Ponciano Bernardo

Ponciano A. Bernardo (December 2, 1905 – April 28, 1949) was a Filipino engineer and politician who served as mayor of Quezon City, holding the position from 1947 until his death in 1949. It was during his tenure that Quezon City was designated as the capital city of the Philippines.

Personal life

Ponciano A. Bernardo was born in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. His father was a son of Pandi, Bulacan Province who had migrated to Nueva Ecija with his cousin [Francisco Bernardo Oliveros] of Papaya, Nueva Ecija whose two sisters were left behind in Pandi [Luisa Bernardo Oliveros-Cruz and Rosenda Bernardo Oliveros-Contreras] as well as the rest of the family and their cousins [Mariano Bernardo, Catalino Bernardo, Valentina Bernardo] whose sons and grandson became mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan [Atty. Matias Bernardo Ramirez], Balagtas, Bulacan [Mamerto Carpio Bernardo], Pandi, Bulacan [Atty. Jose Espina Bernardo and Mamerto Carpio Bernardo, 'The Father of Pandi, Bulacan'] and Angat, Bulacan [Benito Bernardo Cruz].

Bernardo married Josefina Bernardo, and the couple had eight children: Carrie, Josefina, Ponciano Jr., Noli, Juliet, Marichu, Sonny and Cherry.

Bernardo finished his primary and secondary education in Cabanatuan City, and entered the University of the Philippines as a civil engineering student. He graduated from there in 1927.

Professional life

After graduation, Bernardo joined the Bureau of Public Works - Department of Public Works and Highways. In 1929, he was named as an assistant provincial engineer of Tayabas, the home province of Manuel L. Quezon, who would become President in 1935. Bernardo also held various provincial posts as a government engineer in Baguio City and Antique. In 1940, President Manuel L. Quezon appointed him as vice-mayor and city engineer of the newly established Quezon City.

On December 24, 1946, Bernardo was appointed mayor of Quezon City by President Sergio Osmeña. He was sworn into office on January 1, 1947. During his tenure, in 1948, that Quezon City became the capital of the Philippines in lieu of Manila.

Under Bernardo's leadership, a city police force - Philippine National Police was constituted and a new city hall was constructed in Cubao. Funds were also allocated for the construction of a park later named 'Bernardo Park', a market in Galas, and a public high school.

Death

On April 28, 1949, Bernardo, along with former First Lady Aurora Quezon and several others, were killed in an ambush in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. They were en route to President Quezon's hometown of Baler to dedicate a hospital in memory of the late President.

Legacy

An elementary school and a high school in Quezon City have been named in memory of Ponciano A. Bernardo: Ponciano Bernardo High School in Cubao, Quezon City, as well as Bernardo Park.