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Maguindanao
Map of the Philippines with Maguindanao highlighted
Location	Ampatuan, Maguindanao, Mindanao, Philippines
Date	November 23, 2009 approx. 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (UTC +8)
Target	Esmael Mangudadatu's family members, supporters, journalists
Attack type	Massacre
Weapon(s)	Small arms
Deaths	58 Esmael Mangudadatu's family members and supporters, and accompanying journalists[1]
Injured	At least 4[specify][citation needed]
Suspected perpetrators	Andal Ampatuan, Jr. and his clan
Number of participants	approx. 100

The Maguindanao massacre, also known as the Ampatuan massacre after the town where the mass graves were found,^[2] occurred on the morning of November 23, 2009, in the town of Ampatuan in Maguindanao province, on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. While the victims were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan town, they were kidnapped and brutally killed. Mangudadatu was challenging Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., son of the incumbent Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, Sr., in the forthcoming Maguindanao gubernatorial election,^[3] part of the national elections in 2010. The 58 people killed included Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called the Maguindanao massacre the single deadliest event for journalists in history.^[4] At least 34 journalists are known to have died in the massacre.^[5] In a statement, CPJ executive director Joel Simon noted that the killings, "appears to be single deadliest event for the press since 1992, when CPJ began keeping detailed records on journalist deaths."^[4] The CPJ further noted that, "Even as we tally the dead in this horrific massacre, our initial research indicates that this is the deadliest single attack on the press ever documented by CPJ."^[4] Even before the Maguindanao massacre, the CPJ had labeled the Philippines the second most dangerous country for journalists, second only to Iraq.^[4]

Background[link]

The Ampatuans had been in control of Maguindanao since 2001. Andal Ampatuan, Sr. came first into prominence when President Corazon Aquino appointed him as officer-in-charge of Maganoy (now Shariff Aguak) in 1986 right after the People Power Revolution. Aquino, having come into power via revolutionary means, replaced every locally elected official with officers-in-charge, although the town of Maganoy was approached differently; the aging mayor, Pinagayaw Ampatuan, was replaced by his vice mayor, Andal Sr. He won the 1988 local elections, then served for ten years. In the 1998 elections, Andal Sr. was elected as governor.^[6]

Members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lists Andal Sr., as a major ally in Mindanao. Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) regional governor Zaldy Ampatuan was the party's regional chairman. Andal Sr., the family patriarch, has been provincial governor since 1998; he has been elected three times, unopposed. Eighteen of the mayors in Maguindanao belong to the clan. The elder Ampatuan attributed his popularity to "popular support," adding "Because I am so loved by the constituencies of the municipalities, they ask me to have my sons as representatives." In the 2004 presidential elections, Arroyo won 69% of Maguindanao's vote; three years later, the party-backed coalition scored a 12-0 sweep of the senatorial elections in the province. Unable to run for a third term, he is currently grooming his son, Andal, Jr., to succeed him as governor.^[7][8]

With escalating tensions in the province, Arroyo, as head of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, mediated between the Ampatuans and the Mangudadatus (both are from the same party) to prevent election-related violence. Three meetings were held in mid-2009, with one meeting hosted by then Secretary of National Defense and current party chairman Gilberto Teodoro, who ran to succeed Arroyo as president but was defeated by current president, Noynoy Aquino. Arroyo's adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio, disclosed that there was an initial agreement "in principle" that no Mangudadatu would contest Ampatuan Sr.'s gubernatorial post.^[9]

Attack[link]

Location of Buluan, the origin of the convoy, in Maguindanao.

Location of Shariff Aguak, the destination of the convoy, in Maguindanao.

Location of Ampatuan, the location where the massacre took place, in Maguindanao.

Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu invited 37 journalists to cover the scheduled filing of his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections provincial office in Shariff Aguak. He said reports had reached him that his rivals had threatened to chop him into pieces once he filed his COC, and felt the presence of journalists would deter such an attack.

