Know Your Presidentiables
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PRESIDENT ARROYO
Banking on "experience and integrity"
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo became president in January 2001
following the successful People Power 2 Revolution that deposed her
predecessor, Joseph Estrada. Arroyo will run for president under the
Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan or K-4.
She was elected vice president in 1998 with the largest electoral
margin in Philippine history, with a vote of more than seven million.
As vice president, she was given the portfolio of Secretary of Social
Welfare and Development, a post which she held until October 2000.
She was first elected as senator in 1992 and reelected in 1995. She
also topped the elections with a record number of votes (16 million).
Her legislative efforts as senator were focused on building the
economy.
During her two terms, she filed 472 bills and resolution, 54 of which
were enacted into law. Among these laws are Tax Exemption for the
13th Month Pay, Export Development Act, Loans for Women Micro
Enterprises, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Bank Entry Liberalization
Law, Thrift Banks Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Law, Crop Insurance
Law, Indigenous People's Rights Law, Poverty Alleviation Law, New
Rent Control Law and the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers,
Researchers and other Science and Technology Personnel in Government.
During the Aquino administration, Arroyo was Assistant Trade
Secretary. She was also appointed Executive Director of the Garment
and Textile Board. She was later named Trade Undersecretary and
Governor of the Board of Investments.
She obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Economics degree, magna cum
laude, from the Assumption College (1968). She was a consistent
Dean's Lister during her studies in International Trade at the
Georgetown University in Washington D.C. She later earned a Masters
degree in Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a
Doctorate in Economics from the University of the Philippines (1985).
Macapagal-Arroyo is a recipient of the Rockefeller Foundation
Scholarship (1978-1983), the Japan Foundation Grant (1976-1977) and
the UPSE Fellowship (1970-1971).
She was also chairman and president of the UP Health Maintenance
Organization (1989-1998); executive director of the Philippine Center
for Economic Development (1994-1998); and chairman of the UP Economic
Foundation (1994-1998).
From 1994-1998, she was member of the Presidential Task Force on Tax
and Tariff Reforms. She was also a member of the 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.)
In the academe, Macapagal-Arroyo was chair of the Assumption College
Economics Department (1984-1987), assistant professor at the Ateneo
de Manila University and professor at the UP School of Economics
(1977-1987). She was also a professor at the Maryknoll College and
St. Scholastica's College.
She received the following citations: "Most Outstanding Senator" from
the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, "One of Asia's Most
Powerful Women" of the Asiaweek Magazine and "Woman of the Year" of
the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines.
She is the daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr.
Evangeline Macaraeg. She is married to Jose Miguel T. Arroyo. They
have three children, Juan Miguel, Evangelina Lourdes and Diosdado
Ignacio.
FERNANDO POE JR.
From reel to real
FERNANDO Poe Jr., the presidential candidate of the "Angara-faction">
of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, was born Ronald
Allan Kelly Poe in Manila on Aug.20, 1939 to Elizabeth Kelley and
actor producer Fernando Poe Sr. His brother Andy is also an actor. He
is married to actress Susan Roces (Jesusa Sonora). They have a
daughter, Mary Grace. He quit high school to work as a messenger in a
film exchange office.
Poe began his career in the movies as a stuntman for Everlasting
Pictures. He was actor Lilia Dizon's double in Sonaron (Unfamed) in
1955. In his first acting role in Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) in
1950, Poe shared top billing with Rosita Noble and Mario Escudero.
Director Mario Barri gave him his screen name, after his father who
had earlier played the title role in Palaris in 1946. But Poe's
biggest break was in Lo Waist Gang in 1956. It marked the local
cinema's shift from the fantasy world of costume productions to the
trendy realism of action movies. His first solo movie was Tough Guy
(1956). He was then signed up by Premiere Productions as a contract
actor. Poe proved his boxe office appeal in Kamay ni Cain (Hand of
Cain, 1957) where he received a Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and
Science (Famas) nomination. When Hollywood Far East Productions
opened, Poe was offered to do Markado (Branded), 1959, and upon his
demand, he was paid a much higher talent fee than he used to get. He
invested his savings in his own company, the FPJ Productions and
D'tanor productions.
