Manuel L.

Quezon
Manuel Quezon was governor of Tayabas province
before being elected a representative in 1907 to the
newly established Philippine Assembly. In 1909
Quezon was appointed resident commissioner for the
Philippines, entitled to speak, but not vote, in the U.S.
House of Representatives; during his years in
Washington, he fought for a speedy grant of
independence by the U.S., which happened in 1935.

Manuel L. Quezon
First term: November 15, 1935-December 30, 1941
Second term: December 30, 1941-August 1, 1944
(term extended on November 15, 1943)

Quezon was reelected president in 1941. After Japan invaded and occupied the
Philippines in 1942, he went to the United States, where he formed a government in exile,
served as a member of the Pacific War Council, signed the declaration of the United
Nations against the Fascist nations, and wrote his autobiography, The Good Fight (1946).
Quezon died of tuberculosis before full Philippine independence was established

I. Politics (Administration)

Manuel Quezons’ Commonwealth administration is a presidential system of

government with unicameral legislature. Filipinos re-elected Quezon, Osmeña, and
legislators to fill seats in the newly created bicameral congress on November 11, 1941.
During his term, from the seven departments existing before his administration he
added two more; the National Defense and Public Welfare.
II. Economics

Manuel L. Quezon made several institutions and programs to attend to the needs
of the economy on his term. Healthy economy is hard to establish back then because
we became independent on U.S. His effort to fix the economy was see on the
Commonwealth Act No. 2 which established the National Economic Council, this act
helps solve social imbalance, land maldistribution, provide land to the landless and
farmers, provide housing and create an employment to the unemployed.

Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce

 Eulogio Rodriguez, (November 15,1935 – 1938)

 Benigno Aquino Sr. ( 1938 – 1941 )
 Rafael Alunan,Sr ( 1941 – 1941)
Secretaries of Finance, Agriculture and Commerce

 Jose Abad Santos (December 26, 1941 – March 26, 1942 )

 Andres Soriano, Sr (March 26, 1942 – July 31, 1944 )

III. Programs (Reforms)

Commonwealth Act No. 1, President Manuel L. Quezon asks for General

McArthur service to devise an effective yet affordable National Defense Plan for the
Philippines. This defense plan was later abolished because 16 Million is not sufficient
enough to fund the act. A compulsory military training for men age 20 in a period of 5 ½
months and pre-military training in high school was enforced. Quezon also push the
standardization of ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) programs in colleges and
universities.

In response to social imbalance and land maldistribution; National Economic

Council as an adviser and Social Justice Program that bought lands and distribute it to
farmers and landless Filipinos. Law also requires a written agreement between
farmers, tenants and landlords to protect citizens from an unfair rent increase. Court of
Industrial Relations was established for the creation of Agricultural and Industrial Bank,
National Land Settlement Administration and National Housing Commission to provide
housing, National Relief Administration for calamities and for finding employment to the
unemployed.

Institute of National Language was established for studying the issue of choosing
the country’s mother tongue; National Council of Education to guide the education
policies, adult education program, for vocational schools, also in charge of the
Education Act of 1940. He also makes Pilipino the national language.

IV. National Issues

Regaining independence is tough battle Filipino face and with Quezon it became
possible. He fought for Philippines to be self-governed, prepared us to be independent
from America and later on lead our country to its full independent government. He tried
to solve problems inherited from Spanish and Americans Administrations, fought graft
and corruption in the country, build up the national defense and strengthen economy
that is dependent on the U.S.

Filipino pays attention on choosing the mother tongue and because of this the
Institute of Nat’l Language was created, he was known as “Ama ng Wikang
Pambansa”.

V. Transnational Issues

Upon the Commonwealth Act No.1 America seems threaten because they held
back weapons and showed lack of support for the defense plan. Still, Quezon aims for
amity and friendship, fairness and square deals in the country’s relations with other
nations, their citizens and subjects.
Pres. Laid down a social justice program focused on purchased of large
haciendas w/c were divided & sold to tenants.
This administration was responsible in establishing the National Rice and
Corn Corp.(NARICC) and public defenders to assist peasants in court
battles of their rights to till the lands. Budget allocation for the settlement
program made it impossible for the program to succeed.
Widespread peasant uprising against abusive landlords continued. In
addition, the outbreak of the world war II put a stopped to the
landownership and tenancy interventions during this period.

The 1935 Philippine constitution, which provided that the ‘promotion of

social justice to ensure the well-being and economic security of all people
should be the concern of the state’

Commonwealth Act no. 178 (An amendment of Rice Tenancy Act

No.4045 passed on November 13, 1936), which provided for certain
controls in the landlord-tenant relationship.

