JORGE B. VARGAS
2nd Secretary of National Defense
December 11-22, 1941
Jorge B. Vargas was a lawyer, businessman, sportsman, civic leader and philantrophist.
He was born in Bago City, Occidental Negros on August 24, 1890, being the eldest son of Angel
Vargas Tiongco of Molo, Iloilo City and Filomena Celis Trinidad of Bago, Negros Occidental.
He learned his first letters under the private tutorship of Eustaquio Torres in Bago;
later went to Bago public School, 1899, Colegio de Niño de Bago under Emiliano Trinidad, 19001901; Kabankalan Public School, 1902; and Rizal Institute (Bacolod High School), 1903-1909,
being valedictorian of the first graduating class.
Continuing his studies in Manila, he entered the university of the Philippines in 19091914, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1911, and Bachelor of Laws degree with honors in
1914 as valedictorian. He was admitted to the Philippine bar in September 1914, and to the
U.S. supreme Court practice in April 1919.
While a student in the University of the Philippines, in the Philippine Carnival Essay
Contest in 1909, he won the prize consisting of W.E. Retana's Vida y Escritos de Jose Rizal. In
the same year, he became a member of the Junior Philippine Assembly, 1909-1910. He
qualified in the pensionado competitive examination in 1914, but was not sent to the United
States due to lack of funds.
He was appointed law clerk, Philippines Commission, January 1915; private secretary
to Commissioner Jaime C de Veyra in 1915; private secretary to the Secretary of Commerce and
Police, January 1916; private secretary to the Interior; September 1916; chief clerk,
Department of Interior upon the reorganization of the Executive Department in 1917; legislative
secretary to Speaker Sergio Osmeña, House of representatives, May 1917-1918.
Vargas was commissioned Major, Judge Advocate General's Department, Philippine
National Guard, 1917; aide and secretary to President Manuel L. Quezon as Chairman of Mission
and Executive Secretary, First Philippine Independence Mission, 1918-1919; secretary to
President Manuel L. Quezon, January 1920.
He became Assistant Director, Bureau of Commerce and Industry, April 1920 January 1922, then Acting Director, June 1920 - September 1921; member and secretary of the
Militia Commission, June 1920; Acting Director of Posts, April - May 1920; Secretary, Second
Philippine Independence Mission to the U.S., 1922; Undersecretary of Agriculture and Natural
Resources, 1928 - 1935.
He was designated Executive Secretary, Inauguration Committee, Philippine
Commonwealth, 1935; secretary to the President of the Philippines (Executive Secretary) with
cabinet rank, 1935 - 1941; Chairman of the Board of Directors. Philippine National Bank, 1936 1940.
In 1941, Vargas was appointed Acting Secretary of National Defense during the term
of President Manuel L. Quezon; mayor of the City of Greater Manila, 1942; chairman of the
Philippine Executive Commission, 1942-1943.
He became Ambassador to Japan 1943-1945; Chairman of the National Planning
Commission, 1946-1954; and member of the Board of Regents, University of the Philippines,
1961-1965.
Mr. Vargas' business connections and interest included the following;
President of the Binalbagan Sugar Estate, 1936-1940; President of the Kawilihan
Corporations; President of the Jorge b. Vargas, Inc.; President of the American Biscuit Co., Inc.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Imperial Hotel Ltd. (Hongkong); Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic-Pacific Corporation; Chairman of the Board of Directors
of Grech Food Industries, Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Services Ultra Marketing
Corporation.
As a sports enthusiasts, he was a charter member of the Philippine Amateur Athletic
Federation and member of its Executive Committee, 1918-1928; its Vice President in 19291935; its President in 1935-1955.
Head of the Philippine Delegation to the IXth Far Eastern Games in Tokyo, 1930; head
of the Philippine delegation to the Games on London, 1948; and Helsinki, 1952.
Representative of the Philippines in the First Congress of Asian Games Federation in
New Delhi, 1950; President of the Asian Games Federation, 1950-1954; member of its
Executive Committee in 1954-1958; and honorary president of same for life. He was elected
member of the International Olympic Committee since 1936.
When Judge Manuel Camus died, the burden of the presidency of the growing Boy
Scout Movement in the Philippines was taken over by Jorge B. Vargas. He held the post of
president and chief scout until 1960. Mr. Vargas' connection with the local scouting Movement
dates back as far as 1935. On that year, he became a member of the Executive Board of the
Philippine Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Together with the other six incorporators of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP),
he was greatly instrumental in the passage and subsequent approval of Commonwealth Act No.
111. Upon approval of this bill, he was elected first vice president of the BSP. In 1941, when
Col. Steve not had to make an extensive leave from the organization, he was designated acting
President.
BSP president Vargas had served as a member of the Boy Scouts International
Committee. From this body, he was awarded the Bronze Wolf Award for his distinguished and
meritorious services in the promotion of International Scouting. He is also a holder of the
highest Scouting awards from a number of foreign countries. From Canada he received the
Silver Fox Award. The British Boy Scouts Association awarded him the Silver Wolf and from
Japan, he was the recipient of the White Eagle Award.
Mr Vargas waqs not only active in many of his organizations but was one of the
original founders of the Boy Scout Movement in the Philippines. He was as International
Commissioner; a member of the Boy Scout International Committee; head of the Philippine
contingents to the Boy Scout World Jamboree held in Switzerland, Canada, England, Japan, and
the Philippines; President and Chief Scout of the Boy Scout of the Philippines; and President of
the Xth World Jamboree in the Philippines.
titles:
Mr. Vargas was a most decorated man with the following decorations, awards and
Most Distinguished Alumnus of the University of the Philippines, 1937; First Order of
Merit of the Meiji Decoration and Grand Cordon of the Rising Sun (Japan); Colegial de Honor,
Colegio de Guadalupe (Spain); and Philippine Legion of Honor (rank of Commander); one of the
highest decorations of the Philippine Government.
Mr. Vargas was married twice. With his first wife, Marina Yulo of Iloilo City, he had
eight children: Jorge Jr.; Angel Federico; Gregorio Roberto; Lourdes Filomena; Eduardo
Mariano; Ramon Teodoro; Teresita Carolina; and Maria luisa. He had no children by his second
wife, Adelaida Peña y Montilla of Isabela, Negros Occidental.
On March 1, 1978, Mr. Jorge B. Vargas bequeathed his collection of art, stamps and
coins, his library, personal papers and memorabilia to his Alma Mater, the University of the
Philippines.
Vargas died on February 22, 1980 at the Makati Medical Center, Makati City,
Philippines.
In 1983, the University of the Philippines laid the cornerstone for a building that
would house Mr. Vargas' collection, originally displayed in a private museum located in the
premises of his residence at the Kawilihan compound in Mandaluyong. The transfer of the
objects to the Diliman campus began in 1986. The museum building was formally inaugurated
by then President Corazon C. Aquino on February 22, 1987.