CARLOS
P. GARCIA
"Only those can remain
free who are worthy of it. Freedom must be constantly deserved."
Born: November 4, 1896
Died: June 14, 1971
Position in History: Philippines: 8th President, Third Republic: 4th
President
First Presidential Term: March 23, 1957 - December 30, 1957 (President
Magsaysay's remaining term)
Second Presidential Term: December 30, 1957 - December 30, 1961
(President Garcia's own term)
Duration of Terms: 282 days (first), 1461 days (second), 1743 days
(total)
Carlos P. Garcia was born in Talibon, Bohol on November 4, 1896, to
Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia Polistico. He studied in Cebu Provincial
High School and Silliman University then Philippine Law School and
graduated in 1923. Garcia was famous for his poetry in Bohol where he
earned the nickname Prince of Visayan Poets.
Garcia became a school teacher then a representative in the Philippine
Congress in 1925. He was elected governor of Bohol in 1931 and
re-elected 1940. Garcia became a senator in 1941. He was re-elected in
1945 and again in 1953. During the Japanese occupation, Garcia was an
active member of the resistance. After the war, he was the one who
missioned the Philippine Rehabilitation at War Damage claims in 1945 in
the United States.
Garcia was elected as vice-president in 1953 and was appointed
Secretary of Foreign Affairs under President Magsaysay. He assumed the
presidency the day after Ramon Magsaysay's death. After Garcia finished
Magsaysay's term, he was elected president in his own right. President
Garcia is most remembered most for his Austerity Program and Filipino
First Policy. His Austerity Program was aimed at curbing graft and
corruption within the government. Although it was not very successful,
it did help to restore trust between the people and the government.
The Filipino First Policy put the rights of Filipinos above those of
foreigners. This favoured the Filipino businessmen in contrast to
foreign investors. This meant foreigners could invest capital up to 40%
in a business or industry while the remaining 60% would be owned by
Filipino citizens. Garcia's policies aimed at boosting the economy and
obtaining greater economic independence. Garcia also aimed at reviving
old Filipino cultural traditions which might have become extinct as the
result of the adoption of Spanish and American cultures through
colonisation.
Garcia ran for president again in the 1961 elections but lost to
Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal. On June 1, 1971, Garcia was elected
delegate of the 1971 Constitutional Convention and chosen as president.
He died two weeks later from a heart attack.
Magsaysay was killed after his plane crashed in Cebu on March 17, 1957.
.
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