RAMON
MAGSAYSAY
"My concept of service is
honesty and sincerity of purpose; action with results, not speeches
with big words."
Born: August 31, 1907
Died: March 17, 1957
Position in History: Philippines: 7th President, Third Republic: 3rd
President
Presidential Term: December 30, 1953 - March 17, 1957
Duration of Term: 1173 days
Ramon Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales to Exequiel Magsaysay and
Perfecta del Fierro. He studied at the public schools of his province
and obtained a commercial degree at the Jose Rizal College in Manila in
1933. From there, Magsaysay took a job as a mechanic in the bus company
Try-Tran and eventually became branch manager. He attained fame in
World War II as a guerrilla leader and was appointed military governor
of Zambales during the liberation by MacArthur.
After the war, Magsaysay served two terms, 1946 - 1950 as a Liberal
Party congressman for Zambales. He was instrumental in having the US
Congress pass the G.I. Bill of Rights, which accorded benefits to the
Filipino war veterans. President Quirino appointed Magsaysay as
Secretary of National Defence in 1950. He succeeded in winning the
trust of some of the Huks, including leaders and offered land and tools
to those that returned to the side of the law. In addition, Magsaysay
reformed the army and dismissed incompetent and corrupt officers. His
success against the Huk threat made him a hero to the people.
Magsaysay made many enemies in the government when he charged the
Quirino administration of incompetence and corruption. He parted from
Quirino and in 1953, despite being a Liberal, the Nacionalista Party
backed him as the candidate to run against Quirino. Magsaysay defeated
Quirino and became president. Throughout his presidency, Magsaysay
worked for the common people. He created the President's Complaint
Action Committee and acted upon the peoples complaints. Magsaysay broke
down large estates, he acquired land settlements for the people and
greater protection for tenants was provided for by the Agricultural
Tenancy Act of 1954. The prices of consumer goods were lowered. It was
during Magsaysay's presidency that the Huk threat finally came to an
end with the surrender of Luis Taruc. It was Magsaysay who opened
Malacañan Palace to the public.
Magsaysay was killed after his plane crashed in Cebu on March 17, 1957.
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