Remembering MLQ, one of the greatest

Everytime I am asked to name the five greatest presidents of the Philippines, I would always say Ramon Magsaysay, Sergio Osmeña Sr, Corazon Aquino, Benigno S. Aquino III and Manuel L Quezon, not necessarily in that order of greatness. Today is the 148th birth anniversary of MLQ.

We remember Manuel Luis Quezon as the president who, with our own Don Sergio Osmeña as his BFF and vice president, fought relentlessly for Philippine independence from American colonization. He famously declared: "I prefer a government run like hell by Filipinos to a government run like heaven by Americans." That is precisely what we are getting now, a government run like hell. But we remember MLQ for many other things, most good. He was the best friend of Don Sergio Osmeña, as co-founders of the Nacionalista Party, although at times they also had some falling out.

MLQ supported Don Vicente Rama in making sure that Cebu becomes a city independent of the province. The Osmeñas opposed it as it would mean substantial revenues going out of the provincial control. The Osmeñas were the political titans of the province. Don Vince Rama was becoming the recognized political kingpin of the city of Cebu. With the help of MLQ, Cebu became a city, and later, Rama was appointed by MLQ as city mayor. There were times when MLQ supported local candidates in Cebu against the Osmeña bets. They had their differences, but what united them were stronger than their differences.

Osmeña and MLQ also had differences in the independence movement. But they eventually reconciled until MLQ died in the US on August 1, 1944. Don Sergio then assumed the presidency, although Jose P Laurel was installed by the Japanese as president. Between MLQ and Don Sergio, Quezon was the more aggressive, the more prolific writer and orator. Osmeña was the more laid-back and self-effacing. But when they took the bar exams together, Osmeña got the second highest rating. MLQ was number four. There were less than 20 who took the bar that year.

MLQ was the best friend of Israel. The reason why we Filipinos can enter Israel any time and go out of it at will, without any visa, is because of MLQ. As president, between 1937 to 1941 he championed an "Open Door" policy that welcomed some 1,300 Jewish refugees who were being persecuted by the Nazi's under Adolf Hitler. Against the criticisms of his detractors, MLQ decisively worked with US High Commissioner Paul McNutt and Dwight Eisenhower to grant asylum to the Jews. Today, Israel welcomes the Filipinos and we have no less than 30,000 OFWs working in that progressive thought war-torn country.

During his presidency, Quezon tackled the problem of landless peasants. Other major decisions included the reorganization of the islands' military defense, approval of a recommendation for government reorganization, the promotion of settlement and development in Mindanao, dealing with the foreign stranglehold on Philippine trade and commerce, proposals for land reform, and opposing graft and corruption within the government. MLQ established a Philippine in exile in the US commensurate with the outbreak of the Second World War.

MLQ is an ardent advocate of social justice. He is the father of land reform. He was not corrupt although his weakness was smoking and women and drinking too. He married his cousin, Aurora Aragon. He was born in Baler in the old province of Tayabas, which is now named Quezon province. The land of his birth, baler is now a part of another province, Aurora, named in honor of his wife.

The reason why I chose Quezon, along with Magsaysay, Osmeña, and the two Aquinos is because all of them were not corrupt. They did not declare Martial Law. They did not do any extra-judicial killing. They did not have unpaid real estate taxes. they did not squander public funds nor misuse confidential funds. They served with all their heart and soul. And they did not enrich themselves in office.

Manuel Luis Quezon should be among the top three presidents of the Philippines, if not the greatest of them all.