Panfilo "Ping" Lacson

Overview
Panfilo Morena Lacson (born June 1, 1948) is a retired Director-General of the Philippine National Police, and is currently a member of the Philippine Senate.

Early life and studies

Born in Imus, Cavite, Lacson finished grade school at the Bayang Luma Elementary School and high school at the Imus Institute. He took up Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the Lyceum of the Philippines University. In 1967, he enrolled at Philippine Military Academy. He was given a commission in the Philippine Constabulary after his graduation in 1971. He earned a postgraduate degree of Master in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1996.

Early police career

Lacson worked at the Metropolitan Command (Metrocom) Intelligence and Security Group (1971-1986), PC-INP Anti-Carnapping Task Force (1986-1988), as Provincial Commander of the Province of Isabela (1988-1989), as Commander of Cebu Metrodiscom (1989-1992), and as Provincial Director of the Province of Laguna (February to July 1992). He was then appointed to the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission as Chief of the Task Force Habagat from 1992 to 1995).

During the Estrada administration

Lacson headed the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) as Chief (July 1998-January 2001) as well as the Philippine National Police PNP Director-General, (November 1999-January 2001). During the second EDSA People Power Revolution, he declared his withdrawal of support to President Joseph Estrada. He submitted his resignation as Chief of the Police to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a day after she took her oath.

Entry to politics

Lacson ran for the position of senator in the 2001 elections running under the LDP and affiliated with the Puwersa ng Masa coalition. He won a seat in the Senate, ranking 10th.

In the Senate, Lacson primarily authored the Anti-Money Laundering Control Act of 2001, the Alternative Youth Training Course, an optional program for college students, and the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2001.

2004 Presidential election

Lacson ran for President in the 2004 general election against the incumbent President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His candidacy stirred disagreements with its party president, Edgardo Angara. The COMELEC decided to follow what was done in the Quirino-Avelino case splitting the certificates of votes into half. Angara appealed the case before the Supreme Court and reversed the COMELEC decision.

Lacson resigned from the party upon hearing the news. He continued campaigning and in the elections, he finished third, ahead of the late Raul Roco and Bro. Eddie Villanueva.

Future Plans

On November 13, 2006, in a press conference, Lacson announced that he will opt to run as mayor of the city of Manila in the 2007 midterm elections. However, a month after the announcement, he rescinded that decision and will instead run for re-election for a second Senate term.

Garci Tapes

On August 21, 2007, Isafp agent in Garci tapes resurfaces and Panfilo Lacson wants investigation by the Committee on National Defense and Security. During a privilege speech, Lacson played a taped interview of Air Force T/Sgt. Vidal Doble. Jr, formerly of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp). Vidal stated that Project Lighthouse (September 2003 to April 2005), targeted several personalities. He is coming out only now since he is already a civilian and he did not see any action against cheating in the 2004 and 2007 elections.

An insider of Smart Communications worked with the Isafp in wiretapping political leaders during the 2004 elections, and Smart admitted it was possible that an employee coordinated with Isafp. Vidal Doble said 2 of his former superiors at the "Project Lighthouse" operation – Col. Paul Sumayo and Capt. Frederick Rebong – "coordinated" with a "recruit" and contact inside Smart. Ramon Isberto of Smart, said - "This first came out two to three years ago.

The company has not participated in any efforts to monitor conversations." Speechless wiretappers: Doble said he and everybody else involved in "Project Lighthouse" were shocked to hear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo speak with former Virgilio Garcillano about the rigging of poll results. Doble said "Project Lighthouse" had 14 members divided into 4 teams - "All of the teams knew about the conversation of PGMA (Arroyo) and commissioner Garcillano." Doble revealed those who gave the order to launch "Project Lighthouse": Western Command (Wescom) chief Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, former deputy chief of staff for intelligence; Brigadier Gen. Marlou Quevedo, former Isafp chief; Army Col. Allen Capuyan, former head of the Isafp's special operations group; and "down the line" the project "group commander" Col. Sumayo; Capt. Rebong; and Capt. Lindsay Rex Sagge.

Personal life

Ping, as what many people call him, is married to Alice de Perio. Television personality Jodi Santamaria is his daughter-in-law, being married to one of his sons, Panfilo "Pampi" Lacson, Jr. with his son Panfilo "Thirdy" Lacson III, who is based in the United States on March 27, 2005.
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'Mr. Palengke' is Senator MAR Roxas

the son of the illustrious Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of the venerable President Manuel Roxas whose public service careers have greatly benefited the country. MAR graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1974 and the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979. Before entering public service, MAR worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for Small and Medium Enterprises.

