PNOY LEADS RE-INTERMENT OF PRES QUIRINO AT LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI

President Aquino leads the re-interment of the remains of the sixth Philippine President Elpidio Quirino, a native of this city, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Cemetery of Heroes) today, February 29 from the Manila South Cemetery in Makati.

Eddie Quirino, the President’s grandson, said Quirino’s grandchildren will join President during the rites in the presence of provincial and municipal officials led by Gov. Ryan Luis Singson.

The event is a joint project of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Historical Commission and the  President Elpidio Quirino Foundation (PEQF) managed by Quirino’s grand children Cory Quirino, Atty. Lila Quirino and Ruby Quirino Gonzalez Meyer.

In the evening of the same day, at the Philippine Center New York, the Philippine Consulate General of New York and the PEQF will also mark Quirino’s life and legacy, according to the consulate website.

Key stages in Quirino’s life will be remembered namely: how he became the Father of Philippine Foreign Service, how he  focused on rebuilding the country’s economy after World War II, how he showed fortitude and strength in the midst of the death of his wife Alicia Syquia and their three children during the Battle of Manila in February 1945.

The book, "Statesman and Survivor Elpidio Quirino, 6th President of the Philippines", which can be accessed at Amazon.com and Blurb.com., and co-authored by his family, will also be launched.

Quirino is the second president of the third Republic after Manuel Roxas. He was followed by Ramon Magsaysay, according to malacanang.gov.ph. He assumed office as president on April 17, 1948, and was elected as president during the November 8, 1949 election with 1,803,808 or 50.93 percent of the electorate. He was inaugurated on December 30, 1949 at then Independence Grandstand, Manila, now the Quirino grandstand at 58.

As sixth president of the country, he was also the secretary of the Interior.  As second president of the third Republic, he was finance secretary.  During the amendment of the 1935 Constitution, he was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He was the vice president under President Manuel Roxas, the legal clerk in the Philippine Commission under Pres. Ramon Magsaysay; Ilocos Sur first district representative; senator; and private secretary to Senate President Manuel Quezon.  # Source -  (MCA/ Imelda C. Rivero-PIA1 Ilocos Sur).