President Quezon’s timeless words
THE VIEW FROM RIZAL
Earlier generations of political leaders and personalities had a long-running joke about a quote attributed to the late President Manuel Luis Quezon.
The first President of the Philippine Commonwealth is quoted as having said this famous line: “I would rather have a government run like hell by Filipinos than a government run like heaven by Americans.”
The joke among the said political circles was, “Quezon, indeed, got his wish.”
That punchline was almost always followed by laughs. This is self-deprecating humor at its best. The joke was not on the late President Quezon whose birthday was marked by an eternally grateful nation last Monday. The humor was intended to be a reminder to all of us that we still have a lot of work to do – that our system of government and style of governance are works in progress.
The fact is that President Quezon made statements that served as a guide to many who dreamed of serving our nation.
Here are some of the most memorable MLQ lines.
He said, “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.”
We asked our elders in Rizal province regarding the background of these famous words. We were told that President Quezon uttered these words in the face of a worsening internal rift in the Nacionalista Party in the very early 1920s. According to their story, President Quezon’s long-time political alliance with the group of the late President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. was about to come to an end due to major differences.
Before a large crowd of cheering supporters, President Quezon said, “When one is convinced that conduct of a party is no longer in consonance with the will of the people and does not respect the demands of public opinion, then no member is under any obligation to remain in that party.”
He, then, declared in a loud orator’s voice: “My loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins.” These words were followed by a loud ovation from an adoring crowd of fellow Filipinos.
Since then, the famous quotation has served as a constant reminder that we all need to establish a so-called “hierarchy of loyalty.” “Loyalty” is a cherished value. We admire people who possess and practice it. We are wary of those who are bereft of the capacity for it. We are also suspicious about the notion of “misplaced” loyalties. President Quezon left us a lasting tool to determine if our loyalties are in the right place.
In a speech during his presidency, MLQ delivered another classic line that has become part of immortal quotes attributed to him.
He said, “I want our people to be like a Molave tree, strong and resilient, standing on the hillsides, unafraid of the rising tide, lightning, and the storm, confident of its strength.”
President Quezon could not have chosen a better comparison. It appears the Molave tree grew extensively in what was then Tayabas province, his birthplace. The Molave tree is known for its height and breadth, growing up to 30 meters tall. It is described as “extremely durable” and is believed to be resistant to pests, termites, and other creatures that prey on wood.
Our friends from Quezon province told us that many Molave trees were growing in their towns along Tayabas Bay in the west and Lamon Bay in the east. This must have been the basis of the late President’s reference to the strength of this tree, noting that it is “unafraid of the rising tide” as it stands defiant of the forces of nature.
On one hand, the late President’s comparison of the Filipino to the Molave was an honest and accurate description of our countrymen of his time. When he uttered the now-famous words, our country had just emerged from centuries of colonial rule and was still fighting for independence from a Western colonial master. His province is also vulnerable to strong typhoons. Howlers that enter the Philippines from the east usually pass through Quezon province and cause extensive damage, the latest of which was Typhoon Carina just a couple of months ago.
Despite this, the province named after him has been one of the most progressive places in the Southern Tagalog region. It has always bounced back from adversity and continues to stand tall even in the face of storms just like the Molave.
President Quezon was the perfect “Molave” as he led the nation during the dark years of the Second World War. Our elders say he was a constant source of inspiration and strength to our country during the occupation period. He helped our people “stand tall” even in the face of oppression from external forces. He did not live to see the liberation of the country from invaders as he passed away in August 1944, losing the battle to tuberculosis.
As the nation marked the 146th birthday of President Quezon last Monday, Aug. 19, we honor him for the timeless wisdom of his words – and the sterling example of his life.
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The Antipoleños and Rizaleños join our country in greeting our beloved First Lady Louise Araneta Marcos as she celebrates her birthday today. May our dear Lord bless you as you continue to become a blessing to our fellow Filipinos.
(The author is the current mayor of Antipolo City, former Rizal governor, DENR assistant secretary and LLDA general manager. Email it to antipolocitygov@gmail.com)