Diosdado Macapagal

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This article is about the former president of the Philippines. For his grandson and current a member of Congress, see Diosdado MacapagalArroyo.

Diosdado Macapagal

Diosdado Macapagal in 1962

9th President of the Philippines

5th President of the Third Republic

In office December 30, 1961 December 30, 1965

Vice President

Emmanuel Pelaez

Preceded by

Carlos P. Garcia

Succeeded by

Ferdinand Marcos

2nd President of the 1971 Philippine Constitutional Convention

In office June 14, 1971 January 17, 1973

President

Ferdinand Marcos

Preceded by

Carlos P. Garcia

Succeeded by

Position abolished

6th Vice President of the Philippines

In office December 30, 1957 December 30, 1961

President

Carlos P. Garcia

Preceded by

Carlos P. Garcia

Succeeded by

Emmanuel Pelaez

Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pampanga's First District

In office December 30, 1949 December 30, 1957

Preceded by

Amado Yuzon

Succeeded by

Francisco Nepomuceno

Personal details

Born

September 28, 1910 Lubao, Pampanga

Died

April 21, 1997 (aged 86) Makati, Metro Manila

Resting place

Libingan ng mga Bayani,Taguig City, Philippines 143111N 121239E

Nationality

Filipino

Political party

Liberal Party

Spouse(s)

Purita de la Rosa
(19381943)

Eva Macaraeg, M.D.

(19461997)

Children

Arturo Macapagal Cielo Macapagal-Salgado Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Diosdado Macapagal, Jr.

Alma mater

University of the Philippines University of Santo Tomas

Profession

Lawyer Professor

Religion

Roman Catholicism

Signature

Diosdado Pangan Macapagal (September 28, 1910 April 21, 1997) was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and thesixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970. He is the father of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010.

A native of Lubao, Pampanga, Macapagal graduated from the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas, after which he worked as a lawyer for the government. He first won election in 1949 to the House of Representatives, representing a district in his home province of Pampanga. In 1957 he became vice president in the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia, and in 1961 he defeated Garcia's re-election bid for the presidency. As president, Macapagal worked to suppress graft and corruption and to stimulate the Philippine economy. He introduced the country's first land reform law, placed the peso on the free currency exchange market, and liberalized foreign exchange and import controls. Many of his reforms, however, were crippled by a Congress dominated by the rival Nacionalista Party. He is also known for shifting the country's observance of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, commemorating the day Filipino patriots declared independence from Spain in 1898. His re-election bid was defeated in 1965 by Ferdinand Marcos, whose subsequent authoritarian rule lasted 20 years. During the Marcos administration, Macapagal was elected president of the Constitutional Convention which would later draft what became the 1973 constitution, though the manner in which the charter was ratified and modified led him to later question its legitimacy. He died of heart failure,pneumonia and renal complications at the age of 86.

Contents
[hide]

1 Early life o o o o 1.1 Early life and education 1.2 Early career 1.3 First Marriage 1.4 Second Marriage 2 House of Representatives 3 Vice presidency 4 Presidency o o 4.1 Cabinet 4.2 Major legislation signed

4.3 Domestic policies 4.3.1 Economy 4.3.2 Socio-economic program 4.3.3 Land reform 4.3.4 Anti-corruption drive 4.3.4.1 Stonehill controversy 4.3.5 Independence Day 4.4 Foreign policies 4.4.1 Sabah claim 4.4.2 Maphilindo 4.4.3 Vietnam War 4.5 1963 midterm election 4.6 1965 presidential campaign 5 Post-presidency and death 6 Legacy

o o

o o

6.1 Birthplace (Ancestral House and Lot) 6.2 Museum and Library 7 Electoral history 8 Publications 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit]Early [edit]Early