MAR's public service life began in the House of Representatives in 1993. After his congressional stint, he was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry; and then in 2004, he was elected to the Senate with a staggering 20 million votes, the largest ever obtained by a candidate in any Philippine election.

Owing to his record of accomplishments as a public servant and political leader, the international community described MAR as "one of the young leaders in politics and business who will bring Asia and the Pacific to the forefront of world affairs." At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, MAR was named as "one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow who is expected to shape the future." Recently, the Singapore Government has awarded him as the 16th Lee Kuan Yew Fellow.

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives

MAR joined the government in 1993 as a Congressman representing the 1st District of Capiz. He later became Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

As a congressman, MAR espoused consumer protection, underscoring the right of every Filipino to affordable medicines, as his personal advocacy. His landmark laws include, among others:

* RA 8759 - establishing in all municipalities a Public Employment Service Office which serves as employment facilitation and information center, and links all job opportunities within the region;
* RA 8748 - amending the Special Economic Zone Act by directly allocating to the municipality or city 2% (out of the 5%) gross tax to be collected from the establishments operating in the ecozone and providing for disturbance compensation for persons to be displaced or evicted by publicly-owned ecozones;
* RA 8756 - incentivizing the establishment of regional headquarters to encourage investment and operation of multinational companies in the country and to generate more jobs.

MAR's stint in the House is most noted for his principal authorship of RA 7880, also known as the Roxas Law, which ensures fair distribution of the education capital budget among all the provinces. This gave life to his advocacy for fair and equitable access to education, free from regional bias and political patronage considerations.

Mr. Palengke in DTI

In 2000, MAR served as Trade and Industry Secretary. During his four-year stint, he pushed for the development of the "palengke" as the basic unit of the economy and the root of progress, staunchly advocating not only consumer welfare and protection but also sound trade and investment policies, particularly SME development.

Education. MAR intensified his commitment to quality education through the Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Program, which distributed over 30,000 computers to 2,000 public high schools all over the country. PCPS computers provided some 500,000 high school students with the necessary ICT tools and skills.

Trade. MAR's work regarding trade policy was highlighted during the 2003 WTO Meeting in Cancun, Mexico, where he fought for increased market access for Philippine exports, particularly agricultural products and a rationalized Philippine trade regime so domestic industries would not be unduly harmed.

Information Technology. Hailed as the 'Father of the Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Industries', MAR saw and harnessed the potential of the Philippines as a global e-services hub. He launched 'Make IT Philippines' and organized the first IT-enabled services (ITES) to the US which inevitably led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the country, thereby creating thousands of jobs for Filipino IT workers.

MAR pioneered the establishment of high-technology industry centers and the promotion of the business process outsourcing (BPO) market in the country, particularly call center operations, hence providing jobs and incomes to Filipinos. From a mere 2000 jobs at the onset, the BPO industry now provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, thereby putting the Philippines on the map as a major IT/BPO destination.

Jobs. MAR worked for the reopening of the National Steel Corporation which provided thousands of jobs, income and livelihood to Iligan City, Northern Mindanao and adjacent regions. He also launched the Garment Export Industry Transformation Plan and Assistance Package to enhance the competitiveness of the industry and ensure its viability and vibrancy beyond 2004. Moreover, he initiated the Motor/Vehicle Development Program to promote exports, create a viable market base for our car manufacturers and secure jobs for our workers.

MSMEs. Believing that micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs serve as the prime engine for job generation, MAR pushed for MSME development through the SULONG (SMEs Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) Program, which granted almost P26.7 billion on low-interest loans to 281,229 SMEs on its first year.

Consumer Welfare. MAR promoted the Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo program for consumers to get the "full and best value for their money"; the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya to make affordable and quality medicines accessible to Filipinos, and Pinoy Pandesal, Palengke ng Bayan, among others. These programs promoted supply chain efficiencies leading to growth and productivity, and a wide range of opportunities and long-term gains.

Being the proponent of the philosophy of 'palengkenomics', which considers the palengke as the economy's weathervane and the mirror by which its over-all health can be seen and measured, MAR to this day continues to conduct weekly monitoring of the prices of prime commodities and maintains strong linkages with suppliers, traders, and vendors in the different wet markets.

"Price is an important economic indicator. It is a crucial determinant of activity in the market place," he said.

