Remembering President Elpidio R. Quirino on his 56th Death Anniversary

Editorial

MANILA, Philippines — Wednesday we remember President Elpidio R. Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines. He worked hard to fight communism and poverty, restored the faith of the people in the government, and pushed for economic recovery.

Elpidio R. Quirino was born on November 16, 1890, in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, to Mariano Quirino and Gregoria M. Rivera. He received his first schooling from his parents before going to Aringay Elementary School. Later, he studied in a private school in San Fernando, La Union. When his parents returned to Vigan, he continued his studies in the town’s high school and afterwards became a teacher at the Capariaan barrio school in Caoayan. Quirino went to Manila and enrolled at Manila High School, then went on to the University of the Philippines College of Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws in 1915 and passed the bar the same year.

He worked as law clerk in the Philippine Commission and when the Philippine Senate was convened, he became the Secretary of Manuel L. Quezon. He ran for representative of his congressional district in Ilocos Sur in 1919 and won. On January 16, 1921, he married Alicia G. Syquia of Vigan, Ilocos Sur. They went on to have three children but the wife and children fell victims of colonial occupation forces on February 12, 1945. In 1925, Quirino ran for Senator and won. In 1931, he was elected to another six-year term. In 1934, he ran for Delegate to the Constitutional Convention and won easily. Subsequently, he became Secretary of Finance and Secretary of the Interior in the Commonwealth Government. In 1941, Quirino was again elected as Senator.

After the World War II, Quirino won as Vice President of President Manuel A. Roxas. He was appointed concurrent Secretary of Finance and Secretary of Foreign Affairs. When President Roxas passed away in 1948, Quirino assumed the Presidency. The following year’s election, he was elected President. His administration worked on achieving two major goals: Restoration of the faith of the people on government and total economic mobilization. He intensified house-cleaning in the government, supported the establishment of several industrial plants and projects in strategic areas of the country, and implemented programs for the benefit of the poor.

In the 1953 Presidential Election, President Elpidio R. Quirino sought reelection but lost to President Ramon F. Magsaysay. He retired to his new country home in Novaliches until his demise on February 29, 1956. Today, he is remembered for his able leadership which set the country on the road to economic progress.