Osmeña was a Filipino politician who served as the third President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon. A founder of the Nacionalista Party, Osmeña was also the first Visayan to become President.
Background
Osmeña was born on September 9, 1878 in Cebu City, Philippines to Juana Osmeña y Suico, who was reportedly only 14 years of age at the time. Owing to the circumstances of his birth, the identity of his father had been a closely guarded family secret, allegedly a Go related to the now Gokongwei. Although carrying the stigma of being an illegitimate child -
Juana never married his father - he did not allow this aspect to affect his standing in society. The Osmeña family, a rich and prominent clan of Chinese Filipino heritage with vast business interests in Cebu, warmed to him as he established himself as a prominent figure in local society.
Education
Osmeña was educated in the Philippines, and received his law degree in 1903.
Career
Osmeña served as prosecuting attorney of several provinces and in 1904 was chosen provincial governor of Cebu. He became a member of the Philippine Assembly in 1907 and was immediately and unanimously chosen speaker of that body. In 1922 he was elected to the Senate to lead the independence movement in the upper chamber. He was the leader of the Independence Mission of 1931 to the United States, which culminated in the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act, the forerunner of Philippine independence. This act, however, was rejected by the Philippine Senate under the leadership of Manuel Quezon. In 1934, after Osmeña and Quezon had exchanged positions, Osmeña supported the Tydings-McDuffie Act, providing complete independence for the Philippines. In 1935 the rival factions of the Nacionalista Party, led by Osmeña and Quezon, united in the interests of national independence, and Osmeña became vice-president of the commonwealth. As a result of the prolonged illness of President Quezon, Osmeña's responsibilities as vice-president were great, especially during the years of the government in exile during World War II. He acceded to the presidency of the Philippine Commonwealth upon the death of Quezon on August 1, 1944, and three months later accompanied General MacArthur's invasion troops onto the beaches of Leyte. After his return to the Philippines, Osmeña seemed more hesitant and chose a middle ground on most of the issues. He was unable to regain his former popular appeal, and his popularity declined. His opponent, Manuel Roxas, after campaigning aggressively, was elected to the presidency of the new republic, and the interim Commonwealth, in April 1946. Osmeña died in Manila, October 19, 1961.
Achievements
Osmeña was a Filipino statesman, founder of the Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista) and president of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946.
Politics
After the war, Osmeña restored the Commonwealth government and the various executive departments. He continued the fight for Philippine independence. For the presidential election of 1946, Osmeña refused to campaign, saying that the Filipino people knew of his record of 40 years of honest and faithful service.
Membership
Member of the Philippine Assembly (1907), member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Cebu (1907-1922), member of Quezon Administration cabinet
Connections
On 10 April 1901, Osmeña married Estefania Chiong Veloso, the couple had ten children. In 1920, two years after the death of his first wife, Osmeña married Esperanza Limjap, the couple had three more children.
President of the Philippines, Vice President of the Philippines, Secretary of Public Instruction, Health, and Public Welfare, Secretary of Public Instruction, Senate President pro tempore of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines, Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, Governor of Cebu
