The Early Years
Boyhood and High School
 Born in Barrio San Nicolas, Lubao (Nipa house)
 Columba de Guzman (owner of hut) notified Diosdado’s grandmother Escolastica that the
nipa house was needed by her
 De Guzman allowed Macapagal family to move to a lot on the other side of the street
 2nd nipa house- spent most of boyhood and youth (destroyed in World War II)
o 1990- Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the National Historical
Institution constructed replica of original nipa house where he was born
 Grandmother was a devout Catholic
o Got a lot through thrifting
o Entrusted lot to Rufino Macapagal y Ibarra (stepson)
o After Rufino’s death, only then that Diosdado knew that the lot was his grandma’s
(did not entertain his father’s wishes that the lot be entrusted to him)
o When Diosdado was ten, Escolastica made him and his siblings go to a religious
retreat.
o Evening prayers, Sunday masses, obligation days were a must
 No quarrels between his mother and father (even though father was a wanderer)
 Sibling order of birth was respected (Filipino tradition)
 Father did not return for three years (elementary school)
o Long period of terrible hunger
o Grandmother worked as a midwife, mother tried to help but was not enough
o Mother bade them to sleep while she sought a salmon can full of rice
o Israel and Diosdado strolled into neighboring orchards (ripe/half-ripe bananas)
o Diosdado went fishing in the Lubao river (to catch fish, crabs, and shells); spent
hours gleaning palay stalks with grains
o Grandmother was able to bring home fruits and edible left-overs (patients as a
midwife)
o Neighbor who owned a calesa fell ill (to add to family income, Diosdado and Israel
drove the calesa/ fed the horse/ curried the horse to the railroad station)
o Went to maternal grandfather Atanacio when starvation reached intense heights
(Atanacio was a tenant but had rice for his dependents)
o Diosdado went frog-catching in the ricefields (for viand)
o Sometimes went fishing; caught fish, crabs, sometimes large eels (Leon Dabu, a
fisherman, lent him his banca and salakab)
o In Manila Bay: tulia (mini clams), dalag (mudfish), hito (catfish)
 Almost died of dysentery (1920)
o Saved by Dr Clemente Puno
o Escolastica met Puno when she assisted him in delivering a baby of a prominent
patron in their town
 Elementary schooling
o Went to school because it was expected (was barefoot in school)
o Seventh grade teacher Mr Hugo Gutierrez converted class into a contest (usually
last people standing were Bonifacia Morales, Jesus Razon, and Diosdado
Macapagal)
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o Graduated as valedictorian of the class (was sad because he had nothing to wearwas then gifted a white shirt and a pair of shoes)
Wrote a letter to his father detailing the family’s current state (father came home after
receiving the letter)
Was drawn to political meetings even as a boy
o “When I grow up, I shall become a politician- but I shall remain poor to be sure that
the poor shall have a sincere friend.”
Was supposed to be named Wenceslao, but was christened Diosdado- “god-given”
Studied in Pampanga High School
Father came back and was able to woe a wife for Israel (Diosdado’s elder brother)
Established the high school newspaper “The Pampangan” with Amado G Dayrit
o Dayrit-editor, Macapagal- literary editor and put out the paper
High school
o No. 4 on the list of honors/ no. 2 on the final and 6th grading
o Was originally no. 1 but was cheated on by a history teacher who pulled down his
grade
o Was a part of an intellectual society called Aurora Ning Diwa
Was approached by Pedro Abad Santos to join in the former’s movement in communism
but Macapagal refused due to the violence of his acts
o Landowner who wanted to be a socialist governor of Pampanga
Almost died in 1928 (third year hs)
o Was saved again by Dr. Puno
o Diosdado developed a high fever due to a lump in his inner left thigh
o Dr Puno found out that the lump was gangrenous (could have caused fatal blood
poisoning without immediate surgery)
Second year opened wide the gates in his thirst for learning
Was a ROTC captain but was eventually demoted to private due to rebelling against
commanding officer (who were uncivilized with the ladies)
College Struggle
 Became Managing Editor of Ing Catimawan
 Wrote poems: Chant D’Amour (Love Song) [became Sintang Cayanacan (Young Love],
Gripu (Artisan Well), Requiem (to Honorio Ventura), Bante (Vigil), Pabanua (One Year
Later), Sintang Asawa (Married Love)
 Tried writing a novel called Lalam Tete (Beneath the Bridge)
 After graduation, Israel and Diosdado were offered teaching jobs
o Israel agreed; Diosdado went to Manila to take a job in the Bureau of Lands
 Initially lived in Gagalangin, Tondo but moved to Pilapil Street after a few months (stayed
with half-sister Silveria Cabrera and husband Juan Cabrera)
o Lived in Cabrera’s residence for six years
 Enrolled in the University of the Philippines
