Legacies of Mabini and Quezon
LEGACIES OF MABINI AND QUEZON
By Rudy A. Arizala
19 August 2015
I.Introduction
Perhaps due to maze of political, economic and security problems we are facing today, we forgot to give nation-wide recognition and celebration to two important births of the “Fathers of our nation”. The 23rd of July, the birthdate of Apolinario Mabini and 19 August, the birthdate of Manuel L. Quezon. On 23 July 2011, we inaugurated in Infanta, Quezon the reconstructed Gabaldon type of school building housing 12 modern, spacious classrooms for the Infanta Central School but we forgot to give due importance to two forlorn statues at the side of the newly inaugurated school building - that of Pres Manuel L. Quezon and of ex-Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Aguinaldo Government Apolinario Mabini.
The inauguration of said school building on 23 July was significant in the sense that on said date, a Filipino hero considered as the “Brain of the Philippine Revolution” was born at barrio (now Brgy. Talaga), Tanuan, Batangas. Incidentally, Mabini emphasized not only love of country but but also the value of education.
In paying tribute to his mother in his book: “La Revolucion Filipina” (The Philippine Revolution), he wrote as follows:
To My Mother:
When, still a child, I told you that I wanted to acquire learning, you were overjoyed , because your heart's desire was that a son of yours should be a priest; to he a minister of God was for you the greatest honour that a man could aspire to in this world.
Realizing that you were too poor to meet the expenses of my education, you worked as hard as you could, heedless of sun and rain, until you caught the illness that took you to your grave.
But I was not fated to be a priest. I am, however, convinced that the true minister of God is not one who wears a cassock, but everyone who
proclaims His glory by good works of service to the greatest possible number of His creatures, and I shall endevour to be faithful to your desires as long as I have the strength to do so.
Mabini in his ‘True Decalogue” wrote the importance of education in the development of good citizenry of a nation as follows:
"Third. Thou shalt cultivate the special gifts which God has granted thee, working and studying according to thy ability, never leaving the path of righteousness and justice, in order to attain thy own perfection, by means whereof thou shalt contribute to the progress of humanity; thus; thou shalt fulfill the mission to which God has appointed thee in this life and by so doing, thou shalt be honored, and being honored, thou shalt glorify thy God."
Mabini also said that the Filipinos should cultivate God-given special gifts; work and study hard - "according to thy ability, never leaving the path of righteousness and justice.. ."
Aside from the value of education, Mabini in his “True Decalogue advocated also love of country and striving for its independence.
The True Decalogue’s fourth paragraph provides:
“Thou shalt love thy country after God and thy honor and more than thyself: for she is the only Paradise which God has given thee in life, the only patrimony of they race, the only inheritance of they ancestors, and the only hope of thy posterity; because of her, thou hast life, love and interests, happiness, honor and God.”
And its Sixth Paragraph states: “Thou shall strive for the independence of they country: for only thou canst have any real interest in her advancement and exaltation, because her independence constitute your own glory and immortality.”
Another Filipino hero and patriot whose 137th birth anniversary we celebrate on 19 August 2015, is Manuel L. Quezon. He was born in Baler, Tayabas; rose to the Presidency of the Philippine Commonwealth and considered “the brain of Philippine Independence.”
II. Forlorn Statue?
It is not surprising therefore, that aside from the new Gabaldon school building, there are also two statues near said edifice. But perhaps due to the fact that the cynosure of the public was focussed on the new school building many, if not all, did not notice said statues. I refer to the statues of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon and Apolinario Mabini. Quezon, like Mabini, placed also great importance on education by issuing Executive Order No. 217 dated 17 August 1939, containing his Code of Citizenship and Ethics to give full meaning to the 1935 Constitution mandate in Section 5, Article XIII thereof as follows:
“ x x x all schools shall aim to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and to teach the duties of citizenship;”
Said provision of the 1935 Constitution is now contained in an amended form under Section 2, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which provides that education: “shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship. strengthen ethical and spiritual values.develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge and promote vocational efficiency.”
Like the True Decalogue of Mabini, aside from emphasizing the value of education, under Executive Order No. 217 or Quezon Code of Citizenship and Ethics specifically advocated also love of country and independence.
Paragraph 2 of the Code of Citizenship and Ethics states:
“Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affections, and the source of your happiness and well-being. Its defense is your prime duty. Be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.”
As a tribute to Pres Manuel L. Quezon, methinks the “Quezon Code of Citizenship and Ethics” should be inscribed on the base of his statue so that everyone who view the statue would be reminded of his writings. The same what should be done on the base of Apolinario Cabins statue - His “True Decalogue” should be inscribed.
