SECOND PRESIDENT of an INDEPENDENT PHILIPPINES Elpidio Rivera Quirino (1890 – 1956)
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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR “COUSINS” … SECOND PRESIDENT OF AN INDEPENDENT PHILIPPINES Elpidio Rivera Quirino (1890 – 1956) — Bradley Rymph Born during the closing years of Spanish was also the husband of Alicia Jimenez colonialism of the Philippines, an advocate for Syquia, third cousin, one time removed, of Filipino independence during the U.S. José Verzosa Baquiran III. colonialism of the early 20th century, an uncompromising resister to Japanese Quirino was born in the historic town of occupation during World War II, and the first Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on November 16, 1890. His Vice President and second President of the father was a warden in a provincial jail. After independent, post-war Philippines — each of attending elementary school in the town of these describes Elpidio Rivera Quirino. He Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, near Vigan, Elpidio Quirino began his high school studies at Visits to Sites Associated with Elpidio Quirino: Vigan High School. While still a student there, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines (with Jose Verzosa he began working as a barrio (rural village) Baquiran III): teacher. While still a student, he moved to February 23, 2000 Manila and graduated from Manila High October 17–18, 2015 School in 1911. Text © 2015 by Bradley B. Rymph “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANCESTORS …” HOME PAGE: http://www.bradleyrymph.com Portrait and photograph of Alicia Jimenez Syquia, wife of Elpidio Quirino As a senator during the U.S. occupation of the Philippines, he began his dedicated efforts to secure full independence for the Philippines. In 1934, he was a member of the Philippine Independence mission to Washington, D.C. As part of that mission, Quirino helped secure passage by the U.S. Congress in 1935 of the Tydings-McDuffie Act (officially, the Philippine Independence Act), which set the terms for Filipino independence. The law established the “Commonwealth of the Philippines” and stipulated that the Philippines would receive full independence from the United States after a period of 10 years — i.e., on July 4, 1946. (The law also set limits on Filipino immigration to the United States.) Upon graduating from high school, Quirino passed the Filipino civil service exam. He Back in the Philippines, Quirino was elected enrolled in law school at the University of the to a commission that drafted a constitution Philippines, from which he graduated in for the Philippines, which was approved in 1915. May 1935. During the transitional Commonwealth government, he served as Shortly after finishing law school, Quirino Secretary of Finance and as Secretary of the began his almost lifelong service in the Interior. government of the Philippines. He first served as secretary to the president of the In April 1942, Japanese imperial forces drove Philippines Senate, Manuel Quezon. In 1919, the Americans from the Philippines and he was elected to the Philippines House of dissolved the islands’ Commonwealth Representatives. government. On October 14, 1943, the Japanese established their own puppet On January 6, 1921, Quirino married Alicia government of the Philippines (now officially Syquia. known as the Second Philippine Republic). In 1925, Quirino was elected to the Quirino refused to be part of the puppet Philippines Senate. Once there, he was government. Instead, he went into hiding quickly given appointments on multiple from the Japanese, along with his wife (Alicia Senate committees. He was reelected to the Syquia Quirino) and children. Quirino was Senate in 1931. eventually captured by the Japanese forces HOW WE’RE RELATED Justo Valerio Angco = Juana Resurrecion (12/18/1799 – 3/16/1847) (6/21/1801 – 9/13/1881) ▼ ▼ Lorenzo Verzosa = Susana Angco Justo Angco = Filomena Filar de la Cruz (11/14/1831 – 3/29/1881) (8/11/1834 – 10/11/1865) (? – 5/19/1896) (10/22/1838 – 12/9/1898) ▼ ▼ Crispulo Verzosa Dolores de la Pena = Gregorio Syquia = Estefania Angco (? – 7/20/1898) (3/22/1861 – 6/15/1908) (? – ?) (8/3/1857 – 2/1/1913) ▼ ▼ José Leon Verzosa Concepcion Foz = Thomas Angco Syquia = Concepcion Jimenez (2/20/1887 – 9/2/1948) (? – ?) (9/18/1878 – 7/8/1919) (? – ?) ▼ ▼ Francisco Malabad Baquiran Luisa Foz Verzosa = Elpidio Rivera Quirino = Alicia Jimenez Syquia (12/3/1924 – 11/7/1976) (10/11/1921 – 4/28/2016) (11/16/1890 – 2/29/1956) (c. 1900 – 2/1945) ▼ Alicia Jimenez Syquia (wife of Elpedia Rivera Bradley Budd Rymph = José Verzosa Baquiran III (living) (living) Quirino) was the third cousin, one time re- moved, of José Verzosa Baquiran III. and imprisoned. Then, in early 1945, during a son, and two daughters were killed by the the Battle of Manila (which drove the Japanese as they were fleeing their home. Japanese from Manila), Alicia Syquia Quirino, World War I U.S. draft- registration card of Elpidio Quirino THE SYQUIA MANSION OF ELPIDIO QUIRINO The Vigan mansion that served as the home of Elpidio Quirino was actually the ancestral residence of Quirino’s wife, Alicia Jimenez Syquia. Officially known as the “Angco-Syquia- Quirino Mansion,” the house now serves as a de facto memorial library to Quirino’s presidency. The mansion was built in 1830 by Justo Angco (? ‒ 1896), who was the brother of Susana Angco Verzosa (1834 ‒ 1865), great-great-grandmother of José Verzosa Baquiran III. When Justo Angco’s daughter Estefania married Gregorio R. Syquia in 1875. Syquia was a prominent official in Vigan during the late Spanish colonial period. The house eventually passed from Gregorio and Estefania to their son, Tomas Syquia — and then from Tomas to his daughter, Alicia Jimenez Syquia. When Alicia was killed by Japanese forces in 1945, ownership of the mansion passed to Quirino. After the war’s conclusion, with the U.S.- As had been pledged in the Tydings-McDuffie occupation Commonwealth government back Act, the Philippines finally achieved its full in place, Quirino became active in national independence on July 4, 1946. Roxas preparations for the islands’ full national became the first President of the “Third independence. He became leader of the Philippine Republic,” and Quirino became the island’s majority Liberal Party and was first Vice President. elected President Pro Tempore of the Senate. In April 1946, Manuel Roxas was elected as On April 15, 1948, President Roxas died the final President of the Commonwealth, unexpectedly in office after suffering a heart and Quirino was elected Vice President. attach. Two days later, Quirino was sworn into office as the second President of a fully Defense. Despite this move, Quirino did not independent Philippines. act as aggressively against the Huks as his opponents believed was necessary, and As the new President, Quirino had two Filipino nationalists accused Quirino of primary goals: national reconstruction after placing American interests over Filipino World War II’s utter devastation, and needs. In addition, Quirino faced continued restoring the faith and confidence of the charges of corruption. Filipino people in their government. Accomplishing the second of these goals was Quirino ran for reelection in 1953, despite a particular challenge. Members of the rival the fact that he was in poor health. Nationalist Party soon attempted to impeach Magsaysay angrily resigned as Quirino’s Quirino, accusing him of charges ranging Secretary of Defense, in protest against from nepotism to misappropriation of funds. Quirino’s alleged corruption, and instead ran After several months, Quirino was for President against Quirino. exonerated of all charges, and the impeachment attempt failed. Quirino was defeated by Magsaysay in the 1953 election. Quirino retired to private life. In November 1949, Quirino was elected to a He died a few years later, on February 29, second term as President, although the 1956, after suffering a heart attack. election was marred with charges of election fraud and intimidation. TO LEARN MORE During his second term, Quirino attempted to Biography.com. “Elpidio Quirino.” A&E improve the Philippines’ social, economic, Television Network. (http:// and agrarian conditions. He established www.biography.com/people/elpidio- diplomatic relations with Western and Asian quirino-37511) countries. Importantly, he faced serious Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Elpidio insurrection challenges from the Communist- Quirino.” (http://www.britannica.com/ led Hukbalahap (Huk) movement. In an biography/Elpidio-Quirino). attempt to suppress the rebels, he appointed Ramon Magsaysay as national Secretary of 2015-10-18 .