Commonwealth Act No. 461,1937, which specified the reason for the
dismissal of tenants and only with the approval of the Tenancy Division of
the Department of Justice.

Rural Program Administration created on March 2, 1939 ,which

provided for the purchase and lease of haciendas and their sale and lease
to the tenants.

Commonwealth Act No. 441 enacted on une 3, 1939, which created the
National Settlement Administration with a capital stock of P20,000,000.
 Manuel Acuña Roxas 
Manuel Acuña Roxas (January 1, 1892 – April
15, 1948) was the fifth President of the
Philippines, the last of the Commonwealth of the
Philippines and the first of the sovereign Third
Philippine Republic. He ruled as President from
the Philippines' independence from the United
States of America on 4 July 1946 until his abrupt
death in 1948.

Manuel Roxas
First term: May 28, 1946 – July 4, 1946
Second term: July 4, 1946 – April 15, 1948

I. Politics (Administration)

Prior to the Philippine national elections of 1946, at the height of the last

Commonwealth elections, Roxas became Liberal Party’s candidate for President. The
Nacionalistas, on the other hand, had Osmeña for President. Osmeña refused to
campaign, saying that the Filipino people knew his reputation. On the April 23, 1946,
Roxas won 54 percent of the vote, and the Liberal Party won a majority in the
legislature.

II. Economics

Since the country was severely damaged by the war, the economy was
struggling because of low output growth and high unemployment rates. Production
became low because farms and factories were ruined. Unemployment rates were rising
at a fast pace; because businesses were closing, there were no more jobs available for
people. The reconstruction cost of these buildings reached 126 million pesos. Also,
there was an annual lack of budget of about 200 million pesos. 

Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 Mariano Garchitorena (1947 – April 15, 1948 )

III. Programs (Reforms)

The approval of the Bell Trade Act (The Philippine Rehabilitation Act and the
Philippine Trade Act); the US congress offered 800 million dollars as rehabilitation
money in exchange of this. The act states that U.S. citizens and corporations were
granted equal access to the natural resources of the country. Treaty of General
Relations recognizing Philippine independence as of July 4, 1946 includes
establishment of US bases and hand over American sovereignty over the Philippines.

Laurel granted a General Amnesty to the guerrillas imprisoned during World War
II and to those arrested for conspiring with Japan.

IV. National Issues

Although Roxas was successful in obtaining rehabilitation funds from America to

repair what has been destroyed in the Philippines, he was still criticized for his approval
to the Bell Trade Act. Graft and corruption did not stop in the government. moreover,
the abuses of the provincial military police contributed to the rise of the left-
wing Hukbalahap (Huk) movement in the countryside. Scandals such as the surplus war
property scandal, school supplies scandal and Chinese immigration scandals
appeared during his time. His heavy-handed attempts to crush the Huks led to
widespread peasant disaffection. Roxas died in office in 1948 and was succeeded by his
vice president, Elpidio Quirino.
 People were infuriated at Roxas to the point that there were plans of
assassinating him. Fortunately for the former president, he escaped an attempted
murder by a Tondo barber, Julio Guillen, who threw a grenade on the platform at Plaza
Miranda after the President addressed the rally of citizens.

 Main Problem of Roxas Administration was the HUKBALAHAP, tried to make peace
with the HUKBALAHAP but the members did not mind Roxas but instead they became
angrier.  The HUKBALAHAP continued to destroyed properties of Masses 

- The citizens felt that he surrendered that country's freedom to the Americans because
of the revisions in the Philippine constitution.  The new law gave parity rights to the
Americans in exchanged for rehabilitation money to fix the country.  People were
aggravated because most of his policies were dictated by General Mac Arthur and
Commissioner Paul Mc.Nutt

V. Transnational Issues

World War II paralyzed the whole country; its effect is excessive that $ 800
million is needed for the recovery of the Philippines. However, the president managed
to find a resource for this amount.

One criticism in Roxas’ administration is his friendship with the Americans. He

was too close to them to the point that he allowed US military bases in the country,
permitted trade restrictions for Filipinos, and gave special privileges for US property
owners and investors.

