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{{Short description|Filipino lawyer, diplomat and youth advocate}}
{{Spanish name|Vargas}}
{{Family name hatnote|Vargas|Celis|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox President |
{{Use Philippine English|date=May 2023}}
name = Jorge B. Vargas |
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
image = Jouge B Vargas and Homma Masaharu.jpg|
{{Infobox officeholder
caption = Vargas with Japanese General Homma, 1943 |
order = Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission |
| name = Jorge B. Vargas
| image = Hon. Jorge B. Vargas.jpg
term_start = January 23, 1942 |
| caption =
term_end = October 14, 1943 <ref>Appointed by [[Manuel L. Quezon]], December 30, 1941 as Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration; then appointed by [[Masaharu Homma]] as head of government, January 23, 1942</ref> |
| office =
predecessor = [[Manuel L. Quezon]] (as Philippine President) |
successor = [[Jose P. Laurel]] |
| status =
| term_start =
birth_date = {{birth date|1890|8|24}} |
| term_end =
birth_place = [[Bago City]], [[Negros Occidental]] |
dead = dead |
| predecessor =
| successor =
death_date = {{death date and age|1980|2|22|1890|8|24}} |
| president =
death_place = [[Manila]], [[Philippines]] |
party = [[Philippine Executive Commission|Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas]] |
| office1 = Presiding Officer of the [[Philippine Executive Commission]]
| 1blankname1 = [[Governor-General of the Philippines#Japanese military governors (1942–1945)|Governor-General]]
spouse = Marina Yulo Vargas |
| 1namedata1 = [[Masaharu Homma]]<br>[[Shizuichi Tanaka]]<br>[[Shigenori Kuroda]]
religion = [[Roman Catholic]] |
| term_start1 = January 23, 1942
| president=[[Masaharu Homma]]/Japanese Military Administration (1942) <br /> [[Jose P. Laurel]] (1943-1944)
| term_end1 = October 14, 1943<ref>Appointed by [[Manuel L. Quezon]] as head of the Civilian Emergency Administration, December 30, 1941; then appointed by [[Masaharu Homma]] as head of government, January 23, 1942</ref>
| predecessor1 = Himself <br /><small>As Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration</small>
| successor1 = [[José P. Laurel]] <small>(as [[President of the Philippines|President]])</small>
| office2 = Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration <br /><small>In concurrent capacity with the mayoralty of Manila</small>
| term_start2 = December 22, 1941
| term_end2 = January 23, 1942
| successor2 = Himself <br /><small>As Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission</small>
| appointer2 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]
| office4 = 1st [[Mayor]] of the [[City of Greater Manila]]<br />{{small| (10th [[Mayor of Manila]]) }}
| appointer4 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]
| deputy4 = {{collapsible list
|title=List
|[[Hermenegildo Atienza]] <small>(as [[Vice Mayor]] of [[Manila]])</small>
|Cornelio Cordero <small>(as Assistant Mayor for [[Caloocan]])</small>
|José Villena <small>(as Assistant Mayor for [[Makati]])</small>
|Pedro Cruz <small>(as Assistant Mayor for [[Mandaluyong]])</small>
|Moises San Juan <small>(as Assistant Mayor for [[Pasay]])</small>
|Daniel Santiago <small>(as Assistant Mayor for [[San Juan, Metro Manila|San Juan]])</small>
}}
}}
| term_start4 = December 24, 1941
| term_end4 = January 26, 1942
| predecessor4 = Position established ([[City of Greater Manila]])<br /><small>[[Juan Nolasco (politician)|Juan Nolasco]]</small> <small>(as [[Mayor of Manila]])</small>
| successor4 = [[León Guinto]]
| office5 = [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of National Defense]]
| appointer5 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]
| term_start5 = December 11, 1941
| term_end5 = December 22, 1941
| predecessor5 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]<br /><small>''in concurrent capacity as President''</small>
| successor5 = [[Basilio Valdez]]
| office6 = 1st [[Executive Secretary (Philippines)|Executive Secretary of the Philippines]]
| appointer6 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]
| term_start6 = January 30, 1936
| term_end6 = December 11, 1941
| predecessor6 = ''Post created''
| successor6 = [[Manuel Roxas]]
| office7 = 7th [[Mayor of Manila#Vice Mayor|Vice Mayor of Manila]]
| term_start7 = January 1, 1932
| term_end7 = January 4, 1940
| 1blankname7 = {{nowrap| Mayor}}
| 1namedata7 = Tomas Earnshaw (1932–1933)<br> Juan Posadas Jr. (1934–1940)
| predecessor7 = [[Isabelo de los Reyes]]
| successor7 = [[Carmen Planas]]
| appointer7 = [[Manuel L. Quezon]]
| office8 = [[Director General]] of the Philippine Carnival Association
| term_start8 = 1921
| term_end8 = 1922
| predecessor8 = Vicente Morente
| successor8 = [[Arsenio Luz]]
| birth_name = Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis
| birth_date = {{birth date|1890|8|24}}
| birth_place = [[Bago, Negros Occidental|Bago]], [[Negros Occidental]], [[Captaincy General of the Philippines]], [[Spanish East Indies]]
| nationality = Filipino
| death_date = {{death date and age|1980|2|22|1890|8|24}}
| death_place = [[Manila]], [[Philippines]]
| party = [[Nacionalista Party|Nacionalista]]
| spouse = Marina Yulo<br />Adelaida Montilla Peña
| children = 8
| relatives = [[Ricky Vargas]] (grandson)
| parents = Ángel Tiongco Vargas (father)<br />Filomena Trinidad Celis (mother)
| otherparty = [[KALIBAPI]] (1942–1945)
| alma_mater = [[University of the Philippines Diliman]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]])
}}
'''Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis'''<ref>{{Citation |last=Concepcion |first=G. L. |title=The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection as a Microcosm of Art during the Commonwealth |date=n.d. |url=https://www.academia.edu/2336401 |page=4 |quote=Jorge Bartolome Vargas (1890-1980) became well known... |access-date=March 2, 2022 |via=Academia.edu |mode=cs1}}</ref> (August 24, 1890 – February 22, 1980) was a [[Filipino people|Filipino]] lawyer, diplomat and youth advocate born in [[Bago, Negros Occidental|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 Olympic Committee|Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation]] (now the [[Philippine Olympic Committee]]) in 1911 and served in its executive committee in 1918.<ref name="omh">{{Cite book |last=Boy Scouts of the Philippines |title=On My Honor |date=2001 |publisher=Boy Scouts of the Philippines |location=Manila |pages=136–137}}</ref> He served as its second chairman from 1935 to 1955. He was also the first Filipino member of the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref name="poc">{{Cite web |title=History of the POC |url=http://www.olympic.ph/history.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305202412/http://www.olympic.ph/history.html |archive-date=March 5, 2013 |access-date=September 11, 2012 |website=Philippine Olympic Committee}}</ref>


