Name	Ramón Magsaysay
Office	7th President of the Philippines 3rd President of the Third Republic
Vicepresident	Carlos P. García
Term start	December 30, 1953
Term end	March 17, 1957
Predecessor	Elpidio Quirino
Successor	Carlos P. García
Office1	Secretary of National Defense
Term start1	December 30, 1953
Term end1	May 14, 1954
Predecessor1	Oscar T. Castelo
Successor1	Sotero B. Cabahug
President2	Elpidio Quirino
Term start2	September 1, 1950
Term end2	February 28, 1953
Predecessor2	Ruperto K. Kangleon
Successor2	Oscar T. Castelo
Office3	Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Zambales' Lone District
Term start3	May 28, 1946
Term end3	September 1, 1950
Predecessor3	Valentin Afable
Successor3	Enrique Corpus
Birth date	August 31, 1907
Birth place	Iba, Philippines
Death date	March 17, 1957
Death place	Balamban, Philippines
Resting place	Manila North Cemetery, Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines
Party	Nacionalista Party (1953-1957) Liberal Party (1946-1953)
Alma mater	José Rizal University
Profession	Engineer
Spouse	Luz Banzon
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature	Ramon Magsaysay Signature.svg
Allegiance
Serviceyears	1942-1945
Rank	Captain }}

Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay (August 31, 1907 - March 17, 1957) was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines (and seventh president overall) from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.

Early life

Ramon F. Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales on August 31, 1907 to Exequiel Magsaysay, a blacksmith, and Perfecta del Fierro, a schoolteacher. He entered the University of the Philippines in 1927. He worked as a chauffeur to support himself as he studied engineering; later, he transferred to the Institute of Commerce at José Rizal College (1928–1932), where he received a baccalaureate in commerce. He then worked as automobile mechanic and shop superintendent. When World War II broke out, he joined the motor pool of the 31st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. When Bataan surrendered in 1942, Magsaysay escaped to the hills, organized the Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces, and was commissioned captain on April 5, 1942. For three years Capt. Magsaysay operated under Col. Merrill's famed guerrilla outfit and saw action at Sawang, San Marcelino, Zambales. Magsaysay was among those instrumental in clearing the Zambales coast of the Japanese prior to the landing of American forces together with the Philippine Commonwealth troops on January 29, 1945.

House of Representatives

On April 23, 1946, Magsaysay was elected under the Liberal Party to the Philippine House of Representatives. In 1948, President Roxas chose Magsaysay to go to Washington as Chairman of the Committee on Guerrilla Affairs, to help to secure passage of the Rogers Bill, giving benefits to Philippine veterans. In the so-called "dirty election" of 1949, he was re-elected to a second term in the House of Representatives. During both terms he was Chairman of the House National Defense Committee.

Secretary of National Defense

In early August 1950 he offered President Quirino a plan to fight the Communist guerillas, using his own experiences in guerrilla warfare during World War II. After some hesitation, Quirino realized that there was no alternative and appointed Magsaysay Secretary of National Defence on August 31, 1950. He intensified the campaign against the Hukbalahap guerillas. This success was due in part to the unconventional methods he employed and developed alongside an American adviser, General Edward Lansdale. The counterinsurgency the two deployed utilized soldiers distributing relief goods and other forms of aid to outlying, provincial communities. Where before Magsaysay, the rural folk looked on the Philippine Army if not in distrust, at least with general apathy, during his term as Defense Secretary Filipinos began to respect and admire their soldiers.

In June 1952 Magsaysay made a goodwill tour to the United States and Mexico. He visited New York, Washington, D.C. (with a medical check-up at Walter Reed Hospital) and Mexico City where he spoke at the Annual Convention of Lions International.

By 1953 President Quirino thought the threat of the Huks was under control and Secretary Magsaysay was becoming too weak. Magsaysay met with interference and obstruction from the President and his advisers, in fear they might be unseated at the next presidential election. Although Magsaysay had at that time no intention to run, he was urged from many sides and finally was convinced that the only way to continue his fight against communism, and for a government for the people, was to be elected President, ousting the corrupt administration that, in his opinion, had caused the rise of the communist guerrillas by bad administration. He resigned his post as defense secretary on February 28, 1953, and became the presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party, disputing the nomination with senator Camilo Osías at the Nacionalista national convention.

