11 - “Asia for the Asians” or How to Leave Arlegui in Six Months

Summary

About this time, Guerrero became a regular patron of the Philippine Artists Gallery showcasing Filipino neo-realist painters. The gallery exhibited paintings of his brother Mario who was serving as the president of its board of directors. Mario's wife, Helen Roces, held one of her own exhibitions in November 1952. Guerrero bought art pieces by Arturo R. Luz, Romeo Tabuena and Fernando Zobel. He was also taken in as one of the judges for the second Palanca awards for the short story division in December at the Manila Hotel.

Together with Senator Recto and opposition leaders in February 1953, Guerrero demanded the final judgment from the Supreme Court on the Emergency Powers Act filed back in 1949. The Supreme Court justices declared it void in favour of the petitioners as well as invalidated the Executive Orders allotting about PHP50 million for public works and typhoon relief, which was only intended for election purposes. It was a patent victory for the opposition who was wary again of Quirino's dirty tactics as the incumbent president was trying his last-ditch efforts to win again in the coming elections in November.

In commemoration of his grandfather's birth centenary, Guerrero spoke on behalf of the family before University of Santo Tomas (UST) faculty and students in March. Rather philosophical, he tried to impart the special message he found in his grandfather's life. As botanist, his grandfather looked for the “flower of happiness”. As pharmacist, he sought the “recipe for happiness”. In both instances, he said, his grandfather succeeded for he believed “he was happy”. Did his generation fail to be contented? His own answer was a reflection of his long years in public service when he said: “We belong to a money-minded generation and a generation that is obsessed with politics, not as a means of public service but as an opportunity of personal advancement.” In effect, he was assessing his first-hand experiences in the Senate, a six-year witness to Senate intrigues, quarrels and grandstanding.