Other movies where Poe played lead roles were Apollo Robles, 1961;
Sandata at Pangako (Weapon and Promises), 1961; Ako ang Katarungan (I
am Justice) 1962; Santo-Domingo (Saint Domingo), 1972; Ang Alamat
(The Legend), 1972; Perlas ng Silangan (Pearl of the Orient) 1973;
Sanctuario (Sanctuary), 1974; Patayin si Mediavitto (Kill
Mediavitto), 1978; and Lihim ng Guadalupe (Secret of Guadalupe) 1979.
Under the name Ronwaldo Reyes, Poe has directed many of the FPJ films
that he himself has acted in like Alupihang Dagat (Sea Centipede),
1975 ; Kin,g 1978; Tatak ng Tondo (Mark of Tondo), 1978; Ang Padrino
(The Godfather). 1984; and Panday (Blacksmith) I, II, III and IV.
Awarded by the Famas were Panday II (1984) for best special visual
effects; Poe received nominations for best director from the Film
Academy of the Philippines for Panday III and Padreno. In most of
those movies, he played a hero who is peace loving; until he is
pushed against the wall by all sorts of kontrabida, and magnificently
rises in defense of the poor and the oppressed.
RAUL ROCO
Counting on the youth
Raul S. Roco was born Oct. 26, 1941 in Naga City, Camarines Sur to
farmer Sulpicio Azuela Roco and public schoolteacher Rosario Orlanda
Sagarbarria. He will run for president under Aksyon Demokratiko.
He finished elementary and high school at the Ateneo de Naga. He
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, magna cum laude, at San
Beda College in Manila. Roco received his Bachelor of Laws as Abbott
Awardee for Over-All Excellence at San Beda College. e took his
Master of Comparative Law as a University Fellow at the University of
Pennsylvania, USA.
Roco formed the Aksyon Demokratiko political party for his
presidential bid. He is married to Sonia Cubillo Malasarte, who was
named most outstanding student of the Philippines in 1964. They have
six children - Rabble Pierre, Raul Jr., Sophia, Sareena, Rex and
Synara-and four grandchildren.
Roco was the president of the National Union of Students of the
Philippines in 1961 and was one of the Ten Outstanding Students of
the Philippines in 1964. He was a delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of 1971 and was president of the Integrated Bar of the
Philippines from 1983 to 1985. As a member of the legal staff of the
late Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, he drafted the Study Now, Pay Later>
Law.
Taking time off from his legal work, he was executive producer of the
late great film director Lino Brocka's movie Tinimbang Ka Ngunit
Kulang, which won six Famas Awards including best film in 1974.
The Ford Foundation and the University of the Philippines Institute
of Strategic and Development Studies adjudged him first in overall
performance among legislators of the Eighth Congress from 1987 to
1992. He was also consistently cited top senator during his term in
the Senate from 1992 to 2000.
As a senator, Roco authored the law that reformed the central banking
system. The achievement earned him the title "Father of the Bangko
Sentral." Roco helped fund the teachers' cooperatives as well as
initiated the increment mandated by the Magna Carta for Public School
Teachers for retiring public school teachers. As a senator, Roco also
authored the Women in Nation Building Law, the Nursing Act, the Anti-
Sexual Harassment Law, the Anti-Rape Law and the Child and Family
Courts Act. He led efforts that resulted in the abolition of double
taxation for overseas workers.
Roco's vision for education is "Bawat graduate bayani at marangal"
or "Each graduate is a hero and a person of dignity." As Secretary of
Education, Roco implemented, for the first time in Philippine
educational history, free public primary and high school education.
He also implemented an education curriculum reform, which focused on
reading, writing, arithmetic, science and Makabayan subjects.