Consumerist crusade continues at the Senate

MAR's consumerist crusade continues with his authorship of Senate Bill No. 2139, which seeks to lower the cost of medicines by amending the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. With the approval of this bill, prices of quality medicines are expected to drop resulting in savings for the poor, and better health for all.

MAR resolved to protect consumers from defective and substandard products. Thus, he initiated inquiries, with the end in view of strengthening the Consumer Code of the Philippines, on such legislative proposals as the 'Lemon Law', proper labeling of milk, toys, and food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and stronger safeguards against pyramiding and other similar scams.

As chairperson of the Senate Committees on Trade and Commerce and on Economic Affairs and as co-chairperson of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Electronic Commerce Law, MAR continued to nurse the economy back to robust health through education, information technology, job creation, and development of small and business enterprises.

When the pre-need industry succumbed to a mismanagement-spawned financial crisis, which threatened to wipe out the investments of thousands of consumers in pre-need plans, he filed a bill, the Pre-Need Act of 2005, to improve and strengthen industry regulation and safeguard consumer interest. MAR's leadership at the time provided pre-need plan holders a veritable lifeline.

For MAR, the exercise of public leadership entails accountability and transparency which should bring about people empowerment. He has called for a paradigm shift in policy-making, rejecting incrementalism, or the tingi mentality, which has resulted to 'doing a little bit of everything to please a little bit of everyone.'

"People can hardly feel the impact of incrementalism. Government must target the people's most pressing concerns and focus its resources on completely addressing these problems. We can't be doing what we used to do in the past simply because if we did, there is no reason to expect that the future would be any different," he said.

He complements his youth and dynamism by listening to the voices of the common Filipino, reaching out to them through personal interaction, the media, and various IT tools. His website, www.marroxas.com, is a sampler of his IT inclination, an interactive site that dispenses user-friendly information and serves as repository of public sentiment.

MAR has distinguished himself as a public servant in his own unique way, following the imprints of his forbears yet with the courage and competence to carve his own path as a national leader.
http://www.senate.gov.ph/

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Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr.

Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar, Jr. (born December 13, 1949) is a Filipino businessman and politician. He is the President of the Nacionalista Party and a member of the Senate of the Philippines. Villar was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2000—in which capacity he presided over the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada—as well as President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008.

He assumed the Senate presidency at the beginning of the Third Regular Session of the 13th Congress, as part of a power-sharing agreement with his predecessor Sen. Franklin Drilon. On November 17, 2008, Villar was forced to resign due to lack of support in the Senate.

Early life

Manuel "Manny" Bamba Villar Jr. was born on December 13, 1949 in Moriones, Tondo Manila. His father, Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., a government employee, hailed from Cabatuan, Iloilo and his mother Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer, came from Pampanga and Bataan. The second of nine children, Villar attended Holy Child Catholic School and started selling seafood at the Divisoria Market at an early age.

While Manny Villar was a working student, he was also putting in long hours as a fish and shrimp trader: working where the action starts during the wee hours of the morning when the freshly caught seafood arrives at market grounds. As a working student, he was able to put himself through school by finishing his studies at the University of the Philippines where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Business Administration.

After graduation, he tried his hand as an accountant at the country’s biggest accounting firm, Sycip, Gorres, Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.). He resigned shortly though to venture on his own seafood delivery business.

When a restaurant he was delivering stocks to did not pay him, he printed out “meal tickets” which he persuaded the restaurant owners to honor. He then sold these tickets at a discounted price to office workers. It took him one year to liquidate his receivables.

He worked briefly as a financial analyst at the Private Development Corporation of the Philippines. His job was to sell World Bank loans, despite the attractive rates of which there were no takers. Convinced that he could make it on his own again, he quit his job and promptly availed of one of the loans.

Business

With an initial capital of P10,000 in 1975, Villar purchased two reconditioned trucks and started his sand-and-gravel business in Las Piñas.

He started a sand and gravel business and then went on to establish one of the largest development firms in the Southeast Asian region, the Camella & Palmera Homes. Originally low end developers, the Company has recently started selling more high end homes under the Crown Asia brand name, although criticism have been voiced in the press of many such developments in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao His C&P Homes business has also been featured in international publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asiaweek, Asiamoney, and the Asian Business Review.

He earned citations such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1986, the Agora Award for Marketing Management in 1989, Most Outstanding CPA by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1990, and Most Outstanding Alumnus in 1991.