life
life and education

Diosdado Macapagal was born on September 28, 1910 in Lubao, Pampanga, the second of four children in a poor family.[1] His father, Urbano Macapagal, was a poet who wrote in the local Pampangan language, and his mother, Romana Pangan Macapagal, was a schoolteacher who taught catechism.[2] He is a distant descendant of Don Juan Macapagal, a prince of Tondo, who was a great-grandson of the last reigning Rajah of Selurong,Rajah Lakandula.[3] The family earned extra income by raising pigs and accommodating boarders in their home.[2] Due to his roots in poverty, Macapagal would later become affectionately known as the "Poor boy from Lubao".[4] Macapagal excelled in his studies at local public schools, graduating valedictorian at Lubao Elementary School, and salutatorian at Pampanga High School.[5] He finished his pre-law course at the University of the Philippines, then enrolled at Philippine Law School in 1932, studying on a scholarship and supporting himself with a parttime job as an accountant.[2][5] While in law school, he gained prominence as an orator and debater. [5] However, he was forced to quit schooling after two years due to poor health and a lack of money. [2] Returning to Pampanga, he joined boyhood friend Rogelio de la Rosa in producing and starring in Tagalog operettas patterned after classic Spanishzarzuelas.[2] It was during this period that he married his friend's sister, Purita de la Rosa in 1938.[2] He had two children with de la Rosa, Cielo and Arturo.[4] Macapagal raised enough money to continue his studies at the University of Santo Tomas.[2] He also gained the assistance of philanthropist Honorio Ventura, the Secretary of the Interior at the time, who financed his education.[6] After receiving his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1936, he was admitted to the bar, topping the 1936 bar examination with a score of 89.95%.[5] He later returned to his alma mater to take up graduate studies and earn aMaster of Laws degree in 1941, a Doctor of Civil Law degree in 1947, and a PhD in Economics in 1957. [5]

[edit]Early

career

After passing the bar examination, Macapagal was invited to join an American law firm as a practicing attorney, a particular honor for a Filipino at the time.[7] He was assigned as a legal assistant to President Manuel L. Quezon in Malacaan Palace.[5] During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II, Macapagal continued working in Malacaan Palace as an assistant to President Jos P. Laurel, while secretly aiding the anti-Japanese resistance.[5] After the war, Macapagal worked as an assistant attorney with one of the largest law firms in the country, Ross, Lawrence, Selph and Carrascoso.[5] With the establishment of the independent Republic of the Philippines in 1946, he rejoined government service when President Manuel Roxas appointed him to the Department of Foreign Affairs as the head of its legal division.[4] In 1948, President Elpidio Quirino appointed Macapagal as chief negotiator in the successful transfer of the Turtle Islands in the Sulu Sea from the United Kingdom to the

Philippines.[5] That same year, he was assigned as second secretary to the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.[4] In 1949, he was elevated to the position of Counselor on Legal Affairs and Treaties, at the time the fourth highest post in the Philippine Foreign Office. [8]

[edit]First

Marriage

In 1938 he married Purita dela Rosa and they had three children namely Arturo Macapagal, Cielo MacapagalSalgado and Rosalynda Macapagal until Purita's death in 1943.

[edit]Second

Marriage

In 1946 he married Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg, with whom he had two children, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who became President of the Philippines and Diosdado Macapagal Jr.

[edit]House

of Representatives

On the urging of local political leaders of Pampanga province, President Quirino recalled Macapagal from his position in Washington to run for a seat in the House of Representatives representing the 1st District of Pampanga.[9] The district's incumbent Representative, Amado Yuzon, was a friend of Macapagal, but was opposed by the administration due to his support by communist groups. [9] After a campaign which Macapagal described as cordial and free of personal attacks, he won a landslide victory in the 1949 election.[9] He also won re-election in the 1953 election, and served as Representative in the 2nd and 3rd Congress. At the start of legislative sessions in 1950, the members of the House of Representatives elected Macapagal as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and he was given several important foreign assignments.
[8]

