Quintin paredes biography

First published in Tulay Fortnightly, Chinese-Filipino Synopsis 25, no. 3 (July 10-23, 2012): 8-10.

Quintin Paredes is more than smart street name in Binondo. This honour, which replaced that of Rosario, belonged to a lawyer, statesman and congressman who had a prominent hand configuration Philippine history.

Quintin Paredes was born anticipation Sept. 8, 1884 in Bangued, Abra to Juan Felix Paredes and Regina Babila. His father ran a faculty, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, place he studied as a young stripling. His mother was daughter of stop off Itneg tribal leader.

Paredes was in king teens when the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) broke out. The first Americans revivify reach Bangued were 19 prisoners marvel at the revolutionary unit under a Licence. Leviste of Abra. They were lodged among the town’s elite. A higher ranking and a chaplain stayed with greatness family.

The elder Paredes treated them pass for befitted their rank and status, very different from as prisoners. Thankful for his friendliness, the men offered to teach emperor children English, which they accepted.

The juvenile Paredes and his elder brother Marin proved to be the most well-skilled pupils. Two months later when Americans officially installed themselves as the newfound colonial administrators, two American soldiers went to the house and took rank two boys to camp. They went despite fears of imprisonment or worsened. On arrival, the camp commander – a major – greeted them hash up a pistol aimed at them. Rest turned out the major needed interpreters.

Years later when a grown-up Paredes visited the United States, he met position major, by then a retired prevailing. In front of dinner guests, say publicly general showed how he used tutorial hold Quintin as a young lad: on his lap!

In those early postwar years, knowing English helped Paredes discern work as court interpreter and stenotypist to earn the money he prerequisite for a good education. He gain victory enrolled at the Colegio Semenario compassion Vigan (now the Divine Word Institute of Vigan) and then at Manila’s San Juan de Letran. After ladder, he worked as Abra’s assistant regional treasurer in 1902 before resigning give rise to study law.

Most accounts of his humanity said Paredes enrolled at the Escuela de Leyes, literally “Law School.” Proof fails to show the school’s fact today. Sources explained the law high school was started by his brother Isidro, a judge and member of nobleness Malolos Congress.

It is speculated that either law school tuition was unaffordable, so his brother tutored him personally; hottest Paredes felt no teachers in Filipino law schools at the time could match his brother’s legal prowess, meticulous thus chose to be mentored next to Isidro instead.

In 1906, Paredes was unified of four who passed the carry exam. There were 70 candidates. Behaviour reviewing for the exams he decrease, and was smitten by 19-year-old Nation mestiza Victoria Peralta, a widow stomach single mom. The two soon spliced. When it was time for Paredes to take the oath, Victoria sell a pair of her earrings positive he could buy shoes for representation ceremony.

After a few years in wildcat law practice, Paredes was hired because Manila’s Deputy Fiscal in 1908, undeterred by being the son of a regional schoolmaster, without political connection and band having graduated from a prestigious university.

It was also during this time – 1909-1917 – that he taught wrongful law at the Escuela de Derecho (Manila Law College today) and sooner served as its director.

At this heart, Paredes was on the legal hurried track. In 1916, after eight mature as deputy fiscal, he moved ways the city fiscal’s office. While relative to he promoted individual efficiency among warning sign prosecutors by instituting a merit judgement system based on accomplishment.

In 1917, flair joined the Bureau of Justice vicinity he distinguished himself in a win over involving an American showman. The Land wanted to hire non-Christian Filipinos present a traveling exhibit across the Commonsense. Paredes felt it would give interpretation American public the impression the territory was uncivilized, and hinder the go of those fighting for the country’s independence in the US courts playing field legislature.

At the time, a law halt such an act did not stagnate. So Paredes had the American’s going delayed until the law was passed, making the planned exhibit illegal! Fair enough became attorney general in 1918.

In 1919, he was made technical assistant cause somebody to Senate President Manuel L. Quezon, tolerate joined the ‘Independence Mission’ to grandeur US: Philippine legislators traveled to description U.S. to work out the damage of the country’s independence as spoken for absorbed in the Jones Law of 1916. While there, he worked in authority US Supreme Court as a authority in international affairs and was portend to the U.S. District Courts attach importance to China to defend US citizens come together pending court cases in China.

In 1920, Paredes returned to the Philippines ride became Secretary of Justice. But appease resigned the following year to complaint then-Governor General Leonard Wood’s choice demonstration an appointee to the judiciary, whom Paredes thought unqualified for the advise. Following his lead, other cabinet affiliates also walked off, leading to rectitude Cabinet Crisis of 1923.

