Kastila (1878 - 1944)

This week we commemorate the life and great contributions to the Filipino nation of the distinguished President Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina. After passing the bar in 1903, Quezon devoted his life to public service. He was a fiscal for Mindoro and Tayabas, councilor then governor of Tayabas in 1906, assemblyman and majority floor leader of the first Philippine Assembly in 1907 and Senate President from 1909 to 1935. In 1935, he was elected as the first President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines and became the first president to be re-elected to office in 1941. Under his presidency, women were granted the right to suffrage. The nationalist from Baler called Kastila, due to his Hispanic features, espoused the use of Tagalog, later on modified to Filipino, as our medium of communication. Thus, he is hailed as the Father of National Language.

Ever since then Senate President Quezon came back from the USA with the Jones Law, he celebrated his birthdays at his high school alma mater, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, by hearing mass and eating breakfast at the refectory. This tradition has not ended to date. The surviving family of MLQ and wife Doña Aurora Aragon, carries on the breakfast ritual and eating the same food served to Kastila every August 19 in the Dominican-run institution. According to grandsons Nolo and Emil Q. Avancena, the breakfast feast hosted by Fr. Angel de Blas in the late 60’s to the early 70’s was comparable to the grand banquets of the medieval era you only see in the movies. The buffet in the refectory, prepared by a short old Spanish friar, included the best tasting churros paired with the creamiest and most dense chocolate-eh, jamon Serrano that melts in the mouth, various delectable Spanish cheeses and freshly baked bread. Also served were imported grapes, apples, oranges, roasted chestnuts and Van Heuten chocolate bars, which made all the grandchildren eager to attend the annual celebration. For them, it was Christmas in August. By the mid 70’s, the Spanish Dominican friars along with the comida Español were all gone. Since then, the annual breakfast consists of traditional Filipino food such as beef tapa and longganisa.

According to daughter Zeneida “Nini” Quezon Avancena, her Papa was not “maselan” or a picky eater compared to her Mama. He favored fish over beef, pork or chicken. But when he craved for tapang usa (cured deer meat), Kastila had some brought from Baler. Family historian and grandson Manuel Luis Quezon III added that his other favorite fares are cocido and adobo.

Every August 19, we commemorate Manuel Luis Quezon’s birth and legacy. In the USA, former President Bill Clinton also celebrates his birthday. In our family, my nephew Justin, who we fondly call Manuel L. Clinton, also turns a year older. Happy birthday Justin! 

QUOTES FROM MANUEL LUIS QUEZON

“I prefer a country run like hell by Filipinos to a country run like heaven by Americans. Because, however bad a Filipino government might be, we can always change it.”

“Social justice is far more beneficial when applied as a matter of sentiment, and not by law.”

“My loyalty to my party ends, when my loyalty to my party begins.”