A local report stated that at about 9:00 AM, a convoy of six vehicles carrying journalists, lawyers, and relatives of Vice Mayor Mangudadatu left Buluan to file his COC at the Comelec office in Shariff Aguak. The convoy was composed of six vehicles: four Toyota Grandia vans (one grey, one green, and two white) owned by the Mangudadatu family; and two media vehicles – a Pajero owned by DZRH broadcast journalist Henry Araneta and a Mitsubishi L-300 van owned by UNTV. There was a seventh vehicle, a Grandia boarded by mediamen, but it lagged behind and decided to turn around once the passengers sensed what was happening. There were two other vehicles that were not part of the convoy but happened to be traveling on the same highway: a red Toyota Vios and a light blue Toyota Tamaraw FX. The Vios had five passengers: Eduardo Lechonsito, a government employee who was bound for a hospital in Cotabato City after suffering a mild stroke Monday morning. He was with his wife Cecille, co-workers Mercy Palabrica and Daryll delos Reyes, and driver Wilhelm Palabrica. The FX was driven by Anthony Ridao, employee of the National Statistics Coordination Board, and son of Cotabato City councilor Marino Ridao.

Before reaching its destination (about 10 km from Shariff Aguak, four on other versions), the convoy was stopped by 100 armed men, who abducted and later killed most or all of its members.^[5] There is evidence that at least five of the female victims, four of them journalists, were raped before being killed,^[10] while "practically all" of the women had been shot in their genitals^[11] and beheaded.^[12] Mangudadatu's youngest sister and aunt were both pregnant at the time of their murders.^[13]

In a text message sent by Mangudadatu's wife to him, she identified the people that blocked their way as the men of Ampatuan Jr, and that he himself slapped her.^[14]

A backhoe located in the immediate vicinity of the carnage at Ampatuan town was identified as the instrument that was used to dig the graves of the victims two days beforehand, and then to bury them, including the vehicles.^[15] The perpetrators weren't able to complete the job when a helicopter was spotted in the area. The backhoe, emblazoned with the name of Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr., was later identified to belong to the Maguindanao provincial government.^[16]

As of November 25, the death toll had risen to 57, as confirmed by Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluna of the Philippine National Police.^[17][18][19] Reporters Without Borders announced that at least 12 of the victims were journalists, making this the deadliest such incident in the history of news media.^[20] The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines originally estimated that a total of 20 journalists were killed, including an undisclosed number of NUJP members.^[18] The Philippine Daily Inquirer later updated the number of journalists killed to 34.^[5]

On November 24, Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo responded to the news of the massacre by declaring a state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City.^[19] Speaker of the House Prospero Nograles called on the police to quickly identify the perpetrators of the massacre and disarm private armies.^[21] The Philippine Department of Justice created a panel of special prosecutors to handle cases arising from the massacre.^[22]

Aftermath[link]

Nueva Ecija Rep. Eduardo Nonato N. Joson said the massacre might affect, or even lead to the cancellation of, the scheduled 2010 presidential elections.^[21] Candidates in the election condemned the massacre.^[23]

On Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the executive committee of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD political party unanimously voted to expel three members of the Ampatuan family – Maguindanao Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. and his two sons, Gov. Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. – from the party for their alleged role in the Maguindanao massacre.^[24] An emergency meeting of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD was held in Pasig, during which the Ampatuans were stripped of their membership.^[4]

On Thursday, November 26, 2009, Ampatuan Jr. surrendered to his brother Zaldy, was delivered to adviser to the peace process Jesus Dureza, then was flown to General Santos on his way to Manila, where he was taken to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters.^[25][26] Police in the Philippines charged Andal Ampatuan Jr. with murder.^[27] Ampatuan denied the charges, claiming that he was at the provincial capitol in Shariff Aguak when the massacre took place. He instead blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), specifically Ombra Kato, as the mastermind, a charge the MILF dismissed as "absurd."^[28][29]

Mangudadatu successfully filed his certificate of candidacy at Shariff Aguak on November 27. He was accompanied by Lakas-Kampi-CMD chairman and presidential candidate Gilberto Teodoro, along with a caravan of 50 vehicles, to "ensure his safety."^[30]

Declaration of martial law[link]

