MANUEL L. QUEZON (1878-1944)
                     
                                   "Father of the National Language"

-was the first president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. 

-he was born on August 19, 1878, to Lucio Quezon and Maria Molina, both schoolteachers, in Baler, Tayabas (now Quezon) Province.
 
-was a Filipino statesman, soldier, and 
politician who served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944.

        Manuel L. Quezon's Achievements and Contributions

• first Senate president elected as President of the Philippines

• first president elected through a national election

• first president under the Commonwealth

• created National Council of Education

• initiated women’s suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth

• approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines

• appears on the twenty-peso bill

• a province, a city, a bridge and a university in Manila are named after him

• his body lies within the special monument on Quezon Memorial Circle

                                  

15 Mesmerizing Facts About President Manuel Quezon

By FilipiKnow

Other than the national heroes, perhaps no other figure in Philippine history receives as much reverence as Manuel Quezon. Loved by his supporters, criticized yet begrudgingly admired by his rivals, Quezon undoubtedly stands as a Filipino leader of the highest caliber.

What better way then, as tribute to the first president of the Philippine Commonwealth, than to know more about his life and all (he was human after all). Read on and get to know the man whose name would be forever etched in the annals of Philippine history (along with countless streets and buildings).


15. He was a bright but lazy student.

14. He adopted someone’s name into his own.

13. He made his wife cry with a prank.

12. He was a gifted pianist.

11. He was a brilliant lawyer.

10. He initially refused to learn English.

9. He almost fought two duels…twice. 
 
8. He was a talented card player.

7. He made his own clothes.

6. He was an incorrigible playboy.

5. He paid MacArthur $500,000.
 
4. He tried to secure a neutrality pact with the Japanese.

3. He was a people’s president.

2. He was a bureaucrat’s worst nightmare.

 

1. He was a bonafide statesman.


     Did you know?

                    Manuel Quezon also played a major role in saving more than a thousand Jews.

Even if his rivals criticized him, he does not care at all. And because of his skills, knowledge and his love for our country, those who criticized him also admire him. He made many contributions that helps every Filipino in different ways. He approved Tagalog/Filipino as the national language of the Philippines. And because of that, we understand each other. We can easily express ourselves through our Mother Tongue.And we cannot easily forget Manuel Quezon because his name would be forever etched in the annals of Philippine history (along with countless streets and buildings).

"I would rather have a country run like hell by Filipinos than a county run like heaven by the Americans, because however a bad Filipino government might be, we can always change it."

                                                                                 - Manuel L. Quezon