RAMON DEL FIERRO

MAGSAYSAY
(1907-1957)
President of the Republic of the Philippines
30 December 1953 17 March 1957
Ramon Magsaysay was the third president of the Republic of
the Philippines after World War II. His life had great impact not
only in his country but on many people in many lands. He was
one of the outstanding leaders of his time.
Ramon Magsaysay commanded the admiration, respect and
affection of people because he was a simple, humble man;
because he cared for all people as individuals and believed in
their dignity and importance; and because he had the courage of
his convictions. His objective was to improve the lot of his fellow
Filipinos and he approached the task with selfless devotion. He
was convinced that government, to last and to be sound, must
have integrity and reflect the will of the people.
A man of greatness of spirit, he saw his fellow human beings born with the right to live in liberty and
happiness. He angered at injustice and the violation of high principles. He worked to build a nation -- a
world -- in which all people were free and lived in honor and peace with one another.
The world is richer and better because Ramon Magsaysay lived. His spirit will continue to be an
inspiration. He exemplifies the highest type of leadership.

Era
Constitution
Predecessor
Successor
Date elected
Inauguration
Capital
Vice President
Chief Justice
Senate President
Speaker of the House
Previous Positions

Seventh President of the Philippines

Third President of the Third Republic
Amended 1935 Constitution
Elpidio Quirino
Carlos P. Garcia
November 10, 1953; 2,912,992 votes (68.9% of the
electorate)
December 30, 1953, Independence Grandstand,
Manila (aged 46)
Quezon City
Carlos P. Garcia (December 30, 1953-March 17,
1957)
Ricardo M. Paras (April 2, 1951-February 17, 1961)
Eulogio Rodriguez (January 25, 1954-December 30,
1957)
Jose B. Laurel Jr. (January 25, 1954-December 30,
1957)

Executive

Legislative
Judicial
Others
Worked under other
Administrations

Provincial Government: Military Governor of Zambales

(1942-1945)
Cabinet: Secretary of National Defense (1950-1953)
Lower House: Representative, Lone District of
Zambales (1946-1950)
House Committee Chairman of Defense (1946-1950)
None
Military: Overall Guerrilla Commander, Zambales
Military District
OSMEA as Military Governor of Zambales
ROXAS as Congressman
QUIRINO as Congressman; Secretary of National
Defense

Personal Details
Born
Died
Resting Place
Political Parties
Parents
Spouse
Children
Education
Profession

August 31, 1907

Iba, Zambales
March 17, 1957
Mt. Manunggal, Cebu
Manila North Cemetery, Manila
Liberal Party (1946-1953)
Nacionalista Party (1953-1957)
Exequiel Magsaysay
Perfecta del Fierro
Luz Banzon (1915-2004) (m. 1933)
Teresita Magsaysay-Vargas
Milagros Magsaysay-Valenzuela
Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Commerce, Jose Rizal
College (1932)
Mechanic
Bus Shop Superintendent
Bus Line Branch Manager

Born in the Philippines on August 31, 1907, Ramon Magsaysay was the third president
of the Philippines (195357), best known for successfully defeating the communist-led
Hukbalahap (Huk) movement in his country and his popular appeal. He died in his
country in 1957.
Early Life
Ramon Magsaysay was born Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay in Iba, a city in the
Philippines, on August 31, 1907. After attending the University of the Philippines,

Magsaysay transferred to the Institute of Commerce at Jos Rizal College (1928-1932),