On December 4, 2009, through Proclamation No. 1959, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially placed Maguindanao province under a state of martial law, thereby suspending the writ of habeas corpus.^[31] Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the step was taken in order to avert the escalation of "lawless" violence in the province and pave the way for the swift arrest of the suspects in the massacre.^[32][33] Following the declaration, authorities carried out a raid on a warehouse owned by Andal Ampatuan Jr.^[34] The raid resulted in the confiscation of more than 330,000 rounds of 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, a Humvee, and an improvised armored vehicle. Twenty militiamen were arrested on the premises.Captain James Nicolas of Special Forces was able to retrieve more high powered firearms and ammo after the incident.^[35] The state of martial law in Maguindanao was lifted on December 13, 2009.

Media fundraising[link]

UNTV-37 arranged a fund-raising concert at the Araneta Coliseum for the families of 32 media men who perished in the attack.

Legal proceedings[link]

At least 198 suspects, including Andal Ampatuan Jr. and Andal Ampatuan Sr. and several other members of the Ampatuan clan, have been charged with murder. In April 2010, the government dropped murder charges against Zaldy Ampatuan and Akhmad Ampatuan who had presented alibis. This led to protests by family members of the victims.^[36]

Senator Joker Arroyo has remarked that with nearly 200 defendants and 300 witnesses, the trial could take 200 years.^[37] Prosecution lawyer Harry Roque has computed that it would last more than 100 years.^[38] In a statement commemorating the massacre, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility remarked that the trial was "ongoing, but is rather moving slowly."^[39]

Andal Ampatuan Sr. was arraigned in a special court inside a Manila maximum-security prison on June 1, 2011, 18 months after he and a dozen family members were arrested over the killings. After a court clerk read the names of the 57 victims, he was asked to enter a plea and responded in English, “Not guilty.”^[40]

As of 23 November 2011 (2011 -11-23)^[update], two years after the massacre, only Andal Sr. and his son Andal Jr. had been charged, and some 100 of the 197 persons listed on the charge sheet were still unaccounted for.^[41]

Victims[link]

Mangudadatu family and associates[link]

Journalists[link]

Thirty-four journalists are known to have been abducted and killed in the massacre, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer and only 25 have been positively identified so far.^[5]

Red Toyota Vios[link]

Number of casualties: 5. They were supposedly mistaken as part of the convoy.^[47]

Human Rights Watch report[link]

On November 16, 2010, the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch issued a 96 page report titled "They Own the People", charting the Ampatuans’ rise to power, including their use of violence to expand their control and eliminate threats to the family’s rule.^[48] The report links the Ampatuans to at least 56 other killings over the last 20 years, apart from the November 23, 2009 massacre.^[49]

In popular culture[link]

History Asia premiered a documentary on the Maguindanao massacre entitled The Maguindanao Massacre on September 26, 2010.^[50]

See also[link]

• List of massacres in the Philippines
• Extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances in the Philippines

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Human Rights Watch (Organization) (2010). "They Own the People": The Ampatuans, State-Backed Militias and Killings in the Southern Philippines. Human Rights Watch. ISBN 978-1-56432-710-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=qV6wZwEACAAJ.  (readable online here)

External links[link]

• "The Maguindanao Massacre: A Timeline". The Philippine Star. 23 November 2010. http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=632716&publicationSubCategoryId=63. Retrieved 25 November 2010. 