Politics

As a successful businessman, he ventured in the political arena in 1992 and was elected as Congressman representing Las Piñas posting landslide victories. On his third term, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. On November 13, 2000, he became the first House Speaker in Philippine history to impeach a President, paving the way for the elevation of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

In the national elections held last May 14, 2001, despite being a relative newcomer in national politics, Manny Villar posted one of the most impressive showings in the national polls. On his first day in office, he was selected as Senate President Pro Tempore, the position he held until 2003.

He has also spearheaded the building of schools, sending out medical missions and setting up relief operations whenever or wherever needed.[citation needed] He led the inauguration of the Las Piñas-Muntinlupa-Laguna-Cavite (LPMLC) link road, more popularly known as Daang Hari, as part of his road improvement program aimed at easing traffic in the south of Metro Manila.

In February 2004, he was elected as President of the Nacionalista Party — the country’s oldest political party. He was also named the Most Distinguished UP Alumnus—the highest recognition given by the UP Alumni Association—for his exemplary public service and achievements.[4] After the 2004 elections, he initially planned to run for the Senate presidency but agreed to let the incumbent, Franklin Drilon to finish his turn as Senate President until June 2006. Honoring the said agreement, his fellow senators unanimously elected him as Senate President on July 24, 2006.

He is recognized as the richest legislator in Philippine history where he was consistently the richest congressman from 1992 to 2001 and richest senator from 2001 until 2008 with a net worth of P 1,041,383,9246.

On the Forbes Magazine released October 2007, its list of “The Philippines’ 40 Richest,” he is ranked 5th and the year’s biggest gainer. From $110 million last year, his net worth shot up 755% to $940 million after the public offering of his company Vista Land & Lifescapes.

Senator Manny Villar's wife is Cynthia A. Villar, currently the representative of the lone congressional district of Las Piñas). He has two sons (Paolo and Mark) and a daughter (Camille).

2007 Senate President

On July 23, 2007, Villar was elected Senate President by a vote of 15-7, after the oath-taking of the 11 new senators, with the exception of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV. Those who voted for Villar were Senators Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce-Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Manuel Lapid, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Ramon Revilla Jr., and Juan Miguel Zubiri. Villar cast a vote for himself. Those who voted for Pimentel were Senators Benigno Aquino III, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Ana Consuelo Madrigal, and Manuel Roxas II.

Performance rating

On January 7, 2008, the Social Weather Stations (November 30 to December 3, 2007) survey revealed all-time high satisfaction grades for Vice-President Noli de Castro and Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr.: 64% satisfied and 23% dissatisfied - de Castro's performance, or satisfaction rating of net +41; 71%, satisfied and 13% dissatisfied for Villar, net +59.

Resignation

Juan Ponce Enrile was elected Senate of the Philippines President who replaced resigned Villar, who saw himself forced to resign due to lack of support in the Senate on November 17, 2008.

The 2010 presidency

Villar Jr., on June 6, 2008 announced that he is 99% joining the Philippine general election, 2010 (one percent, is on the possibility of no election), amid his nomination of the Nacionalista Party (NP), chaired by him. Villar stated that: "We are prepared to have alliance with other political parties." On September 4, 2008, Villar formally declared and confirmed his presidential candidacy.

[edit] "Villa Pacencia" Villar mansion

Manuel Villar and Cynthia A. Villar, bought and took over, on July 12, 2008, "Villa Pacencia," the 3-story 51-year-old white-and-green Laurel mansion, now a historic site, built by Jose P. Laurel, on 6,000 square meters prime Mandaluyong lot. The mansion has 2 historical markers - the 1957 note of its first creation, and the visit of Indonesian President Sukarno, who twice slept at the mansion (in 1963 visit, and again, later, with Filipino movie star, Amelia de la Rama). Jose P. Laurel built the house on No. 515 Shaw Blvd., several years after he stepped down as President. The mansion is the biggest of the 3 residences that Laurel built (in Tanauan, and in Paco, Manila, called the Villa Peñafrancia). The Villars refurbished the mansion and formally presented it to the Laurel clan, NP leaders, inter alia, for the June 10, 2008 blessing.

Pocket billiards promoter

Besides being an entrepreneur and a politician, Villar became a promoter for pool tournaments. He held the first Manny Villar Cup on May 5, 2008.The staging of this event became somewhat controversial because it took place at the same date of a tournament under the Philippine Pool Tour.