He was a Philippine delegate to the United Nations General Assembly multiple times, notably distinguishing

himself in debates over Communist aggression with Andrei Vishinsky and Jacob Malik of the Soviet Union.[8] He took part in negotiations for the US-RP Mutual Defense Treaty, the Laurel-Langley Agreement, and the Japanese Peace Treaty.[5] He also authored the Foreign Service Act, which reorganized and strengthened the Philippine foreign service.[4] As a Representative, Macapagal authored and sponsored several laws of socio-economic importance, particularly aimed at benefiting the rural areas and the poor. Among the pieces of legislation which Macapagal promoted were the Minimum Wage Law, Rural Health Law, Rural Bank Law, the Law on Barrio Councils, the Barrio Industrialization Law, and a law nationalizing the rice and corn industries. [5] He was consistently selected by the Congressional Press Club as one of the Ten Outstanding Congressmen during his tenure. [5] In his second term, he was named Most Outstanding lawmaker of the 3rd Congress .[5]

[edit]Vice

presidency

In the 1957 general election, the Liberal Party drafted Representative Macapagal to run for Vice President as the running-mate of Jose Yulo, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Macapagal's nomination

was particularly boosted by Liberal Party President Eugenio Perez, who insisted that the party's vice presidential nominee have a clean record of integrity and honesty. [9]While Yulo was defeated by Carlos P. Garcia of the Nacionalista Party, Macapagal was elected Vice President in an upset victory, defeating the Nacionalista candidate, Jos B. Laurel, Jr., by over 8 percentage points. A month after the election, he was also chosen as the head of the Liberal Party. [6] As the first ever Philippine vice president to be elected from a rival party of the president, Macapagal served out his four-year vice presidential term as a leader of the opposition. The ruling party refused to give him a Cabinet position in the Garcia administration, which was a break from tradition. [5] He was offered a position in the Cabinet only on the condition that he switch allegiance to the ruling Nationalista Party, but he declined the offer and instead played the role of critic to the administration's policies and performance. [4] This allowed him to capitalize on the increasing unpopularity of the Garcia administration. Assigned to performing only ceremonial duties as vice president, he spent his time making frequent trips to the countryside to acquaint himself with voters and to promote the image of the Liberal Party. [4]

[edit]Presidency
In the 1961 presidential election, Macapagal ran against Garcia's re-election bid, promising an end to corruption and appealing to the electorate as a common man from humble beginnings. [2] He defeated the incumbent president with a 55% to 45% margin. [4] His inauguration as the president of the Philippines took place on December 30, 1961.

[edit]Cabinet

OFFICE President Vice-President

NAME

TERM

Diosdado Macapagal 19611965 Emmanuel Pelaez 19611965 19611962 19621963 19631965 19611963 1963 19631964 19631965 19611962 19621964 19641965 1962 19621967 19631965 19611965 19611962 19621963 19631965 19611962 1962 19621963 19631965 1963 19631964 19641965

Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources Jose Locsin Benjamin Gozon Jose Feliciano Secretary of Foreign Affairs Emmanuel Pelaez Salvador P. Lopez Carlos P. Romulo Mauro Mendez Secretary of Finance Fernando Sison Rodrigo Perez Rufino Hechanova Secretary of Justice Jose W. Diokno Juan Liwag Salvador Marino Secretary of National Defense Macario Peralta, Jr. Secretary of Commerce and Industry Manuel Lim Rufino Hechanova Cornelio Balmaceda Secretary of Public Works, Marciano Bautista Transportation and Communications Paulino Cases Brigido Valenica Jorge Abad Secretary of Agrarian Reform Sixto Roxas Claudette Caliguiran Benjamin Gozon [edit]Major

legislation signed

Republic Act No. 3512 An Act Creating A Fisheries Commission Defining Its Powers, Duties and Functions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor. Republic Act No. 3518 An Act Creating The Philippine Veterans' Bank, and For Other Purposes. Republic Act No. 3844 An Act To Ordain The Agricultural Land Reform Code and To Institute Land Reforms In The Philippines, Including The Abolition of Tenancy and The Channeling of Capital Into Industry, Provide For The Necessary Implementing Agencies, Appropriate Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes.

Republic Act No. 4166 An Act Changing The Date Of Philippine Independence Day From July Four To June Twelve, And Declaring July Four As Philippine Republic Day, Further Amending For The Purpose Section Twenty-Nine Of The Revised Administrative Code.

Republic Act No. 4180 An Act Amending Republic Act Numbered Six Hundred Two, Otherwise Known As The Minimum Wage Law, By Raising The Minimum Wage For Certain Workers, And For Other Purposes.

