Mariano Marcos
Encyclopedia
Mariano Marcos y Rubio was a lawyer
and a politician
from Ilocos Norte
, Philippines
. A Congressman from 1925 to 1931, He is best known for being the father of former president Ferdinand Marcos
.
As with many stories about members of the Marcos family, there is some controversy about the exact nature of his death, with some versions saying he was executed by the Japanese in Bacnotan, La Union
, and others saying that he was killed by Philippine Commonwealth Troops and Guerillas as a collaborator.
His name was honored as part of the names of two Philippine State Universities: the Mariano Marcos State University
in Ilocos Norte
, and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
in La Union
.
A militant follower of Gregorio Aglipay
and member of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, he raised his son under the Aglipayan faith. Mariano Marcos had his primary and intermediate education in his hometown. Then he went to Manila to study at the Philippine Normal School (now the Philippine Normal University
), where he graduated valedictorian, with honors in oratory and debating, in 1916.
.
Running under the banner of the Nacionalista Party, and backed by the majority of his fellow Bataqueños, he was elected representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte. Marcos was considered one of the most effective speakers in the entire province during his time. His powerful voice gave him an edge over other politicians during political rallies. He successfully ran for the same position in 1928. In the legislature, he obtained the chairmanship of the powerful committee on ways and means, and likewise served as member of other committees including those on public instruction, public works, public estate, and mines and natural resources. He bid for the same seat in 1932, but lost to his rival from Laoag, Emilio Medina, a consequence of the Batac vote being divided between him and his town mate and fellow candidate, Julio Nalundasan. In 1935, cast another bid at the legislature, this time for a seat at the National Assembly under the Commonwealth government, but lost to Nalundasan. Not long after the elections, the latter was mysteriously killed. Somehow, Marcos, his son Ferdinand, his brother Pio, and his brother-in-law Quirino Lizardo, were accused of the crime and eventually arrested and tried for the crime in 1938. However, he and his brother were acquitted. Although his son and brother-in-law, were convicted, they were ultimately acquitted when the case was raised to the Supreme Court
. The Marcos name was thus vindicated. His wife, while she was still alive, recalled that Marcos was strict about the training of their children but at the same time very understanding. A product of the old school, he adhered to a strict code of discipline that he passed onto his children, inculcating in them primarily the values of responsibility and obedience. Mrs. Marcos acknowledged him as the fount of their children's intellectual endowments, including a fluency in the three languages of Ilocano, Spanish and English for, Mariano was a true trilingual who insisted on preserving the purity of each language. But, it was not all academics for Marcos for he knew too well the value of physical fitness. Not only did he have a passion for boxing, wrestling and shooting- he also had the expertise, teaching his two sons the "scientific" method of boxing and insisting on them to always settle sibling rivalries through wrestling. He taught them boxing and shooting so well that his sons used to out-box opponents in local children's boxing derbies; his second son Pacifico eventually became an expert pistol shooter like himself, while his eldest son Ferdinand became national rifle champion at the age of sixteen.
, were named after him. Moreover, Marcos town, formerly a part of Dingras, Ilocos Norte
, and created a town in 1963 by Republic Act No. 3753, was named in his honor. On October 24, 1982, the National Historical Institute paid him tribute by installing a marker at the Don Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
, 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...
. A Congressman from 1925 to 1931, He is best known for being the father of former president Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
.
As with many stories about members of the Marcos family, there is some controversy about the exact nature of his death, with some versions saying he was executed by the Japanese in Bacnotan, La Union
Bacnotan, La Union
Bacnotan is a first class municipality in the province of La Union, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 38,743 people in 7,183 households.Ilocano is the language spoken...
, and others saying that he was killed by Philippine Commonwealth Troops and Guerillas as a collaborator.
His name was honored as part of the names of two Philippine State Universities: the Mariano Marcos State University
Mariano Marcos State University
The Mariano Marcos State University is a multidisciplinary, state-funded institution of higher learning that serves the Ilocos region and its surrounding regions.-History:...
in Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte
Ilocos Norte is a province of the Philippines located in the Ilocos Region in Luzon. Its capital is Laoag City and is located at the northwest corner of Luzon Island, bordering Cagayan and Apayao to the east, and Abra and Ilocos Sur to the south...
, and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University
The Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, more often referred to by the acronym "DMMMSU" is the state university serving the province of La Union in the Philippines. Its main campus is in Bacnotan, La Union. It was created by former president Ferdinand Marcos by using Presidential Decree...
in La Union
La Unión
La Union or La Unión may refer to:-Colombia:*La Unión, Antioquia*La Unión, Nariño*La Unión, Sucre*La Unión, Valle del Cauca-Peru:*La Unión Province, Peru...
.
