Apprentice to MLQ

CPR with MLQ, 1922

Carlos Romulo’s admiration of Manuel L. Quezon was nothing short of hero-worship. Although still a student, Rommy was working as a beat reporter assigned to the Philippine Senate when he first set eyes on Quezon in 1917.

“Quezon was a natural idol,” he recalled later, “especially for young boys such as myself. He was proud. He was brave. He was elegant.”

When Quezon finally took notice of Rommy and invited him to work for The Citizen, the future Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist jumped at the chance. “He knew he was my hero,” Romulo wrote. “He was the hero of all Filipino youth. Quezon was an idealist, but he was a pragmatist as well, and the needs of the Philippines were his all-in-all. If any talent of mine could serve those needs in the smallest way then I would be grist for his mill.”

Until Quezon’s death in 1944, Romulo faithfully served him in various capacities. It was as his personal assistant that Romulo accompanied Senate President Quezon to Washington, DC, in 1922, on a mission to appeal to President Harding for Philippine autonomy.

After spending three months traveling and working closely with him, Romulo’s admiration for Quezon only grew. He felt inspired and invigorated. “How much at ease he was in Washington, and how well thought of by the Americans on Capitol Hill. I was proud of him, proud to be seen with him, proud of the small victories won.”

“There are three things that we want made plain,” Quezon laid out. “First, we want full independence; second, we are entirely capable of running our own government; third, we appreciate what the United States has done for us and will always want her friendship.”

“Our return home was a triumph. Once I had watched Quezon make such an entry into Manila from my perch with other students on the old Spanish wall. Now I was part of his entourage. Part of the glory of his return rubbed off on me.”