1951 Negros Occidental incident

In 1949, the governor of Negros Occidental Rafael Lacson assumed the gubernatorial chair and he ran the war-torn province as a police state. He tied up with the wealthy sugar plantation owners in the province, assembled private local armies and held the constabulary in an iron fist. The next year, many local journalists foretold the defeat of Lacson in the office if he would not loosen up his policies in the province.

In 1951 local elections, a man named Moises Padilla, a former guerrilla fighter against the Japanese during Second World War, declared his bid for candidacy to become the mayor of town of Magallon (now Moises Padilla). Padilla's opponent was an ally of Lacson. Because of this political alliance, Lacson sent a word to Padilla to renounce his candidacy or else he would die. Even though he was warned, Padilla continued his campaign but he sought military protection from defense secretary Ramón Magsaysay.

After the elections, Padilla lost the mayoralty race. The night after that, Lacson's uniformed men picked Padilla up and he was sent on a "town show" where he was beaten and tortured along the road. After the torturing, one of Lacson's men announced in the town plaza that this is "what happens to people who oppose us." When the news reached Magsaysay that Padilla was being tortured, he went to Negros Occidental. To his surprise, Magsaysay was informed that Padilla had already been killed by Lacson's men before the secretary even went to the province. Padilla's body was swimming in blood, pierced by fourteen bullets, and was positioned on a police bench in the town plaza.

The event afterward made Magsaysay's political career brighten up. Magsaysay himself carried the body of Padilla with his bare hands and delivered it to the morgue. News clips showed Magsaysay's pictures holding Padilla's body the next day. Magsaysay even used this event during his presidential campaign in 1953.

The trial against Lacson started in January 1952. Magsaysay and his men presented their evidence enough to convict Lacson and his 26 men for murder. On August 1954, the guilty verdict was given by Judge Eduardo Enriquez. The sentence was to put Lacson, his 22 men and three other mayors of Negros Occidental municipalities in an electric chair.

Presidential Election of 1953

Presidential elections were held on November 10, 1953 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino lost his opportunity to get a second full term as President of the Philippines to former Defense Secretary Ramón Magsaysay. His running mate, Senator José Yulo lost to Senator Carlos P. García. Vice President Fernando López did not run for re-election. This was the first time that an elected president did not come from the Senate. Moreover he started the jingles during election, for one of his inclinations and hobbies was dancing.

The United States government, including the CIA, had a strong influence on the 1953 elections, and candidates in the election fiercely competed with each other for U.S. support.

Presidency

In the Election of 1953, Magsaysay was decisively elected president over the incumbent Elpidio Quirino. He was sworn into office wearing the Barong Tagalog, a first by a Philippine president. He was then called "Mambo Magsaysay".

As president, he was a close friend and supporter of the United States and a vocal spokesman against communism during the Cold War. He led the foundation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization also known as the Manila Pact of 1954, that aimed to defeat communist-Marxist movements in South East Asia, South Asia and the Southwestern Pacific. During his term, he made Malacañáng Palace literally a "house of the people", opening its gates to the public. One example of his integrity followed a demonstration flight aboard a new plane belonging to the Philippine Air Force (PAF). President Magsaysay asked what the operating costs per hour were for that type of aircraft, then wrote a personal check to the PAF, covering the cost of his flight.

His administration was considered one of the cleanest and most corruption-free; his presidency was cited as the Philippines' Golden Years. Trade and industry flourished, the Philippine military was at its prime, and the Filipino people were given international recognition in sports, culture and foreign affairs. The Philippines ranked second in Asia's clean and well-governed countries.

Domestic Policies

President's Action Body

Ushering, indeed, a new era in Philippine government, President Magsaysay placed emphasis upon service to the people by bringing the government closer to the former.