v t e Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo 14th President of the Philippines Family Eva Macaraeg & Diosdado Macapagal (parents) · Jose Miguel Arroyo (husband)  · Mikey, Luli, & Dato Arroyo (children) · Iggy Arroyo (brother-in-law) · Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo (distant relative) Education Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service · Assumption College · Ateneo de Manila University · University of the Philippines School of Economics Political career Lakas-CMD · Kampi · Senate · Vice-presidency · DSWD secretary Presidency (2001-2010) EDSA II · EDSA III · Insurgency in the Philippines · Visiting Forces Agreement · Operation Freedom Eagle · Oplan Bantay Laya (2001-2010): Extrajudicial killings · Major non-NATO ally · Strong Republic Nautical Highway · Oakwood mutiny · Fertilizer Fund scam · 2004 elections · Hello Garci scandal (timeline) · 2004 SuperFerry 14 bombing · Executive Order 464 · Subic rape case · 2006 state of emergency · 2006 Central Mindanao bombings · ULTRA Stampede · 2006 Southern Leyte mudslide · Guimaras oil spill · East Asian Energy Security · Manila Peninsula rebellion · 2007 Central Luzon hog cholera outbreak · 2007 Basilan beheading incident · 2007 elections · Batasang Pambansa bombing  · Euro Generals · NBN/ZTE scandal · Northrail controversy · ASEAN charter · July 2009 Mindanao bombings · 2009 Sulu kidnapping crisis · 2009 flu pandemic in the Philippines (regions) · National Artist controversy · Lakas-Kampi-CMD merger · Typhoon Ondoy · Le Cirque dinner scandal · Maguindanao massacre · 2010 elections Related Senators of the Philippines · Vice-Presidents of the Philippines · SONA · Constituent assembly · Constitutional convention Predecessor: Joseph Ejercito Estrada, 13th President of the Philippines Successor: Benigno S. Aquino III, 15th President of the Philippines

Maguindanao
—  Province  —
Seal
Map of the Philippines with Maguindanao highlighted
Coordinates: 7°08′N 124°18′E / 7.133°N 124.3°E / 7.133; 124.3Coordinates: 7°08′N 124°18′E / 7.133°N 124.3°E / 7.133; 124.3
Country	Philippines
Region	Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
Founded	November 22, 1973
Capital	Temporarily based at Buluan
Government
• Governor	Esmael Mangudadatu (Lakas-Kampi-CMD)
Area
• Total	7,142.0 km2 (2,757.5 sq mi)
Area rank	11th out of 80
Population (2010)
• Total	944,718
• Rank	TBA
• Density	130/km2 (340/sq mi)
• Density rank	TBA
Divisions
• Independent cities	1
• Component cities	0
• Municipalities	36[1]
• Barangays	506[2] including independent cities: 529
• Districts	1st and 2nd districts of Maguindanao (shared with Cotabato City)
Time zone	PHT (UTC+8)
ZIP Code
Spoken languages	Bahasa Maguindanao

Maguindanao (Filipino: Magindanaw) is a province of the Philippines located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Its capital is Shariff Aguak. It borders Lanao del Sur to the north, Cotabato to the east, and Sultan Kudarat to the south.

Geography[link]

Maguindanao is composed of 36 municipalities, which are further subdivided into 506 barangays. Cotabato City is often grouped with Maguindanao, but it is actually independent from the province.

The province is divided into two congressional districts. In October 2006, the first congressional district was split off into a new province, Shariff Kabunsuan. However, the ARMM's Act creating the province was nullified by the Supreme Court in July 2008, on the basis that creation of a province is a function of the Philippine legislature. The area has since reverted to the province of Maguindanao.

Government[link]

Maguindanao is divided into two congressional districts, which elect members to the House of Representatives. For the brief period that the province of Shariff Kabunsuan existed, Maguindanao became a lone-district province. Since the appointment of a new set of provincial officials for the reunified province of Maguindanao by the ARMM Governor in January 2009, the provincial government has reverted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan setup (coterminous with the restored 1st and 2nd Congressional districts of Maguindanao) from before Shariff Kabunsuan was created.

Having elected to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Maguindanao also sends six representatives (three per district) to the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly that convenes in Cotabato City.

History[link]

Battle of Maguindanao
Part of World War II
Date January to September 1945 Location Maguindanao Result Filipino Victory
Belligerents
Philippines Commonwealth Army of the Philippines Philippine Constabulary Recognized Maguindanaoan Guerrilla Units	Empire of Japan Imperial Japanese Army
Strength
56,200 Filipino Troops 5,170 Maguindanaoan Guerrillas 740 Maguindanaoan Civilian Swordmen	27,000 Japanese Troops
Casualties and losses
260 killed 1,244 wounded	6,000 killed 10,200 wounded 1,000 captured

Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan of Johore introduced Islam in the area at the end of the 15th century. He subsequently married a local princess from the Iranun Tribe of Malabang and Maguindanao Province, and established the Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Cotabato Valley formed the sultanate's heartland but its influence extended from the Zamboanga Peninsula to Sarangani Bay and Davao.