Republic act no. 34 was enacted to establish a 70-30 sharing arrangement

between tenant and landlord. The 70% of the harvest will go to the person who
shouldered the expenses for planting, harvesting and for the work animals.
Republic Act no. 55, which provided for a more effective safeguard against
arbitrary ejectment of tenants
Pres. Roxas negotiated for the purchase of 8,000 hectares of lands in batangas
owned by the ayala-zobel family. These were sold to landless farmers. However,
due to the lack of support facilities, these farmers were forced to resell their lands
to the landowning class. This failure gave basis to doubt the real meaning of the
land reform program.
 Elpidio Rivera Quirino
Elpidio Rivera Quirino (November 16, 1890
– February 29, 1956) was a Filipino politician, and the
sixth President of the Philippines. A lawyer by
profession, Quirino entered politics when he became
a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925.
After the war, Quirino was elected vice-president
in 1946 election, after the death of the incumbent
president Manuel Roxas in 1948, he succeeded the
presidency.  1949 presidential election, he won the
president's office under Liberal Party. After his term,
he retired to his new country home in Novaliches,
Quezon City, where he died of a heart attack on
Elpidio Quirino
February 29,17,1956
First term: April .
1948-December 30,
1949 (succeeded)
Second term: December 30,1949-
December 30, 1953 (elected)

I. Politics (Administration)
Elpidio Quirino's six years as president were marked by notable postwar
reconstruction, general economic gains, and increased economic aid from the United
States. Basic social problems, however, particularly in the rural areas, remained
unsolved, and his administration was tainted by widespread graft and corruption.

II. Economics

The Philippines in Quirino’s term is still undergoing reconstruction of the

damages from the war. Economy is not in great shape. Unemployment from the
previous government is one of the main problem his administration faces. The country
is struggling a high inflation rate and Quirino’s solution to this is to increase the wages
of the people so that purchasing and producing will be balanced.
 Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources

 Mariano Garchitorena (April 15, 1948 – September 1948)

 Placido L. Mapa (September 21, 1948 – 1950)
 Fernando Lopez (December 4, 1950 – 1953 )
 Placido L. Mapa ( 1953 – 1953 )

III. Programs (Reforms)

He establish PACSA (President’s Action Committee on Social Amelioration),

ACCFA (Agricultural Credit Cooperatives Financing Administration), Labor
Management Advisory Board, and the Rural Banks of the Philippines to fix the
economy of his administration. He also set up the Central Bank and Rural banking.

His second objective was to restore the faith and confidence of the people in the
government body of the Philippines. To do this, he revived former president Quezon’s
“fireside chats” which updated the people about the government via live radio
broadcast from the Malacanang palace.

He also concluded peace with Japan and granted amnesty to HUKBALAHAP

members on June 21, 1948. In his efforts he achieved many of his goals including;
industrial ventures heightened, irrigation improved, and the road system developed.

IV. National Issues

Quirino’s administration was bombarded with controversies. The major

controversy surrounding his governance was his bid for a second term in office in
1949. The elections wherein Quirino won was believed to be the most corrupt. He was
also the first president to undergo an impeachment trial because he allegedly
purchased a very expensive Golden Orinola using government money. Issues within
the government make people despise Quirino.
V. Transnational Issues

Philippines is not ideal for business in this time, it is evident that Americans were
gradually decreasing their business. This causes unemployment rates to go higher
together with other national problems the country’s economy is weakened.

Through Executive Order No. 355 issued on October 23, 1950,which replaced
the National Land Settlement Administration with Land Settlement
Development Corporation (LASEDECO), which took over the responsibilities of
the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn
Production Administration.
was established to accelerate and expand the peasant resettlement program of
the government. However, due to limited post-war resources, the program was
not successful.

ADMINISTRATION

•Upon assuming the office of presidency, Quirino presented his plan for a better
government. His agenda is centered on two main objectives:
•Unity among the Filipinos through the establishment of peace and
order
•Maintenance of the people’s faith in the efficiency and sincerity of
the government
•The Quirino administration also paid attention to the growth of the
economy through the process called industrialization

ACHIEVEMENTS
•Passed the economic mobilization program in industrializing the country
through the opening of some industries
•Increased economic aid from the United States 
•Established the Central Bank of the Philippines in order to stabilize the
currency of our country
•Created the president’s action committee on social
amelioration to alleviate the life condition of the poorespecially in the rural
areas
•Established the hydroelectric project in Lanao and the Burgos irrigation
project in Zambales
POST-PRESIDENCY

•Much as he tried to become a good president, Quirino failed to win the people's
affection. Several factors caused the unpopularity of his administration, namely:

•Unabated rampage of graft and corruption in his government, as revealed in

the Tambobong Buenavista scandal, the Import Control Anomalies, the
Caledonia Pile Mess and the Textbook Racket;
•Wasteful spending of the people's money in extravagant junkets abroad;
•Failure of government to check the Huk menace which made travel inthe
provinces unsafe, as evidenced by the killing of former FirstLady Aurora Quezon
and her companions on April 21, 1949 by the Huks on the Bongabong-Baler road,
Baler, Tayabas
•Economic distress of the times, aggravated by rising unemployment rate,
soaring prices of commodities, and unfavorable balance of trade. Quirino's
vaunted "Total Economic Mobilization Policy" failed to give economic relief to the
suffering nation.