o Enrolled in a Liberal Arts course in preparation for the study of law
o Earned Associate in Arts degree from 1931-1933
o Used to seat at the back of the class, reflecting the sense of insecurity of a poor selfsupporting student (w/ Eduardo Bananal, Serafin Salvador, and Felix Alfelor)
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o Composed English poems, some of which were published in the Philippine
Collegian
Participated in a mock student session of the House of Representatives
o Senator Jose P Laurel singled Macapagacal out in his address as among those who
stood out in the congressional debate
Grandfather Atanacio sold a carabao and sent Diosdado part of the proceeds to help
alleviate uphill struggle for university schooling
End of Liberal Arts course- collapsed at his desk while working at the Bureau of Lands
(due to undernourishment)
o Was advised by school doctor to quit either school or work
o Diosdado decided to quit both to recover health
Returned to Lubao to nurse himself back to health
o Appeared in vernacular plays written by his father
o Wrote for a vernacular magazine
Embarked law studies at the Philippine Law School
o Poor students were allowed to enroll with an initial payment of P5
o Full payment must be paid before the school issued a certificate for the graduate to
take the bar exams
o Concurrently enrolled in the UP to complete the ROTC requirement for the title of
Associate in the Arts (became a bonafide alumnus of the state university)
o Won first prize in the oratorical contest with piece “Are These Our Children?”
(criticism of the sins and frivolities of the youth as observed by Macapagal)
o Almost flunked Civil Law under Prof. Pedro Ylagan (had a way of intimidating his
students with ridicule)
o Drawn to political activities (joined with Wenceslao Vinzons in organizing
movement called Young Philippines)
Years in the movement Young Philippines
o A movement made to make the voice of the young felt in public affairs
o Had a catching issue against Quezon for rejecting the Hare-Hawes-Cutting Act
(first US law setting a process and date for the Philippines to gain independence
from the United States)- seen by YP as selfishness in political reasons for Quezon’s
part (HHC Act was then repassed as Tydings-McDuffle Bill)
 Was sent as delegate for the “Pro” side (Osmeña-Roxas)
 Roxas took interest in him after delivering a fighting speech (usually sent
Macapagal a letter after reading the latter’s point of view in politics;
usually expressed gratification towards views)
o Had a taste of hazards of political campaign (charged by a man holding a balisong)
Studied in the said law school for two years but debt was piled up and health was
deteriorated so badly; decided to return to Lubao to plan for another career
Honoria Ventura (Pampangan philantrophist) sought him and offered to help him in his
last two years of law school
o Served as Secretary of Interior for several years but lost his fortune due to helping
those in need
o Took Macapagal around Pampanga to speak for the “Pro” side of the Hare-HawesCutting Act (introduction to big-time politics)
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o When Macapagal became President- declared Ventura’s birthday as a special
holiday + helped put up a monument for him opposite of Jose Abad Santos
Transferred to University of Sto Tomas and finished law studies in 1936 (suggested by
Ventura)
o While studying for the bar exams- developed sense of personal discipline (adapt
himself to difficult situations at will)
o Flunked Civil Law but was excellent in Corporation Law
o Felt strongly attached to UST because this is where he graduated in law and earned
a master’s degree, a law doctorate in economics
Topped the 1936 bar examinations
o Beat Macario Peralta of UP (known as the walking encyclopedia)
o Studied in Turla’s home for the bar exams (7:30 AM- 9:00 PM with 5-10 minute
breaks/ hour)
o 93% in Civil Law, 89.95%- cumulative score
o Evangelina Macaraeg- annoyed that the achievement of Macapagal should
interrupt the studies of everyone else (went on to marry Macapagal ten years, one
marriage, two children, and a World War later)
The Career Begins
Professional Apprenticeship
 Assistant Attorney in the American Law Firm of Ross, Lawrence, Selph and Carrascoso
(1936)
o Had the largest clientele in the country
o P75/month
 Went on to marry childhood sweetheart Purita de la Rosa and had two children, Maria
Cielo and Arturo
o Bought on installment a unit in the government housing program in Kamuning,
Quezon City
o Mother died in said apartment in 1940 and de la Rosa in 1943 (during the Japanese
occupation)- de la Rosa just gave birth to Arturo
 Law clerk in Malacañang under President Manuel L Quezon (1941)
o P200/month
 Japanese occupation
o Volunteered for military service on the day the war began but was not deployed
since the Japanese invasion forces moved fast in the occupation of Manila