where he received a bachelor's degree in commerce.
At the start of World War II, Magsaysay joined the motor pool of the 31st Infantry
Division of the Philippine army. He was promoted to captain, and was involved in
clearing the Zambales coast of the Japanese before to the landing of American forces
there.
Leading Military Reform
Magsaysay was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives in 1946, and was
later re-elected to a second term. During both terms, he was chairman of the House
National Defense Committee.
In 1950, Philippines President Elpidio Quirino appointed Magsaysay secretary of
defense to deal with the threat of the Huks, whose leader, Luis Taruc, had called for the
overthrow of the government. Magsaysay reformed the army, dismissing many officers
and emphasizing mobility and adaptability in combat operations against the Huk
guerrillastactics that he had learned in his own guerrilla efforts against the Japanese
in World War II.
From then until 1953, Magsaysay carried out one of the most effective anti-guerrilla
campaigns in modern history; by 1953, the Huks were no longer a serious threat.
Unfortunately, Magsaysay's sweeping measures had made many enemies for him
within the government, and he resigned on February 28, 1953, later charging the
Quirino Administration with corruption and incompetence.
The Presidency
Although Magsaysay was a liberal, the Nacionalista Party backed him for the
presidency against Quirino in the 1953 elections, and Magsaysay prevailed. He
promised reform in nearly every segment of Filipino life, but he was often thwarted by a
congress that only represented the interests of the wealthy.
Magsaysay did manage to enact agrarian reform, giving some 90,000 acres to 4,500
indigent families for settlement/farming purposes. He also set up a process to hear and
address citizen grievances, and maintained a reputation for incorruptibility throughout
his presidency, all of which went a long way toward ensuring his popularity.
Sadly, Ramon Magsaysay's term came to an abrupt end on March 17, 1957, when his
presidential plane crashed, killing Magsaysay and 24 other passengers. An estimated 5

million people attended Magsaysay's burial on March 31, 1957, and afterward, he was
referred to in the Philippines as the "Idol of the Masses."
In his honor, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered "Asia's Nobel Prize," was
established in 1957. In the spirit of Ramon Magsaysay's leadership, the award
recognizes integrity and courage among individuals and organizations in Asia.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RAMON MAGSAYSAY

1907 August 31

Born in Iba, Zambalez to Exequiel Magsaysay and Perfecta del

Fierro

1927

Initially enrolls in pre-law studies then shifts to an Engineering

course at the University of the Philippines (unfinished due to illness)

1930

Begins work as Mechanic at Try-Tran, a transportation firm,

continues college studies as a self-supporting student at Jose Rizal
College

1933 March 22

Graduates from Jose Rizal College with a A.B. Commerce degree

June 10

Marries Luz Banzon from Bataan, in Lourdes Church, Intramuros

Children: Teresita, Ramon, Jr., and Milagros.

1941

Becomes Manager of Try-Tran

1942-1945

Guerrilla years (Intelligence officer "Captain Chow") following

Japans invasion of the Philippines:
Overall Commander, Zambales Military District
Military Governor of Zambales
Reconstitutes a credible guerillas' roster for backpay benefits
from the U.S. government

1946

Philippine independence proclaimed

Runs as an independent candidate and elected Representative of
Zambales in the Philippine Congress
Member, Committee on Appropriation
Chairman, National Defense Committee
Joins the Liberal Party

1948 April 3

First trip to the US as head of a Congressional veterans

mission
Secures the approval of the Rogers Veterans Bill providing for
hospitalization and burial benefits of Filipino veterans

1949

HUKS (from Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon, a guerrilla unit

founded by Luis Taruc against the Japanese forces) abandon
their quest for reforms through legal & constitutional means
Fighting accelerates against the Communists and the Huks

November

Presidential elections, Elpidio Quirino wins

Re-elected to Congress as Representative of Zambales

1950 September

Appointed Secretary of National Defense

Goes back to Washington and successfully obtains military
assistance
Decisive reforms in military establishment boost morale and
performance of Filipino soldiers and renews people's trust in
government
Effectively leads intensive socio-military campaign against the
communist-led Huks: "Hand of all-out force or all-out
friendship"

1951 February 22 First agricultural camp under the Economic Development Corps
(EDCOR) Plan established in Katipunan, Lanao. The
program resettled army retirees on government land which they
eventually owned.
1952 April

Capture in Nueva Ecija of William Pomeroy, American ideologist and

leader of the Huk Propaganda corps

1953 February 28 Resigns as Defense Secretary.

March 9

Takes oath of affiliation with the Nacionalista Party

April 12

Nominated Presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party

November 10

Elected President of the Philippines

December 30

Sworn into office as the Countrys seventh Chief Executive.

