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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