[edit]Domestic [edit]Economy

policies

In his inaugural address, Macapagal promised a socio-economic program anchored on "a return to free and private enterprise", placing economic development in the hands of private entrepreneurs with minimal government interference.[4] Twenty days after the inauguration, exchange controls were lifted and the Philippine peso was allowed to float on the free currency exchange market. The currency controls were initially adopted by the administration of Elpidio Quirino as a temporary measure, but continued to be adopted by succeeding administrations. The peso devalued from P2.64 to the US dollar, and stabilized at P3.80 to the dollar, supported by a $300 million stabilization fund from the International Monetary Fund.[4] To achieve the national goal of economic and social progress with prosperity reaching down to the masses, there existed a choice of methods. First, there was the choice between the democratic and dictatorial systems, the latter prevailing in Communist countries. On this, the choice was easy as Filipinos had long been committed to the democratic method.[10] With the democratic mechanism, however, the next choice was between free enterprise and the controls system. Macapagal stated the essence of free enterprise in layman parlance in declaring before Congress on January 22, 1962 that "the task of economic development belongs principally to private enterprise and not to the government. [10] Before independence there was free enterprise in the Philippines under Presidents Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmea and Manuel Roxas. In 1950 President Elpidio Quirino deviated from free enterprise launching as a temporary emergency measure the system of exchange and import controls. The controls system was carried on by President Magsaysay and Garcia.[10] The first fundamental decision Macapagal had to make was whether to continue the system of exchange controls of Quirino, Magsaysay and Garcia or to return to the free enterprise of Quezon, Osmena and Roxas.
[10]

It had been his view since he was a Congressman for eight years that the suitable economic system for

Filipinos was free enterprise. So on January 21, 1962 after working for 20 straight hours he signed a Central Bank decree abolishing exchange controls and returning the country to free enterprise. [10]

During the 20 days available to make a decision on choice between controls and free enterprise, between his inauguration as President and before the opening of Congress, Macapagal's main adviser was Governor Andres Castillo of the Central Bank. Further reform efforts by Macapagal were blocked by the Nacionalistas, who dominated the House of Representatives and the Senate at that time. Nonetheless, Macapagal was able to achieve steady economic progress, and annual GDP growth averaged at 5.15% for 196265. [4]

[edit]Socio-economic program
The removal of controls and the restoration of free enterprise was intended to provide only the fundamental setting in which Macapagal could work out economic and social progress. [10] A specific and periodic program for the guidance of both the private sector and the government was an essential instrument to attain the economic and social development that constituted the goal of his labors. [10] Such a program for his administration was formulated under his authority and direction by a group of able and reputable economic and business leaders the most active and effective of which was Sixto Roxas III. From an examination of the planned targets and requirements of the Five-Year program formally known as the FiveYear Socio-Economic Integrated Development Program it could be seen that it aimed at the following objectives.[10]

immediate restoration of economic stability; alleviating the plight of the common man; and establishing a dynamic basic for future growth.

Free enterprise was restored with decontrol. The Five-Year Economic Program had been prescribed. Land reform abolishing tenancy had been launched. These were essential foundations for economic and social progress for the greatest number.[10] The essential foundations having been laid, attention must then be turned to the equally difficult task of building the main edifice by implementing the economic program. Although the success of Macapagal's SocioEconomic Program in free enterprise inherently depended on the private sector, it would be helpful and necessary for the government to render active assistance in its implementation by the citizens. [10] Such role of the government in free enterprise, in the view of Macapagal, required it (1) to provide the social overhead like roads, airfields and ports that directly or proximately promote economic growth, (2) to adopt fiscal and monetary policies salutary to investments, and most importantly (3) to serve as an entrepreneur or promote of basic and key private industries, particularly those that require capital too large for businessmen to put up by

themselves. Among the enterprises he selected for active government promotion were integrated steel, fertilizer, pulp, meat canning and tourism.[10]