The Spaniards launched expeditions to subdue the area throughout the colonial era but they never gained control of the region until the middle of the 19th century.

During the American period, Cotabato became a district of the Moro Province created in 1903 and a province of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu in 1914.

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces entered what is now Maguindanao.

In 1945, Maguindanao was liberated by allied Philippine Commonwealth troops and Maguindanaoan guerrilla units after defeating the Japanese Imperial forces in the Battle of Maguindanao during the Second World War.

The old province of Cotabato was divided in 1966 into Cotabato and South Cotabato. In 1973, the successor province of Cotabato was split into the provinces of Maguindanao, (North) Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Maguindanao is the only Muslim-majority province of the four created out of the original Cotabato Province. In 1989, majority of its voters opted to join the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao but Cotabato City did not, which, ironically, has since served as the provisional capital of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

On October 31, 2006, Maguindanao voters approved the creation of a new province to be composed of 10 towns from the province. Of more than 500,000 voters registered, 285,372 favored the creation of the province, and 8,802 voted against it. The new province, Shariff Kabunsuan, became the country's 80th province and the 6th in the ARMM. It was composed of the towns of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Sultan Mastura, Parang, Buldon, Matanog and Barira. However, in July 2008, the Supreme Court nullified the province's creation, restoring its municipalities to Maguindanao.

2009 election violence[link]

Maguindanao guerillas in 1999

On November 23, 2009, a 2010 gubernatorial election caravan supporting Esmael Mangudadatu, vice mayor of Buluan, was attacked.^[3] Fifty-seven people were killed, including Mangudadatu's wife and sisters, supporters, local journalists, and bystanders.^[4] On December 4, 2009 a number of homes belonging to the Ampatuan political family were raided in connection with the massacre.^[5]

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao on December 5, 2009, Saturday morning.^[6]

In a press conference past 7 am, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced Proclamation No. 1959 declaring a state of martial law and suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the province of Maguindanao, except for certain areas identified as bailiwicks of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) separatists.

The declaration of martial law will lead to the "arrests without warrants" of other members of the Ampatuan clan who have been linked to the November 23 massacre of 58 civilians.^[7]

Last August 15, 2011, Provincial Governor Esmael Mangudadatu and his convoy were ambushed in a form of bombing as they were on their way to his birthday celebration.

Musical heritage[link]

The largest and smallest brass gong of the Philippine kulintang used as a main melodic instrument in the kulintang ensemble

The native Maguindanaon culture revolves around kulintang music, a specific type of gong music, found among both Muslim and non-Muslim groups of the Southern Philippines.

Notes[link]

1. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes two barangays (Macalag and Tuntungan) that have been divided between this municipality and Datu Unsay. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from these divided barangays.
2. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes ten barangays (Alonganan, Balakanan, Buayan, Dado, Damabalas, Duaminanga, Kalipapa, Liong, Magaslong and Masigay) that have been divided between this municipality and Datu Salibo. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from these divided barangays.
3. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes ten barangays (Alonganan, Balakanan, Buayan, Dado, Damabalas, Duaminanga, Kalipapa, Liong, Magaslong and Masigay) that have been divided between this municipality and Datu Piang, and one barangay (Pagatin) that have been divided between this municipality and Datu Saudi-Ampatuan. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from these divided barangays.
4. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes one barangay (Pagatin) that has been divided between Datu Salibo and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, and possibly this municipality too (as legislation is unclear as to whether any portion of Brgy. Pagatin actually remains with Datu Saudi-Ampatuan). However, the population count does not include inhabitants from this barangay.
5. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes two barangays (Macalag and Tuntungan) that have been divided between this municipality and Datu Hoffer Ampatuan. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from these divided barangays.
6. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes one barangay (Libutan) that has been divided between this municipality and Shariff Saydona Mustapha. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from this barangay.
7. ^ The population count does not include inhabitants from two barangays (Lapok and Tapikan), because at the time of the 2007 Census these two barangays still included the population of recently-created Brgys. Datu Bakal and Datu Kilay, now part of Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
8. ^ ^{a b} The number of barangays includes one barangay (Pagatin) that has been divided between this municipality and Datu Salibo, and another barangay (Libutan) that has been divided between this municipality and Mamasapano. However, the population count does not include inhabitants from these divided barangays.

