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.