==Early life and education==
'''Jorge B. Vargas''' (August 24, 1890 – February 22, 1980) was a lawyer and youth advocate born in [[Bago City]], [[Negros Occidental]], [[Philippines]]. He graduated valedictorian from Bacolod 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 Olympic Committee|Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation]] (now the [[Philippine Olympic Committee]]) in 1911 and served in its Executive Committee in 1918<ref name="omh">On My Honor, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, 2001, p. 136-137.</ref>. He served as its second Chairman from 1935 to 1955. He was also the first Filipino member of the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref name="poc">[http://www.olympic.ph/history.html Philippine Olympic Committee]</ref>
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==
==Government service ==
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.
After being admitted to the Philippine [[Bar association|Bar]] in 1914, he was appointed as law clerk in the Philippine Commission. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to the position of Chief Clerk of the Department of the Interior in 1917.<ref>[http://www.dnd.gov.ph/ Philippine Department of Defense]</ref>


==Government service==
In 1918 he served as the legislative secretary to [[House speaker|Speaker]] [[Sergio Osmeña]] of the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]] and in 1919 was appointed by President [[Manuel L. Quezon]] as his Executive Secretary, becoming the first in the country to serve in such a position.<ref>[http://www.vargasmuseum.org Jorge B. Vargas Museum]</ref>
[[File:Jorge B. Vargas and his daughter.jpg|left|thumb|Vargas and his daughter, 1943]]
After being admitted to the Philippine [[Bar association|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 and Local Government|Department of the Interior]] in 1917.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Galang |first=Zoilo M. |title=Leaders of the Philippines: Inspiring Biographies of Successful Men and Women of the Philippines |date=1932 |publisher=National Publishing Company |location=Manila |language=en |author-link=Zoilo Galang}}</ref>


In 1918, he served as the legislative secretary to [[House speaker|Speaker]] [[Sergio Osmeña]] of the [[House of Representatives of the Philippines|House of Representatives]].<ref name="Vargas Museum" />
Vargas was designated by [[Philippine Commonwealth]] President Manuel Quezon as mayor of the Greater [[Manila]] area in 1941. His responsibilities included administering the [[open city]] upon the arrival of occupational troops of the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] on January 2, 1942.