HUKBALAHAP

In early 1954, Benigno Aquino, Jr. was appointed by President Ramón Magsaysay to act as personal emissary to Luis Taruc, leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group. Also in 1954, Lt. Col. Laureño Maraña, the former head of Force X of the 16th PC Company, assumed command of the 7th BCT, which had become one of the most mobile striking forces of the Philippine ground forces against the Huks, from Colonel Valeriano. Force X employed psychological warfare through combat intelligence and infiltration that relied on secrecy in planning, training, and execution of attack. The lessons learned from Force X and Nenita were combined in the 7th BCT.

With the all out anti-dissidence campaigns against the Huks, they numbered less than 2,000 by 1954 and without the protection and support of local supporters, active Huk resistance no longer presented a serious threat to Philippine security. From February to mid-September 1954, the largest anti-Huk operation, "Operation Thunder-Lightning" was conducted that resulted to the surrender of Luis Taruc on May 17. Further clean up operations of guerillas remaining lasted throughout 1955, diminishing its number to less than 1,000 by year's end.

Foreign Policies

SEATO

The administration of President Magsaysay was active in the fight against the expansion of communism in the Asian region. He made the Philippines a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), which was established in Manila on Sept. 8, 1954 during the "Manila Conference". Members of SEATO were alarmed at the possible victory of North Vietnam over South Vietnam, which could spread communist ideology to other countries in the region. The possibility that a communist state can influence or cause other countries to adopt the same system of government is called the domino theory.

The active coordination of the Magsaysay administration with the Japanese government led to the Reparation Agreement. This was an agreement between the two countries, obligating the Japanese government to pay $800 million as reparation for war damages in the Philippines.

Defense Council

Taking the advantage of the presence of U.S. Secretary John Foster Dulles in Manila to attend the SEATO Conference, the Philippine government took steps to broach with him the establishment of a Joint Defense Council. Vice-President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Carlos P. Garcia held the opportune conversations with Secretary Dulles for this purpose. Agreement was reached thereon and the first meeting of the Joint United States-Philippines Defense Coincil was held in Manila following the end of the Manila Conference. Thus were the terms of the Mutual Defense Pact between the Philippines and the United States duly implemented.

The agreement replaced the unpopular Bell Trade Act, which tied the economy of the Philippines to that of United States economy.

Bandung Conference

Billed as an all Oriental meet and threatening to become a propaganda springboard for Communism, a Conference was held in Bandung (Java) in April 1955, upon invitation extended by the Prime Ministers of India, Pakistan, Burma, Ceylon, and Indonesia. Although, at first, the Magsaysay Government seemed reluctant to send any delegation, later, however, upon advise of Ambassador Carlos P. Romulo, it was decided to have the Philippines participate in the conference. Ambassador Romulo was asked to head the Philippine delegation.

He is then referred to by the people the "Idol of the Masses".

Popular references

''The First Team,'' a 1971 thriller by author John Ball, hinges on the effort to recapture the ''USS Ramon Magsaysay,'' an American ballistic missile submarine. Freeing the submarine from control of the Soviet Union will force the Soviets to surrender their occupation of the United States.

In Robert A. Heinlein's novel Starship Troopers, the smallest starships are named after footsoldiers. Upon reading some of their names, protagonist Johnnie Rico remarks "There ought to be one named Magsaysay."

In Gundam Seed, an Agamemnon class carrier is named after Ramon Magsaysay; in episode 48: "The Magsaysay will take command of space divisions 48 and 211 from this point on", and this reference is further related to Starship Troopers' tribute: "The remaining vessels of the 15th carrier group are to gather at the signal coordinates of the Heinlein"

Personal life

Family

He was married to Shyvi Luz Magsaysay, with three children: Teresita Banzon-Magsaysay (b. 1934), Milagros "Mila" Banzon-Magsaysay (b. 1936) and Ramon "Jun" Banzon-Magsaysay, Jr. (b. 1938).

Descendants

Several of Magsaysay's descendants became prominent political figures in their own right:

Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., son of former President and former Congressman/former Senator

Genaro Magsaysay, brother of former President and former Senator

Vicente Magsaysay, uncle of former President and Congressman/former Governor of Zambales

JB Magsaysay, grandnephew of former President and public servant

See also

President of the Philippines

Ramon Magsaysay Award

Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.

