QUEZON Y MOLINA, Manuel Luis (1878-1944), Philippine leader, born in Baler, and educated at the University of San Tomás. He began to practice law in 1903 and was elected governor of his native province of Tayabas (now Quezon) two years later.  He became a member of the first Philippine assembly in 1906. As resident commissioner to the U.S. Congress (1909-16), he worked for Philippine independence. He was elected the first president of the newly formed transitional Commonwealth of the Philippines in 1935 and reelected in 1941. After the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II, he escaped to the U.S., where he headed the Philippine government in exile until his death. Quezon City and Quezon Province are named for him.