Eulogio Rodriguez
Eulogio "Amang" Adona Rodriguez Sr. (January 21, 1883 – December 19, 1964) was a Filipino politician, the longest-serving Senate President after Manuel L. Quezon, serving in the post from April 30, 1952 to April 17, 1953 and May 20, 1953 to April 5, 1963.
Eulogio A. Rodriguez Sr. | |
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| 7th and 10th President of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office January 25, 1954 – April 5, 1963 | |
| President | Ramon Magsaysay (1954–1957) Carlos P. Garcia (1957–1961) Diosdado Macapagal (1961–1963) |
| Preceded by | José Zulueta |
| Succeeded by | Ferdinand Marcos |
| In office April 30, 1952 – April 17, 1953 | |
| President | Elpidio Quirino |
| Preceded by | Camilo Osías |
| Succeeded by | Camilo Osías |
| Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce | |
| In office July 26, 1934 – 1935 | |
| Appointed by | Governor General Frank Murphy |
| In office November 15, 1935 – 1938 | |
| President | Manuel Quezon |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office July 5, 1945 – December 30, 1947 | |
| In office December 30, 1949 – December 19, 1964 | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Rizal's 2nd District | |
| In office 1925–1928 | |
| Preceded by | Mariano Melendres |
| Succeeded by | Santiago Luis |
| In office 1931–1935 | |
| Preceded by | Santiago Luis |
| Succeeded by | Emilio de la Paz |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Nueva Vizcaya's Lone District | |
| In office February 1924 – May 1925 | |
| Preceded by | Evaristo Panganiban |
| Succeeded by | Antonio G. Escamilla |
| 5th Mayor of Manila | |
| In office January 5, 1940 – August 28, 1941 | |
| Vice Mayor | Carmen Planas (1940–1941) |
| Preceded by | Juan Posadas Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Juan G. Nolasco |
| In office July 17, 1923 – February 8, 1924 | |
| Vice Mayor | Juan Posadas Jr. (1923–1924) |
| Preceded by | Ramón Fernández |
| Succeeded by | Miguel Romuáldez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eulogio Adona Rodriguez Sr. January 21, 1883 Montalban, Manila, Captaincy General of the Philippines |
| Died | December 19, 1964 (aged 81) Pasay, Rizal, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Nacionalista |
| Spouse(s) | Juana Santiago Luisita Canóy |
| Children | 10 (including Eulogio Jr. and Isidro) |
Early life
Coming from a rich family, Rodríguez was born in Montalban (renamed Rodriguez in his honor), then part of Manila province on January 21, 1883 to Petronilo Rodríguez and Monica Adona. He first studied at the Spanish-run public school in Montalban, then took his secondary course at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1896. He then studied law under a private tutor. To help himself in his studies, he worked as a farmer.
Political life
Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez first served as Municipal President of Montalban, Rizal from 1906–1916; became Governor of Rizal in June 1916; and was reelected in June 1922. He was appointed mayor of Manila by Governor General Leonard Wood on July 23, 1923, and later served as Representative of Nueva Vizcaya District from February 1924 to May 1925. He became the Representative of the Second District of Rizal in 1925 and was reelected in 1931 and 1934. He was also appointed Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce by Governor Frank Murphy on July 26, 1934, re-appointed by President Manuel L. Quezon on January 15, 1940, and served as such until August 28, 1941. After his resignation as Mayor of Manila, he campaigned for a seat in the Senate and was elected senator in 1941. On May 20, 1953, he was elected Senate President, a position he occupied for the next ten years. As the third highest government official, he steered the Senate into greater heights in terms of legislation. He was replaced by then-Senator Ferdinand Marcos, then the Minority Floor Leader as Senate President in a leadership coup on 1963, ending his long leadership of the Upper Chamber.
Rodriguez started his political career as a Democrata or a member of the opposition party, and not until there was a general realignment of parties due to the divisive struggle over the approval of the Independence Law in 1933, did he switch to the majority or the Nacionalista Party, to which he remained faithful until the day of his death three decades later. He nursed the party during its darkest hours, and steered it successfully through the political reefs and typhoons that rocked the local scene, thus earning him the nickname "Mr. Nacionalista". Unlike many politicians of his time, he did not switch parties for personal convenience.
As a legislator, he always supported measures improving the lot of common man, for he knew that the upgrading of the masses was the best way of retaining democracy in the country. Many were sometimes politically at odds with him, but they always found him to be a reasonable opponent who played clean in a game known for its mendacity and unprincipled moves. A man of integrity, who played fair even with his opponents, and who could be generous in victory, Eulogio "Amang" Rodriguez was a man, a politician and a public official of sterling attributes.
He had seven children by his first wife, Juana Santiago, namely Eulogio Jr., Jose, Ruperto, Leonor, Isidro, Constancio and Adelaida. With his second wife, Luisita Canoy, he had three children, namely, Adelaida (Baby), Erlinda and Rafael (Boy).
References
- Senate of the Philippines
- Paras, Corazon. The presidents of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines. Quezon City: Giraffe Books, 2000. ISBN 971-8832-24-6
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