III. Effectiveness of Code of Citzenship
How effective is the Code of Citizenship and Ethics in making the “youth of the land” imbibe the characteristics of a good citizen?
Based on the Quezon Award, the Code of Citizenship and Ethics has impact on the inhabitants of Quezon Province including that of Infanta, Quezon.
Since the institution of the Quezon Award in 1970, as of 2005,from the town of Infanta alone, there were already eleven awardees as follows:
1978 - Gen. Guillermo Nakar, Military Service (Posthumous)
1985 - Dr. Jose M. Pujalte, Medicine
1992 - Dr. Abelardo A. Mercado, Medicine
1994 - Bishop Julio X. Labayen, OCD, Christian Leadership
1995 - Amb. Rodolfo A. Arizala, Foreign Service
1998 - Fr. Francis B. Lucas, Community Development
1999 - Gen. Guillermo Nakar, Ginton Medalya ng Karangalan (Posthumous)
2003 - Atty. Jose Mario C. Buñag Law Practice
2004 - Ms. Mila Garcia Glodava Community Service
2005 - Dr. Amando A. Gurango, Military Medical Service (Posthumous)
Ms. Rita J. Ramírez, Education
Fr. Charlito C. Colendres, Spiritual Shepherding (Posthumous)
The Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan is awarded to persons in Quezon province who have outstanding achievement in special field of endeavor contributing to the promotion of the interest and welfare of the people. As of 2005,there were already 11 Awardees from Infanta, Quezon. There could be more now if we add in said list-- those Awardees from 2006 to 2014 who have imbibed and demonstrated Quezon’s standard or qualities of a good citizen.
IV. Other Legacy of MLQ
Before we close, aside from the above, what other legacy was left to us by Pres Manuel L. Quezon? It may be recalled that prior to his death on 01 August 1944, he advised the Filipino people:
“After the lessons of the present war, one would be very blind indeed not to see that the postwar relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of the United States should be as close as, if not closer than our relationship before the war. The security of both the United States and the Philippines, and perhaps the future peace of the Pacific, will depend very much on that relationship. x x x
“My advice and counsel to the Filipino people is that they should preserve and perpetuate their Occidental way of life which they can only do through continued association and cooperation with America and the western world. Geographically, we Filipinos are Orientals and will forever so. Spiritually, that is to say, because of our culture and Christian civilization, we are with the west. The great destiny of the Filipino people, as I conceive it, is to play the role as the connecting link between Orient and Occident.” (Cited/quoted in the book: “Quezon, Paladin of Philippine Freedom” by Carflos Quirino, Manila Filipiniana Book Guild, 1971, p. 372).
V. Conclusion
The forlorn, unnoticed if not abandoned statue of Pres Manuel L. Quezon (Please see photo below) should henceforth continue to inspire the Filipino youth, especially that of Infanta , Quezon to emulate his sterling qualities of love of country, social justice, struggle for education and make him as their “role model”. Also, the statue of Mabini should continue to inspire the Filipino youth for better education, love of country and service to his country and people.
There is parallelism between Quezon and Mabini: 1) both Mabini and Quezon were lawyers and graduate of University of Santo Tomas; 2) both are “revolutionaries” or members of the Katipunan who struggled for the independence or our country; 3) both give importance to education; 4) both wrote testament how Filipinos could become good citizens - Mabini wrote his “True Decalogue” while Quezon wrote his Code of Citizenship and Ethics; 5) both suffered from illness -Mabini of paralysis, Quezon of tuberculosis yet such lifetime illness did not deter them from doing something for the liberty, freedom and welfare of their people; and last but not the least, 6) both were considered intellectual giants - Mabini as “the Brain of the Revolution” while Quezon as “the Brain of Philippine Independence”.
Apolinario Mabini and Manuel L. Quezon showed us the way that good quality education is the key to enlightened, responsible citizenry. This could be gleaned from their way of life and their respective written testaments - Mabini’s True Decalogue and Quezon’s Code of Citizenship and Ethics.
As we commemorate the 137th birth anniversary of Pres Manuel L.Quezon this year, it would be advisable to inscribe on the base of the statue the Quezon Code of Citizenship and Ethics to serve as constant reminders what constitute the key to enlightened and responsible citizenry. Needless to point out to also inscribe on the base of Mabini statue his “True Decalogue”.
VI. Pictorials
Forlorn statue of Pres. MLQ on a bare concrete base. Perhaps we could also change the color of the base. The bronze statue should also be cleaned- remove the green molds.
Newly constructed Gabaldon school building inaugurated on 23 July 2011. Funds for the reconstruction was thru voluntary contributions of the people at home and abroad thru Metro Infanta Foundation, Inc.