President Quirino's life, works recalled

By Freddie G. Lazaro

VIGAN CITY - The life of the late President Elpidio R. Quirino was remembered in a simple rite on his 121st birth anniversary held at Plaza Salcedo, Vigan City on Wednesday here.

After the reading of the late president’s autobiography, Quirino’s grandson Eddie Quirino and Provincial Board Members JeremiasSingson and Orlino Tesoro led other local officials, students and employees in a floral offering ceremony at the foot of the former president’s statue erected at the Plaza Salcedo.

As part of the observance of the birth anniversary of late President Quirino, the province is declared special non- working holiday every November 16 by virtue of Proclamation No. 1927 dated November 15, 1979 issued by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Similar Quirino Day celebration was held in President’s hometown in Caoayan town led by Mayor Germelina Singson – Goulart. The Quirino Day rite culminated the annual town fiesta of Caoayan town.

Meanwhile, the Saint Paul Metropolitan Cathedral offered a mass for late President Quirino on Wednesday afternoon.

In a press interview, Provincial Board member Singson told that remembering the significant highlights of life and works of late President Quirino drew inspiration among the youths, students and future leaders of the province and nation.

The colorful life story of late President Quirino, who was the 6th President of the Philippine Republic, started when he was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on November 16, 1890. His parents were Don Mariano Quirino of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur and Doña Gregoria Mendoza Rivera of Agoo, La Union. He was a native of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur although he was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

Quirino spent his early years in Aringay, La Union. He studied and graduated his elementary education to his native Caoayan, where he became a barrio teacher. He received secondary education at Vigan High School, and then he went to Manila where he worked as junior computer in the Bureau of Lands and as property clerk in the Manila police department. He graduated from Manila High School in 1911 and also passed the civil service examination, first-grade.

In 1915, Quirino earned his law degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law, and admitted to the bar later that year. After obtaining a law degree from UP, he practiced law until he was elected a member of the Philippine House of Representatives in 1919-1925 and a senator in 1925-1931.

In 1934, he was a member of the Philippine independence mission to Washington, D.C., headed by Manuel Quezon, which secured the passage in Congress of the Tydings-McDuffie Act, setting the date for Philippine Independence as July 4, 1946.

He was also elected to the convention that drafted a constitution for the new Philippine Commonwealth. Subsequently he served as secretary of finance and secretary of the interior in the Commonwealth government.

After World War II, Quirino served as secretary of state and vice president under the first president of the independent Philippines, Manuel Roxas. When Roxas died on April 15, 1948, Quirino succeeded to the presidency.

Quirino assumed the presidency on April 17, 1948, taking his oath of office two days after the death of Manuel Roxas. His first official act as the President was the proclamation of a state mourning throughout the country for Roxas' death. Since Quirino was a widower, his surviving daughter Vicky would serve as the official hostess and perform the functions traditionally ascribed to the First Lady.

The following year, he was elected president for a four-year term on the Liberal Party ticket, defeating the Nacionalista party candidate.

ElpidioQuirino's six years as president were marked by notable postwar reconstruction, general economic gains, and increased economic aid from the United States

The Quirino administration was generally challenged by the Hukbalahaps, who ransacked towns and barrios. Quirino ran for president again in the 1953 presidential elections, but was defeated by Nacionalista bet Ramon Magsaysay.

After his term, he retired to his home in Novaliches, Quezon City, where he died of a heart attack on February 29, 1956.