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Ramon Magsaysay(August 31, 1907- March 17, 1957)

a Nacionalista.7

thPresident of the Philippines

(3rd

President of the 3rd

Republic)Term of Office December 30, 1953- March 17,1957Vice President Carlos P. GarciaPredecessor Elpidio QuirinoSuccessor Carlos P. GarciaBorn August 31, 1907 at Iba, ZambalesHe died due to a plane crash last March 17,1957 at Mt. manunggal, Balamban, Cebu

Early Life and CareerHis parents were Ezequil Magsaysay, ablacksmith, and Perfectadel Fierro, a schoolteacher. Of Visayan descent, he wasnonetheless ethnically affiliated with the Ilocanosof Iba and considered himself as one of them.Studied at Zambales Academyhigh school: In 1927, he enrolled at theUniversity of the Philippines. He took up pre-law

course and later shifted to engineering, all thewhile working as a chauffeur to support himself.However, he did not finish his course due toillness. Eventually he studied commerce at JoseRizal College, graduating in 1933.WWII: Magsaysay joined the motor pool of the31

stInfantry Division of the Philippine army.

Following the fall of Bataan in 1942, heorganized the Western Luzon Guerilla Forcesthat fought against Japanese.1946: elected on the Liberal party ticket to thePhilippine House of Representative1950: He was appointed Secretary of National

Defense in the administration of PresidentElpidio QuirinoHe intensified the campaign against theHUKBALAHAP guerillas, waging one of themost successful anti-guerilla campaigns inmodern history. This success was due in part tothe unconventional methods he employedDuring this term as Defense Secretary, Filipinosbegan to respect and admire their soldiers1953-- he resigned from his post as defense

secretary, criticizing the Liberal government andbecoming the presidential candidate of theNacionalist party.

Personal LifeA good husband to first lady Luz Banzon-Magsaysay (1915-2004) and a father to 3children: Teresita & Milagros Magsaysay andformer congressman and senator RamonMagsaysay, Jr

PresidencyHe won president over the incumbent ElpidioQuirino with a convincing fashion.Sworn into the office wearing the BarongTagalog, a first by a Philippine president.

He was a close friend and supporter of theUnited States and a vocal spokesman againstcommunism during the Cold War.Known for his integrity and strength of

character.He made Malacanang Palace literally a houseof the people

DeathMagsaysay left Manila for Cebu where hewas scheduled to speak at an educationalinstitution. That same night, he boarded thepresidential plane Mt. Pinatubo headingback to Manila.March 17, his plane was reported missing. Itwas late in the afternoon that day thatnewspapers reported that the airplane hadcrashed on Mt. Manunggal in CebuaThe only survivor was a newspaperman,named Nestor Mata.Vice President Carlos P. Garcia assumedthe presidency to complete the last eightmonths of Magsaysays term.

An estimated 2 million people attendedMagsaysays burial on March 22, 1957.

Magsaysays Charisma as a LeaderWon due to the votes of the masses or thecommon peopleHe promised to try hard to improve the status ofthe masses, geared his administration to theurgent demands of rural improvementMagsaysay had Congress pass the AgriculturalTenancy Act in 954 to make the move towardthe attainment of his development goalsDuring the first year of Magsaysays

administration, 28,000 land patents covering241,000 hectares, were issued tosettlers/landless. The following year, the numberincreased to 33,075. Agricultural lots weredistributed to landless applicants. It was duringhis barrio-to-barrio campaigns that he realized,as nobody in the government realized, the plightof the taos who lacked the necessaryleadership to make their voices heard.The Philippines during Magsaysay timesuccessfully negotiated the RP-US traderelations that culminated in the signing of theLaurel-Langley Trade Agreement of 1956During his term Japan agreed to pay warreparation to the Philippines over a 20 yearperiod for the damage inflicted by the Japaneseto the country during World War II.

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Carlos P. Garcia(November 4, 1896- June 14, 1971)

Known for its Filipino First policyOrder 8th President of the Philippines- 4thPresident of the 3rd Republic (1957-1961).Term of Office March 23, 1957- December30, 1961Vice President Diosdado Macapagal

Predecessor Ramon Magsaysay

Successor Diosdado MacapagalBorn November 4, 1896 at Talibon, Bohol

Died June 14, 1971, Bohol, Philippines

Early Life and CareerChild of Policronio Garcia and AmbrosiaPolistico (who were both natives ofBangued, Abra).He grew up with politicsGarcia got his primary education in hisnative Talibon,Secondary education: Cebu Provincial High

School.He briefly took law courses at SilimanUniversity in Dumaguete City. He thenstudied in Philippine Law School andearned his degree in 1923. He was amongthe top ten in the bar examination.He worked as a teacher for two years atBohol Provincial High School instead ofpracticing law.He became famous for his poetry in Bohol,

where he earned the nickname Prince ofVisayan Poets.

1925, Garcia began his career in politicsafter scoring an impressive victory runningfor congressman representing the thirddistrict of Bohol. He was elected for anotherterm, but served only until 1931 when hesuccessfully ran for governor of Bohol. Heserved as provincial governor for two terms.He became a member of the congress in1946, and was elected three times to thesenate for three consecutive terms from1941-1953.Served as Magsaysays running mate in the

presidential election of 1953.He was appointed Secretary of Foreign

Affairs by President Ramon Magsaysay, forfour years concurrently serving as vice-president.

PresidencyHe replaced Magsaysay as President afterthe latter died in a plane crash in 1957.

He acted on the Bohlen Serrano Agreementwhich shortened the lease of the US Basesfrom 99 years to 25 years and made itrenewable after every five years.Exercised the Filipino First Policy

At the end of his term, he ran for re-electionbut in November 1961, DiosdadoMacapagal defeated him.

ProgramsThe winner of the 1957 Presidential electionwas Carlos P. Garcia. His running mateJose P. Laurel Jr., for the vice Presidentwas defeated by his Liberal rival, DiosdadoMacapagal.Garcia favored selective control with theintention to lessen or arrest the expansionof credit for non-productive activities. Headvanced the Filipino First policy as astrong force to improve the socio-economiclife of the nation.

But Garcia antagonized those affected byhis Filipino First policy. This made himunpopular.

Post-PresidencyAfter his failed re-election bid, Garcia thenretired to private life, living as a citizen inBohol.On June 1, 1971, Garcia was electeddelegate of the 1971 ConstitutionalConvention and was selected as itspresident. However, he died of a heart

attack on June 14, 1971 at the age of 74.

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