o Brother Angel was part of the ROTC (was deployed) and was a part of the Bataan
Death March (was able to escape)
o Quit government practice, practiced law, and joined underground as first
lieutenant under Col. Edwin Ramsey
o Held office near the State Theater
 Assigned to intelligence and collecting funds for the guerrillas on the hills
(travelled all over Central Luzon to raise money for the guerrillas)
 Represented and legally protected businessmen who made contributions to
the guerrilla effort
 Made solicitation in Manila communities
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Went on to marry Evangelina Macaraeg on May 5, 1946
Entered politics as a candidate for Congress from Pampanga in 1949 under the Liberal
Party (founded in 1945 by Senator Manuel Roxas)
o Wanted by Roxas to run in the 1946 presidential election for congressman (declined
because Pampanga was in the hands of the Huk)
Was offered the position Chief of the Law Division of the Commission on Foreign Relations
(declined since Macapagal chose to cast his lot on Roxas)
o After Roxas won as President, Macapagal was offered the position (by Quirino)
assistant in the law division of the Commission on Foreign Relations
o Was assigned to negotiate the return of the administration of the Turtle Islands
from the United Kingdom to the Philippines (he succeeded)
Was assigned in 1948 as second secretary to the Philippine embassy in Washington
o Sold house and lot in Kamuning to meet representation expenses in Washington
Elected as Congressman
 Entered politics under the Liberal Party that Roxas founded
o Ran as congressman against Huk- elected Congressman Amado Yuson
 Assigned to deliver speeches in arranged meetings on behalf of the candidacy of Quirino
and his own candidacy
The Seasoning Years
As Congressman
 Elected chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs
 First congressional session in 1950- main legislative work was devoted to the consideration
of measures to impose economic controls
 A high ethical standard is indispensable in national leadership
o Was once offered a share in the profits of a business revenue to keep him mum
about the grasping pattern of other politicians’ business activities
 Usually kept to himself (upholding individually the cause of honest government by his own
personal facts)
 House of Representatives- usually preoccupied with the future of the landless and
impoverished people of the Gutad
 Authored the Minimum Wage Law
o Suggested by the American government as the basis for American aid sought by
President Aquino to save the national economy from collapse
o Attending to the needs of the profoundly impoverished masses by increasing and
stabilizing popular purchasing power
 Authored the Rural Health Law
o Extended medical assistance to those in the remotest rural areas
 Even more strict in receiving remuneration for legislation
o Denied payment for helping a partner in the American law firm in the enactment of
a franchise for a submarine cable to Hongkong for one of the law firm’s clients
 Not conscious about how much money he has in his pocket
o Once forgot to collect his salary for one year as professor in UST
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Strict in the acquisition of property by a public official from the government
o Rejected receipt of a one-hundred hectare clean agricultural land in Cotabato and a
choice lot in Quezon
Quirino Slips, Magsaysay Rises
 Attended state affairs when he was the opposition leader
 Magsaysay resigned from the Quirino cabinet to become the presidential candidate of the
Nacionalista Party against Quirino in the 1953 presidential election
o Macapagal learned of the plot when he went to visit Magsaysay in the hospital
(because of a minor ailment)
o Was directly invited to join the anti- Quirino movement (he did not accept)
o Magsaysay exacted a pledge from him that he would keep the matter in absolute
confidence
 Ran for senator in 1955 (forced by Liberal House Spekaer Eugenio Perez) and lost (topped
the whole Liberal state)
o Designated by the Liberal national committee to head a reorganization committee
(recommend measures to revitalize the party)
o Cornelio Villareal- new party president
o Ferdinand Marcos wanted to be the minority floorleader in the Lower House
(position held by former Speaker Eugenio Perez)- Perez was shocked when
Macapagal told him
 Marcos falsely told Perez that Macapagal wanted to take Perez’s place as
House minority leader
o Offiicial lineup: Villareal- party president, Marcos- executive vice president,
Perez- House minority leader
o The position of regional vice president was abolished (downplayed Macapagal’s
role in the party)
 Was picked by Perez to run as Yulo’s vice president
o “Our party is going to put Yulo in the presidency for his money. He will be attacked
about how he acquired the Canlubang Estate. We need for his running mate a vice
presidential candidate whose integrity and honesty cannot be questioned.”
