ELPIDIO
QUIRINO
"While I recognise the
United States as a great builder in this country, I have never
surrendered the sovereignty, much less the dignity and future of our
country."
Born: November 16, 1890
Died: February 28, 1956
Position in History: Philippines: 6th President, Third Republic: 2nd
President
First Presidential Term: April 18, 1948 - December 30, 1949 (President
Roxas' remaining term)
Second Presidential Term: December 30, 1949 - December 30, 1953
(President Quirino's own term)
Duration of Terms: 621 days (first), 1461 days (second), 2082 days
(total)
Elpidio Quirino was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Mariano Quirino and
Gregoria Rivera. He studied at Aringay Elementary School then Ilocos
Sur High School and taught grade school while studying. In 1908,
Quirino enrolled in the Manila High School and at the same time worked
at the Bureau of Lands and later at the Manila Police Department. After
finishing High School Quirino studied at the University of the
Philippines. In 1915, he graduated and passed the bar examination later
the same year.
Quirino practised law until 1919 when he was elected as a member of the
Philippine House of Representatives. Quirino married Alicia Syquia on
January 16, 1921. They had five children together. His wife and three
of his children were massacred by the Japanese during the liberation of
Manila.
Quirino was elected to the Senate in 1925 and re-elected in 1931. In
1934, he went to the US as a member of the Philippine Independence
mission. During Quirino's second term in the Senate, he became Senate
president and re-elected again in the Senate in 1945 and became Senate
president pro tempore. Quirino was also elected to the convention that
drafted a constitution for the Commonwealth government. In addition, he
served as Secretary of Finance and Secretary of the Interior in the
Commonwealth government.
In 1946, Elpidio Quirino became vice-president of the Third Republic.
President Roxas appointed him as Secretary of Finance and later as
Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after Roxas' death, Quirino
became president and finished off Roxas' term. Quirino tried to
negotiate with the Huk leader, Luis Taruc in 1948. The result was
general amnesty to the Huks and the condition that they would surrender
their arms 50 days later. However, on the 50th day, there were violent
confrontations between the Huks and the government. Quirino also tried
to restore the confidence of the people in the government. Despite the
post-war reconstruction, general economic gains and increased economic
aid from the US, the Quirino administration was riddled with graft and
corruption. Quirino's enemies tried to start impeachment proceedings
against him.
Quirino was re-elected as president in the dishonest and fraudulent
elections of 1949. To try to help the poor, Quirino initiated the
National Minimum Wage. However, people continued to lose confidence in
the government as the result of graft and corruption within the
government and the uncontrolled Huk threat. Quirino lost in the 1953
presidential elections to Ramon Magsaysay, who had turned away from
Quirino on the issue of corruption and clean elections. Quirino retired
from public life to his suburban retreat in Novaliches. He died on
February 28, 1956 from a heart attack.
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