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.

Seventh President of the Philippines

Era
Third President of the Third Republic
Constitution Amended 1935 Constitution
Predecessor Elpidio Quirino
Successor Carlos P. Garcia
November 10, 1953; 2,912,992 votes (68.9% of the
Date elected
electorate)
December 30, 1953, Independence Grandstand,
Inauguration
Manila (aged 46)
Capital Quezon City
Carlos P. Garcia (December 30, 1953-March 17,
Vice President
1957)
Chief Justice Ricardo M. Paras (April 2, 1951-February 17, 1961)
Eulogio Rodriguez (January 25, 1954-December 30,
Senate President
1957)
Jose B. Laurel Jr. (January 25, 1954-December 30,
Speaker of the House
1957)
Previous Positions
 Provincial Government: Military Governor of
Zambales (1942-1945)
Executive
Cabinet: Secretary of National Defense (1950-1953)
Lower House: Representative, Lone District of
Legislative Zambales (1946-1950)
House Committee Chairman of Defense (1946-1950)
Judicial None
Military: Overall Guerrilla Commander, Zambales
Others
Military District
OSMEÑA as Military Governor of Zambales
Worked under other ROXAS as Congressman
Administrations QUIRINO as Congressman; Secretary of National
Defense
Personal Details
August 31, 1907
Born
Iba, Zambales
March 17, 1957
Died
Mt. Manunggal, Cebu
Resting Place Manila North Cemetery, Manila
Liberal Party (1946-1953)
Political Parties
Nacionalista Party (1953-1957)
Exequiel Magsaysay
Parents
Perfecta del Fierro
Spouse Luz Banzon (1915-2004) (m. 1933)
Teresita Magsaysay-Vargas
Children Milagros Magsaysay-Valenzuela
Ramon Magsaysay Jr.
Bachelor of Arts, Major in Commerce, Jose Rizal
Education
College (1932)
Mechanic
Profession Bus Shop Superintendent
Bus Line Branch Manager

Born in the Philippines on August 31, 1907, Ramon Magsaysay was the third president
of the Philippines (1953–57), 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 José 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
guerrillas—tactics 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

Japan’s 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 Country’s
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 Malacañang Palace as the house of the people

Creates Presidential Complaints & Action Committee to attend

directly to people’s 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 Magsaysay’s peace initiative with returning Huk rebels, 978
surrenderees’ families are lodged in the EDCOR agricultural camps
in Mindanao and in Isabela province
 Establishment & development of cooperatives & credit agencies

March 17 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 lions–they are a breed of politicians so
rare we sometimes think they don’t 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 1950’s–half 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, Magsaysay’s 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 People’s 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 Magsaysay–a celebrated WWII guerrilla leader–as 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 here’s the catch: The country’s 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 wouldn’t 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 People’s 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 Taruc’s arrest on May 17, 1954. All of these were achieved
through the newly revamped AFP and Magsaysay’s 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.
Magsaysay’s military and social reforms were so effective that the Communist Party
leader Jesus Lava himself admitted that many Huk soldiers left the insurgency
group“because 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 shouldn’t be a government of the elites, but
an entity fully dedicated to the welfare of all its people–especially 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
he’s sincere in uplifting the lives of the oppressed.
Source: Magsaysay: The People’s President.

To turn his vision into a reality, Magsaysay implemented several projects–all 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 Malacañan Palace during Ramon Magsaysay’s 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 Malacañan
Palace opening its doors to citizens—and 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, Magsaysay’s most memorable achievement was his
effort to earn back people’s 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
People’s 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 Malacañang Palace to all its citizens–and he meant it quite
literally. Soon, the masses began swarming the official residence, transforming the
lawns into picnic grounds. So many people flocked to Malacañang 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 People’s President.

Magsaysay’s 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, Magsaysay’s father, Exequiel, lost his job
in a public school after refusing to pass the school superintendent’s 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

People’s 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
(Monching’s 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 won’t get tired making it.’ In the end, he gave
more ice cream to the boys, and what’s 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 didn’t think highly of himself. He earned people’s 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 means–a 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 Malacañang to meet then President Elpidio
Quirino, their car suddenly stopped. Because his driver, Kosme, was clueless on how to
fix it, Magsaysay–who once worked as a mechanic at the Try Transportation Bus
Company in Manila–didn’t 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 all–even 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 AFP–including the Chief of Staff and the Chief of the
Constabulary–as 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 officials–from top to
bottom–started to fear his presence. “Everytime I sit here and look at my stamp
drawer,”recalled a local postmaster, “I start to think, well, I don’t 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 he’d 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/ramon-
magsaysay-40218
Malacanang.gov.ph. (2015). Ramon Magsaysay | Presidential Museum and Library.
Retrieved 9 October 2015, from http://malacanang.gov.ph/presidents/third-
republic/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-ramon-
magsaysay-was-the-best-president-ever/