o Personal plan had been to run for reelection as congressman
Election as Vice President (1957-1961)
 Was the choice of Eugenio Perez for vice presidency but Yulo wanted Manuel P Manahan,
a presidential aspirant under the Progressive Party of the Philippines (PPP) who belonged
to an elitist family
o Undertook a project of unifying the Yulo Liberal Party with the Progressive Party
by making Manahan withdraw as Progressive presidential candidate to become
Yulo’s vice president
o Perez refused to sacrifice Macapagal for Manhan with the words “Over my dead
body” (he was on his death bed)
o Yulo approached high church dignitaries to intercede in order to make Macapagal
back out to no avail
o Nominated in a televised convention at the Manila Hotel
 Perez died peacefully when he heard Macapagal’s acceptance speech
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Lack of campaign funds
o Solved the problem by joining Yulo’s campaign unit (Yulo liked Macapagal’s way
of campaigning)
o Amelito Mutuc offered to run Macapagal’s campaign (“fundless Jaycee style”) IF
Macapagal can put up P3, 000
 Of much help since Yulo’s campaign manager declined to include him in
the Yulo publicity campaign
 Mutuc later became Macapagal’s Executive Secretary and later ambassador
to the United States
First time a mixed presidential ticket won in the Philippines
o President Carlos P Garcia of the Nacionalista Party + Vice President Diosdado P
Macapagal of the Liberal Party
As Party Leader
 Elected president of the Liberal Party and leader of the opposition
 First act was to remove from positions of decisive influence in the party those who exploited
their party positions for private gain
o Caused the party’s downfall in 1953
 Invited younger and new leaders (particularly the followers of Magsaysay) who were
defeated in their bid for a comeback to power under the Progressive Party in 1957
o Sought an alliance with them for the 1959 senatorial elections (succeeded in
forming a coalition but it broke up before the campaign could begin)
 Manuel Manahan, Raul Manglapus, Senator Emmanuel Pelaez, Senator
Francisco Rodrigo, Eleuterio Adevoso, Rodrigo Perez
 6 LP senatorial candidates + 2 PP (Manahan and Manglapus)- Manahan
initially agreed but then backed out and demanded to add Pelaez and Vargas
to the party (Macapagal denied even with a bribe of P2M campaign fund
from an American)
o Based on a strategy of unifying the opposition in the decisive presidential election
of 1961
 Rather have disunity among the opposition in the 1959 election that would
lead to unity in the presidential election of 1961, than have unity in 1959
that would lead to disunity in the decisive year 1961
 1959 senatorial and local elections- 3 LP senators + 18 LP provincial
governors; PP Leaders joined him in 1961 (Macapagal as president and
Pelaez for vice president)
Elected President
 Announced candidacy for President under a united Liberal Party and Progressive Party
(September 28, 1960)
o Garcia organized a drive to embarrass Macapagal abroad (was able to cope with it)
o Challenged by Senator Ferdinand Marcos (withdrew on the eve of the convention)
 Unanimously nominated with Pelaez on January 21, 1961
o Had one year to campaign (been virtually campaigning since 1958)
 Delivered only one speech in Manila, during the miting de avance in Plaza Miranda
 Macapagal was sure that he would win against Garcia
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o Had a regional advantage over him being from Luzon while Garcia was from the
Visayas (and also used antiquated campaign methods not suitable to a presidential
campaign and to the times as influenced by the late Magsaysay)
o Nacionalista Party president Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr. published a “White Paper”,
imputing numerous acts of corruption to Garcia (Rodriguz announced his
candidacy for presidential nomination against Garcia)
o Garcia was using the “pork barrel” method of winning a presidential election
Defeated Garcia by obtaining 55 percent of the votes + vice presidential teammate and six
of the the LP eight senatorial candidates won
o Garcia refused to concede
 Stunned by his defeat he could not believe it, 75 NP candidates for the
Congress out of 104 won and only 29 LP congressional candidates won
 Under pressure from leftist elements (had an alliance with them and taken
charge of his propaganda)
 Showed a need for improving the constitutional procedure to confirm the
presidential election results
o The Nacionalista- dominated Congress proclaimed Macapagal and Pelaez’ election
as required by the constitution
The Presidency
Moral Regeneration
 Garcia immediately filed an election protest and he filled up all presidential appointments
to the vacant positions with “midnight appointments”, including the vital position of
governor of the Central Bank
o Protest was dismissed by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal
o “Midnight appointments” were nullified by the Supreme Court as immoral
