Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay
(August 31, 1907 - March 17, 1957)
Life
Wife:
Shyvi Luz Magsaysay
Children:
Teresita Banzon-Magsaysay
Milagros "Mila" Banzon-Magsaysay
Ramon "Jun" Banzon-Magsaysay, Jr.
* He was born in Iba, Zambales on August 31, 1907 to Exequiel Magsaysay, a blacksmith, and Perfecta del Fierro, a schoolteacher.
* He came from a middle-class family, contrary to the popular notion that he originated from the masses.
Education
- Zambales Academy (Secondary Education)
- University of the Philippines 1927 (Engineering)
- Jose Rizal College 1928 - 1932 (Commerce)
(Life after graduating)...
* He worked as automobile mechanic and shop superintendent.
* He occupied a supervisory position at Try-Tran Company owned by Teodoro R. Yangco.
* He was promoted as a branch manager of the transportation agency in Iba, Zambales.
* He joined the motor pool of the 31st Infantry Division of the Philippine army when World War II broke out.
* Japanese - American War, he entered into the Fil-Am Military Forces.
- He volunteered his service (as well as the buses of the Try-Tran Company) to be used in the war effort.
- In 1942, he participated in Guerilla activities to drive away the Japanese Militray Forces in the Philippines.
* When Bataan surrendered in 1942, Magsaysay escaped to the hills, organized the Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces, and was commissioned captain on April 5, 1942.
* Magsaysay was among those instrumental in clearing the Zambales coast of the Japanese prior to the landing of American liberation forces on Jan. 29, 1945.
* After the war, Magsaysay was appointed by the U. S. Army as military governor of Zambales on Feb. 4, 1945.
* On Feb. 8, 1946, Maj. Magsaysay was discharged from the army.
* He was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines (and seventh president overall) from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957.
* He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.
Political Career
* He is the District Representative of Iba, Zambales from 1946 - 1951.
* Pres. Roxas appointed him as a special envoy to lobby the immediate passage of Roger's Veterans Bill in the U.S Congress.
* On August 31, 1950, Pres. Elipidio Quirino appointed him as the Secretary of National Defense.
* On November 10, 1953, Ramon Magsaysay was elected as President of the Philippines.
* He was called as "Mambo Magsaysay."
* He led the foundation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, also known as Manila Pact of 1954.
* He made the Malacañáng Palace open to public.
* In his administration, Philippines ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed countries.
Programs Implemented
- Economy
- Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954—Abolished the LASEDECO and established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)
- Republic Act No. 1199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954)
- Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955)
- Republic Act No. 821 (Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration)
- Laurel-Langley Agreement
- Reparations Agreement
- Politics
- Presidential Complaints and Action Committee
- HUKBALAHAP
- SEATO
- Defense Council
- President's Action Body
