In his homily at the Saint Ferdinand Cathedral Sunday, the bishop of the Diocese of Lucena said he was making the revelation to stop the political bickering arising from the law that would submit to plebiscite the creation of Quezon del Sur and Quezon del Norte.

He claimed that he first brought out the proposal to former senator Wigberto Tañada when the latter paid him a visit in Gumaca in mid 1990's and revealed to the Church leader his intention to seek a congressional seat to represent the Lamon Bay area.

"In my 17 years as bishop of Gumaca, I saw the poor and neglected conditions of the 3rd and 4th districts. I told Bobby [Tañada] to work for the division of the province because it is too long," Marquez said.

Republic Act 9495 creating Quezon del Sur was originally filed by Representatives Tañada (4th District) and Rafael Nantes (1st District) in 1998.

When Tañada was elected to the Senate, the proposal was re-filed in the succeeding Congress by Nantes together with Representatives Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III (4th District), Proceso Alcala (2nd District) and Danilo Suarez (3rd District) until its passage last year.

However, after being elected as governor in 2007 election, Nantes turned around and has opposed the division of the province on grounds that it would disrupt his general plans for the development of Quezon.

Marquez called on the parishioners to vote in favor of creating Quezon del Sur in the upcoming plebiscite scheduled in the latter part of November.

"Let us all vote. It is our obligation. But we should all vote in favor of creating a new province. Let us give the people of 3rd and 4th districts a chance to stand on their own. That's charity," he said.

Marquez also lambasted the claims of those against the Quezon split that no public hearing was conducted during the deliberation of the legislative measure.

"It's a lie," he said.

Marquez, former Gumaca bishop who ministered the affairs of the Catholic Church in the 4th and some parts of the 3rd districts, vividly remembered that on October 28, 2002, a public hearing was conducted, attended by at least five congressmen, one of whom was from Mindanao. He said it was held in a function room of the Gumaca bishop's residence.

"The idea of good government is to bring it closer to the people and this [creating Quezon del Sur] is the best way to do it," Marquez stressed.

Charismatic priest Fr. Joey Faller from Lucban town also declared his approval of the creation of Quezon del Sur province calling it a "new beginning" for the poor people of the province.

"The creation of Quezon del Sur is an opportunity for growth and development especially for the 3rd and 4th districts [of the province]. We should all work together for its success," Faller, founder and spiritual director of Kamay ni Hesus [Hand of Jesus] Healing Church at the foot of Mount Banahaw, said in a phone interview.

Faller said it would be wrong to interpret the creation of Quezon del Sur as "divisive".

"Just like the Church, we should allow the birth of new beginning for the benefit of our people especially the poor and the downtrodden. With the reduced area of responsibility, government officials can better serve their constituents. It is for better management," he explained.

Meanwhile, Infanta Catholic Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, head of the prelature of Infanta in northern Quezon, is set to launch an information campaign to enlighten the people on the pros and cons of the proposed creation of Quezon del Sur.

Fr. Mario O. Establecida, vicar general and chancellor of the prelature, said the bishop instructed him to organize a community forum for October 30 in Infanta town to thoroughly discuss RA 9495.

Asked on his personal stand on the issue, Establecida replied: "I think it [creation of Quezon del Sur] is for better management. This will bring good for the province’s 3rd and 4th districts".

Under RA 9495, the 17 towns in the first and second districts of the province will be known as Quezon del Norte and Lucena City will remain as capital. Quezon del Sur will be composed of 22 towns in the third and fourth districts with the municipality of Gumaca as the capital.