o Foretold the unprecedented difficulties and roadblocks to the success of
Macapagal’s administration
 First tried to win the cooperation of the Nacionalista Party leaders
o Made three Nacionalistas as members of his cabinet (Jose Diokno- Secretary of
Justice, Manuel Lim- Secretary of Commerce and Industry, and Marciano BautistaSecretary of Public Works and Communications)
o Did not work due to the rapidly partisan attitude of Filipino politicians
o Was constrained to admit Nacionalista solons into the Liberal Party (MarcosSenate President, Villareal- Speaker)
o The Nacionalista Party was effectively in power in the Senate (12 NP + 12 LP,
holdover presiding officer: NP stalwart Eulogio Rodriguez)
 Immediately assaulted the strongholds of corruption
o Issued an order to the Department of Justice to send two corrupters of public
officials out of the country (Harry Stonehill- American, Peter Lim- Chinese)
o Classified venalities into certain categories
 Moved against whomever was regarded as the biggest violator under each
category
 Chose Cabinet members and other key officials on the basis of their integrity and honest
 Important difficulty of his administration was a dearth of honest and competent men
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o Many were competent, but few were honest
o The use of public office and its influence for acquiring riches had become the
inclination of most officials before Macapagal’s incumbency
Another difficulty was the conservative attitude of the courts
o Judges detached from the moral and social stresses assailing the nation
o The judiciary is the trunk of the tree of democracy.
Abolition of Tenancy
 Retards productivity in agriculture as the tenant becomes indolent (according to Rizal) due
to continual bondage to usury, poverty, and misery
o For the farmer, there is no sense in working harder because it brought no
improvement in his lot and that of his children
 Enactment of the Agricultural Land Reform Code (R.A. 3844) of August 8, 1963
o Abolished the centuries-old system of tenancy
o Formulated a program for the farmers to own the land they tilled
o Seminal agrarian reform act from which stemmed future agrarian laws
o April 23, 1977- the act was one of the 19 great events in the national life of the
Filipino people
Socio-Economic Reform: Unfinished Revolution
 First government to adopt an economic program officially
 Issued an order to abolish controls- decree on January 21, 1962
o Either to decontrol by executive order or to decontrol by act of Congress
o Was among the most difficult choices to make
o Would produce the effect of rising price, which the masses did not want
o Tears welled in Macapagal’s eyes when he announced the order before the
Congress
 Launched a Five-Year Integrated Socio- Economic Development Program
o Calculated to step up the development of the country’s rich natural resources
o Emphasis was on industrialization
o Subsequently approved by the House of Representatives and by the National
Economic Council in which the Senate was represented
 Macapagal went to visit different towns to explain how abolishing controls and his fiveyear integral socio-economic development program works alongside each other
 Mentioned that he was meant to attain the economic and social goals of the Bonifacio
Revolution
 Economic growth- 5.25%, Industrial growth- 5.8%, Employment level- average of 94%
(peak of 95.4% in 1963)
 Introduced low-priced NAMARCO goods for the masses (to staple food shortage and high
prices)
Change of Independence Day: Philippine- American Relations
 Had stood unwaveringly close and mutually beneficial relations between the Philippines
and the United States
 Abused by elements unfriendly to the United States
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Contemplated to change the celebration of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June
12
o July 4 Independence Day was historically faulty and failed to fully arouse
sentiments of patriotism
o July 4- peaceful and undramatic struggle for independence from the United States
/ June 12- arouse recollections of the centuries of the people’s struggle for freedom
and independence against Spain
o A bill to appropriate 73 million dollars to complete war damage payment to the
Philippines was disapproved
 Dawned upon the people that the United States had lost its interest in the
Philippines and forsaken it
 Generated a sense of failure in the US to do right to the Filipino people
Announced the transfer of Independence Day to June 12
o President Kennedy sent Macapagal his congratulations and the US government sent
a military unit to participate in the first national June 12 celebration of Philippine
independence in 1962
Changed the names of significant public places from American to Filipino
o Dewey to Roxas Boulevard, Camp Murphy to Aguinaldo, Camp McKinley to
Bonifacio
Philippine Claim to Sabah; MAPHILINDO
 Started to be interested in the Philippine claim to Sabah when he was tasked by President