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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Philippine Carnival Association |title=Manila Carnival Commercial and Industrial Fair a Recreation Center 1927 |date=1927 |publisher=Philippine Carnival Association |location=Manila |pages=25}}</ref>
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."<ref>"Japan is warned by puppet envoy of Manila's fate," Oakland Tribune, p. 2D, 1945-02-03.</ref>


In 1936, Vargas was appointed by President [[Manuel L. Quezon]] as his [[Executive Secretary (Philippines)|executive secretary]],<ref name="Vargas Museum">{{Cite web |title=About Jorge B. Vargas |url=https://vargasmuseum.org/about-jorge-b-vargas/ |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=Vargas Museum|date=August 24, 2021 }}</ref> becoming the first in the country to serve in such a position.
Vargas served as Chairman of the National Planning Commission from 1946–1954 and was a member of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines from 1961-1965. In 1960, the Republic of the Philippines conferred on him the [[Philippine Legion of Honor|Legion of Honor]] with the rank of Commander.<ref name="omh" />
[[File:Jouge B Vargas and his dauter.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Vargas and his daughter, 1943]]


When the Japanese invaded the country in 1941, Vargas was designated to the [[Department of National Defense (Philippines)|Department of National Defense]] as its secretary. A few weeks later, he was appointed by President 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.
==Scouting involvement==
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.<ref name="omh" />


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."<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 3, 1945 |title=Japan Is Warned by Puppet Envoy of Manila's Fate |pages=2D |work=Oakland Tribune}}</ref>
Upon the death of Manuel Camus in 1949 he was unanimously chosen by the National Executive Board to serve as the BSP's President and Chief Scout. 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 [[World Organization of the Scout Movement#Bronze Wolf|Bronze Wolf]] in 1959 and received other awards including the Silver Tamaraw (Philippines), Silver Fox (Canada), Silver Ibex (Austria), Silver Wolf (UK), and the White Eagle (Japan). He also became the first recipient of the ''Tanglaw ng Kabataan ''(Light of the Youth) Award of the BSP in 1961.<ref name="omh" />
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 [[Philippine Legion of Honor|Legion of Honor]] with the rank of commander.<ref name="omh" />

==Scouting==
[[File:UPmuseumjf3012 10.JPG|thumb|[[Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center]] ([[UP Diliman]])|left]]
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.<ref name="omh" />

Upon the death of Manuel Camus in 1949, Vargas was unanimously chosen by the National Executive Board to serve as the [[Presidents of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines|president]] and [[Chief Scouts of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines|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 black[[World Organization of the Scout Movement#Bronze Wolf Award|Bronze Wolf]] in 1959 and received other awards including the Silver Tamaraw (Philippines), Silver Fox (Canada), Silver Ibex (Austria), [[Silver Wolf Award (The Scout Association)|Silver Wolf]] (UK), and in 1959 also received the highest distinction of the [[Scout Association of Japan]], the [[Golden Pheasant Award]].<ref name="reinanzaka">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2014|script-title=ja:䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 |trans-title=Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan |url=http://reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811030258/http://reinanzaka-sc.o.oo7.jp/kiroku/documents/20140523-3-kiji-list.pdf |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |website=Reinanzaka Scout Club| language=ja}}</ref> He also became the first recipient of the ''Tanglaw ng Kabataan ''(Light of the Youth) Award of the BSP in 1961.<ref name="omh" />

==Death==
[[File:Jorge B. Vargas.jpg|right|thumb|Vargas in 1978]]
Vargas died on February 22, 1980, in [[Manila]], Philippines at the age of 89.

== Honours ==
*{{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}: Grand Cordon (1st Class) of the [[Order of the Rising Sun]] (October 1, 1943)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filipino Recipients of Japanese Decorations and Japanese Recipients of Philippine Decorations |url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/filipino-recipients-of-japanese-decorations-and-japanese-recipients-of-philippine-decorations/ |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=Official Gazette |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624200056/https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/featured/filipino-recipients-of-japanese-decorations-and-japanese-recipients-of-philippine-decorations/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Jorge B Vargas and Homma Masaharu.jpg|Vargas <nowiki>''(in white)''</nowiki> with Japanese General Homma, 1943
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Scouting|Politics}}
*[[Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center]]


