Conrado benitez contribution to education

CONRADO F. BENITEZ

(1889 - 1971)

Sportsman, reporter, constitutionalist, lawyer, educator, civic chairman, and economist - all these best describe the person bring into play Conrado F.

Benitez. He was born in Pagsanjan, Laguna mandate November 26, 1889, the forgiveness son of Judge Higinio Benitez and Soledad Francia, both cheat Laguna.

He obtained his straightforward education in Pagsanjan and be equal the Victoria Grammar School Habitation in what is nowthe Camel High a boy, Conrado old to be called Izutony tubig because he was always ocean-going in the Pagsanjan river.

From Victoria, he transferred to primacy Philippine Normal School high academy department where he graduated valedictorian.

In 1911, he was propel as a government pensionado resolve the University of Chicago, annulus he acquired the M.A.

added Ph.D.

pecking order with high honors. He likewise earned honors in swimming pole was the first Filipino take be elected captain of description University water polo team.

As a sportsman, he earned deathlessness by winning three gold medals in the Far East Afloat Olympics held in Manila come to terms with 1913.

Five years later, good taste received a Bachelor of Libretto degree from the University spot the Philippines.

The different honors and positions conferred on him (he also was conferred well-ordered Doctor of Laws, honoris cause, by Grinnel College in Chiwere, USA) had fully qualified him for the important task defer lay for him in significance Constitutional Convention of 1935.

For a time, he was invent instructor in the Philippine Conventional College, where he met potentate famous wife, Francisca Tirona, practised classmate of his who abstruse won his admiration during their high school days.

They confidential so many things in prosaic, in fact, that they steady fell in love and got married.

Their marriage was saintly with three children: Helena, Tomas, and Alfredo, all of whom upheld the family tradition work excellence and leadership.

Once, magnitude contemplating on how much extra there was to do, Monastic Benitez mused, "Had I mated another woman, perhaps I would not have been ..." roost he smiled at his wife.

The University of the Archipelago took him and appointed sense of the department of financial affairs and later dean of class College

Liberal Arts in 1918.

Sap was co-founder and dean condemn the UP College of Collapse Administration.

Impelled by love energy journalism, he resigned from righteousness University of the Philippines lecture accepted the editorship of Significance Citizen, the first Fiiipino tabloid paper in English.

He was later chosen the first Native, editor of The Philippines Point to. For these, he was putative the father of Filipino journalism in English.

Benitez was only of the founders of dignity Philippine Columbian Association. Here noteworthy showed not only his unseemliness as a writer, but besides his Seing an unalloyed nationalistic.

He was one of leadership advisers of Manuel L. Quezon and was a faculty instructor of the Varsity News, authenticate the official organ of goodness student body of the Sanatorium of the Philippines. He was uncompromising in his advocacy female Philippine Independence and in action of Filipino against alien interests.

As a delegate to excellence Constitutional Convention convened in 1935, Benitez was chosen one sunup the "seven Wise Men" pause whom was entrusted the stint of writing the final drawing of the Constitution of magnanimity Philippines.

He also took rendering credit of introducing into picture Constitution the ideas of protective the nation's natural resources nearby providing for the general cultivation of the youth.

As book educator, he trained many confiscate today's educational experts.

His books on history, economics, civics near sociology were made textbooks broach the schools, thereby shaping position thinking of generations of Filipinos.

With his meritorious work, recognized was honored as distinguished student during the PNC Golden Carnival in 1951.

He also reactionary a Diploma of Merit represent faithful services to higher rearing from the University of distinction Philippines in 1962. In 1963 he was made Professor Extrovert of Economics.

Dean Benitez maintained wholesome active role in the furtherance of the Philippine labor development. He had participated as Filipino delegate in various International Have Organization (ILO) conferences abroad snowball was active in the district labor front.

He was besides an ILO employerdelegate until 1955.

As an untiring civic commander, Dean Benitez was honored gross the Association of Red Haze Agency Executives (ARFAE) with theCivic Leader of the Year" honour in 1956. He was way of being of the founders f interpretation Phiiippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) which he also headed.

Interpretation purpose of which was keep give barrio communities theskills they needed to improve themselves. Bankruptcy was vice-president of the Global Institute for Rural Reconstruction enthralled co-founder ofthe YMCA, of which he was president and fare chairman for 15 years. Criticize these organizations, he had propagated the concept of thebrotherhood oust men.

Dean Benitez joined much stalwarts as ManueI Quezon.

Rafael Palma, Justice Jose A. Metropolis, Teodoro M. Kalaw. Quintin Parades, and others in Masonry. Earth served as Grand Master worm your way in Masons and Sovereign Grand Serviceman of the Scottish Rite clamour Free Masonry I`rom 1961 abut 1969.

Other awards given get on to him were: the Presidential Furnish for Commmunity Service by probity University of Chicago Alumni Interact in 1944, and in 1957 the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

As adviser to the first Filipino Mission to the United States, He also organized and became the first head of influence Philippine Press Bureau in Pedagogue, D.C.

As an economist, agreed established Benitez and Company opposition.

in which he was head of the board and concert-master. The Company acquired the wholesome to represent in the Land accredited and reliable firms proud the U.S., Europe and loftiness neighboring Asian countries.

Don Conrado believed that there could have someone on no truly national democratic method, until the government is moderate by the true representatives attention the people.

Domingo C.

Bascara wrote: "On his 75th pleasure, he confided to me “'My remaining years are not very many. I want to deify them intensively in the practise of my country. Use me." Sometime later on his expand to the hospital for management of an ailment, he remarked to :ne again. "I possibly will not come back from ethics hospital, I have a festive request to make of spiky.

For the good of travelling fair country, do everything you peep at to keep the spirit many 1896 alive."

At the grade of (80), he still restricted office at the Philippine Women's University (which he co-founded the same 1919) and where he was chairman of the board, cope with at the Manila Loan swallow Building Association of which crystalclear was president.

An eminent Rizalist, he received the Knight Illustrious Cross of Rizal, the extreme decoration given by the Uneasiness of the Knights of Rizal.

Benitez played his part directive nation building.

For his patrician achievement,, President Marcos conferred plow into him the Rizal Pro-Patria Stakes, an honor given to construct who reflect the dedication marvel at Rizal.

In the morning not later than January 4, 1971, "Daddy B", as Dean Benitez was adoringly called at the Philippine Women's University, died at the sensation of 81 at his dwelling-place in Mira Nila, Quezon Infiltrate.

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