Ramon Magsaysay: The Champion Of The Masses

Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay

From being a skillful mechanic—-inspired by a blacksmith shop put up by his father—-to being a Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine Archipelago. Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay—the first President to institutionalize wearing of Barong Tagalog during presidential inauguration— was born on August 31, 1907, to a businessman and resigned teacher Exequiel Magsaysay and sari-sari store entrepreneur Perfecta Magsaysay.

As a teenage boy, he primarily took up pre law course and then shifted to the College of Engineering in the University of the Philippines, but later changed course anew due to health reason. Finally, he finished his commerce degree in Jose Rizal College in 1931.

As a natural tinker, he developed his skills in mechanic in a smithy his father founded.The Ford Model T Car (Tin Lizzie) which the Magsaysay family bought became the capital and impetus of Magsaysay to strive hard and help his parents in earning moola. Because of this car, young Magsaysay became inclined in selling fish and mechanical work to earn a living.

Prior to earning a degree in commerce, Magsaysay already had a job from a giant transportation known as Try-Tran Bus Company. His adroitness in mechanical works astonished his employer and made him shop superintendent after a couple of months and later a branch manager in his province.

The ineptness of bus employees was no match to adeptness shown by Magsaysay not only in mechanical work but also to handling crisis within the cash-strapped bus company. He mediated between striking workers and the company during his tenure and reformed the bus company management.

Luz Banzon and Ramon Magsaysay

Not long after, he met Luz Banzon accidentally during the latter’s visitation to the company to collect proceeds sold by her family to Teodoro R. Yangco’s bus company: Try-Tran. Young Magsaysay fell in love with the 8 years-younger girl from Bataan and the couple married on June 10, 1933.

During the outbreak of World War II, Magsaysay became a guerilla and formed Zambales Guerillas under the nom de guerre “Chow.” He was assigned as a supply officer by catering for the survival of the underground forces in World War II.  Not long after he was promoted to Captain. Magsaysay was once again catapulted to a higher echelon with the rank of Major under the watch of Col. Merrill. After the arrival of American liberation forces in Zambales and upon the recommendation of Col. Merrill, Magsaysay was appointed Military Governor of Zambales in recognition of his untarnished credential as a freedom fighter. He only served as a Military Governor of Zambales for two months owing to increasing assertion of the enemy within the province. During his stint as a ephemeral Governor, he initiated peace and order and attended to the food security of the natives most especially negritoes and likewise to fellow war veterans.

After the war, in 1946, his fellow war veterans and then Senate President Manuel Roxas urged him to run as Congressman. Because of overwhelming support from his colleagues, Magsaysay ran and won decisively over his political rival—considered as the biggest lead ever recorded in the history of politics in Zambales Province.

When President Manuel A. Roxas became the President of the Philippines, he immediately sought the help of the Committee on Guerilla Affairs Chairman Magsaysay to lead the contingent in the United States for the approval of the Rogers Veterans Bill seeking for urgent and considerable benefits for Philippine war veterans that later led to the establishment of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City after the President and Congress of the United States had affirmed allocation.

As a Congressman, he authored several bills that became laws: pensions of war widows and their children; appropriation for the construction of irrigation systems; and the creation of Bureau of Agricultural Extension.

Magsaysay as Defense Secretary

Ramon Magsaysay was appointed as defense secretary by none other than President Elpidio Quirino in September 1950 because of his strong inclination in politics and adamancy and upon the recommendation of Speaker Eugenio Perez.

As a defense secretary, he organized the entire Armed Forces and Philippine Constabulary by reshuffling officers in the ranks and axing erring military personnel. He also made a random visitation in barracks and other military installation.

Communist Rebel

With the favorable outcome against mavericks like Huks—led by Luis Taruc— and Politburo, Magsaysay attributed the triumph to the generosity of the government which doubled the appropriation for the campaign against dissident and lawless elements for their immediate capture. The said appropriation was meant for the support and rehabilitation of surrendering dissidents and monetary rewards for the incarceration of Communist leaders.

Also, under his tutelage as defense secretary, Magsaysay was acclaimed by the Philippine Free Press as Man of the year for making the election in 1951 orderly and peaceful.

His unparalleled achievement as a defense secretary and Communist fighter made the United States of America government published US postage stamps bearing his name and bust image with a title “Freedom Fighter.”

The stalwart Magasayay luckily survived and won his bid for reelection as Congressman of his province in 1949—dubbed as the dirty election.  He remained his post as Chairman of the House National Defense Committee after reelection.