External links

The Philippine Presidency Project

References

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Category:1907 births Category:1957 deaths Category:Cold War leaders Category:Filipino anti-communists Category:Filipino engineers Category:Filipino Roman Catholics Category:Magsaysay family Category:Paramilitary Filipinos Category:People from Zambales Category:Philippine presidential candidates Category:Presidents of the Philippines Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in the Philippines Category:State leaders killed in aviation accidents or incidents Category:Nacionalista Party politicians Category:Philippine Cabinet Secretaries

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Ka Hsaw Wa is a Burmese human rights activist. He is a member of the Karen indigenous group. Along with his wife, environmental and human rights attorney Katie Redford, he is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of EarthRights International(ERI), an organization that focuses on human rights in Burma and other areas "where protection of human rights and the environment is intrinsically connected." Ka Hsaw Wa and Katie Redford have two young children.

Biography

Ka Hsaw Wa was born under a different name, which he keeps secret in order to protect his family in Burma. He has not seen his parents in over 15 years. He adopted the name "Ka Hsaw Wa", which means "the White Elephant", while in exile in the United States. White Elephants are traditionally thought of by the Karen people as symbolizing righteousness and strength as well as a harbinger of great positive change.

Ka Hsaw Wa grew up in Burma as the son of a doctor and enjoyed relative economic privilege in his youth. However, when he entered college he soon became active in political causes, and quickly developed into a strong student leader. The Burmese government attacked the students brutally in 1988, killing many. Ka Hsaw Wa was captured and tortured. He then left Burma, but re-entered the country in order to participate in a lengthy photographic campaign documenting environmental and indigenous destruction, as well as severe human rights abuses, including starvation, systematic rape, and the destruction of entire villages. Most of the problems he documented were connected to the construction and operation of a petroleum pipeline in the area of Yadana for the oil companies Unocal (U.S.-based) and Total S.A. (based in France).

Ka Hsaw Wa, Katie Redford and EarthRights launched a federal lawsuit against Unocal, employing a unique legal strategy utilizing the U.S. Alien Tort Statute of 1789, which says that "federal courts have jurisdiction for torts that occur in violation of the Law of Nations, [which] includes abuses of fundamental human rights [and] genocide", in order to force the company to assume responsibility for human rights abuses caused by its actions. In the case Unocal eventually agreed to pay compensation to the 15 anonymous villagers who suffered forced labor, rape, and the effects of killings.

Ka Hsaw Wa continues his front-line activism, and was featured in the 2006 film, ''Total Denial''. A description based on his role in the film is as follows:

"Ka Hsaw Wa dedicated his life to human rights activism, speaking fluent English and Burmese, dodging back and forth as he plays cat-and-mouse with the border guards, marrying another rights worker and even raising a family. All the while he is fighting to live and protect his homeland. At one point he describes how he was himself tortured. When he goes into difficult areas of the jungle, he takes a gun with a single bullet - to commit suicide if captured (to avoid torture)."

Ka Hsaw Wa and EarthRights are also involved in the current struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma, wherein a number of protesters, including monks, have been killed, and hundreds of protesters arrested. They are working to bring an end to the current violence against the people. In response to the 2007 protests, Ka Hsaw Wa has said:

"As someone who experienced this regime's brutality in 1988, I am glad that this time around, the world is watching. But that is not enough. The international community, including multinational corporations, must act now to prevent further bloodshed in Burma. The people have suffered profoundly for too long — they have already sacrificed so much, and they will not stop."

Awards and recognition

Goldman Environmental Prize (1999)

Reebok Human Rights Award (1999)

Whitley Award Winner (Human Rights & the Environment), sponsored by Sting and Trudie Styler (2004)

Ramon Magsaysay Award for Emergent Leadership (2009)

External links

http://www.earthrights.org/home.html

http://www.totaldenialfilm.com/

http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2003/09/20030930_b_main.asp

http://pbs.org/now/shows/345

Category:Burmese democracy activists Category:Burmese prisoners and detainees Category:Civil rights activists Category:Indigenous activists Category:Burmese pacifists Category:Burmese human rights activists Category:Burmese Karen people Category:Prisoners and detainees of Burma Category:Living people