[edit]Land reform
Like Ramon Magsaysay, President Diosdado Macapagal came from the masses. He savored to call himself the "Poor boy from Lubao".[11] Ironically, he had little popularity among the masses.[11] This could be attributed to an absence of charismatic appeal of his stiff personality. [11] But despite this, Macapagal had certain achievements.
[11]

Foremost of these was theAgricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 (Republic Act No. 3844) which provided

for the purchase of private farmlands with the intention of distributing them in small lots to the landless tenants on easy term of payment.[11] In comparison with the previous agrarian legislation, the law lowered the retention limit to 75 hectares, whether owned by individuals or corporations. It removed the term "contiguous" and established the leasehold system.
[11]

The share-tenancy or the kasama system was prohibited.[11] It formulated a bill of rights that assured

agricultural workers the right to self-organization and to a minimum wage. It also created an office that acquired and distributed farmlands and a financing institution for this purpose. [11] The major flaw of this law was, however, that it had several exemptions, such as ort (big capital plantations established during the Spanish and American periods); fishponds, saltbeds, and lands primarily planted to citrus, coconuts, cacao, coffee, durian, and other similar permanent trees; landholdings converted to residential, commercial, industrial, or other similar non-agricultural purposes. [11] It was viewed that the 75-hectare retention limit was just too high for the growing population density. Moreover, this law merely allowed the transfer of the landlordism from one area to another.[11]This was because landlords were paid in bonds, which he could use to purchase agricultural lands. [11] Likewise, the farmer was free to choose to be excluded from the leasehold arrangements if he volunteered to give up the landholdings to the landlord.[11] Within two years after the law was implemented, no[11] land was being purchased under its term and conditions caused by the peasant's inability to purchase the land.[11] Besides, thegovernment seemed lacking of strong political will, as shown by the Congress' allotment of only one million pesos for the implementation of this code. At least Php200 million was needed within a year from the enactment and implementation of the code, and Php300 million in the next three years for the program to be successful. However, by 1972, the code had benefited only 4,500 peasants covering 68 estates, at the cost of Php57 million to the government. Consequently, by the 1970s, the farmers ended up tilling less land, with their share in the farm also being less.
[11]

They incurred more debts, depending on the landlord, creditors, and palay buyers. Indeed, during the

administration of Macapagal, the productivity of the farmers further declined.[11]

[edit]Anti-corruption drive

One of Macapagal's major campaign pledges had been to clean out the government corruption that had proliferated under former President Garcia.[12] The administration also openly feuded with Filipino businessmen Fernando Lopez and Eugenio Lopez, brothers who had controlling interests in several large businesses. [4] The administration alluded to the brothers as "Filipino Stonehills who build and maintain business empires through political power, including the corruption of politicians and other officials".[13] In the 1965 election, the Lopezes threw their support behind Macapagal's rival, Ferdinand Marcos, with Fernando as Marcos' running mate.[13]

[edit]Stonehill controversy
The administration's campaign against corruption was tested by Harry Stonehill, an American expatriate with a $50-million business empire in the Philippines.[12] Macapagal's Secretary of Justice,Jose W. Diokno investigated Stonehill on charges of tax evasion, smuggling, misdeclaration of imports, and corruption of public officials.[12] Diokno's investigation revealed Stonehill's ties to corruption within the government. Macapagal, however, prevented Diokno from prosecuting Stonehill by deporting the American instead, then dismissing Diokno from the cabinet. Diokno questioned Macapagal's actions, saying, "How can the government now prosecute the corrupted when it has allowed the corrupter to go?" [12] Diokno later served as a Senator of the republic.

[edit]Independence Day
Macapagal appealed to nationalist sentiments by shifting the commemoration of Philippine independence day. On May 12, 1962, he signed a proclamation which declared Tuesday, June 12, 1962, as a special public holiday in commemoration of the declaration of independence from Spain on that date in 1898. [14][15] The change became permanent in 1964 with the signing of Republic Act No. 4166. [16] For having issued his 1962 proclamation, Macapagal is generally credited with having moved the celebration date of the Independence Day holiday.[17][18] Years later, Macapagal told journalist Stanley Karnow the real reason for the change: "When I was in the diplomatic corps, I noticed that nobody came to our receptions on the Fourth of July, but went to the American Embassy instead. So, to compete, I decided we needed a different holiday." [19]

