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. 

Emilio Aguinaldo

Emilio Aguinaldo's Life

Emilio Aguinaldo was born on March 22, 1869 in Kawit (know then as Cavite el viejo), Cavite. His parents were Carlos Aguinaldo y Jamir and Trinidad Famy y Valero.

Emilio Aguinaldo took up early education in his hometown. He later studied bachillereto (high school) at the San Juan de Letran, but never finished the course as he went home to help his widowed  mother manage their family livelihood.

From 1886 to 1895, He was the Cabeza de Barangay in Kawit. In 1895, Emilio Aguinaldo was elected Capitan Municipal of Kawit, and while serving as such, he became a mason and later member of the Katipunan and used the pen name Magdalo (in honor of Kawit's patron saint Magdalene). 

When the revolution began in 1896, Emilio Aguinaldo successfully led the Filipinos against the Spaniards in Cavite. To unite the many groups of the Katipunan under the commandant, an election was held on March 22, 1897 at Tejeros, Cavite and he was elected president of the revolutionary government.

With the growing strength of the Spanish forces, Aguinaldo and his men retreated to Biak-na-bato, San Miguel de Mayumo, Bulacan where they established the Biak-na-Bato Republic.

Finding it hard to continue the war effort, Spanish offered a truce. And as Aguinaldo was also having difficulties continuing the revolutionary struggle, he signed the Pact of Biak-na-Bato with Spain on December 1897, with condition that Aguinaldo and his important officials were exiled to Hong Kong that Spain promised to give amnesty to the rebels and institute reforms in the Philippines, in exchange of surrendered firearms. 

The conditions of the pact, however, were not entirely adhered to by both parties. 

After the American-Spanish was erupted on April 25, 1898, the Americans in Hong Kong created an alliance with Aguinaldo to fight the Spaniards in the Philippines. On May 19, 1898, Aguinaldo was taken back to the Philippines on the American ship, McCullough and he promptly re-started the revolution. 

Aguinaldo declared independence of the Philippines on June 12, 1898 in his house in Kawit, Cavite, unfurling the Philippine flag (which was sew in Hong Kong), while band played the Philippine National Anthem (there were no lyrics yet at that time).

Under the Aguinaldo's presidency, the first Philippine Congress was inaugurated on September 1898. He signed the Philippine Constitution on January 21, 1899. Both events happened at Malolos, Bulacan as they were not  allowed entry in Manila.

The Americans, however, did not recognize the independence of the Philippines as they desired to take control  of the Philippines under the principles of Benevolent Assimilation.

The Filipino-American was erupted in February 1899. The Filipinos fought with courage and won some battles. Through an operation led by Frederick Funston, allegedly with the help of some Filipino soldiers, Aguinaldo was captured by the Americans  on March 23, 1901 at Palanan, Isabela. Aguinaldo pledge loyalty to the Americans on April 1, 1901, after which he was freed and he led a peaceful life in Cavite. 

When the war in the Pacific erupted 1941 and after Japan occupied the Philippines, Aguinaldo was one of those who supported the Japanese government. He never became loyal to the country, he's just using his power for personal and political gains. He ordered assassination of many Filipino soldiers, including Andres Bonifacio, his great rival.

Aguinaldo married Hilaria del Rosario with whom he had five children. He was widowed in 1921. On July 14, 1930, Aguinaldo married Maria Agoncillo. He died on February 6, 1964 at the Memorial Hospital in Quezon City.

What lesson you can learn from Emilio Aguinaldo's talambuhay?

Be loyal. Never exchange your dignity for personal reason. There are many Filipinos who fought and died with dignity. They rather die for the country than to live traitor.