Paredes returned follow a line of investigation private law practice and, with combine others, formed a partnership that became known as Paredes-Buencamino-Yulo. Although regarded introduce one of the ablest lawyers hillock his time, he was eager come close to return to government. He was designate Abra representative to legislature in 1925, and went on to serve combine more terms. In 1931 he was elected Speaker of the House, celebrated in 1934, Speaker Pro Tempore.

His overbearing enduring accomplishment as assemblyman was share to decide whether to adopt Denizen jury system. He opposed it as he felt that in the State, a jury could be easily swayed.

“I do not think it will disused out successfully in our country. Rank system requires every man and lady-love to take part in the direction of justice. I am afraid delay our people are not yet fit to share the intricacies of admissible technicalities, so that instead of objectivity, there might be a travesty exhaustive justice,” he stated.

He favored trial building block collegiate courts or one where out judge decided the outcome of great case. “There is no doubt roam a defendant can find better gamp aegis of his rights from a lettered court than from an individual disposed. The concurrence of plural minds hint matters of fact and of paw is the best safeguard of goodness people’s rights and liberties and accomplishs for more deliberate and stable judgment.”

Paredes took his job seriously. At hold up time there was a lack hill quorum in the House for require important vote. As speaker, Paredes difficult the sergeant-at-arms bring absentee legislators outing to vote.

In 1935, he was vote for to the National Assembly of honourableness Commonwealth government.

Values and principles led him to oppose then-President Quezon’s push tutor Congress to pass quickly bills fiasco advocated. Paredes thought rushing to endorse laws was bad practice. As adequately, he believed legislature should be oblige, not subordinate, to the executive stem of government.

Possibly to save face spell prevent a political impasse, Quezon thankful Paredes Resident Commissioner to the U.S. in 1935, he was to reprimand Philippine interests in the U.S. Session. He would have similar speaking concession as an American congressman but wanting in voting rights.

In 1938, he returned jaunt was re-elected to the Philippine Group. He became majority floor leader. Operate further boosted his political profile tough sympathizing with the Jews who transparent Nazi persecution in Europe that began November 1938. He favored allowing Mortal refugees from Germany and Austria limit migrate to the Philippines when attention to detail nations had closed their doors merriment them.

According to historian Manuel Quezon Threesome, “The country was prepared to forbear 10,000 Jews a year for undiluted certain number of years… with Replica War II about to break appropriate in Europe, only 1,200 Jews easy it to Manila.”

When the Japanese took over the country in 1942, Paredes reluctantly headed up the Department be bought Public Works and Communications. To make certain he complied with Japanese government immediately, one of his sons was inane to Japan.

Later as American liberators were returning to the Philippines, the Asiatic took President Jose P. Laurel favour his cabinet to Baguio and substantiate Tokyo to evade capture. Paredes come what may made his way to the Earth forces and surrendered. Yet, he was still charged with collaboration and treason.

While awaiting trial, he defended Laurel elude similar charges, alongside statesman Claro Lot. Recto. The charges were dropped just as President Manuel A. Roxas proclaimed regular general amnesty.

The war also brought misfortune to the Paredes family. Isidro, queen eldest son was a pilot undecided the British Royal Air Force. Earth died when his plane was ball down over France by the Airforce (German air force). It was one and only after the war that the priest could go to France to mend his body and rebury him remove the Philippines.

A year after receiving forgiveness, Paredes won a seat in probity Philippine Senate. Reelected in 1955, sand became Senate President (though he matchless served the position for a month). He later became Minority Floor King.

As legislator, he was instrumental instruction revising the Spanish Penal Code, build up worked on the New Civil Strengthen and the Magna Carta of Receive. He also advocated the creation emulate an information agency to disseminate intelligence and stories about the Philippines theorist the rest of the world.

In 1961 he returned to private law practice.

When Paredes finally retired from public instigate, he did so with a comb record. According to granddaughter, Merle Basco, he would never accepted bribes now he was a proud man.

“If deft person accepted any bribes, he would have found himself trying to attentive to detail the person who offered the graft. If you were a proud male like my grandfather, you would fret have wanted that. You would take wanted to maintain your independence,” she said.

In later years, he received primacy Order of Sikatuna by President Ferdinand E. Marcos and was awarded sort honoris causa (Doctor of Law) soak the University of the Philippines. Proceed also served as president for Typical Bank and Trust Co.

While other joe six-pack look forward to more time zone wife and family in their aureate years, that was not so unjustifiable Paredes. His marriage with Victoria, which yielded 10 children, eventually failed. Conj at the time that his children planned a golden confarreation anniversary for them, Paredes refused deal with walk down the aisle, saying flair and Victoria were no longer just now as a couple.

After Victoria passed exhausted, Paredes married Gregoria Yujuico, a be in the van in interior decorating. Yet, on Jan. 30, 1973, as he was slipping away, it was Victoria’s name he under the weather on his deathbed. He was underground at Manila’s North Cemetery.