Biography of ramon magsaysay

Ramon Magsaysay (1907-1957) was the third Philippine president. Credited with restoring peace, law, celebrated order during the Philippine turning-point of the 1950s and character Hukbalahap rebellion, he was glory first Philippine president from blue blood the gentry landless lower middle class, loftiness petit bourgeois stratum of society.

Ramon Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales, on Aug. 31, 1907, to Exequiel Magsaysay, a blacksmith, and Perfecta del Fierro, a-ok schoolteacher. He entered the College of the Philippines in 1927. He worked as a drive to support himself as fair enough studied engineering; later, he transferred to the Institute of Work at José Rizal College (1928-1932), where he received a degree in commerce. He then diseased as automobile mechanic and atelier superintendent. When World War II broke out, he joined depiction motor pool of the Thirtyfirst Infantry Division of the Filipino army.

When Bataan surrendered in 1942, Magsaysay escaped to the hills, organized the Western Luzon Partizan Forces, and was commissioned leading on April 5, 1942. Pray for 3 years Capt. Magsaysay operated under Col. Merrill's famed underground fighter outfit and saw action at one\'s fingertips Sawang, San Marcelino, Zambales. Magsaysay was among those instrumental comprise clearing the Zambales coast tactic the Japanese prior to depiction landing of American liberation repair on Jan. 29, 1945.

After integrity war Magsaysay was appointed strong the U. S. Army importance military governor of Zambales routine Feb. 4, 1945. On Feb. 8, 1946, Maj. Magsaysay was discharged from the army. Elegance was elected representative of Zambales on April 23, 1946, charge reelected in November 1949 botchup the banner of the Free party.

Government Service

In Congress, Magsaysay served as chairman of the Igloo Committee on National Defense predominant belonged to numerous other committees. In April 1948 President Manuel Roxas appointed Magsaysay to imagination a veterans' mission to Educator which lobbied for the transit of the Rogers bill. Hold back 1950 Magsaysay attacked the Bounteous party-dominated administration for corruption captain called for reforms of depiction deplorable social conditions which abstruse produced the Hukbalahap rebellion (the rebels were peasants fighting ejection democratic rights, equality, and justice). Time (Nov. 26, 1951) in the air that "when politicians kept him from buying Quonset huts subside needed as schoolhouses for Zambales, he gathered some of coronet wartime guerillas, raided a extra dump, and made off twig 140 huts. Later he receive for them—50 centavos (25 cents) apiece, the price he figured the profiteer who owned them had paid in the cap place." Prompted by his Indweller advisers, President Elpidio Quirino settled Magsaysay secretary of national take care of on Sept. 1, 1950.

From 1950 to 1953 Magsaysay revitalized nobleness army with vast American aid; the army had been despairing, politics-ridden, and virtually defeated gross the mass revolution under lessen. Within 83 days Magsaysay sequestered three generals, discharged and demoted many erring and inefficient organization, and gave the 18,000 enlisted men better food, quarters, spreadsheet pay. He also reorganized influence vicious Philippine Constabulary and actualized the Scout Ranger Battalions, whom he commanded to "kill Huks." Magsaysay sent civilian officers give rise to the barrios to propagandize increase support of the government. Sharp-tasting gathered $500,000 from the oligarchical ruling class—the big landlords, compradors, and bureaucrat-capitalists—to pay as valuation for any information leading thoroughly the capture of the Huk leaders. This policy led mention the arrest and conviction deal in 29 top leaders of blue blood the gentry People's Liberation Army and 6 members of the Politburo capture the Communist party of interpretation Philippines. Labor leaders, professors, diplomats, and many other innocent people were arrested and deprived carryon their right to due contingency of law under a despotic martial law.

As head of greatness Defense Department, Magsaysay encouraged Huk surrenders by offering medical misuse, parole, and homesteads in nobleness Mindanao jungle. The Economic Operation Corps, an agency of representation government, then built farmhouses, schools, hospitals, and other facilities make a way into Mindanao under Magsaysay's initiative. Elegance also tried to rehabilitate greatness Huks by offering vocational participation and loans to aid beckon establishing small businesses. From a-one later perspective, these measures (including anti-Communist indoctrination) had practically thumb result; the reestablished Communist tyrannical (Marxist-Leninist) reoccupied and liberated copious areas of central Luzon swallow rapidly gained ground in in relation to parts of the country.

In Nov 1951 Magsaysay sought to confine the elections clean by employing his 40,000-man army and 5,500 reserves to police the region. The opposition Nacionalista party won a decisive victory against righteousness ruling Liberals. In the summertime of 1952 Magsaysay was besides responsible for the military rig to the protesting Moslems, who had been victims of Faith chauvinism, land-grabbers, and government malpractice. Magsaysay also sent forces behold fight under the United Offerings command in Korea.

Accession to description Presidency

For his reputation of liveliness and honesty, Magsaysay was darling by the electorate, which rolling him to succeed Quirino. Magsaysay had earlier resigned from nobility Liberal party and was then chosen candidate for president gross the Nacionalista party. On Nov. 10, 1953, Magsaysay won building block a landslide victory.

During Magsaysay's passing the Huk leader Taruc relinquish. In 1954 Magsaysay's government renegotiated the iniquitous Bell Trade Dent of 1946 into the Laurel-Langley Agreement, which maintained the commercial subservience of the nation disparagement United States monopolies. The peso currency, controlled by the Leagued States dollar, declined in bounds. Magsaysay also signed the gain victory Agricultural Commodities Agreement with rank United States in 1957, to such a degree accord perpetuating the colonial pattern keep in good condition the nation's economy, and was also responsible for the text of the Anti-subversion Law, which curtailed the citizens' democratic above-board of assembly, free speech, advocate belief.

In line with his regalia as America's "staunch friend conduct yourself Asia," Magsaysay was the important sponsor in forming the Southeastern Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO). Misstep was killed in a facet crash on March 17, 1957.

Further Reading

Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray, The Magsaysay Story (1956), is a full-length account. A more specialized study go over the main points Frances Lucille Starner, Magsaysay illustrious the Philippine Peasantry: The Countrified Impact on Philippine Politics, 1953-1956 (1961). Reliable information on Magsaysay is in Eufronio Melo Alip, ed., The Philippine Presidents outlander Aguinaldo to Garcia (1958); Teodoro A. Agoncillo and Oscar Classification. Alfonso, History of the Indigen People (1960; rev. ed. 1967); Jésus V. Merritt, Our Presidents: Profiles in History (1962); Hernando J. Abaya, The Untold Filipino Story (1967); and Pedro Put in order. Gagelonia, Presidents All (1967).

Additional Sources

Barranco, Vicente F., The man who lived a hundred years, 1983 (Manila: UST Press). □