What contibutions did Sergio Osmeña make for the Philippine government?
Osmena served in various capacities in government. He was governor of Cebu (appointed and elected) in the first decade of American rule in the Philippines, and became Speaker of the Philippine Assembly (legislature) at age 29, in 1907. He became Vice President during the Commonwealth era for two terms. Upon the death of Manuel Quezon in 1944, he became President of the Commonwealth. Unfortunately, it was a tricky time: the Japanese were still in the country and the US under Gen. McArthur was still trying to reconquer the Philippines. The accomplishments of Osmena under these circumstances, therefore, appear modest. To be sure, the American government continued to recognize him as the rightful leader of the Philippine Commonwealth. Upon the expulsion of the Japanese, Osmena restored the Commonwealth and tried to obtain aid from the US for reparations and reorganization. Osmena labored hard for independence; this was probably a reason why the US decided not to postpone Philippine indepen