After the threat of communism was pacified in 1953, Magsaysay was urged to run for the highest post in the country by his peers for the continuity of his vision as a freedom fighter.  

On February 28, 1953, he bequeathed the position as defense secretary of President Quirino.

Knowing Magsaysay’s numerous achievements as a Congressman and as a defense secretary, the opposition nominated him as the Nacionalista Party standard bearer for President in 1953.  

His unprecedented and decisive win against his rival, former President Quirino made him the 7^th President of the Republic of the Philippines in 1953. During his inauguration, he led the wearing of Barong Tagalog---the first president ever to wear locally handmade apparel in a presidential inauguration.

President's inauguration in 1953

During his presidency, he transformed Malacañan Palace as the house of the people. So, during that time, people from all walks of life made the palace a picnic hub.

On the other hand, his stringent “Asia for Asians Policy” under his behest was strongly opposed by his former ally Claro M. Recto stating that the policy would jeopardize the good relationship between the United States and the Philippines. Magsasaysay later clarified that there was no incompatibility with regard to his local policy and American policy. 

Also, on April 25, 1956, under Magsaysay's watch, Aklan was separated from the Province of Capiz by virtue of Republic Act No. 1414.

A walk in Malacañan. Bahay Pangarap at the background

The last minute of Magsaysay

However, in the wee hours of March 17, 1957 after the President’s speaking engagement in Cebu, the Presidential plane “Mt. Pinatubo” (aka Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota) which the President and his entourage were aboard, was reportedly missing minutes after it took off from Lahug Airport in Cebu. Later that afternoon of the same day, the nation was stunned after the plane was found at the crash site at Mt. Manunggal, Balamban, Cebu.  Of the 26 people, only Nestor Mata—a newspaperman— survived this tragic air accident. Until now, his untimely death was allegedly doubted by some people as connivance between influential political figures. 

Family Magsaysay

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Story Behind The Defunct Berlin Wall

On August 13, 1961, a memorable date to remember, East and West Germany started to be separated by an infamous barrier known in the history as the Berlin Wall. 

The rampart was erected by German Democratic Republic of East Germany. Generally, the wall served as a deterrent from possible emigration of the people therein to the neighboring Federal Republic of Germany or West Germany amidst looming tension against communism after World War II.

Aside from Berlin Wall, an "Inner German Border"--longest and fortified bulwark ever built then--was constructed earlier (1 July 1945) by Western Bloc to materialize Winston Churchill's demonstration of "Iron Curtain" that separated countries in the Communist Bloc such as East Germany and Soviet from the world during Cold War. Unperturbed about the ostracism of the Western Bloc or Capitalist Bloc, the incorrigible Red Army (Russian National Military Forces) still continued to grow their sphere of influence and invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968.

Berlin Wall was known to East Germany as Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart while the West dubbed it as the Wall Of Shame.

However, in 1989, after 28 years of cold relationship between the said countries, the wall was torn down to pave the way for peaceful reconciliatory effort and unity after East Germany's regime started to weaken.The total destruction of the wall and reconciliation were formally started a year after.

Manuel Luis Quezon: The Architect of the Commonwealth Government and the Modern Society

President Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina

August is a memorable month on which we commemorate both the birth and demise of former President Manuel Luis Quezon including his achievement as an architect of the Philippine Commonwealth Government and the modern society. At the same time, through his ingenuity, we celebrate national language or "Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa" yearly.

The term  of Manuel Quezon as the second President of the first Philippine Republic and as the first and last President of the Second Philippine Republic under Commonwealth Government  was a good start towards achieving real independence from United States of America. His legacy and persistence towards achieving full independence against our colonizer have created an indelible mark in our history. So to summarize his achievement without any other formalities during his heyday, a short biographical report to his struggle and achievement as a notable congressman and distinguished statesman of the Republic of the Philippines is hereby compiled for the knowledge of the masses.
It all started when Quezon defended our sovereignty and independence through Tydings-McDuffie Act that contravened Roxas and Osmeña's Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act which allows US Military bases here in the Philippines.  By this Tydings-McDuffie Act (Philippine Independence Act) which was signed on March 24, 1934, Quezon successfully won his claim of true independence with the eradication of US Military Bases in the archipelago after the transition period.

