Megalomaniac

The First Philippine Dictator: Manuel "El Presidente" Quezon

          Tomorrow, we will remember the late President Marcos' declaration of Martial Law which began a new era in the Philippine politics (political historians will agree that it is an important period in Philippine history). A nation known for being resilient then in democracy (most Third World countries then are succumbing to dictatorship either from the leftist or rightist elements) finally was caught in this worldwide trend that was called as the Second Reverse Wave of Democracy. How we got into this despite the fact that we have a democratic regime planted by the Americans three decades earlier? For some experts, it is quite perplexing how the country got in to this. Yet if we look at the events before that martial law, we see clear view of our society. Are we really a democratic nation before? Does our society and culture have what Almond and Verba called the "civic culture" that is conducive to democratic development? Lande, an eminent Philippine scholar, might agree but only to the point that democratic values was based more on the seemingly equal relationship of the padrino and the masa. We are but not in the modern sense. I agree that we have some semblance of  a democracy because we play its games such as popular elections but not its values such as citizenship, cooperation and civility. And this was manifest by the political leadership of the most important politician before martial law, the first president of the 1935 Constitution, Manuel L. Quezon. He is the Philippines's first real dictator (Emilio Aguinaldo used to be called as such but in reality he is weak) as shown by his behaviors. It is not clear if Marcos look at him during his youth. What is common from both of this two is their charisma that dominated Philippine politics in their time.

The Gentleman from Tayabas

         It is maybe we are not that democratic at all. In fact we are more conducive for the emergence of pinuno and lider who wield are great leaders. The problem is if that leaders became obsessed with power like Marcos and his predecessor, Manuel Quezon, the FIRST FILIPINO DICTATOR. Manuel Quezon, the gentleman from a middle class family in Baler, Tayabas (now in Aurora which is named after his wife while Tayabas is changed to Quezon in his honor) was breed in the only university then, the University of Santo Tomas. He is known as the "Father of the National Language" even if he didn't speak Tagalog (the core of the   lingua franca Filipino). Probably also, he is the most famous heroes after Rizal because a province, city, some buildings and streets were named after him. And he is in the twento-peso bill. But because of history, his corruption (not in taking in people's money but in power of controlling people) is buried. A new image is created for him, one which is better. He didn't live that long as Marcos (he died of a disease in New York during World War II) for time to expose his true character. Only the good things of him remains and his families don't enter politics (unlike Marcos children). That alone gave him that good memories for him.

Why he is the First DICTATOR?

1) He always wants to be the only star in Philippine politics. When his rival Osmena was getting the limelight for getting the independence bill from the US, he stepped in. In fact, the Tydings-Mcduffie law that give us independence law from America was a copycat of the works of Osmena. Quezon wants to receive credit first and no other else.

2)He removed persons he didn't like.The removal of an American Governor-General is a doing of his machinations because that person disapproved of Quezon's tendency to be a dictator. He also removed the Americans in the colonial bureaucracy with Filipinos who supported him. He once quipped, "I would rather see the Philippines run like hell by Filipinos than run like heaven by the Americans. Spoils system in the Philippines is planted because of him. 

3) He amended (and tried to) the 1935 Constitution a numerous times. Before Marcos, there was someone who tried to bend the constitution for his interest. In fact, one could argue that he had lived, he might lift the term limits or change the charter just for him to rule perpetually. I don't know if Quezon had influence on Marcos but let's note that Marcos' thesis, "The Constitutional Dictatorship" (a treatise on a dictator who derived legitimacy through a charter) was written when Quezon is in power. When he is dying, he refused Quezon to be an Acting Presidency.

4) He created a one-party state. Together with rival Osmena, they created the Nacionalista Party. There are other parties then as well but Nacionalista always won the elections in big margins making them the ONLY STRONG PARTY and the Philippines A ONE PARTY STATE (before Singapore, Malaysia and Japan adapted it). After his death, his party would splinter and created a new one, the Liberal Party. His party reflects the party system in the Philippines (even today), where parties revolve around a strongman and will flounder after his demise (remember Lakas, Puwersa ng Masa etc).

5) He tamed the local elites. Knowing the awesome power of the local elites in making or breaking the chances of national politicians, he enacted measures to control them. He amended the constitution to allow senators to be elected nationally, not regionally. He knows that as a group, the local politicians are strong. But when weakened and fragmented, they become weak and is easily controlled by the president. His style on local government is similar to what contemporary politicians still do today.

His Legacy to a Young Nation and to the FUTURE

           The greatest legacy of Quezon his the national language. By the stroke of the pen, he created a national language Filipino. He also proved that Filipinos could rule itself (even if it is bad). With compassion to the poor and the middle class, he bought the Tambobong and Diliman estate of the wealthy Tuazon family to serve as a residential area for the middle class and some government offices. Those two estates is now Quezon City. He also shows that our leaders could be a model for development and a source of inspiration. He lead the nation during World War II. Probably we need his iron hands to lead us during those dark days of the war. His leadership is needed when the Commonwealth is laying the foundation of the bureaucracy by building bureaucracies, factories, roads, hospitals and a national army. Problem is, our current leaders only see the corrupt, personalistic side of Quezon. Quezon, despite his tendency to be authoritarian, also look at the Filipino people. He knows the masa is still not ready for democracy and need guidance. He started the first agrarian reform program in Philippine history (a popular myth is that he freed his tenants and gave them land). Its a good thing his son and grandsons didn't enter politics. Instead, they became journalist. His legacy still leaves. A piece of history is good but let's use the good side it for us to apply and not the bad one.