[edit]Foreign

policies

[edit]Sabah claim

President Diosdado Macapagal on the bridge of the USS Oklahoma City in 1962

On September 12, 1962, during President Diosdado Macapagal's administration, the territory of North Borneo, and the full sovereignty,[20][21]title and dominion over the territory were ceded by the then reigning Sultan of Sulu, HM Sultan Muhammad Esmail E. Kiram I, to the Republic of the Philippines.[22] The cession effectively gave the Philippine government the full authority to pursue their claim in international courts. ThePhilippines broke diplomatic relations with Malaysia after the federation had included Sabah in 1963. [23][24] It was revoked in 1989 because succeeding Philippine administrations have placed the claim in the back burner in the interest of pursuing cordial economic and security relations with Kuala Lumpur.[25] To date, Malaysia continues to consistently reject Philippine calls to resolve the matter of Sabah's jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice.[26] Sabah sees the claim made by the Philippines' Moro leader Nur Misuari to take Sabah to International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a non-issue and thus dismissed the claim. [27]

[edit]Maphilindo
In July 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal convened a summit meeting in Manila in which a nonpolitical confederation for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Maphilindo, was proposed as a realization of Jos Rizal's dream of bringing together the Malay peoples, seen as artificially divided by colonial frontiers. [28] Maphilindo was described as a regional association that would approach issues of common concern in the spirit of consensus. However, it was also perceived as a tactic on the parts of Jakarta and Manila to delay, or even prevent, the formation of the Federation of Malaysia. Manila had its own claim to Sabah (formerly British North Borneo),[28] and Jakarta protested the formation of Malaysia as a British imperialist plot. The plan failed when Sukarno adopted his plan of konfrontasi with Malaysia. The Konfrontasi, or Confrontation basically aims at preventing Malaysia to attain independence. The idea was inspired onto President Sukarno by the Partai Komunis Indonesia (PKI), or literally the Indonesian Communist Party. The party convinced President Sukarno that the Formation of Malaysia is a form of neo-colonization and will later affect tranquility in Indonesia. The subsequent development ofASEAN almost certainly excludes any possibility of the project ever being revived.
[28]

[edit]Vietnam War
Before the end of his term in 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal persuaded Congress to send troops to South Vietnam. However this proposal was blocked by the opposition led by Senate President Ferdinand Marcos who deserted Macapagal's Liberal Party and defected to the Nacionalista Party.[29] The U.S. government's active interest in bringing other nations into the war had been part of U.S. policy discussions as early as 1961. President Lyndon Johnson first publicly appealed for other countries to come to the aid of South Vietnam on April 23, 1964in what was called the 'More Flags' program. [29] Chester Cooper, former director of Asian affairs for the White House, explained why the impetus came from the United States instead of from the Republic of South Vietnam: "The 'More Flags' campaignrequired the application of considerable pressure for Washington to elicit any meaningful commitments. One of the more exasperating aspects of the searchwas the lassitudeof the Saigon government. In partthe South Vietnam leaders were preoccupied with political jockeying.In addition, Saigon appeared to believe that the program was a public relations campaign directed at the American people." [29]

[edit]1963

midterm election

Main article: Philippine Senate election, 1963 The senatorial election was held on November 12, 1963. Macapagal's Liberal Party (LP) won four out of the eight seats up for grabs during the election thereby increasing the LP's senate seats from eight to ten.

[edit]1965

presidential campaign

Main article: Philippine presidential election, 1965 Towards the end of his term, Macapagal decided to seek re-election to continue seeking reforms which he claimed were stifled by a "dominant and uncooperative opposition" in Congress. [4] With Senate President Ferdinand Marcos, a fellow member of the Liberal Party, unable to win his party's nomination due to Macapagal's re-election bid, Marcos switched allegiance to the rival Nacionalista Party to oppose Macapagal. [4] Among the issues raised against the incumbent administration were graft and corruption, rise in consumer goods, and persisting peace and order issues.[4] Macapagal was defeated by Marcos in the November 1965 polls.

