SOPHIA LOUISSE REOTUTAR                       10-MARTINELLI

ELPIDIO QUIRINO

On November 16, 1890, Elpidio Quirino, one of the most illustrious sons of Ilocos Sur who became the sixth president of the Philippines, was born on in the town of Vigan. He was the third of the nine children of Mariano Quirino and Gregoria Rivera.

Quirino received his first formal education in the private school of Maestro Anastacio Aquino of Aringay, La Union. Later he studied at the Aringay Public School, the San Fernando Provincial School, and the Vigan High School for one year. In 1908 he enrolled in the Manila High School, graduating in 1911. In 1915, he obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree from the the University of the Philippines and passed the bar examination in the same year.

Quirino entered the political arena in 1919, when he was elected representative from the first District of Ilocos Sur. In 1925, he was elected senator from the first Senatorial district, and was re-elected in 1931. In 1934, Governor-General Frank Murphy appointed him as secretary of finance, and in 1935 he became the first secretary of finance under the Commonwealth Government.

In 1936 he was appointed secretary of the interior; and in 1941 he was elected senator-at-large. In 1945, he was elected president protempore of the senate. Before the establishment of the Commonwealth, Quirino was chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Taxation, the committees on rules, accounts, election and privileges, and public instruction; and was senate majority floor leader. He was a ranking member of the last independence mission which secured the passage of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in 1934; and an influential member of the Constitutional Convention.

Quirino was inducted into office as Vice-president of the Commonwealth on May 28, 1946, and was appointed secretary of finance by President Roxas on the same day. On July 4, 1946 he became Vice-President of the Republic of the Philippines, and on July 6, 1946 was appointed secretary of foreign affairs

Quirino first assumed the presidency on April 17, 1948, taking his oath of office two days after the death of President Manuel Roxas. The following year, he ran under the Liberal Party and was elected to a new four-year term as Philippine president. Quirino’s presidency was marked by notable post-war reconstruction, general economic gains and increased economic aid from the United States. Diplomacy was his forte, though. He impressed world leaders when he was able to negotiate accords with other nations of the free world as well as discussed peace and security plaguing Asia.

His administration's major goals included economic reconstruction focused on mitigating indigent families' suffering and assistance to farmers so they could market their produce and be protected from loan sharks. His administration also worked on strengthening the Philippine rural banking system to facilitate credit utilities in the countryside.

The country's central bank commenced operation during his administration.

In line with his policy of bringing the government closer to the people, Quirino revived former President Manuel L. Quezon's fireside chats. Through periodic radio broadcasts from Malacanang, he informed the people about government's activities. After being in the public eye for years, Quirino returned to private life following his defeat to President Ramon Magsaysay in the November 1953 elections. He settled at his then countryside home overlooking the scenic La Mesa Dam in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Elpidio Quirino married Alicia Syquia on January 16, 1921, with whom he had five children. He lost his wife and three of his children in the massacre of South Manila during February, 1945. Two children, Tomas and Victoria, survive.

Quirino died of heart attack on February 29, 1956 at age 65.

Source:

1. Philippine News Agency archives
2. American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines XXXII Number 4, July 1946.