Quirino to recover the administration of the Turtle islands from the British in 1948
 Accordingly started to move to recover Sabah in his election to Congress in 1949
o When Macapagal was named a delegate to the General Assembly of the UN in
1950, he suggested to President Quirino that the Philippine delegation put on record
the claim to Sabah in the United Nations
o Filed a resolution in the House to make the claim on record (House passed the
resolution, Senate failed to act on it)
 The United Kingdom annexed Sabah only on July 10, 1946
o The UK proposed to enlarge the State of Malaya into a new State of Malaysia
(Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Singapore)
 Department of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the British government
claiming Philippine jurisdiction and sovereignty over Sabah
 Claim was quickly dismissed and the British government accused the
Philippines of blocking the unification of Malay peoples
o Disregarded Indonesia opposition (seen by President Sukarno as an instrument of
neo-colonialism) and the Philippine claim -> the UK and Malaya fixed a date for
the formation of Malaysia
 Macapagal proposed a Confederation of Greater Malaya (Philippines, Malaya,
Singapore, Borneo territories of Sabah, Burawak, and Brunei and later to expand in order
to embrace other Malay peoples like Indonesians) on July 26, 1963
o Necessitated by the fact that Indonesia and the Philippines belong to the same racial
stock and have contiguous territories
o Initially named MAPHILINDO (Ma- Malaya, Phil- Philippines, Indo- Indonesia)
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Mushawara- called for common consultations for the settlement of any
controversy among the Malay people
Before MAPHILINDO was finalized, the United Kingdom and Malaya unilaterally set the
date again for the establishment of Malaysia
o Kept the matter of recognition of Malaysia under advisement pending formal
assumption by the new state of Malaysia of the commitment of Malaya to the
Manila agreements, particularly to the peaceful settlement of the Philippine claim
to Sabah and the determination of its procedure.
Strengthening Democracy
 Made sure that he would win the presidency in a truly democratic way
o Resolved to be a president who would approximate as closely as possible the ethical
qualities of the leaders of the mature democracies in advanced countries in America
and Western Europe
 Refrained from committing or abetting graft and corruption
 Did not utilize the Armed Forces as a source of political support
 Did not appoint as Chief of Staff of the military organization one who had personal loyalty
to him
o Followed the system of naming high military leaders according to their proper rank
in the armed forces
 Administration respected the freedom of action of independent constitutional agencies
 Did not approach the Iglesia ni Cristo community to seek for their votes, wanted the
community to vote for him if they wanted to
o Iglesia solid vote was weakening Philippine democracy- nullification of a person’s
right of suffrage
 Wrote the book entitled “Democracy in the Philippines”, which was a record to put
Macapagal’s faith in Democracy
o The fifth and last democratic President of the Republic before the implementation
of Martial Law was strongly opposed to dictatorship
o When the book was published, he was in due course prosecuted by the military for
inciting to sedition and rumor mongering
Reality of Independence
 Declined to give support to Laotian Prime Minister Chao Boun Oum for the latter’s
movement in a change of policy (anti-communism in favor of a neutralist government)
 To loosen the ties that savored of neo-colonialism, Macapagal’s administration also
discarded the previous policy and practice of having the US embassy represent Philippine
interests in countries where we had no diplomatic mission
The Exit
The 1965 Election
 Defeated by incumbent Senate President Ferdinand Marcos
o May have lost in Central Luzon because of the land reform
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o Lost in the Tagalog region because of its lack of leaders of sufficient stature to hold
the front for the Liberal Part in the area
Important cause of defeat- impatience of the people for the satisfaction of their “revolution
of rising expectations”
No American support
o When voted President, did not adhere to the presidential practice of making the first
state visit to the us (visited Spain first)
o Did not accept the practice of going to the American military headquarters in
Honolulu for briefing
Wrote a book intensively discussing Philippine foreign policy “The Philippines Turns
East” and “A Stone for the Edifice”
The Dictatorship
My Election as Convention President
 Formulated plans to push through resolution to ban all previous presidents and the
incumbent president from running for President of the Republic under the new Constitution