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Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero

Francis Joseph "Chiz" Guevara Escudero (born October 10, 1969) is a current member of the Philippine Senate, having been elected in 2007.

Escudero had previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from the First District of Sorsogon, and as the Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines on his third and last House term.

He is also the Secretary General of the United Opposition, and a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Early life and career

Escudero was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila , Philippines , the middle child of the three children of former Agriculture Secretary Salvador "Sonny" H. Escudero III and educator Evelina B. Guevara. His father was elected in 2007 to the House seat vacated by his son.

Escudero is married to the former Christine Elizabeth R. Flores who is a singer and stage actress. They have two children, fraternal twins, born September 7, 2007.
Education

Escudero attended the University of the Philippines Integrated School for both his Elementary and Secondary Education, and graduated in 1981 and 1985 respectively. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City in 1988 and Bachelors of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1993. He received his Masters in International and Comparative Law at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D. C. in 1996.

At the University of the Philippines , Escudero was Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines from 1992–1993. He also joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity and was a member of the Alpha Phi Beta Debating Team which was the 1991 U.P. Open Debate Champion. A consistent honor student, he was a member of the Order of the Purple Feather or the U.P. Law Honor Society from 1989–1993.

Private sector

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Escudero was a teaching assistant at the Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines in 1988–1989. In 1989, he became Junior Political Analyst of the Batangas Development Planning office.

From 1993–1994, he was Junior Associate at the Bautista, Picazo, Buyco, Tan and Fider Law Office. After this, he was Legal Consultant for the UNLAD Ship Management and Manning Corp. and Legal Counsel for the Crusade Against Violence (CAV), both in 1994 to 1995. Since 1995 until the present, he is a partner of the Escudero, Marasigan, Sta. Ana, Vallente and Villareal Law Office (EMSAVIL Law).

From 1996 to 1998, he was a Senior Lecturer at the College of Law at the University of the Philippines . He was also lecturer at the Graduate School of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2000.

From May to August 2000, he hosted Ngayon na Pinoy, a television program that aired on RPN 9. He anchored the radio programs "Magandang Umaga, Bayan," at the Angel Radio, DZAR 1026 AM, Usapang de Campanilla and Usapang Legal, both at DZMM. He penned a column, "Usapang Legal ni Chiz Escudero" (later renamed "Say Chiz") in the newspapers Abante and Abante Tonite.

On July 3, 2000, Escudero was named a Commander of the Philippine Navy Reserve Command

Political career

Escudero's initiation into the political arena and into the art of addressing big crowds began in his teens in the '80s, when he helped organize the local campaigns of his father. Escudero explained: "In 1984, I was part of the postering brigade in my dad's campaign for assemblyman. In 1987, I handled the youth; in 1992, I handled the headquarters and arranged logistics. In 1995, I handled last minute operations, and in 1998, I was finally the candidate!"

He first indicated his inclination towards politics at age of 22 when he expressed interest to run for public office as municipal councilor of Sorsogon City . At age 25, he again indicated an intent to run for the office of the mayor of Sorsogon City . But for both occasions, the family's opinion, especially that of his father's, that he finish his law studies first before beginning a political career, prevailed. In response to the wishes of his family, he finished his Law studies first before entering politics.

House of Representatives

As a fourth-generation Escudero to serve in public office, he began his political career at age 28 in 1998 as the representative of the 1st District Sorsogon for the 11th Congress of the Philippines . He was elected Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress from June 1998 to November 2000 and became Second Deputy Majority Floor Leader of the 11th Congress in November 2000 to January 2001. He was Assistant Deputy Majority of the 11th Congress from January to June 2001.

Escudero was the campaign spokesperson for the defeated Philippine presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. He is currently the spokesman for the United Opposition's Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino and House Minority Leader. He is a member of the House Committee on Rules.

As for his term in congress which ends in 2007, he said: "Three years is too short for a good official, too long for a bad one. Four is ideal. I feel tired—I used to have only five white hairs!—but I still want to find out, at age 35, if this will still be my career path or whether I should move to the private sector. I wouldn't want to reach 50 still hoping to be something in government which I can never be."
Senator

On January 30, 2007, Escudero filed his candidacy for the Philippine Senate.[1] He was elected to the Senate with the second highest tally of votes, slightly behind Loren Legarda To date, he has already filed 224 bills and resolutions of significance in the Senate since assuming office.

