Ponciano Bernardo
Encyclopedia
Ponciano A. Bernardo was a Filipino
engineer and politician who served as mayor of Quezon City
, holding the position from 1947 until his death in 1949. It was during his tenure that Quezon City was designated as the capital city of the Philippines - List of mayors of Quezon City.
. His father is a son of Pandi, Bulacan
Province who migrated to Nueva Ecija as well as his causin [Francisco Bernardo Oliveros] of Papaya, Nueva Ecija whose two sisters were left behind in Pandi, Bulacan [Luisa Bernardo Oliveros-Cruz and Rosenda Bernardo Oliveros-Contreras] as well as the rest of the family and their causins [Mariano Bernardo, Catalino Bernardo, Valentina Bernardo] whose sons and grandson became mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan
- [Atty. Matias Bernardo Ramirez], Balagtas, Bulacan
- [Mamerto Carpio Bernardo], Pandi, Bulacan
- [Atty. Jose Espina Bernardo and Mamerto Carpio Bernardo, 'The Father of Pandi, Bulacan'], and Angat, Bulacan
- [Benito Bernardo Cruz].
He finished his primary and secondary education in Cabanatuan City
, and entered the University of the Philippines
as a civil engineering student. He graduated in 1927, and joined the Bureau of Public Works - Department of Public Works and Highways. In 1929, he was named as an assistant provincial engineer of Tayabas, the home province of Manuel L. Quezon
, who would become President in 1935. Bernardo also held various provincial posts as a government engineer in Baguio City
and Antique
. In 1940, President Quezon appointed him as vice-mayor and city engineer of the newly-established Quezon City.
On December 24, 1946, Bernardo was appointed mayor of Quezon City by President Sergio Osmena
. He was sworn into office on January 1, 1947. During his tenure, in 1948, that Quezon City
became the capital of the Philippines
in lieu of Manila
.
Under Bernardo's leadership, a city police force - Philippine National Police
was constituted and a new city hall was constructed in Cubao. Funds were also allocated for the construction of a park later named 'Bernardo Park', a market in Galas, and a public high school.
On April 28, 1949, Bernardo, along with former First Lady
Aurora Quezon
and several others, were killed in an ambush in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
. They were en route to President Quezon's hometown of Baler
to dedicate a hospital in memory of the late President.
An elementary school and a high school in Quezon City have been named in memory of Ponciano A. Bernardo - Ponciano Bernardo High School, Cubao, Quezon City
.
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...
engineer and politician who served as mayor of Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
, holding the position from 1947 until his death in 1949. It was during his tenure that Quezon City was designated as the capital city of the Philippines - List of mayors of Quezon City.
Profile
Ponciano A. Bernardo was born in Santa Rosa, Nueva EcijaSanta Rosa, Nueva Ecija
Santa Rosa is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 58,762 people in 10,281 households....
. His father is a son of Pandi, Bulacan
Pandi, Bulacan
Pandi is a 2nd class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The municipality of Pandi lies 41 kilometers northeast of Manila and is located at the eastern portion of Bulacan...
Province who migrated to Nueva Ecija as well as his causin [Francisco Bernardo Oliveros] of Papaya, Nueva Ecija whose two sisters were left behind in Pandi, Bulacan [Luisa Bernardo Oliveros-Cruz and Rosenda Bernardo Oliveros-Contreras] as well as the rest of the family and their causins [Mariano Bernardo, Catalino Bernardo, Valentina Bernardo] whose sons and grandson became mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan
Bocaue, Bulacan
Bocaue is a first-class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The municipality of Bocaue lies 24.5 kilometers northeast of Manila through the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Highway and is located at the mid-southwestern portion of Bulacan...
- [Atty. Matias Bernardo Ramirez], Balagtas, Bulacan
Balagtas, Bulacan
Balagtas is a 1st class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 62,684 inhabitants in 11,834 households....
- [Mamerto Carpio Bernardo], Pandi, Bulacan
Pandi, Bulacan
Pandi is a 2nd class urban municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. The municipality of Pandi lies 41 kilometers northeast of Manila and is located at the eastern portion of Bulacan...
- [Atty. Jose Espina Bernardo and Mamerto Carpio Bernardo, 'The Father of Pandi, Bulacan'], and Angat, Bulacan
Angat, Bulacan
Angat is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 53,117 inhabitants in 9,483 households.-History:...
- [Benito Bernardo Cruz].
He finished his primary and secondary education in Cabanatuan City
Cabanatuan City
The City of Cabanatuan is a first class, urban city in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It is considered the commercial, industrial and educational hub of the province. According to the latest census, it has a population of 259,267 people in 45,424 households which makes it the largest...
, and entered the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
as a civil engineering student. He graduated in 1927, and joined the Bureau of Public Works - Department of Public Works and Highways. In 1929, he was named as an assistant provincial engineer of Tayabas, the home province of Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel L. Quezon
Manuel Luis Quezón y Molina served as president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. He was the first Filipino to head a government of the Philippines...
, who would become President in 1935. Bernardo also held various provincial posts as a government engineer in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
and Antique
Antique province
Antique is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is San Jose and is located at the western portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan, Capiz, and Iloilo to the east. Antique faces the Sulu Sea to the west....
. In 1940, President Quezon appointed him as vice-mayor and city engineer of the newly-established Quezon City.
On December 24, 1946, Bernardo was appointed mayor of Quezon City by President Sergio Osmena
Sergio Osmeña
Sergio Osmeña y Suico was a Filipino politician who served as the 4th President of the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He was Vice President under Manuel L. Quezon, and rose to the presidency upon Quezon's death in 1944, being the oldest Philippine president to hold office at age 65...
. He was sworn into office on January 1, 1947. During his tenure, in 1948, that Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
became the capital 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 lieu of Manila
Manila
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,...
.
Under Bernardo's leadership, a city police force - Philippine National Police
Philippine National Police
The Philippine National Police is the national police force of the Republic of the Philippines. It is both a national and a local police force in that it does provides all law enforcement services throughout the Philippines...
was constituted and a new city hall was constructed in Cubao. Funds were also allocated for the construction of a park later named 'Bernardo Park', a market in Galas, and a public high school.
On April 28, 1949, Bernardo, along with former First Lady
First Lady of the Philippines
The First Lady/ Gentleman of the Philippines is the unofficial title of the hostess/host of the Malacañang Palace, the nation's residence of its head of state...
Aurora Quezon
Aurora Quezon
Aurora Antonia Aragón de Molina Vd.ª De Quezón , usually known simply as Aurora Quezón, and sometimes as Aurora Aragón-Quezón, was the wife of Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezón and the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944...
and several others, were killed in an ambush in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
Bongabon is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 73,639 people in 10,184 households in 28,352.90 hectares land area. It is the leading producer of onion in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia.Each barangay in...
. They were en route to President Quezon's hometown of Baler
Baler, Aurora
Baler is a 4th class municipality in the province of Aurora, Philippines. It is the provincial capital of Aurora. According to the latest census, it has a population of 34,492 people and 5.955 members per household....
to dedicate a hospital in memory of the late President.
An elementary school and a high school in Quezon City have been named in memory of Ponciano A. Bernardo - Ponciano Bernardo High School, Cubao, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
.