Elpidio Quirino

"While I recognise the United States as a great builder in this country, I have never
surrendered the sovereignty, much less the dignity and future of our country."

Born: November 16, 1890
Died: February 28, 1956
Position in History: Philippines: 6th President, Third Republic: 2nd President
First Presidential Term: April 18, 1948 - December 30, 1949 (President Roxas' remaining term)
Second Presidential Term: December 30, 1949 - December 30, 1953 (President Quirino's own term)
Duration of Terms: 621 days (first), 1461 days (second), 2082 days (total)

Elpidio Quirino was born in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Mariano Quirino and Gregoria Rivera. He studied at Aringay Elementary School then Ilocos Sur High School and taught grade school while studying. In 1908, Quirino enrolled in the Manila High School and at the same time worked at the Bureau of Lands and later at the Manila Police Department. After finishing High School Quirino studied at the University of the Philippines. In 1915, he graduated and passed the bar examination later the same year.

Quirino practised law until 1919 when he was elected as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives. Quirino married Alicia Syquia on January 16, 1921. They had five children together. His wife and three of his children were massacred by the Japanese during the liberation of Manila.

Quirino was elected to the Senate in 1925 and re-elected in 1931. In 1934, he went to the US as a member of the Philippine Independence mission. During Quirino's second term in the Senate, he became Senate president and re-elected again in the Senate in 1945 and became Senate president pro tempore. Quirino was also elected to the convention that drafted a constitution for the Commonwealth government. In addition, he served as Secretary of Finance and Secretary of the Interior in the Commonwealth government.

In 1946, Elpidio Quirino became vice-president of the Third Republic. President Roxas appointed him as Secretary of Finance and later as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after Roxas' death, Quirino became president and finished off Roxas' term. Quirino tried to negotiate with the Huk leader, Luis Taruc in 1948. The result was general amnesty to the Huks and the condition that they would surrender their arms 50 days later. However, on the 50th day, there were violent confrontations between the Huks and the government. Quirino also tried to restore the confidence of the people in the government. Despite the post-war reconstruction, general economic gains and increased economic aid from the US, the Quirino administration was riddled with graft and corruption. Quirino's enemies tried to start impeachment proceedings against him.

Quirino was re-elected as president in the dishonest and fraudulent elections of 1949. To try to help the poor, Quirino initiated the National Minimum Wage. However, people continued to lose confidence in the government as the result of graft and corruption within the government and the uncontrolled Huk threat. Quirino lost in the 1953 presidential elections to Ramon Magsaysay, who had turned away from Quirino on the issue of corruption and clean elections. Quirino retired from public life to his suburban retreat in Novaliches. He died on February 28, 1956 from a heart attack.

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