==References==
==References==
{{Portal|Scouting}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
{{Start box}}
{{refbegin}}
{{Succession box|
* {{Cite book |last=Malay |first=Armando J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1V3RAAAAMAAJ |title=Occupied Philippines: The Role of Jorge B. Vargas During the Japanese Occupation |date=1967 |publisher=Filipiniana Book Guild |location=Manila |language=en }}
before= [[Masaharu Homma]] <br /> Japanese Military Administration|
* {{Cite thesis |last=Black |first=Jonathan |title=Jose P. Laurel and Jorge B. Vargas: Issues of Collaboration and Loyalty during the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines |date=2010 |degree=Senior |publisher=Claremont Colleges |url=http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=cmc_theses |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105214719/http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1071&context=cmc_theses |archive-date=November 5, 2015}}
title= Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission <br /> (''de facto'' [[Head of Government]]) |
{{refend}}
years= January 23, 1942 &ndash; October 14, 1943 |

after= [[Jose P. Laurel]] <br /> [[President of the Philippines]] |
{{S-start}}
}}
{{End box}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=Vicente Morente}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director-General of the Philippine Carnival Association|years=1921&ndash;1922}}
{{s-aft|after=Arsenio Luz}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Isabelo de los Reyes]]}}
{{s-ttl| title= Vice Mayor of [[Manila]]|years=1932&ndash;1940}}
{{s-aft| after= [[Carmen Planas]]}}
|-
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl| title= [[Executive Secretary (Philippines)|Executive Secretary]]|years=1936&ndash;1941}}
{{s-aft| after= [[Manuel Roxas]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Manuel L. Quezon]]}}
{{s-ttl| title= [[Secretary of National Defense (Philippines)|Secretary of National Defense]]|years=1941}}
{{s-aft| after= [[Basilio Valdez]]}}
|-
{{s-new|office}}
{{s-ttl| title= Mayor of the [[City of Greater Manila]]|years=1941&ndash;1942|rows=2}}
{{s-aft| after= [[León Guinto]]|rows=2}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Juan Nolasco|as=[[Mayor of Manila]]}}
|-
{{S-bef|before= [[Masaharu Homma]]|as=Japanese Military Administration}}
{{s-ttl| title= Presiding Officer of the [[Philippine Executive Commission]] <br /> (''de facto'' [[Head of Government]]) | years= 1942&ndash;1943}}
{{s-aft| after= [[Jose P. Laurel]]|as= [[President of the Philippines]]}}
|-
{{s-bef| before= [[Pedro Paterno]]|as=[[Prime Minister of the Philippines]]}}
{{s-ttl| title= [[Prime Minister of the Philippines|Ministries involved]]{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} |years= 1943&ndash;1945}}
{{s-aft| after= [[Ferdinand Marcos]]|as=[[Prime Minister of the Philippines]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Manila}}
{{Manila}}
{{Philippine Prime Ministers}}
{{Mayors of Manila}}
{{Mayors of Manila}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Philippine Olympic Committee Presidents}}
'''


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Vargas, Jorge B.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =August 24, 1890
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Bago City]], [[Negros Occidental]]
| DATE OF DEATH =February 22, 1980
| PLACE OF DEATH =[[Manila]], [[Philippines]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vargas, Jorge B.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vargas, Jorge B.}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award]]
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:Filipino civil servants]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the Philippines to Japan]]
[[Category:Filipino diplomats]]
[[Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Filipino Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Filipino lawyers]]
[[Category:Mayors of Manila]]
[[Category:Secretaries of national defense of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Executive secretaries of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Prime ministers of the Philippines]]
[[Category:People from Negros Occidental]]
[[Category:People from Negros Occidental]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bronze Wolf Award]]
[[Category:Scouting in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Scouting in the Philippines]]
[[Category:World Scout Committee members]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:University of the Philippines alumni]]
[[Category:Mayors of Manila]]
[[Category:World Scout Committee members]]
[[Category:Filipino collaborators with Imperial Japan]]
[[Category:Quezon administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:1890 births]]
[[Category:Laurel administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:1980 deaths]]
[[Category:KALIBAPI politicians]]

[[la:Georgius Vargas]]

Latest revision as of 15:02, 20 November 2024

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vargas and the second or maternal family name is Celis.

