Ilocano Presidents -Elpidio Quirino

Elpidio Quirino was the sixth president of the Philippines, the second of the third republic.

Born on November 16, 1890 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Mariano Quirino And Gregoria Rivera. He spent his childhood in Aringay, La Union. He entered Vigan High School and later transferred to Manila and worked as junior computer in the Bureau of Lands and as a property clerk in the Manila police department. He graduated from Manila High School in 1911 and also passed the civil service examination first grade.

He obtained his law degree in University of the Philippines in 1915. He was elected as a congressman from 1919 to 1925, then as a senator from 1925 to 1931. He then became as Secretary of Finance and Secretary of the Interior of the Commonwealth Government. He was a member of the Philippine Independence mission to Washington, D.C., for the passing of the Tydings-McDuffie Act in the US Congress that set the date of Philippine indepence in 1945.

When World War II broke, he became a guerilla leader and was captured by the Japanese and imprisoned him. He suffered the execution of his wife, and three of his five children.

After the Philippine liberation, he continued his public service. He became Senate President Pro-Tempore and later elected as vice-president in 1946. Quirino became president on April 17, 1948, two days after the death of Manuel Roxas and continued the latter's unexpired term. The next year, he became a president in his own right by winning the presidential election.

His administration faced a serious threat by the communists Huks. He declared amnesty to the Huks and made some negotiation with the leader. The negotiation broke when the Huks was not satisfied of their demand of reforms.

Another problems his administration faced was the economy, poverty and declining credibility of the government. He constructed progrmas to resolved these. The Quirino-Foster Agreement in 1950 provided $200 million loan to the country from the United States. He also introduced the policy of economic nationalism to promote local products. To boost agriculture, his government created the Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) which extended loans to farmers and facilitated agricultural equipments. To restore the faith of the people to the government, he conducted weekly broadcast at Malacañang to inform the people of the activities of the government. To help the poor and the needy, the President's Action Committee on Social Amelioration (PACSA) was created. The government also approved the Minimum Wage Law who set the daily wage of laborers, teachers and other public employees.

He ran for re-election in 1953, but lossed to Ramon Magsaysay.

He retired to private life after his loss. He died of heart attack in February 29, 1958.

As a legacy, the formed province carved out from Nueva Vizcaya was named after him. Towns in Ilocos Sur, Isabela and Sultan Kudarat (Pres. Quirino) is also his namesake.

Our Ilocano Presidents

Among the 14 Philippine presidents, five are of Ilocano descent. Four are Tagalogs (Aguinaldo, Quezon, Laurel and Estrada), three Kapampangans (Macapagal, Aquino, and Arroyo), one Cebuano (Osmeña) and one Ilonggo (Roxas). Some even claimed that Aguinaldo is Ilocano and is related to the Aguinaldos of Ilocos Norte but it was never proven.

The truth that five Ilocanos had run the country, we can see that Ilocanos has the capability to lead. As been proven and seen in Philippine history, many Ilocanos became great leaders of revolts and propagandas when the country was under colonizers. From unknown farmers in Dingras rebellion to the World War II guerilla leaders, from Pedro Almazan to Gregorio Aglipay,and from Gabriela Silang to Josefa LLanes-Escoda.

When the Philippines became independent, a new face came for the Ilocano leadership. Before, they lead people in advocacies, propagandas and battles. Now, its the country to lead against economic problems and toward unity and progress.

Ferdinand Marcos when he was first running for a seat in Congress said to Ilocos Norte people, "Elect me now as your congressman and I promise an Ilocano president in 20 years".

But before this was fulfilled, Elpidio Quirino of Ilocos Sur became the first Ilocano president in 1948 after the death of Roxas. He was elected as a president the next year in his own right.

When Quirino ran for reelection in 1953, he was defeated by fellow Ilocano, Ramon Magsaysay of Zambales.

Magsaysay died in a plane crash in 1957 and was succeeded by then Vice President Carlos P. Garcia of Bohol. Garcia is of Ilocano descent because both of his parents were from Abra.

Next in line was Ferdinand Marcos of Ilocos Norte when he won the presidential election in 1965, thus fulfilling his prophetic speech that an Ilocano would become a president after 20 years.

Fidel V. Ramos of Pangasinan became the fifth Ilocano president in 1992.

The terms of these Ilocano presidents bacame big marks in Philippine history. And a strong proof that Ilocanos are great leaders. In the past, today, and the future, Ilocanos were, are, and will be always be a good leader. A leader to himself, to a family, to an organization, to a community and to every part of society.

As GIs anf FBIs

In Pinoy slang, two acronyms refer or describe an Ilocano. GI and FBI. No. They are not to impose that Ilocanos are GI soldiers or FBI agents.
GI stands for Genuine Ilocano and FBI for Full Blooded Ilocano.Its usually the non-Ilocanos who tag an Ilocano with these acronyms.
Why genuine?
A jewelry is only precious when it is genuine. A money bill is only worthy when it is genuine. A machine is at its best operation when it has genuine parts.
Why full blooded?
A person who is proud of his race can be prouder when he is full blooded of that race. A royalty can be more majestic when he is of full royal blood.
Now, we get the implication why there is the emphasis that an Ilocano is a GI or an FBI. Are Ilocanos as precious as gemstones that they should be genuine to be considered worthy? Are Ilocanos can be proud to say "Royal is my blood!"?When is an Ilocano considered genuine or full-blooded? Perhaps when both of his parents are Ilocano. And even maybe when a person who has not a drop of Ilocano blood but was born and grew up as Ilocano. I think this is the right measurement of the genuinity of an Ilocano as Ilocano. His pride of carrying the Ilocano blood, his boasts of showing Ilocano traits and trademarks and his not forgetting his hometown wherever life may take him.