Tomas Morato

Tomás Morató
Tomás Morató
	Tomas Morato Sr. as an Army Officer
1st Mayor of Quezon City
	In office; November 9, 1939 – December 22, 1942
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Ponciano Bernardo
Representative of the 2nd Legislative district of Quezon
	In office; 1943–1942
Preceded by	Francisco Lavides
Succeeded by	Gaudencio V. Vera
Mayor of Calauag, Tayabas
	In office; 1937–1941
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Marciano Roldan
Personal details
Born	Tomás Eduardo Morató Bernabéu; July 3, 1887; Xàbia, Alicante, Spain
Died	March 6, 1965 (aged 77); Quezon City, Philippines
Resting place	Manila North Cemetery
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Nacionalista Party
Spouse(s)	Cecilia Racoma Pica 1890-1931; Consuelo Eclavea Lim 1933-2004
Domestic partner	Felizedad Montemayor 1931-1933
Children	Josefina Morato-Hidalgo; Arturo Morato; Tomas Morato Jr.; Eduardo Morato; Josefina Montemayor Morato; Manuel Morato; Elvira Morato-Cuenca; Teresita Morato-Lazatin; Lolita Morato-Quiros; Francisco Morato; Jose Morato
Residence(s)	Calauag, Quezon, Quezon City
Occupation	Lumberman, politician

Tomas Eduardo Bernabeu Morato (born Tomás Eduardo Morató Bernabéu,^{[note 1]} July 3, 1887 – March 6, 1965) was a Spanish-born Filipino businessman and politician of full-blooded Spanish ethnicity who became the first Quezon City Mayor from 1939 to 1942.

Early life and career

The blond-haired and blue-eyed Morato was born on July 3, 1887 in the picturesque seaport of Alicante on the Mediterranean coast of Spain to Francisco Morató Arabí and Josefa Bernabéu Ferrer. 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 Calauag in 1898 by his father. There the 13-year-old boy first met and studied with the 22-year-old Quezon. Tomas finished his engineering course and entered the lumber business where he amassed quite a fortune. By virtue of a provison in the Treaty of Paris which granted Filipino citizenship to all Spaniards who have decided to stay in the Philippines, Morato became a Filipino citizen.^{[citation needed]}

Friendship with Quezon

It was in Baler where he met Manuel L. Quezon, the 2nd President of the Philippines, and became friends with him. 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 in 1935, he entered Malacañang for the first time with Morato and Manuel L. "Nonong" Quezon, Jr. And thereafter, Morato was one of the very few people who could enter Malacañang at all times, even staying overnight in some often cases.^[2]

Quezon himself urged Morato to enter politics, so he ran as Mayor of Calauag and won with ease. At his second term, Quezon invited him to help build a new city, a city that would later be known as Quezon City.^[2]

Mayor of Quezon City

Morato was a leader full of energy, taking difficult tasks that hinders growth and progress of the new city. Even though his administration faced low funds, it was able to create a network of new roads, and maintenance of satisfactory health conditions. With a police force of 48, crime rates remained at controlled levels. He also promoted social and economic programs to alleviate the condition of the residents.^[2]

The first musical piece composed for Quezon City was the “Quezon City March”, which was composed by Amando Calleja and the lyrics made by Jesus Balmori. The sponsors of this musical piece were the officials and members of the Cubao Women’s Club headed by Morato's wife.

Death

He died on March 6, 1965, his remains were interred at Manila North Cemetery.

Legacy

The popular restaurant row Tomas Morato Avenue, as well as a road in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City were named after him. A barangay (Don Tomas) and a street in Calauag, Quezon, were also named in memory of the last municipal President and first municipal Mayor of Calauag, Quezon.

Notes

^ Template:Spanish name

References

^ "Tomas B. Morato Residence". Retrieved 2011-12-05.
^ ^a ^b ^c "THE MORATO ADMINISTRATION". Retrieved 2011-12-05.

External links

Tomas Morato at WikiPilipinas
Tomas Morato at Find a Grave

Political offices
Preceded by new office	Mayor of Quezon City 1939–1942	Succeeded by Ponciano A. Bernardo

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[2] Template:Spanish name

[1] "Tomas B. Morato Residence". Retrieved 2011-12-05.

[THE_MORATO_ADMINISTRATION-3] "THE MORATO ADMINISTRATION". Retrieved 2011-12-05.

[1]

[note 1]

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