Part 5
President Manuel Quezon’s speech on the creation of the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Zamboanga
It was during the first years of the presidency of Manuel Luis Quezon of the Commonwealth that the municipalities of Cebu (Commonwealth Act 58), Davao (Commonwealth Act 51), Iloilo (Commonwealth Act 57), and Zamboanga (Commonwealth Act 39) were enacted in 1936 and inaugurated in 1937. Here is the speech of President Quezon delivered in Iloilo (it was Elpidio Quirino who was Secretary of the Interior who represented Quezon in the inauguration of Cebu City on February 24, 1937):
“I want to say one word about Governor Consing. I have thought of Governor Consing for the mayorship of this city, but the question of finding his successor in the governor’s chair was a political problem of no mean proportions. Again, I feared that his appointment might be misconstrued as primarily political, and so he himself preferred the appointment of Doctor Campos.
“Despite the coalition of the two national political parties, partisanship in the provinces has been very difficult, indeed has been impossible, to eliminate. Iloilo, however, has not given me so much concern or trouble as the other provinces; I know that the fight between pros and antis is going on here, but it is a gentlemen’s fight and not so noisy as to disturb my peaceful sleep at night. This happy situation is due to Governor Consing and Assemblyman Montinola on the one hand, and to Assemblymen Zulueta, Confesor, Salcedo, and Buenaflor, on the other hand. I wish to thank them all and I take leave to crave their continued cooperation in my endeavor to turn the public mind, temporarily, at least, from bitter, partisan politics to a more constructive and high-spirited administration of public affairs.
“The country needs our common purpose and our combined efforts, and we must give both with enthusiasm and determination. Thus only can we insure the future happiness, well-being, and liberty of our people.
“To conclude, I wish to say one word on behalf of the working class:
“We must all cooperate to find the means and to use these to improve the lot of the working classes in the Philippines. Particularly should the provinces enjoying the benefits of the sugar industry immediately and substantially raise the wages of labor.” (To be continued)
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