Early life
Lawyer, educator, and legislator, Mariano Marcos was born in Batac, Ilocos Norte on April 21, 1897 to Fabian Marcos and Cresencia Rubio. A farmer, the elder Marcos had served as gobernadorcillo and justice of the peace of Batac after the Philippine Revolution, who championed the Ilocano language but at the same time cultivated a scholarship in the Spanish language.A militant follower of Gregorio Aglipay
Gregorio Aglipay
Gregorio Labayan Aglipay was the first Filipino Supreme Bishop of the Philippine Independent Church.-Early life:...
and member of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, he raised his son under the Aglipayan faith. Mariano Marcos had his primary and intermediate education in his hometown. Then he went to Manila to study at the Philippine Normal School (now the Philippine Normal University
Philippine Normal University
The Philippine Normal University is a public national university in the Philippines established during the early days of American rule of the Philippine Islands. Pursuant to a law passed by the Philippine Congress, Republic Act No...
), where he graduated valedictorian, with honors in oratory and debating, in 1916.
Personal life
One of his co-graduates was Josefa Edralin (1890–1986), of landed family, whom he married that same year. They had four children:- Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand MarcosFerdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, who became president of the Philippines (1965–1986) - Pacifico MarcosPacífico MarcosPacífico Edralín Marcos was a physician and the younger brother of former President of the Philippines Ferdinand E. Marcos. Dr. Marcos was born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte to Mariano Marcos and Josefa Quetulio Edralin. Marcos was a President of the Philippine Medical Association. In 1971 he was...
, a physician - Elizabeth Marcos-Keon, former Ilocos Norte governor
- Fortuna Marcos-Barba
Education
Right after he received his diploma, the Bureau of Education named him maestro insular in Laoag, a position he held until 1917, when he was promoted to maestro principal. A year later, he was enlisted in the National Guard and given the rank of lieutenant. On September 16, 1919, after passing a rigid examination, he was named supervising teacher, a position that required traveling and doing the rounds of the public schools in the whole province. He held this position until January 4, 1921, when he resigned to accept the position of high school teacher at the National University. While teaching in this institution, he studied law at the University of the Philippines. Among his professors were Justices Malcolm and Laurel. He graduated valedictorian with a bachelor of laws degree on March 27, 1925, passing the bar not long after. He and his lawyer-brother Pio opened a law office in Batac, with a branch in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
.
Political life
Meanwhile, with the encouragement of his friends and admirers, he had entered politics.Running under the banner of the Nacionalista Party, and backed by the majority of his fellow Bataqueños, he was elected representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte. Marcos was considered one of the most effective speakers in the entire province during his time. His powerful voice gave him an edge over other politicians during political rallies. He successfully ran for the same position in 1928. In the legislature, he obtained the chairmanship of the powerful committee on ways and means, and likewise served as member of other committees including those on public instruction, public works, public estate, and mines and natural resources. He bid for the same seat in 1932, but lost to his rival from Laoag, Emilio Medina, a consequence of the Batac vote being divided between him and his town mate and fellow candidate, Julio Nalundasan. In 1935, cast another bid at the legislature, this time for a seat at the National Assembly under the Commonwealth government, but lost to Nalundasan. Not long after the elections, the latter was mysteriously killed. Somehow, Marcos, his son Ferdinand, his brother Pio, and his brother-in-law Quirino Lizardo, were accused of the crime and eventually arrested and tried for the crime in 1938. However, he and his brother were acquitted. Although his son and brother-in-law, were convicted, they were ultimately acquitted when the case was raised to the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
. The Marcos name was thus vindicated. His wife, while she was still alive, recalled that Marcos was strict about the training of their children but at the same time very understanding. A product of the old school, he adhered to a strict code of discipline that he passed onto his children, inculcating in them primarily the values of responsibility and obedience. Mrs. Marcos acknowledged him as the fount of their children's intellectual endowments, including a fluency in the three languages of Ilocano, Spanish and English for, Mariano was a true trilingual who insisted on preserving the purity of each language. But, it was not all academics for Marcos for he knew too well the value of physical fitness. Not only did he have a passion for boxing, wrestling and shooting- he also had the expertise, teaching his two sons the "scientific" method of boxing and insisting on them to always settle sibling rivalries through wrestling. He taught them boxing and shooting so well that his sons used to out-box opponents in local children's boxing derbies; his second son Pacifico eventually became an expert pistol shooter like himself, while his eldest son Ferdinand became national rifle champion at the age of sixteen.
Death
On March 8, 1945, during the closing days of the war, Marcos died in La Union at the hands of the enemy.Legacy
In his memory, a number of streets and schools, both in Manila and in Ilocos Norte, including the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, and MMSU College of Education in Laoag CityLaoag City
The City of Laoag is a 1st class city in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It is the capital city of Ilocos Norte, and the province's political, commercial, and industrial hub. It is the location of the Ilocos region's only commercial airport...
, were named after him. Moreover, Marcos town, formerly a part of Dingras, Ilocos Norte
Dingras, Ilocos Norte
Dingras is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 36,258 people in 7,252 households. The Locality’s Average Annual Growth rate is 1.03%...
, and created a town in 1963 by Republic Act No. 3753, was named in his honor. On October 24, 1982, the National Historical Institute paid him tribute by installing a marker at the Don Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.