Don Sergio Osmeña Sr., the first Secretary of the Public Instruction

(Department of Education)

It is noteworthy that the first Secretary of the Public Instruction, precursor of today’s Department of Education, was a Cebuano, he was Cebu’s Grand Old Man, Don Sergio Suico Osmeña Sr.

Appointed by President Manuel Quezon on November 15, 1935 and serving up to April 18, 1939. Osmeña was succeeded by Jorge Bocobo who led the department from April 19, 1939 up to January 22, 1941. Don Sergio came back with the office renamed as the “Public Instruction, Health and Public Welfare” from December24, 1941 to August 1, 1944.

When Don Sergio assumed the presidency on August 1, 1944, he then appointed General Carlos P. Romulo with the office again renamed as the “Public Instruction and Information”, from October 1944 to February 1945.

LETTER OF HIS EXCELLENCY MANUEL L. QUEZON

PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES ON

RESIGNATION OF VICE-PRESIDENT SERGIO OSMEÑA

AS SECRETARY OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

[April 13, 1939]

My dear Vice-President Osmeña:

Agreeably to the suggestion contained in your radiogram of today, I am, with regret, accepting your resignation as Secretary of Public Instruction, which you tendered before your departure for the United States. I realize that your work in Washington may be prolonged indefinitely, and that it is, therefore, necessary to proceed with the appointment of a new Secretary of Public Instruction, in order that the Department will not be without a head for such a long time.

With that high sense of duty which has always marked your public career, you served as Secretary of Public Instruction during the first three years of my administration. You have invested the Department of Public Instruction with that prestige and dignity so essential at the time. By your readiness to serve our people in any capacity whenever called upon to do so, you have made yourself worthy not only of their admiration, but of their lasting gratitude.

I am happy to think that while, on the one hand, the Department of Public Instruction will be deprived of your wise direction, on the other, I shall be able to enlist your services in other equally, if not more important, activities of government.

Again, thanking you for your continued and loyal cooperation, I remain, as ever,

Cordially yours,

(Sgd.) MANUEL L. QUEZON

President of the Philippines