Also, Filipinos during this time—transition period—were given a voice and Filipino women were given a chance and right to suffrage for the very first time on April 30, 1937. He also standardized the language of the Philippines to break language barriers between regions. In addition, Quezon earnestly tried to manage fiscal matters through implementation of taxes for government projects and established an agency that would monitor business enterprises. He also assured that justice must be served to the public without disparity and lead the creation of Court of Appeals. As a gesture of empathy with co-government workers, Quezon established Government Service Insurance System to cater for their welfare. During his brief stint as President of the Commonwealth, he abolished free-trade so that it could levy exporters and importers of the trading. However, problems with exportation interrupted Quezon’s vision of fiscal independence as the shipping lines going to Europe and other parts of the world were delayed and detoured to war-stricken countries to bring relief in the outbreak of Sino-Japanese War in 1937 that followed by European conflict, that includes Germany and Italy,in 1939. Thus, Quezon sought the help of the National Assembly and Quezon was immediately given emergency powers to contain the problem hounding the economy then. This emergency power was acceded by President Roosevelt despite looming disagreement with a High Commissioner of the Commonwealth Government. Quezon was the first president who was given emergency powers in battling crisis for national security.

The Sino-Japanese War resulted to migration of Chinese and Japanese refugees in the Philippines. Later, this refugees became a threat to economy as leaders in retail trading. So, immigration act was put to law so to limit the influx of foreign traders in the country  and National Rice and Corn Corporation (NFA today) was established to prevent  traders from rigging the distribution and prices of common commodities such as rice and corn.  

President Manuel Quezon also suggested to change the form of government from then Unicameral to Bicameral.  During his term also, Quezon amended the term of president from six years to four years with reelection under 1935 Constitution. However, after EDSA revolution (People Power 1),  the term was reverted to 6 years banning the president for reelection.

Prominent laws, institution, agencies and practice which consummate Quezon pioneered, established and amended, as follows:

ü  Prioritized the national defense act by strengthening the country’s capability to resist foreign intrusion. Through this act,  the implementation of reserved corps— e.g. CAT and ROTC—was founded.

ü  Established Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)with the help of National Assembly.

ü  Eight –hour work hour was implemented and benchmarked minimum wage P1.20 per day in urban areas and P1.00 for rural areas in his time.

ü  Created the Institute of National Language and later declared “Tagalog” as the national language of the Philippines.

ü  Created Court of Appeals

ü  Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) was also established to cater for the welfare of government workers.

ü  First census for Filipinos was conducted and right to suffrage for women was recognized and practiced.

ü  During his time when free trade was abolished.

ü   To watch over foreign traders like China from manipulating the prices of common commodities like rice, National Rice and Corn Corporation (now known as NFA) was established. 

ü  Due to increasing presence of Japanese and Chinese retail traders after Sino-Japanese war, Immigration act was put to law to limit the entry of foreigners to 500 per year.

ü  Amended the term of president from 6 years to four-years with reelection. However, this term was revised under the 1987 Philippine Constitution reverting the term of President to six years without reelection.

A glimpse of former President Manuel Luis Molina Quezon's interment

On August 4, 1944 or 3 days after his demise, President Quezon's corpse was temporarily interred—via caisson that was hauled by six horses—at Maine Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.

Quezon's interment in 1947 in North Cemetery in Manila was considered as the first Presidential burial in the nation's history. In 1979, his remains were re-interred at Quezon City Memorial Circle followed by his wife's remains in 2005.

Reason Why Japanese Surrendered In World War II

 On August 6, 1945, the United States Armed Forces attacked and bombed Hiroshima killing nearly 166,000 citizens that was immediately followed by another round of bombing 3 days thereafter in Nagasaki killing more or less 246,000 citizens that prompted Japanese Imperial Forces to surrender unconditionally through Potsdam Declaration. The first Atomic Bomb was nicknamed "Little Boy" referring to then United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The said launch was premeditated in the island of Tinian (an island in the Pacific)—aka "Destination." Tinian Island was the ideal launching and strategic point of Americans to attack Japanese considering its proximity (1,500 miles) to south of Japan.

The second atomic bomb (nicknamed Fat Boy referring to then Prime Minister Winston Churchill) was launched by  B-29 Superfortress bomber or Enola Gay—named after the pilot's mother—on August 9, 1945 which was originally intended in the ancient castle town of Kokura, Japan. However, due to billowing clouds, the operation was diverted in Nagasaki, Japan and the rest is history.

The unconditional and formal surrender of the Japanese Imperial Forces happened in USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. Armada of British Troops was also present in the said ceremony.