Diosdado Macapagal

          Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the first poor man to become president of the Philippines. He was aptly tagged “Man of the Masses” and the “Incorruptible” for his unquestionable integrity.

         Born on September 28, 1910, Diosdado hailed from San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga. He was the second of four children of Urbano Macapagal, a “plebeian intellectual” and Romana Pangan, a share tenant’s daughter. Despite poverty, he finished at the head of his class in the Lubao Elementary School in 1925 and was salutatorian at the Pampanga High School in 1929.

         He received his Associate in Arts from the University of the Philippines in 1932 and became a scholar at the Philippine Law School, where he excelled in oration and debate. Then Secretary of the Interior Honorio Ventura offered to shoulder his expenses, provided he transferred to University of Santo Tomas. Macapagal abided by the request. A rating of 89.95% made him the topnotcher in the 1936 bar examinations.

         He then finished his Master of Laws degree in 1941, Doctor of Civil Laws (1947) and Doctor of Philosophy in Economics (1957).

         Macapagal first took on the job of an assistant attorney with the largest American law firm in the country, Ross, Lawrence, Selph and Carrascoso.

         He married Purita dela Rosa, with whom he had two children, Cielo and Arthur. She died of malnutrition in 1942. In 1946 he married Evangelina Macaraeg of Pangasinan. They had two children, Gloria and Diosdado Jr.

         When the Philippine Republic was established in July 1946, he served the government as Chief of the Law Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 1948, President Quirino appointed him as chief negotiator in the transfer of the Turtle Islands from the United Kingdom. At the same time, he had a stint as Second Secretary at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.

         Over 20,000 votes, the biggest in the country that time, won him a seat in the Congress for Pampanga’s first district. He was reelected in 1953.

         In the 1957 elections, Macapagal was elected Vice President. Since he was not given a Cabinet position, he found time to tour the provinces and restore the image of the Liberal Party. He also visited other countries to study their economies and problems in relation to the country’s experience.

         He won over the incumbent President, Carlos P. Garcia, in the 1961 elections. Highlights of his administration include: beautification of Rizal Park; development of “Miracle” rice by the International Rice Research Institute; commencement of construction of the North Diversion Highway and the South Expressway; construction of tenement buildings for the poor; sale of PHHC houses to AFP enlisted men and officers, and other government employees; filing of claims to Sabah; changing of the date of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June 12; and many others.

         In his retirement, Macapagal produced quite a number of books. He was also honorary chairman of the National Centennial Commission, chairman of the board of CAP Life, and the Angeles University Foundation in Angeles City, among others.

Achievements and Contributions of Diosdado Macapagal

         

Change of Philippine Independence Day From July 4 to June 12: Macapagal changed the celebration of Independence Day from July 4 (the day the U.S. granted independence in 1946) to June 12, commemorating the day Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain in 1898. This move was symbolic, reinforcing Filipino nationalism and a distinct national identity apart from American colonial rule.
         

Land Reform Initiatives: Macapagal pushed for land reform laws aimed at improving the lives of tenant farmers. His Agricultural Land Reform Code (RA 3844) in 1963 was a major move to abolish tenancy and promote owner-cultivatorship.
         

Anti-Corruption Efforts: He ran on a platform of anti-corruption and tried to promote a more transparent and ethical government, though with limited success due to entrenched political interests.
         

Economic Liberalization: Macapagal deregulated foreign exchange and moved the Philippines from a controlled to a free economy. He allowed the peso to float freely against the dollar, a significant economic reform at the time.
         

Foreign Relations and Nationalism: He upheld national sovereignty, notably by opposing foreign military bases and promoting the Philippine claim to Sabah (North Borneo).
         

Land Reform Program: Macapagal launched the Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963, which aimed to abolish tenancy and help farmers own the land they tilled. Though implementation was limited during his time, it laid the groundwork for future land reform efforts.
         

Economic Liberalization: He moved the country from a controlled economy to a free enterprise system, ending the import control policies from previous administrations. This shift encouraged foreign investments and aimed to promote long-term economic growth.
         

Anti-Corruption and Government Efficiency: Macapagal's administration worked to reduce corruption and improve efficiency in government operations. He also tried to combat smuggling and tax evasion.
         

Foreign Policy:He promoted an independent foreign policy, strengthening ties with neighboring Asian countries and laying the groundwork for regional cooperation, which later helped form ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).