References[link]

• COMELEC Resolution No. 8169
• COMELEC Plebiscite Results for 3 new Maguindanao municipalities
• Local Governance Performance Management System

v t e Political divisions of the Philippines Capital Manila National Capital Region Autonomous region Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Provinces Abra Agusan del Norte Agusan del Sur Aklan Albay Antique Apayao Aurora Basilan Bataan Batanes Batangas Benguet Biliran Bohol Bukidnon Bulacan Cagayan Camarines Norte Camarines Sur Camiguin Capiz Catanduanes Cavite Cebu Compostela Valley Cotabato Davao del Norte Davao del Sur Davao Oriental Dinagat Islands Eastern Samar Guimaras Ifugao Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur Iloilo Isabela Kalinga La Union Laguna Lanao del Norte Lanao del Sur Leyte Maguindanao Marinduque Masbate Misamis Occidental Misamis Oriental Mountain Province Negros Occidental Negros Oriental Northern Samar Nueva Ecija Nueva Vizcaya Occidental Mindoro Oriental Mindoro Palawan Pampanga Pangasinan Quezon Quirino Rizal Romblon Samar Sarangani Siquijor Sorsogon South Cotabato Southern Leyte Sultan Kudarat Sulu Surigao del Norte Surigao del Sur Tarlac Tawi-Tawi Zambales Zamboanga del Norte Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga Sibugay Former Provinces Agusan Ambos Camarines Camarines Cotabato Davao Kalinga-Apayao Lanao Lepanto-Bontoc Manila Mindanao and Sulu Mindoro Misamis Moro Province Negros Negros del Norte Occidental Leyte Oriental Leyte Samar Shariff Kabunsuan Surigao Tayabas Zamboanga Other subdivisions Island groups (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao) Regions Cities Municipalities Barangays Legislative districts Territorial disputes North Borneo (Sabah) Scarborough Shoal Spratly Islands

Patricia Chanco Evangelista is a debater, TV show host, columnist, segment producer, product endorser and leader. As a 19 year-old student, she became the first Filipina to win the Best Speaker award in the International Public Speaking Competition - an annual contest sponsored by the English-Speaking Union held in London. Her speech entitled Blonde and Blue Eyes,^[1] for the theme Borderless World, bested 59 contestants from 37 countries.^[2]

Education[link]

Evangelista finished high school at St. Theresa's College, Quezon City. Evangelista graduated as a BA Speech Communication major in the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2006. She is an alumna of the UP Debate Society (UPDEBSOC).

Career[link]

Evangelista became a host in Breakfast Supersized, Tara Na Pinoy and Y Speak Live. She later replaced Anne Torres to host ABC-5's DOKYU.^[3] She became a product endorser for Lipton Iced Tea.

Her column Method to Madness (formerly titled "Rebel Without A Clue") appears every Sunday in the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Opinion Section. She used to have a column called Crazed in the Philippine Star. Evangelista also teaches Creative Writing at Saint Paul College, Pasig.

She is also a writer/host/segment producer for Living Asia Channel and for Media Focus, a talk show on media affairs hosted by Cheche Lazaro. In addition, she writes for the history talk show The Explainer hosted by Manolo Quezon and a consultant for debate show Square off.

She serves as the National Youth Spokesperson for Operation Smile and a volunteer writer for Gawad Kalinga.

She also produces the series Story Line for the ABS-CBN News Channel.

External links[link]

• Patricia Evangelista
• Blond and Blue Eyes
• Patricia Evangelista: Using her Gift of Gab for A Cause
• Patricia Evangelista hosts ABC 5 show Dokyu

References[link]