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Jorge B. Vargas
Jouge B. Vargas and his daughter (cropped).jpg
Vargas and his daughter
Prime Minister (de facto)
In office
October 14, 1943 – August 17, 1945
President José P. Laurel
Preceded by Pedro A. Paterno (as Prime Minister)
Succeeded by Ferdinand E. Marcos (as Prime Minister)
Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission
In office
January 23, 1942 – October 14, 1943
Governor-General Masaharu Homma
Shizuichi Tanaka
Shigenori Kuroda
Preceded by Himself
As Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration
Succeeded by José P. Laurel (as President)
Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration
In concurrent capacity with the mayoralty of Manila
In office
December 22, 1941 – January 23, 1942
Appointed by Manuel Quezon
Succeeded by Himself
As Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission
1st Mayor of the City of Greater Manila
(11th Mayor of Manila)
In office
December 24, 1941 – January 26, 1942
Appointed by Manuel Quezon
Vice Mayor Hermenegildo Atienza (as Vice Mayor for Manila)
Preceded by Position established (City of Greater Manila)
Juan Nolasco (as Mayor of Manila)
Succeeded by Leon Guinto, Sr.
Secretary of National Defense
In office
December 11, 1941 – December 22, 1941
Appointed by Manuel Quezon
Preceded by Manuel Quezon
in concurrent capacity as President
Succeeded by Basilio Valdez
1st Executive Secretary of the Philippines
In office
January 30, 1936 – December 11, 1941
Appointed by Manuel Quezon
Preceded by Post created
Succeeded by Manuel Roxas
6th Vice Mayor of Manila
In office
January 1, 1932 – January 4, 1940
Appointed by Manuel Quezon
Mayor Tomas Earnshaw (1932-1933)
Juan Posadas Jr. (1934-1940)
Preceded by Juan Posadas, Jr.
Succeeded by Carmen Planas
Director General of the Philippine Carnival Association
In office
1921–1922
Preceded by Vicente Morente
Succeeded by Arsenio Luz
Personal details
Born
Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis

(1890-08-24)August 24, 1890
Bago, Negros Occidental, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died February 22, 1980(1980-02-22) (aged 89)
Manila, Philippines
Political party Nacionalista
Other political
affiliations
KALIBAPI (1942–1945)
Spouses Marina Yulo
Adelaida Montilla Peña
Children 8
Parents Ángel Tiongco Vargas (father)
Filomena Trinidad Celis (mother)
Alma mater University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B)

Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis (August 24, 1890 – February 22, 1980) was a Filipino lawyer, diplomat and youth advocate born in Bago, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911 and a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1914, both from the University of the Philippines. He was a founding member of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (now the Philippine Olympic Committee) in 1911 and served in its executive committee in 1918. He served as its second chairman from 1935 to 1955. He was also the first Filipino member of the International Olympic Committee.

Early life and education

Vargas was born on August 24, 1890 in Bago, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He graduated valedictorian from Negros Occidental High School in 1909 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911 and a Bachelor of Law degree with honors in 1914, both from the University of the Philippines.

Career and founder

He was a founding member of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation (now the Philippine Olympic Committee) in 1911 and served in its executive committee in 1918. He served as its second chairman from 1935 to 1955. He was also the first Filipino member of the International Olympic Committee.

Government service

Jouge B. Vargas and his daughter
Vargas and his daughter, 1943

After being admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1914, he was appointed as a law clerk for the Philippine Commission in 1915. He was promoted to the position of chief clerk of the Department of the Interior in 1917.

In 1918, he served as the legislative secretary to Speaker Sergio Osmeña of the House of Representatives.

In 1921, Vargas succeeded Vicente Morente as director-general of the Philippine Carnival Association which ran the Manila Carnival. He was succeeded by Arsenio Luz the following year.

In 1936, Vargas was appointed by President Manuel L. Quezon as his executive secretary, becoming the first in the country to serve in such a position.

When the Japanese invaded the country in 1941, Vargas was designated to the Department of National Defense as its secretary. A few weeks later, he was appointed by President Manuel Quezon as mayor of the City of Greater Manila in 1941. His responsibilities included administering the open city upon the arrival of occupational troops of the Imperial Japanese Army on January 2, 1942.

By 1942, Vargas became chairman of the Japanese-sponsored Philippine Executive Commission. During the collaborationist Second Philippine Republic, he was once asked by the Japanese to assume the Presidency, but he declined. He instead served as the regime's Ambassador to Japan. In that position, he was quoted shortly before Japanese troops were driven from Manila as stating that "we know Japan is destined for sure victory and prosperity for ages to come."

Vargas served as chairman of the National Planning Commission from 1946 to 1954 and was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965. In 1960, the Philippines conferred on him the Legion of Honor with the rank of commander.

Scouting

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Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center (UP Diliman)

Vargas involvement with scouting started in 1935 when he became a member of the executive board of the Philippine Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Together with other Philippine scouting advocates, he became one of the charter members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines in 1936.

Upon the death of Manuel Camus in 1949, Vargas was unanimously chosen by the National Executive Board to serve as the president and chief scout of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. He served the position of national president until 1961. He became a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1951 to 1957.

Vargas was awarded the Bronze Wolf in 1959 and received other awards including the Silver Tamaraw (Philippines), Silver Fox (Canada), Silver Ibex (Austria), Silver Wolf (UK), and in 1959 also received the highest distinction of the Scout Association of Japan, the Golden Pheasant Award. He also became the first recipient of the Tanglaw ng Kabataan (Light of the Youth) Award of the BSP in 1961.

Death

Vargas died on February 22, 1980, in Manila, Philippines at the age of 89.

Honours

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jorge B. Vargas para niños

  • Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center
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