The Past Leaders of Quezon City: Morato

Don Tomas Bernabeau Morato was a full-bloodied Spaniard who was born in the picturesque seaport of Alicante, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, on July 4, 1887. His father was a ship captain who sailed from Spain to the Philippines and frequently stopped at the coastal town of Calauag, Tayabas. An only son, Tomas was brought to this place in 1898 by his father. Here he studied and met Quezon when he was only 13; the latter was then 22 years old. Tomas finished his engineering course and entered the lumber business where he amassed quite a fortune. By virtue of a proviso in the Treaty of Paris which granted Filipino Citizenship to all Spaniards who had decided to stay in this country, Morato became a Filipino citizen.

His friendship with Quezon was a rare and unique one. They courted girls together, and helped each other during difficult times. When Quezon was elected president of the Philippine Commonwealth, he entered Malacanang for the first time with Morato and Nonong (Quezon’s son). And thereafter, Morato-or Tommy, as Quezon called him- was one of the very few people who could enter Malacanang at all times, even staying overnight as was often the case.

Mayor Morato, technically speaking was the first mayor of Quezon City because although Quezon signed his appointment paper on November 10, 1939, he made retroactive to October 12, 1939, the day Quezon City was officially created.

It was under Morato’s term that the cornerstone for the Quezon City Hall was laid on November 15, 1940, fifth anniversary of the Philippine Commonwealth. Carunungan in his book depicts the zeal and energy with which Morato tackled the tremendous difficulties beset him in launching the growth and development of Quezon City. Despite very limited funds, he was able to construct a network of roads in accordance with the Frost Master Plan and despite an inadequate police force of only 48; he was able to contain criminality. On the belief that “Vice is the father of crime”, he caused the “eradication of vices, gambling, chance halls, cockpits, cabarets and other social evils in the new City”.

The maintenance of satisfactory health conditions and public welfare among the residents by the expansion of the work of health institutions under the command of the city are given careful attention, the promotion of social justice program through conferences with the leaders of discontented elements and by providing them employments in the government projects in the new city is ameliorating social and economic conditions among the poor residents.

The formation of a constructive program for maintenance of the city finances on sound basis and the encouragement of the development of local industries are among the projects which Mayor Morato urgently desired to accomplish during his administration to make Quezon City a model community.

from http://www.qcpubliclibrary.org/qcmanuscript.php#morato_administration