Manuel L. Quezon was born on August 19, 1878 in Baler. His parents were Lucio Quezon and Maria Molina. He finished Bachelor of Arts at San Juan de Letran. When the Philippine-American War broke out he joined the fight against the Americans. He became lieutenant and later a major under General Tomas Mascarado.
After the war, he took up law at the University of Santo Tomas. He passed the bar on April 16, 1903. He set up his own law office and rendered free legal services to the poor people of Baler. One of his well known cases was his victorious defense of the nationalist writer Aurelio Tolentino who was then charged with sedition. Quezon became a fiscal (prosecutor) in Mindoro, and later was assigned in Tayabas. He was elected governor of Tayabas in 1905, member of the first Philippine assembly in 1907 and became the floor leader. Quezon was the resident commissioner to Washington D.C. from 1909 to 1916. He helped pass the Jones Bill that promised Philippine Independence. Quezon was elected Senator in 1918 and became the President of the first Senate of the Philippines. Through his efforts, the American government passed the Tydings-McDuffie Law that promised independence to the Philippines within the following ten years.
Quezon was elected President of the Philippine Commonwealth on September 17, 1935. He was re-elected resident in 1941. It was during Quezon's term of office that the Pacific war erupted and Japan attacked the Philippines on December 8, 1941. Quezon, together with his family and Cabinet members, and with Gen. Douglas MacArthur evacuated to Australia and later to America.
Manuel L. Quezon married Aurora Aragon on December 14, 1918, they had four children. Sadly, Mrs. Quezon was killed in an ambush by communist guerillas in the 1950s. Quezon died of tuberculosis on August 1, 1944 in a sanitarium in Saranac Lake, New York. He was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. In July 27, 1946, his remains were transferred to the Manila North Cemetery, then finally, at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City.
Manuel L. Quezon was known for his hard hitting speeches, his courageous stand for Philippine independence, and his loyalty to his country. He is considered the father of social justice for his genuine concern for the common people and for the farmers. He fostered programs for land reform. He is also hailed as the Father of the National Language for his insistence to adopt one National Language based on Tagalog. he also supported the women's right to vote.