Jorge B. Vargas
Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission
In office
January 23, 1942 – October 14, 1943[1]
Governor-GeneralMasaharu Homma
Shizuichi Tanaka
Shigenori Kuroda
Preceded byHimself
As Head of the Civilian Emergency Administration
Succeeded byJosé 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 byManuel L. Quezon
Succeeded byHimself
As Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission
1st Mayor of the City of Greater Manila
(10th Mayor of Manila)
In office
December 24, 1941 – January 26, 1942
Appointed byManuel L. Quezon
Deputy
List
Preceded byPosition established (City of Greater Manila)
Juan Nolasco (as Mayor of Manila)
Succeeded byLeón Guinto
Secretary of National Defense
In office
December 11, 1941 – December 22, 1941
Appointed byManuel L. Quezon
Preceded byManuel L. Quezon
in concurrent capacity as President
Succeeded byBasilio Valdez
1st Executive Secretary of the Philippines
In office
January 30, 1936 – December 11, 1941
Appointed byManuel L. Quezon
Preceded byPost created
Succeeded byManuel Roxas
7th Vice Mayor of Manila
In office
January 1, 1932 – January 4, 1940
Appointed byManuel L. Quezon
MayorTomas Earnshaw (1932–1933)
Juan Posadas Jr. (1934–1940)
Preceded byIsabelo de los Reyes
Succeeded byCarmen Planas
Director General of the Philippine Carnival Association
In office
1921–1922
Preceded byVicente Morente
Succeeded byArsenio Luz
Personal details
Born
Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis

(1890-08-24)August 24, 1890
Bago, Negros Occidental, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish East Indies
DiedFebruary 22, 1980(1980-02-22) (aged 89)
Manila, Philippines
Political partyNacionalista
Other political
affiliations		KALIBAPI (1942–1945)
Spouse(s)Marina Yulo
Adelaida Montilla Peña
Children8
Parent(s)Ángel Tiongco Vargas (father)
Filomena Trinidad Celis (mother)
RelativesRicky Vargas (grandson)
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B)

Jorge Bartolomé Vargas y Celis[2] (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.[3] He served as its second chairman from 1935 to 1955. He was also the first Filipino member of the International Olympic Committee.[4]

Early life and education

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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.[5]

In 1918, he served as the legislative secretary to Speaker Sergio Osmeña of the House of Representatives.[6]

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.[7]

In 1936, Vargas was appointed by President Manuel L. Quezon as his executive secretary,[6] 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 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."[8]

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.[3]

Scouting

[edit]
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.[3]

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 blackBronze 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.[9] He also became the first recipient of the Tanglaw ng Kabataan (Light of the Youth) Award of the BSP in 1961.[3]

Death

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Vargas in 1978

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

Honours

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  • Vargas ''(in white)'' with Japanese General Homma, 1943
    Vargas ''(in white)'' with Japanese General Homma, 1943

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Appointed by Manuel L. Quezon as head of the Civilian Emergency Administration, December 30, 1941; then appointed by Masaharu Homma as head of government, January 23, 1942
  2. ^ Concepcion, G. L. (n.d.). The Jorge B. Vargas Art Collection as a Microcosm of Art during the Commonwealth. p. 4. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Academia.edu. Jorge Bartolome Vargas (1890-1980) became well known...
  3. ^ a b c d Boy Scouts of the Philippines (2001). On My Honor. Manila: Boy Scouts of the Philippines. pp. 136–137.
  4. ^ "History of the POC". Philippine Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  5. ^ Galang, Zoilo M. (1932). Leaders of the Philippines: Inspiring Biographies of Successful Men and Women of the Philippines. Manila: National Publishing Company.
  6. ^ a b "About Jorge B. Vargas". Vargas Museum. August 24, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Philippine Carnival Association (1927). Manila Carnival Commercial and Industrial Fair a Recreation Center 1927. Manila: Philippine Carnival Association. p. 25.
  8. ^ "Japan Is Warned by Puppet Envoy of Manila's Fate". Oakland Tribune. February 3, 1945. pp. 2D.
  9. ^ 䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 [Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan] (PDF). Reinanzaka Scout Club (in Japanese). May 23, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Filipino Recipients of Japanese Decorations and Japanese Recipients of Philippine Decorations". Official Gazette. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.

Further reading

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Government offices
Preceded by
Vicente Morente
 Director-General of the Philippine Carnival Association
1921–1922 		Succeeded by
Arsenio Luz
Political offices
Preceded by Vice Mayor of Manila
1932–1940 		Succeeded by
New office Executive Secretary
1936–1941 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of National Defense
1941 		Succeeded by
New office Mayor of the City of Greater Manila
1941–1942 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Juan Nolasco
as Mayor of Manila
Preceded byas Japanese Military Administration Presiding Officer of the Philippine Executive Commission
(de facto Head of Government)
1942–1943 		Succeeded byas President of the Philippines
Preceded byas Prime Minister of the Philippines Ministries involved[citation needed]
1943–1945 		Succeeded byas Prime Minister of the Philippines
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