 Elected Convention President when President Garcia died of a heart attack before the
Convention’s first meeting
o Took his oath before the youngest Delegate, Richard Gordon (Convention would
have a vital bearing especially on the young today as well as on the future of the
nation)
Toppling the Dictatorship
 Prepared an anti-dictatorship book, Democracy in the Philippines
o Took two years to complete (research and preparation of the manuscript to present
and conserve the historical and factual background of the Filipino democratic
society)
o Phoned former Labor Secretary, Bernardino Abes, to publish and release the book
(when he receives a cablegram with the words “Happy Anniversary”)
o Macapagal was not arrested and him and his wife are free to leave the country
 “Democracy in the Philippines” is the first book against dictatorship (came out in the US,
Canada, and in the Philippines with no impediment on its distribution
 Marked Macapagal’s open resistance to dictatorship
o Followed by the organization of the anti-dictatorship Delegates of 1971
Constitutional Convention and some members of Congress- Interim National
Assembly Association (INAA)
 The regime created the Batasang Pambansa to counteract the demand for
the book and the organized INAA
 Was prosecuted by the military for inciting to sedition, rumor mongering, and several cases
of libel (Filipino translation of Democracy in the Philippines)
 Formation of the first united opposition, the National Union for Democracy and Freedom
o Macapagal went to the US to link the united opposition in the homeland with the
united opposition abroad, the Movement for Free Philippines
o Boycotted the 1980 election

Macapagal was fundamental in the formation of UNIDO (United Democratic Opposition/
Organization)
o Boycotted the 1981 election upon learning that Ninoy Aquino was not qualified for
the presidential position
The 1986 Presidential Snap Election
 Macapagal registered and voted with his family for the first time to support the AquinoLaurel presidential tandem
Restoration of Democracy
The EDSA Revolution
 American journalist, Joseph Reaves, indicated that the military support for the EnrileRamos revolt at EDSA might have been influences by the oppositionists
o Specified the Macapagal group (LP and INAA) which had been communicating to
a list of 3000 officers from generals to lieutenants
 Retired from politics after the restoration of democracy
o Continued writing for the Manila Bulletin, commenting on the great issues of the
day
Role of the Macapagal Family
Senator Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo
 Chosen by Fidel Ramos to run in the senatorial line up of the LDP (May 1992 elections)
o Won and chaired two powerful standing committees: the Committee on Economic
Affairs and the Committee on Trade and Industry
 Also won in the 1995 polls
o Heads the Committee on Public Service and the Committee on Trade and Industry
 Married to Jose Miguel Arroyo, a lawyer-businessman of Quezon City
o Children: Juan Miguel, Evangelina Lourdes, and Diosdado Ignacio (all Ateneo de
Manila University students)
 Completed her degree in Economics in Assumption Convent
o Graduated magna cum laude
 Two masters degree from Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the
Philippines
o Holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of the Philippines
 In the Aquino administration, she was Undersecretary of Trade and Industry and Executive
Director of the Garments and Textile Board
 Previously served as professor in the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila
University
 Formerly a columnist of the Manila Chronicle, the Manila Times, Balita, Liwayway
magazine, and Arab News published in Saudi Arabia for Filipinos
Vice Governor Cielo Macapagal- Salgado
 Ran for Vice Governor of Pampanga in 1995 and won


Holds a Ph.D. in Economics and became vice president of the Philippine National Bank
Married to Agustin Salgado, Jr, a businessman
o Children: Ma. Purita, Ma. Cristina, Ma. Cielo, Ma. Mercedes
Arturo R Macapagal
 Holds a Masters’ degree in Business Management (MBM) from the Asian Institute of
Management
o Acquired his BS in Management at San Beda College (cum laude, 1968)
 Married to Maria Theresa J Macapagal, directress of Cupertino Center for Special
Children
o Children: Andrei, Alex, and Maria Elizabeth
 President and general manager of Toyota Shaw, Inc., a franchise dealer of Toyota Motor
Corp. Prior
 Gained national acclaim and recognition as a member of the Philippine Shooting Team
Undersecretary Diosdado M Macapagal, Jr.
 Was initially summoned to serve as executive vice president of the Land Bank of the
Philippines
 Appointed by President Corazon Aquino as Undersecretary of Finance (served from 1988
to 1992)
o Resigned in 1992 to manage the senatorial campaign of Gloria
 Became Executive Director of Peregrine Capital (Phils), Inc., in 1992 and was later named
Managing Director in 1995
 Obtained his AB-BSC Accounting degree from De La Salle University (summa cum laude)