Ramon Magsaysay: The Champion Of The Masses

Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay

From being a skillful mechanic—-inspired by a blacksmith shop put up by his father—-to being a Commander-in-Chief of the Philippine Archipelago. Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay—the first President to institutionalize wearing of Barong Tagalog during presidential inauguration— was born on August 31, 1907, to a businessman and resigned teacher Exequiel Magsaysay and sari-sari store entrepreneur Perfecta Magsaysay.

As a teenage boy, he primarily took up pre law course and then shifted to the College of Engineering in the University of the Philippines, but later changed course anew due to health reason. Finally, he finished his commerce degree in Jose Rizal College in 1931.

As a natural tinker, he developed his skills in mechanic in a smithy his father founded.The Ford Model T Car (Tin Lizzie) which the Magsaysay family bought became the capital and impetus of Magsaysay to strive hard and help his parents in earning moola. Because of this car, young Magsaysay became inclined in selling fish and mechanical work to earn a living.

Prior to earning a degree in commerce, Magsaysay already had a job from a giant transportation known as Try-Tran Bus Company. His adroitness in mechanical works astonished his employer and made him shop superintendent after a couple of months and later a branch manager in his province.

The ineptness of bus employees was no match to adeptness shown by Magsaysay not only in mechanical work but also to handling crisis within the cash-strapped bus company. He mediated between striking workers and the company during his tenure and reformed the bus company management.

Luz Banzon and Ramon Magsaysay

Not long after, he met Luz Banzon accidentally during the latter’s visitation to the company to collect proceeds sold by her family to Teodoro R. Yangco’s bus company: Try-Tran. Young Magsaysay fell in love with the 8 years-younger girl from Bataan and the couple married on June 10, 1933.

During the outbreak of World War II, Magsaysay became a guerilla and formed Zambales Guerillas under the nom de guerre “Chow.” He was assigned as a supply officer by catering for the survival of the underground forces in World War II.  Not long after he was promoted to Captain. Magsaysay was once again catapulted to a higher echelon with the rank of Major under the watch of Col. Merrill. After the arrival of American liberation forces in Zambales and upon the recommendation of Col. Merrill, Magsaysay was appointed Military Governor of Zambales in recognition of his untarnished credential as a freedom fighter. He only served as a Military Governor of Zambales for two months owing to increasing assertion of the enemy within the province. During his stint as a ephemeral Governor, he initiated peace and order and attended to the food security of the natives most especially negritoes and likewise to fellow war veterans.

After the war, in 1946, his fellow war veterans and then Senate President Manuel Roxas urged him to run as Congressman. Because of overwhelming support from his colleagues, Magsaysay ran and won decisively over his political rival—considered as the biggest lead ever recorded in the history of politics in Zambales Province.

When President Manuel A. Roxas became the President of the Philippines, he immediately sought the help of the Committee on Guerilla Affairs Chairman Magsaysay to lead the contingent in the United States for the approval of the Rogers Veterans Bill seeking for urgent and considerable benefits for Philippine war veterans that later led to the establishment of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Quezon City after the President and Congress of the United States had affirmed allocation.

As a Congressman, he authored several bills that became laws: pensions of war widows and their children; appropriation for the construction of irrigation systems; and the creation of Bureau of Agricultural Extension.

Magsaysay as Defense Secretary

Ramon Magsaysay was appointed as defense secretary by none other than President Elpidio Quirino in September 1950 because of his strong inclination in politics and adamancy and upon the recommendation of Speaker Eugenio Perez.

As a defense secretary, he organized the entire Armed Forces and Philippine Constabulary by reshuffling officers in the ranks and axing erring military personnel. He also made a random visitation in barracks and other military installation.

Communist Rebel

With the favorable outcome against mavericks like Huks—led by Luis Taruc— and Politburo, Magsaysay attributed the triumph to the generosity of the government which doubled the appropriation for the campaign against dissident and lawless elements for their immediate capture. The said appropriation was meant for the support and rehabilitation of surrendering dissidents and monetary rewards for the incarceration of Communist leaders.

Also, under his tutelage as defense secretary, Magsaysay was acclaimed by the Philippine Free Press as Man of the year for making the election in 1951 orderly and peaceful.

His unparalleled achievement as a defense secretary and Communist fighter made the United States of America government published US postage stamps bearing his name and bust image with a title “Freedom Fighter.”

The stalwart Magasayay luckily survived and won his bid for reelection as Congressman of his province in 1949—dubbed as the dirty election.  He remained his post as Chairman of the House National Defense Committee after reelection.

After the threat of communism was pacified in 1953, Magsaysay was urged to run for the highest post in the country by his peers for the continuity of his vision as a freedom fighter.  

On February 28, 1953, he bequeathed the position as defense secretary of President Quirino.

Knowing Magsaysay’s numerous achievements as a Congressman and as a defense secretary, the opposition nominated him as the Nacionalista Party standard bearer for President in 1953.  

His unprecedented and decisive win against his rival, former President Quirino made him the 7^th President of the Republic of the Philippines in 1953. During his inauguration, he led the wearing of Barong Tagalog---the first president ever to wear locally handmade apparel in a presidential inauguration.

President's inauguration in 1953

During his presidency, he transformed Malacañan Palace as the house of the people. So, during that time, people from all walks of life made the palace a picnic hub.

On the other hand, his stringent “Asia for Asians Policy” under his behest was strongly opposed by his former ally Claro M. Recto stating that the policy would jeopardize the good relationship between the United States and the Philippines. Magsasaysay later clarified that there was no incompatibility with regard to his local policy and American policy. 

Also, on April 25, 1956, under Magsaysay's watch, Aklan was separated from the Province of Capiz by virtue of Republic Act No. 1414.

A walk in Malacañan. Bahay Pangarap at the background

The last minute of Magsaysay

However, in the wee hours of March 17, 1957 after the President’s speaking engagement in Cebu, the Presidential plane “Mt. Pinatubo” (aka Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota) which the President and his entourage were aboard, was reportedly missing minutes after it took off from Lahug Airport in Cebu. Later that afternoon of the same day, the nation was stunned after the plane was found at the crash site at Mt. Manunggal, Balamban, Cebu.  Of the 26 people, only Nestor Mata—a newspaperman— survived this tragic air accident. Until now, his untimely death was allegedly doubted by some people as connivance between influential political figures. 

Family Magsaysay

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