McDuffie%20Independence%20Law%20in
%201934.