PACIANO S. DIZON
(1891-1947)
Exemplary Public Servant
Public service is a public trust – this adage was epitomized by Paciano S. Dizon, the first
Filipino to be appointed deputy auditor of the Philippine Islands by then United States
President Woodrow Wilson. Starting as a clerk in the Bureau of Audit in 1909, he steadily rose
through the ranks to become the Insular Auditor in 1919, at the age of 28.
Dizon was born on January 5, 1891 in Porac, Pampanga. He studied in the public school
in his hometown, and then went to Manila to look for a job to support his studies at night. He
enrolled at the Liceo de Manila. After passing the second-grade civil service examination at the
age of 18, he was appointed clerk in the Bureau of Audit in 1909.
During his time, the Bureau of Audit was the main agency which audited and verified the
national, provincial and municipal revenues and receipts of the government. It was said that
Dizon was so devoted to his job that he would be the first to reach the office and would stay late
at night to work overtime. Moreover, even when he was sick, he would ask his assistant to send
to his house the papers he was currently working on to avoid delay in their processing.
In recognition of his uprightness and unsurpassed dedication to duty, the American
governor general and the American insular auditor recommended him to President Wilson to
the position of deputy insular auditor.
Although Dizon did not finish his college studies, his common sense, industry, integrity
and devotion to duty earned for him public confidence. Thus, on November 7, 1945, when
President Sergio Osmeña reconstituted the civil government immediately after the liberation of
Manila, Dizon was appointed as auditor general of the Republic of the Philippines.
Dizon held other important positions in the government, to wit: comptroller and, later,
president of the Manila Railroad Company; president of the Manila Hotel Company and Cebu
Portland Cement Company, and secretary of the Manila Harbor Board.
As a public official, he is remembered for his famous advice to those who made public
service their career: “Do your duty and all will be well.” He also said, “Giving my best to the
service of my country is my life’s happiness.”
After serving for two years as auditor general, Dizon succumbed to an illness on June 30,
1947. He was survived by his wife, Gertrudiz Henzon, and their children: Sierve, Purita and
Aurelio.
Reference:
Cornejo, M.R. Commonwealth Directory of the Philippines. 1939.
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