Mariano Jesús Cuenco
Encyclopedia
Mariano Jesús Diosomito Cuenco
(January 16, 1888 - February 25, 1964) was a Filipino Cebuano
politician and writer.
, Cebu on January 16, 1888, to Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios López Diosomito. He studied at the Colegio de San Carlos of Cebu, where he graduated in 1904 with a degree in Bachelor of Arts
. He finished law in 1911 at the Escuela de Derecho (later became the Manila Law School) and passed the bar examinations in 1913.
in 1912 when he was elected to the Philippine
Assembly representing the fifth district of Cebu. He was re-elected from 1916 to 1928. He ran for the governorship of Cebu in 1931 and became the President of the League of Provincial
Governors of the Philippines
. In 1934, he was elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention
where he was chosen floor leader. Cuenco was Secretary of Public Works and Communications from 1936 to 1939. He was also appointed Acting Secretary of the agriculture, commerce and labor departments while serving as Secretary of Public Works and Communications in 1938.
In 1941, Cuenco was elected Senator of the Philippines but the onset of the Second World War
prevented that Senate from going into session. After the Japanese Occupation, Cuenco was reelected to the Senate in 1946. From 1949 to 1951, he served as Senate President and Chairman of the Commission on Appointments
. His term paved the way for many reforms and his significant contributions resulted in a more efficient legislative body.
As a member of the Liberal Party
of incumbent President Elpidio R. Quirino
, Senate President Cuenco was defeated in his bid for reelection in the Nacionalista Party shut-out during the 1951 Philippine general election
. He ran and regained his seat as a Senator once again in 1953 and 1959. He continued serving the Philippine Senate
until his death in 1964.
– language newspaper El Precursor of Cebu, a newspaper which ran from 1907 until the eve of World War II. In 1947, he founded The Republic. In 1926, he became a member of the Academia Filipina Correspondiente de la Real Española de la Lengua. He was honored by the Spanish government with the decoration Gran Cruz de Isabela la Catolica and by the Holy See
with the decoration Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
.
Cuenco also wrote in Visayan. Ang Republikang Pilipinhon, Codigo and Roma are among his works. His pen name was "Lauro Katindog."
Cuenco died on February 25, 1964.
Cuenco Family of Cebu
"The Cuenco family is a well-known political family in Cebu, Philippines. Since the 19th century, the Cuenco name has been part the colorful history and lore of this island in Southern Philippines...
(January 16, 1888 - February 25, 1964) was a Filipino Cebuano
Cebuano people
The Cebuano people , are a Visayan ethnic group in Cebu and form the second largest cultural-linguistic group in the Philippines.-History:...
politician and writer.
Early life
He was born in CarmenCarmen, Cebu
Carmen is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 41,279 people.-Barangays:Carmen is administratively subdivided into 21 barangays:-External links:* *...
, Cebu on January 16, 1888, to Mariano Albao Cuenco and Remedios López Diosomito. He studied at the Colegio de San Carlos of Cebu, where he graduated in 1904 with a degree in Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. He finished law in 1911 at the Escuela de Derecho (later became the Manila Law School) and passed the bar examinations in 1913.
Political career
Cuenco entered politicsPolitics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
in 1912 when he was elected to the Philippine
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
Assembly representing the fifth district of Cebu. He was re-elected from 1916 to 1928. He ran for the governorship of Cebu in 1931 and became the President of the League of Provincial
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
Governors of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In 1934, he was elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
where he was chosen floor leader. Cuenco was Secretary of Public Works and Communications from 1936 to 1939. He was also appointed Acting Secretary of the agriculture, commerce and labor departments while serving as Secretary of Public Works and Communications in 1938.
In 1941, Cuenco was elected Senator of the Philippines but the onset of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prevented that Senate from going into session. After the Japanese Occupation, Cuenco was reelected to the Senate in 1946. From 1949 to 1951, he served as Senate President and Chairman of the Commission on Appointments
Commission on Appointments
The Commission on Appointments is a body of the Congress of the Philippines as provided by the Constitution. It confirms certain appointments made by the President of the Philippines...
. His term paved the way for many reforms and his significant contributions resulted in a more efficient legislative body.
As a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
of incumbent President Elpidio R. Quirino
Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925–1931...
, Senate President Cuenco was defeated in his bid for reelection in the Nacionalista Party shut-out during the 1951 Philippine general election
Philippine general election, 1951
A senatorial election was held in the Philippines on November 13, 1951. The election was known as a midterm election as the date when elected candidates take office falls half-way through President Elpidio Quirino's four-year term....
. He ran and regained his seat as a Senator once again in 1953 and 1959. He continued serving the Philippine Senate
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
until his death in 1964.
Writer
Cuenco was also known as a prolific writer. He was the publisher of the SpanishSpanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
– language newspaper El Precursor of Cebu, a newspaper which ran from 1907 until the eve of World War II. In 1947, he founded The Republic. In 1926, he became a member of the Academia Filipina Correspondiente de la Real Española de la Lengua. He was honored by the Spanish government with the decoration Gran Cruz de Isabela la Catolica and by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
with the decoration Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
The Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal is an award of the Roman Catholic Church. It is also known as the "Cross of Honour". The medal was established by Leo XIII on July 17, 1888, to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally bestowed on those women and men who had aided and...
.
Cuenco also wrote in Visayan. Ang Republikang Pilipinhon, Codigo and Roma are among his works. His pen name was "Lauro Katindog."
Personal life
He was married twice, first to Filomena Alesna, and years after she died, to Rosa Cayetano.Cuenco died on February 25, 1964.
See also
- Cuenco Family of CebuCuenco Family of Cebu"The Cuenco family is a well-known political family in Cebu, Philippines. Since the 19th century, the Cuenco name has been part the colorful history and lore of this island in Southern Philippines...
- A Website Dedicated for Mariano Jesús Cuenco (And most of the Cuenco family clan during the 1900 era)
- Concepcion Cuenco Manguerra Memorial Site