He is also known as one of the most productive committee chairmen in the Senate[citation needed] having acted on all bills and resolutions referred to his committees, the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws and the Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies

Role and stand on Philippine political issues

Escudero was one of the pro-impeachment congressmen who were the prime movers for the initiation of impeachment proceedings for current Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. In 2005, he voted against the dropping of impeachment complaints against the president. His explanation summarizes his stand: "It is the truth that has lost. But the search for the truth does not end today. The president and her allies will always be haunted by questions." Despite the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines ' (CBCP) refusal to back Arroyo's impeachment in 2006, Escudero insisted that the impeachment process would continue as "the only available legal and peaceful means at arriving at the truth."

Escudero maintained the same vote against dismissing the impeachment complaints against Arroyo in 2006, retaining his original vote the previous year.



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Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

I. FAMILY

a. Date and Place of Birth: April 5, 1947; San Juan
b. Parents:

Father: Diosdado Pangan Macapagal
9th President of the Republic of the Philippines

Born: September 28, 1910 Died: April 21, '97

Mother: Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal
Born: Nov. 1, 1915 Died: May 16, 1999

c. Husband:
Atty. Jose Miguel Tuason Arroyo
(Ateneo School of Law 1972)
Born: June 27, 1946
Married on August 2, 1968

d. Children:
Juan Miguel
Born: April 26, 1969
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, University of California at Berkeley

Evangelina Lourdes
Born: June 5, 1971
MS in Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria
Born: September 4, 1974
BS in Legal Management, Ateneo de Naga

II. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Primary:
Assumption Convent High School; 1954-1960

Secondary:
Assumption Convent HS; 1960-1964; Valedictorian

Tertiary:
Georgetown University, 1964-66,
AB Economics: Dean’s Lister
Assumption College, 1968, AB Economics Magna cum Laude

Post Graduate
Ateneo de Manila University, 1978,
MA Economics
UP School of Economics, 1985,
Ph.D. in Economics


III. CONCISE PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

Assistant Professor, Ateneo de Manila University; 1977-87
Chair, Economics Dept, Assumption College; 1984-87
Professor, UP School of Economics; 1977-87
Professor, Mary Knoll College
Professor, St. Scholastica’s College
Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; 1987-89
Executive Director, Garments and Textile Export Board; 1988-90
Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry; 1989-92
Senator, 1992-1998
Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development, July 1998-October 2000
Vice President, July 1998-January 20, 2001
President, January 20, 2001-present
Other positions held:
Chairman and President, UP Health Maintenance Organization (1989-1998)
Executive Director, Philippine Center for Economic Development (1994-1998)
Chairman, UP Economic Foundation (1994-1998)
Member, Presidential Task Force on Tax and Tariff Reforms (1994-1998)
Member, Technical Working Group of the Philippine National Development Plan for the 21st Century (Committee on National Framework for Regional Development and Macroeconomics Framework for Development Financing)
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Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo

She was born as Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal to politician Diosdado Macapagal and his wife, Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal. She is the sister of Dr. Diosdado "Boboy" Macapagal, Jr. & Cielo Macapagal-Salgado. She spent the first years of her life in Lubao, Pampanga with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage. At the age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother in Iligan City. She stayed there for three years, then split her time between Mindanao and Manila until the age of 11. She is fluent in English, Tagalog, Spanish and several other Philippine languages, most importantly, Kapampangan, Ilokano (learned from her mother), and Cebuano (learned from living in Iligan City, Mindanao, where the language is lingua franca).


In 1961, when Arroyo was just 14 years old, her father was elected as president. She moved with her family into Malacañang Palace in Manila. A municipality was named in her honor, Gloria, Oriental Mindoro. She attended Assumption Convent for her elementary and high school education, graduating valedictorian in 1964. Arroyo then studied for two years at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. where she was a classmate of future United States President Bill Clinton and achieved consistent Dean's list status. She then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Assumption College, graduating magna cum laude in 1968.

In 1968, Arroyo married lawyer and businessman Jose Miguel Arroyo of Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, whom she had met while still a teenager. They had three children, Juan Miguel (born 1969), Evangelina Lourdes (born 1971) and Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria (born in 1974). She pursued a Master's Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).[5] From 1977 to 1987, she held teaching positions in different schools, notably the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University. She became chairperson of the Economics Department at Assumption College.

In 1987 she was invited by President Corazon Aquino to join the government as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry. She was promoted to Undersecretary two years later. In her concurrent position as Executive Director of the Garments and Textile Export Board, Arroyo oversaw the rapid growth of the garment industry in the late 1980s.
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