Wears the "Barong Tagalog" during his inauguration, a first by a
Philippine
President.
More than 2 million people, the largest crowd ever for such a
ceremony, witness the event.

Declares Malacaang Palace as the house of the people

Creates Presidential Complaints & Action Committee to attend
directly to peoples complaints
1954

Laurel-Langley trade agreement between the Philippines and

the United States approved
War Damages Commission stipulates the payments to the
Philippines of some $400 million as war damages
SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization for Collective Defense)
formed during the Manila Conference
Huk Leader, Luis Taruc, surrenders to the government

1955

Submits Republic Act No. 1400 or the Land Reform Act of 1955

February 19

"Treaty for the Collective Defense of Southeast Asia" or the "Pacific

Pact" approved
Fall of a great number of Huk leaders
Congressional Act No. 1292 passed creating a special fund of
P20,000,000 to be used as loans to the Filipino retail traders
Creates the National Marketing Corporation (NAMARCO) to extend
help to Filipino businessmen engaged in the retail trade

1957

As part of Magsaysays peace initiative with returning Huk rebels,

978 surrenderees families are lodged in the EDCOR agricultural
camps in Mindanao and in Isabela province
Establishment &
agencies

March 17

development of cooperatives

& credit

Dies in a plane accident at Mt. Manunggal, Cebu

Vice President Carlos P. Garcia assumes the presidency

March 22

An estimated 2 million attend the burial of President Ramon

Magsaysay

The Philippines under His Administration

Population: 21.4 million (1954)

Gross Domestic Product: P157,054 million (1954)
Gross Domestic Product: P179,739 million (1956)
GDP Growth Rate: 7.13% (1954-1956 average)
Income Per Capita: P7,339 (1954)
Income Per Capita: P8,073 (1956)
Total Exports: P36,462 million (1954)
Total Exports: P34,727 million (1956)
Unemployment Rate: 11.2% (1956)

Source: National Statistical Coordination Board, National Accounts of the Philippines, National
Statistics Office, Philippine Statistical Yearbook

Issuances and Laws

Executive Orders: 1-243 (total: 243)

Administrative Orders: 1-234 (total: 234)
Proclamations: 1-395 (total: 395)
Republic Acts: 972-2047 (total: 1076)

Magsaysay Credo

I believe that government starts at the bottom and moves upward, for
government exists for the welfare of the masses of the nation.
I believe that he who has less in life should have more in law.

I believe that the little man is fundamentally entitled to a little bit more food in his
stomach, a little more cloth in his back and a little more roof over his head.
I believe that this nation is endowed with a vibrant and stout heart, and
possesses untapped capabilities and incredible resiliency.
I believe that a high and unwavering sense of morality should pervade all
spheres of governmental activity.
I believe that the pulse of government should be strong and steady, and the men
at the helm imbued with missionary zeal.
I believe in the majesty of constitutional and legal processes, in the inviolability of
human rights.
I believe that the free world is collectively strong, and that there is neither need
or reason to compromise the dignity of man.
I believe that communism is iniquity, as is the violence it does to the principles of
Christianity.
I believe that the President should set the example of a big heart, an honest
mind, sound instincts, the virtue of healthy impatience and an abiding love for the
common man.

6 Reasons Why Ramon Magsaysay Was the Best President Ever

Honest and efficient presidents are like white lionsthey are a breed of politicians so
rare we sometimes think they dont exist anymore.
And then came Ramon Magsaysay, the humble automobile mechanic-turned-president
who became known as the Champion of the Masses. We remember him as the one
who blazed a trail through his servant leadership in the 1950shalf a century before
incumbent President Noynoy Aquino uttered the words Kayo ang BOSS ko! in his
inauguration address.
Magsaysay was not a perfect president; his administration also faced several issues and
controversies. But his greatness overshadowed the flaws of his administration, and had
he not died on that plane crash, he would have achieved more things that all his
successors could only wish for.

In the words of author Jose Veloso Abueva, Magsaysays governance, despite its
brevity, remains the yardstick by which Filipino presidents should be judged.
So, is Magsaysay the best president our country ever had? Read this article and you be
the judge.
1. His brilliant counterinsurgency efforts were unprecedented.

Ramon Magsaysay, then the Defense Secretary for President Elpidio Quirino, marking a Huk target with a smoke
bomb from a spotter plane. Photo courtesy of LIFE Magazine.

In the early 1950s, the insurgency launched by a group of peasant farmers called
Hukbalahap (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon or Peoples Anti-Japanese Army) was at
its peak. Both the previous and incumbent presidents struggled to stop the rebellion:
Roxas simply banned the organization in 1948 while his successor, Quirino, was stained
with corruption and cronyism, infuriating the Huks even more.

Desperate to stop the Hukbalahap threats from worsening, Quirino made a strategic
move: He appointed Ramon Magsaysaya celebrated WWII guerrilla leaderas the new
Secretary of National Defense. As a new appointee, Magsaysay did what his

predecessor failed to do: He identified the root cause of the problem and started from
there.
With the help of Lieutenant Colonel Edward G. Lansdale, an Air Force intelligence
officer who served as his personal advisor, Magsaysay toured the whole country and
saw firsthand the driving force behind the insurgency. At that point, he realized that most
of the Huks were not actually Communists; they were simple peasants who thought that
rebellion was the only answer to their sufferings. In the words of historian Teodoro
Agoncillo, the Hukbalahap was the culmination of centuries of peasant degradation,
loss of self-respect, and abject poverty.

Of course, in order for Magsaysay to execute his plans of ending the rebellion, he
needed the help of the Armed Forces. But heres the catch: The countrys military arm
was also suffering from several issues, most serious of which were poor leadership,
corruption and patronage system. In other words, ending the insurgency wouldnt be
possible without first addressing the serious problems that had plagued the Armed
Forces. It was a challenging task, but this is when Ramon Magsaysay showcased his
exemplary leadership skills and political prowess.

Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay overseeing the capture of William Pomeroy, an American ideologist and leader
of the Nueva Ecija Huk Propaganda Corps. Source: Magsaysay: The Peoples President.

Magsaysay completely transformed the AFP. He fired the AFP Chief of Staff, the Chief
of Constabulary, and other officers who were implicated in graft and corruption. He also
changed the way the AFP fight the insurgents, emphasizing that the Huks are fighting
an unorthodox war so they should also fight them in unorthodox ways. This warfighting
innovation, also known as Find Em, Fight Em, Fool Em, was a combination
of intelligence, combat operations and psychological warfare.
Eventually, the Huk rebels were tracked down and their members surrendered one by
one, culminating to Luis Tarucs arrest on May 17, 1954. All of these were achieved
through the newly revamped AFP and Magsaysays social reforms, namely the legal
assistance program for the peasants and the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR),
a rehabilitation program that gave surrendered Huks an opportunity to have their own
house and land.

Magsaysays military and social reforms were so effective that the Communist Party
leader Jesus Lava himself admitted that many Huk soldiers left the insurgency
groupbecause repression was ending.

2. He gave land to the landless.

Source: Presidential Museum and Library Official Tumblr Page.

When Magsaysay ran for president, the barrio-to-barrio campaigns only opened his eyes
even more to the issues of the rural folk that had been neglected by previous presidents.
He realized that the Philippine government shouldnt be a government of the elites, but
an entity fully dedicated to the welfare of all its peopleespecially the peasant farmers
long considered to be the backbone of the nation.

Magsaysay believed that insurgency would continue to exist as long as the government
stays deaf to the calls of the rural folk. To be really secure, he once said, a country
must assure for its citizens the social and economic conditions that would enable them
to live in decency, free from ignorance, disease, and want. Magsaysay became the

voice of the voiceless, and his impressive rural development programs only proved that
hes sincere in uplifting the lives of the oppressed.

Source: Magsaysay: The Peoples President.

To turn his vision into a reality, Magsaysay implemented several projectsall for the
benefit of the rural poor.
He improved the land tenure system through the Agricultural Tenancy Act in 1954, which
gave tenants the freedom to choose the system of tenancy under which they would
want to work, and the Land Reform Act of 1955, which was passed to enhance
landlord-tenant relations.
Public lands were also distributed to qualified settlers: A total of 28,000 land patents,
covering 241,000 hectares, were issued during the first year of Magsaysay
Administration alone. By 1955, an impressive 23,578 agricultural lots were distributed to
landless applicants. In the same year, a total of 8,800 families were also resettled by the
National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) in 22 settlement
projects.
Magsaysay also initiated an intensive community development through the Presidential
Assistant for Community Development (PACD). The said agency helped build roads
and other facilities for the rural folk as well as improved both the medical and education
services in the barrios.

3. He created a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

The usual sight in Malacaan Palace during Ramon Magsaysays term. As noted by the Philippines Free Press, the
very first at home of President Magsaysay in residence (a mere two days after his inauguration) had Malacaan
Palace opening its doors to citizensand they came en masse. Source: Presidential Museum and Library.

President Ramon Magsaysay was genuinely pro-Filipino. For instance, he wore the
traditional barong tagalog during his inauguration and thereafter, used the Ilokano wine
called basi to exchange toasts with foreign diplomats, and took every chance he could
get to promote local products.

For the Filipino people however, Magsaysays most memorable achievement was his
effort to earn back peoples trust to the government. Known as the The Champion of
the Common Man, Magsaysay would listen to the problems of the common tao for at
least two to three times a week. In fact, he established the Presidential Complaints and
Action Committee (PCAC) to make sure that the complaints of the masses were taken
care of.

President Magsaysay seen on far right having a consultative session with jeepney drivers. Source: Magsaysay: The
Peoples President.

For the first time in many years, Filipinos gained the courage to condemn corrupt public
officials without fear of repression. PCAC was so successful that in 1954 alone, they
already received an overwhelming 59, 144 complaints.
Wanting to prove that his government was really for the people, Magsaysay also opened
the doors of the Malacaang Palace to all its citizensand he meant it quite literally.
Soon, the masses began swarming the official residence, transforming the lawns into
picnic grounds. So many people flocked to Malacaang during the Magsaysay era that
some began to describe it as a miniature Divisoria, a combination of market and
cockpit.

4. He is a good role model for the youth.

Ramon Magsaysay as a teenager. Source: Magsaysay: The Peoples President.

Magsaysays upbringing holds the answer on why he turned out to be a man of

principle. Born in Iba, Zambales to a blacksmith and a schoolteacher, the young Ramon
Magsaysay was trained to respect the elders and develop the virtues of humility,
honesty, frugality, and love for hard work.
It is said that when he was only six years old, Magsaysays father, Exequiel, lost his job
in a public school after refusing to pass the school superintendents son in his carpentry
class. For this reason, the Magsaysays were forced to move to Castillejas,
where Exequiel built a small blacksmith shop to support his family. Although a minor
hurdle, this experience instilled the importance of honesty and clean living to the young
Monching.

Ramon Magsaysay with his parents, Perfecta and Sequiel Magsaysay. Taken 1953. Source: Magsaysay: The Peoples
President.

As a young man, Monching loved to play with other boys of his age. He was a bit of a
prankster, but he never forgot how to respect and shower his parents with love. One
day, Exequiel bought several blocks of ice because he was expecting to receive several
guests the next day. He was planning to make an ice cream, but was surprised upon
finding out that the buried ice blocks were missing.
As it turned out, Monching and his friends took the ice blocks the night before, drove out
of town, and enjoyed all the ice cream they made. In her biography, Perfecta
(Monchings mother) described how furious his husband was when he found out that
there was no ice. He immediately rushed towards the rice field where he found
Monching together with the other children.

Exequiel was so mad that he was ready to spank his son. However, his heart melted
when Monching showed him the ice cream and said Father, I brought the ice in the field
to make the ice cream myself so that you wont get tired making it. In the end, he gave
more ice cream to the boys, and whats left behind were given to the guests.

5. He refused special treatment.

Ramon Magsaysay, the quintessential mechanic. Source: Presidential Museum and Library.

One of the reasons why President Magsaysay was so loved by the masses was the fact
that he didnt think highly of himself. He earned peoples trust because of his humility
and sincerity to address the needs of the ordinary citizens.
Unlike other politicians, Magsaysay refused to name towns, bridges, avenues, and
plazas after him. He lived in a simple home, wore simple clothes (usually an aloha

shirt and slacks), drove his own car, and spoke a language easily understood by the
masses. Indeed, the late President Ramon Magsaysay was the epitome of simplicity.
He wanted to set an example, someone that other public officials would look up to.
When he was still a Defense Secretary, for example, he refused special treatment and
lived within his meansa government salary of about $500 a month.
Historian Xiao Chua also shared two anecdotes about the great president. It is said that
while Magsaysay was on his way to the Malacaang to meet then President Elpidio
Quirino, their car suddenly stopped. Because his driver, Kosme, was clueless on how to
fix it, Magsaysaywho once worked as a mechanic at the Try Transportation Bus
Company in Maniladidnt think twice in fixing it himself, even while wearing a barong
tagalog.
The same driver also once violated traffic rules. When the policeman saw the plate
number and the passenger within the car, he allegedly said My goodness! Pardon me
Mr. President. You can now proceed.

However, Magsaysay refused to accept the privilege and said this instead: Oh no,
sargeant. You said awhile ago that the law is the law. And in that principle I do believe.
While I am the president, the law applies to everyone, there is equality. Please give us
the necessary ticket.

6. He banned nepotism and corruption.

Ramon Magsaysay, Defense Secretary of the Quirino Cabinet, on the cover of TIME Magazine for November 26,
1951, featuring a quote emphasizing his strict adherence to the rule of law: I will send my own father to jail if he
breaks the law. Source: Presidential Museum and Library.

Unpretentious, selfless, and completely uninterested in money, President Ramon

Magsaysay had all the qualities that an ideal politician should have.
While the rest of Philippine politics were being plagued with nepotism and
compadresystem, Magsaysay was working hard to break the stereotype. He wanted to
set an example so he put the needs of the Filipino people above alleven at the
expense of his own relatives.

He hated nepotism so much that when he learned that a community well was being dug
on a property owned by a relative, he immediately sent a directive and had the well
moved in the middle of the village square. An uncle, on the other hand, failed to get a
big government cement contract after he personally cancelled the order. He also
banned his brother, who was a lawyer, from accepting any case for anyone connected
with the government, or for anyone who wants to get close to the government.
Magsaysay also hated corruption, and he started to fight it as soon as he entered
Philippine politics. On his first day as Defense Secretary, for example, he fired several
high-ranking officials in the AFPincluding the Chief of Staff and the Chief of the
Constabularyas part of his military reforms. When he became president, his
administration was synonymous to honesty and clean governance.
Such was his effort to combat graft and corruption that public officialsfrom top to
bottomstarted to fear his presence. Everytime I sit here and look at my stamp
drawer,recalled a local postmaster, I start to think, well, I dont have much money and
my family needs food, maybe I ought to swipe some. Then I start thinking that that damn
Magsaysay might suddenly show up just as my hand is going into the petty cash
drawer, and hed throw me in jail.

References:
Biography.com. (2015). Ramon Magsaysay - President (non-U.S.) - Biography.com.
Retrieved 9 October 2015, from http://www.biography.com/people/ramonmagsaysay-40218
Malacanang.gov.ph. (2015). Ramon Magsaysay | Presidential Museum and Library.
Retrieved 9 October 2015, from http://malacanang.gov.ph/presidents/thirdrepublic/ramon-magsaysay/#efs-tabpane-1-0
Rmaf.org.ph. (2015). Ramon Magsaysay. Retrieved 9 October 2015, from
http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Ramon-Magsaysay/ramon-magsaysay.htm
FilipiKnow,. (2014). 6 Reasons Why Ramon Magsaysay Was The Best President Ever.
Retrieved 9 October 2015, from http://www.filipiknow.net/reasons-why-ramonmagsaysay-was-the-best-president-ever/