1939
President Manuel Luis Molina Quezón (1878-1944) acted as the first mayor of the city, which he had first envisioned as “Balintawak City.” Engineer Vicente Fragante served as Pres. Quezón’s temporary vice-mayor for one month, until a permanent city government was appointed.
1939-1942
Captain Tomás Eduardo Bernabéu Morató (1887-1965) was the mayor of Caluag, Tayabas Province, before he was appointed by Pres. Quezón. Morató was arrested and incarcerated by the Japanese, and never retook his position as mayor after his release. However, Morató would serve as a congressman of Quezon City in the 1950s.
1942-1943
Gregorio V. Felipe (killed 1944) was a councilor of the Municipality of San Juan del Monte, before he was appointed as the district chief of San Francisco del Monte, after the Japanese government dissolved Quezon City. Felipe’s counterparts, former Quezon City Health Officer Dr. Florencio Z. Cruz (1910-1983) and Atty. Oscar Castelo (1903-1982) were appointed as the district officers of Diliman and Balintawak. Felipe was later assassinated by Filipino guerillas.
1945-1946
Captain Sabino De León Sr. (born 1889) was the City Health Officer & Chief of Police during the term of Mayor Morató, then was appointed as assistant mayor of Greater Manila for Quezon City during the Reconstruction of the Philippines. De León would later serve as the governor the Province of Bataan.
1946-1949
Engineer Ponciano A. Bernardo (1905-1949) was the former City Engineer of Manila, when he was appointed as the vice-mayor of Morató. He was killed while accompanying Pres. Quezón’s widow, Doña Aurora Antonia Molina Aragón Quezón (1888-1949). Mayor Bernardo’s vice-mayors were Matias Defensor Sr. (1946-1947) and Gregorio B. Roxas (1948-1949).
1949-1950
Nicanor A. Roxas was the Assistant Executive Secretary to President Manuel Acuña Roxas (1892-1948), and was later appointed as mayor of Quezon City by Roxas’ successor, Pres. Elpidio Rivera Quirino (1890-1956). Roxas would later serve as the ambassador to the United States of America from 1954 to 1959, and ambassador to The Hague from 1959 to 1962. Mayor Roxas’s vice-mayor was Francisco P. Batacan.
1950-1953
Ignacio de la Cruz Santos-Diaz (born 1906) took over Roxas after a few months. After his term as mayor of Quezon City, Diaz would serve as a congressman of the Province of Rizal. Luis Sianghio would serve as the vice-mayor of Mayor Diaz.
1954-1976
Attorney Norberto Salandanan Amoranto (1907-1979) was appointed by President Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay (1907-1957), and was still retained as mayor by President Carlos Polestico Garcia (1896-1971) after Magsaysay’s untimely death. Mayor Amoranto would later run and win the first local elections, and would serve until his resignation in 1976. It was under Mayor Amoranto’s term that the Quezon City Hall and Diliman Quadrangle were completed. Mayor Amoranto’s vice-mayors were Ysidro Guevarra (1954-1959), Colonel Vicente Ochoa Novales (served 1960-1963, born 1923), future Nueva Ecija governor Mariano Santa Romana (1964-1967), future-mayor Ismael “Mel” Austria Mathay Jr. (served 1968-1971), and former AFP Chief of Intelligence and Chief of Naval Operations Commodore Carlos L. Albert (served 1972-1975).
1976-1986
Adelina Santos Rodriguez (born 1920) was married to the clan of Senator Eulogio “Amang” Adona Rodríguez Sr. (1883-1964), and distinguished herself in charity work, such as her programs for the Philippine Red Cross. In the 1960s, Rodriguez was active in the Quezon City the post-war relocation projects of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation. Rodriguez was appointed by President Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (1917-1989), after Mayor Amoranto’s resignation. Mayor Rodriguez’s vice-mayors were former actor and director Ronald Remy (served 1976-1980, born Ronald Kookooritchkin) and Stephen Sarino (served 1981-1986)
1986-1992
Brigido “Jun” R. Simón Jr. worked as the executive assistant in the Mindanao Development Authority and as a consultant to the National Housing Authority, before his appointment by President María Corazón “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino (1933-2009) after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. Mayor Simón is still active in politics as a consultant and campaign manager. Mayor Simon’s vice-mayors were Elmer Pormento (served 1986-1987), Amado Zabala (served 1987-1988), comedian and future senator Vicente “Tito” Castelo Sotto III (served 1988-1992, born 1948), and Alicia Herrera (served 1992).
1992-2001
Ismael “Mel” Austria Mathay Jr. (1932-2013) was exposed to the political arena by his father, who had served as the Commissioner of Budget and Finance for the War Cabinet and Secretary of the Budget under President Sergio Osmeña Sr. (1878-1961). Mathay has served as the vice-mayor under Mayor Amoranto and then the vice-governor of the MMC (Metro Manila Commission), before running as mayor of Quezon City. Mayor Mathay’s vice-mayors were Attorney Rosario “Charito” Lim Planas (served 1992-1995, born 1931-2017), comedian and future mayor Herbert Constantine “Bistek” Maclang Bautista (served 1995-1998, born 1968), and former actress Fe Consuelo “Connie” S. Angeles (served 1998-2001, born 1954).
2001-2010
Mayor Feliciano Belmonte served as the city’s mayor from 2001-2010. During his nine-year term, he transformed Quezon City from an economic laggard to to one of the country’s wealthiest and most well-managed. His leadership was marked by prudent fiscal management, aggressive tax management strategies, as well as increasing efficiency and growing discipline in the management and use of the city resources.
2010-2019
Herbert “Bistek” Bautista took his oath of office after a landslide victory in the 2010 local elections of Quezon City. He then ran for reelection in 2013 and 2016, winning the race both times. He served three (3) consecutive terms before stepping down in 2019 due to term limit.