[edit]Post-presidency

and death

Grave of Diosdado Macapagal at theLibingan ng mga Bayani.

Macapagal announced his retirement from politics following his 1965 loss to Marcos. In 1971, he was elected president of the constitutional conventionthat drafted what became the 1973 constitution. The manner in which the charter was ratified and later modified led him to later question its legitimacy. In 1979, he formed the National Union for Liberation as a political party to oppose the Marcos regime. Following the restoration of democracy in 1986, Macapagal took on the role of elder statesman, and was a member of the Philippine Council of State.[5]He also served as honorary chairman of the National Centennial Commission, and chairman of the board of CAP Life, among others. In his retirement, Macapagal devoted much of his time to reading and writing. [5] He published his presidential memoir, authored several books about government and economics, and wrote a weekly column for the Manila Bulletin newspaper. Diosdado Macapagal died of heart failure, pneumonia and renal complications at the Makati Medical Center on April 21, 1997. He is buried at theLibingan ng mga Bayani.

[edit]Legacy
On September 28, 2009, Macapagal's daughter, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, inaugurated the President Diosdado Macapagal Museum and Library, located at his home town of Lubao,Pampanga.[30][31] President Benigno S. Aquino III declared September 28, 2010 as a special non-working holiday in Macapagal's home province of Pampanga to commemorate the centennial of his birth. [32]

[edit]Birthplace

(Ancestral House and Lot)

The landmarks are located in front of Lubao Institute at San Nicolas 1, Lubao, Pampanga.

The "Bahay Kubo" of Macapagal

Mural

Interior

Inside the small house

Prologue

Marker

[edit]Museum

and Library

These house the personal books and memorabilia of Macapagal.

Macapagal Clan

Faade of the House

Bust (sculpture) of Macapagal in museum-library

Museum and Library

Oil Portrait of Macapagal

Second floor of the Museum

[edit]Electoral

history

Vice Presidential election, 1957[4]:

Diosdado Macapagal (Liberal Party) 2,189,197 (46.55%) Jose Laurel Jr. (Nacionalista Party) 1,783,012 (37.91%) Vicente Araneta (Progressive Party) 375,090 (7.97%) Lorenzo Taada (Nationalist Citizens' Party) 344,685 (7.32%) Restituto Fresto (Lapiang Malaya) 10,494 (0.22%)

Presidential election, 1961[4]:

Diosdado Macapagal (Liberal Party) 3,554,840 (55%) Carlos P. Garcia (Nacionalista Party) 2,902,996 (45%)

Presidential election, 1965[4]:

Ferdinand Marcos (Nacionalista Party) 3,861,324 (51.94%) Diosdado Macapagal (Liberal Party) 3,187,752 (42.88%) Raul Manglapus (Progressive Party) 384,564 (5.17%)

[edit]Publications

Speeches of President Diosdado Macapagal. Manila: Bureau of Printing, 1961. New Hope for the Common Man: Speeches and Statements of President Diosdado Macapagal . Manila: Malacaang Press Office, 1962.

Five Year Integrated Socio-economic Program for the Philippines . Manila: [s.n.], 1963. Fullness of Freedom: Speeches and Statements of President Diosdado Macapagal . Manila: Bureau of Printing, 1965.

An Asian looks at South America. Quezon City: Mac Publishing House, 1966. The Philippines Turns East. Quezon City: Mac Publishing House, 1966. A Stone for the Edifice: Memoirs of a President. Quezon City: Mac Publishing House, 1968. A New Constitution for the Philippines. Quezon City: Mac Publishing House, 1970. Democracy in the Philippines. Manila: [s.n.], 1976. Constitutional Democracy in the World. Manila: Santo Tomas University Press, 1993. From Nipa Hut to Presidential Palace: Autobiography of President Diosdado P. Macapagal . Quezon City: Philippine Academy for Continuing Education and Research, 2002.

[edit]See

also

History of the Philippines (1946-1965) History of the Philippines

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Agricultural Land Reform Code MAPHILINDO

Named after Diosdado Macapagal:

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard