Former Senator Edgardo Angara led Monday’s commemoration of the 135th birth anniversary of President Manuel L. Quezon, citing the “great man from Baler’s” contributions in unifying the country through a national language and the pursuit of social justice.
Despite a heavy downpour, the commemorative ceremonies at the Quezon Memorial Museum pushed through with Mayor Herbert Bautista, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and representatives of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and other city officials joining the rites that were highlighted by a wreath-laying at the late President’s tomb.
Along with Quezon’s relatives, they paid tribute to the “Father of the Philippine National Language” and first president of the Philippine Commonwealth.
In his speech, Angara said it was the late president who laid the firm foundations the country must continue to build on for strong national unity and economic prosperity. He noted that Quezon was a “selfless, generous leader who knew history and did not forget it.”
“The most important of these foundations are social justice so that all can enjoy freedom, and a national language so that we can be a united people,” he added.
Angara, who also hails from Baler, said that Quezon “pushed for our independence, strengthened our sense of nationalism and put meaning to nationhood,” putting flesh and blood on the ideals of the Philippine revolution.
In ensuring that Filipinos enjoy the blessings of their independence, Angara said that Quezon created the national economic planning authority (now the National Economic and Development Authority), Government Service Insurance System, an agrarian reform agency, a national power company and national food agency. The agencies, he said, formed part of Quezon’s legacy for social justice.
Born on Aug. 19, 1878, Quezon died of tuberculosis at the age of 65 on Aug. 1, 1944, while on exile in the United States.