Tomas Morato Exiled

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

JUNE 19, 1942

Tomas Eduardo Bernabeu Morato was exiled after being arrested by Japanese troops during his term as mayor of Quezon City. 

He was a Spanish-born Filipino businessman, politician and the first mayor of Quezon City. 

Born in Alicante, Spain on July 3, 1887, he was the only son of Francisco Morato Arabi and Josefa Bernabeau Ferrer. 

His father who was a ship captain brought him to the Philippines in 1898. 

One of the provisions of the Treaty of Paris was the granting of Filipino citizenship to all Spaniards who decided to stay. 

He became a Filipino citizen and was the best friend of Manuel L. Quezon and he accompanied Quezon to Malacañang when he won the presidency. 

The president encouraged him to run as mayor of Calauag which he won. 

When the plan to create a city was revealed to him by Quezon, he was appointed by the president to be the first mayor. 

It was only on June 16, 1950 that Pres. Elpidio Quirino signed Republic Act No. 537 that mayors of the city shall no longer be appointed by the president. 

He represented Quezon's 2nd District as a member of the House of Representatives (1946-1949). Tomas Morato died on March 6, 1965.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org