When Roco took over as education secretary in January 2001, the Asia
Foundation-Social Weather Stations Survey of Enterprises on Public
Sector Corruption ranked his department the fourth most corrupt
government agency. Roco quickly imposed a department-wide
transparency policy, including the purchase of textbooks, one of the
biggest sources of corruption in the DepEd. As a result, in only
eight months, the same survey group ranked the Department of
Education the most trusted agency of the government. It was given a
73 percent approval rating by the public.
SEN. PANFILO LACSON
Law and order count
SEN. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson hopes to put his crime-fighting crusade
to greater heights by aspiring for the presidency. Born on June 1,
1948 in Imus, Cavite, Lacson joined the Philippine Military Academy
in 1967 and graduated in 1971. His decision to run for president was
contested by the "Angara faction" of the opposition Laban ng
Demokratikong Pilipino, which chose actor Fernando Poe Jr. as its
official candidate.
Lacson had his primary education at the Bayang Loma Elementary
School. He finished high school at the Imus Institute. He earned a
Masters degree in Government Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod
ng Maynila.
Before he became a senator, Lacson was the country's police chief
under the administration of deposed president Joseph Estrada. He was
also the chief of the defunct Presidential Anti-organized Crime Task
Force June until January 2001. Lacson was a member of the Metrocom
Intelligence and Security Group from 1971 to 1986. As the country's
top police officer, Lacson said he was responsible for renewing the
high level of trust and confidence for the man in uniform.
He listed the following as some of his achievements as police chief:
·Ordered the "15-85" distribution of PNP resources, meaning 15
percent left for headquarters and 85 percent down the line to the men
in the field;
·Imposed the "No Take" policy among police officers and waged a
determined war against "kotong" or mulcting policemen.
·Initiated closer coordination with other law enforcement agencies,
in the Philippines and abroad, in the fight against criminality
thereby winning the confidence of businessmen and foreign investors;
·Innovated the two-pronged approach in the fight against narcotics>
trafficking through supply constriction and demand reduction;
·Ordered the return of recovered stolen vehicles to their rightful
owners;
·Reduced the incidence of petty crimes through the establishment of
more police centers and the deployment of patrols from the Philippine
Marines.
Lacson lives in BF Homes, Parañaque City with wife Alice de Perio
Lacson and children, Ronald Jay P. Lacson, Panlilio P. Lacson Jr. and
Jeric F. Lacson.
Bro. EDDIE VILLANUEVA
Moral rebirth the country's hope
Brother Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva, founder of Jesus is Lord
Movement, was born in Bocaue, Bulacan, on Oct. 6, 1946. He intends to
run for president as an independent candidate.
In 1969, he graduated with a degree in Commerce, majoring in
Economics, from the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), which has
since been renamed as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
He took up law at the University of the Philippines but "was
sidelined by activism and never had time to take the bar
(examination)."
He worked as a full-time faculty member in the Economics and Finance
Department of PCC until 1972. He then worked as the export manager of
the Maran Export Industries in 1973 and from 1976 to 1977, he was the
general manager of the Agape Trading Co. He returned to PUP in 1978
as a part-time professor.
In 1978, he founded the Jesus is Lord fellowship, which started with
just eight members. Bro. Eddie claims that JIL now has some seven
million members.
Bro. Eddie received the Gintong Ama (Golden Father) award for Socio-
Civic/ Religious Sector from the Golden Mother and Father Foundation
in June 1996. He was also voted as the Pastor of the Year in a 1998
worldwide search conducted by Dr. George Otis' High Adventure
Ministries. Ministries broadcasts the Voice of Hope Program in 72
countries.
Villanueva has also been ordained Minister of the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ in 1979 by the California-based Victory in Christ Church
and International Ministries. He has also been conferred the Office
of Episcopacy by the Sectarian Body of Christ in the Philippines in
April 1996.
In February 2001, Bro.Eddie received the EDSA People Power Freedom
Award for ZOE TV 11 for its fair coverage of the People Power II
movement. He founded, owns ZOE Broadcasting Network Inc. and operates
Channel 11. Bro. Eddie hosts three ZOE programs, Diyos at Bayan, PJM
(Philippine for Jesus Movement) Forum and Jesus The Healer.
