Carlos P. Garcia

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Polístico and the surname or paternal family name is García.

Carlos P. García
8th President of the Philippines
In office March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Vice President	None (March 18 – December 30, 1957) Diosdado Macapagal (1957–1961)
Preceded by	Ramon Magsaysay
Succeeded by	Diosdado Macapagal
1st President of the 1971 Philippine Constitutional Convention
In office June 1, 1971 – June 14, 1971
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Succeeded by	Diosdado Macapagal
4th Vice President of the Philippines
In office December 30, 1953 – March 18, 1957
President	Ramon Magsaysay
Preceded by	Fernando Lopez
Succeeded by	Diosdado Macapagal
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office December 30, 1953 – March 18, 1957
President	Ramon Magsaysay
Preceded by	Joaquin Miguel Elizalde
Succeeded by	Vacant Post later held by Felixberto Serrano
Senator of the Philippines
In office May 25, 1946 – December 30, 1953
Governor of Bohol
In office December 30, 1933 – December 30, 1941
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Bohol's 3rd District
In office 1925–1931
Preceded by	Teodoro Abueva
Succeeded by	Filomeno Caseñas Orbeta
Personal details
Born	Carlos García y Polístico (1896-11-04)November 4, 1896 Talibon, Bohol Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	June 14, 1971(1971-06-14) (aged 74) Quezon City, Metro Manila Philippines
Resting place	Libingan ng mga Bayani, Metro Manila, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista Party
Spouse	Leonila Dimataga ​ ​ (m. 1933⁠–⁠1971)​
Children	Linda García-Campos
Alma mater	Silliman University Philippine Law School (National University)
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Carlos Polístico García (4 November 1896 - 14 June 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist, organized guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader, who was the eighth President of the Philippines.

Early life

García was born in Talibon, Bohol, Philippines on November 4, 1896, to Policronio García and Ambrosia Polístico, who were both natives of Bangued, Abra.

García grew up with politics, with his father serving as a municipal mayor for four terms. He acquired his primary education in his native town Talibon, then took his secondary education in Cebu Provincial High School, now Abellana National School, both at the top of his class. Initially, he pursued his college education at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and later studied at the Philippine Law School, the College of Law of National University, where he earned his law degree in 1923 and later, where he was awarded the honorary degree Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa from the National University in 1961. He was among the top ten law students in the bar examination.

Rather than practice law right away, he worked as a teacher for two years at Bohol Provincial High School. He became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where he earned the nickname "Prince of Visayan Poets" and the "Bard from Bohol".

Family

On May 24, 1933, he married Leonila Dimataga, and they had a daughter, Linda García-Campos.

Political career

García entered politics in 1925, scoring an impressive victory to become Representative of the Third District of Bohol. He was elected for another term in 1928 and served until 1931. He was elected Governor of Bohol in 1933, but served only until 1941 when he successfully ran for Senate, but he was unable to serve due to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the World War II. He assumed the office when Congress re-convened in 1945 after Allied liberation and the end of the war. When he resumed duties as senator after the war, he was chosen Senate majority floor leader. The press consistently voted him as one of the most outstanding senators. Simultaneously, he occupied a position in the Nacionalista Party.

World War II

García refused to cooperate with the Japanese during the war. He did not surrender when he was placed on the wanted list with a price on his head. He instead and took part in the guerilla activities and served as adviser in the free government organized in Bohol.

Vice-Presidency

See also: Ramón Magsaysay § Presidency

García (right) and Magsaysay (left)

García was the running mate of Ramón Magsaysay in the 1953 presidential election in which both men won. He was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Magsaysay, and for four years served concurrently as Vice-President.

As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, he opened formal reparation negotiations in an effort to end the nine-year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to an agreement on April 1954. During the Geneva Conference of 1954 on Korean unification and other Asian problems, García, as chairman of the Philippine delegation, attacked communist promises in Asia and defended the U.S. policy in the Far East. In a speech on May 7, 1954–the day that the Viet Minh defeated French forces at the Battle of Diên Biên Phu in Vietnam– Garcia repeated the Philippine stand for nationalism and opposition to Communism.

García acted as chairman of the eight-nation Southeast Asian Security Conference held in Manila in September 1954, which led to the development of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

Presidency

Presidential styles of Carlos P. García
Reference style	His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Alternative style	Mr. President

Economy of the Philippines under
President Carlos García
1957–1961

Population
1957	$\approx$ 22.68 million
Gross Domestic Product (1985 constant prices)
1957	Php 189,457 million ($ 94.7 billion)
1961	Php 224,430 million ($85.0 billion)
Growth rate, 1957-61	4.6%
Per capita income (1985 constant prices)
1957	Php 8,353
1961	Php 7,927
Total exports
1957	Php 35,980 million
1961	Php 39,845 million
Exchange rates
1 US US$ = Php 2.64 1 Php = US US$ 0.38
Sources: Philippine Presidency Project Malaya, Jonathan; Eduardo Malaya. So Help Us God... The Inaugurals of the Presidents of the Philippines. Anvil Publishing, Inc.

Accession

Vice-President Carlos P. García (right) was sworn in as President upon Magsaysay's death at the Council of State Room in the Executive Building of the Malacañan Palace complex. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Ricardo Parás.

At the time of President Magsaysay's sudden death on March 17, 1957, García was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia. Having been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice President García enplaned back for Manila. Upon his arrival he directly repaired to Malacañang Palace to assume the duties of President. Chief Justice Ricardo Parás, of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the oath of office. President García's first actions dealt with the declaration of a period of mourning for the whole nation and the burial ceremonies for the late Chief-Executive Magsaysay.

Anti-Communism

After much discussion, both official and public, the Congress of the Philippines, finally, approved a bill outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines. Despite the pressure exerted against the congressional measure, García signed the said bill into law as Republic Act No. 1700 on June 19, 1957.

Republic Act № 1700 was superseded by Presidential Decree № 885, entitled "Outlawing Subversive Organization, Penalizing Membership Therein and For Other Purposes." This was amended by Presidential Decree № 1736, and later superseded by Presidential Decree № 1835, entitled, "Codifying The Various Laws on Anti-Subversion and Increasing the Penalties for Membership in Subversive Organization." This, in turn, was amended by Presidential Decree № 1975. On May 5, 1987, Executive Order № 167 repealed Presidential Decrees № 1835 and № 1975 as being unduly restrictive of the constitutional right to form associations.

On September 22, 1992, Republic Act № 1700, as amended, was repealed by Republic Act № 7636.

Filipino First Policy

Main article: Filipino First policy

García exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investors. He was also responsible for changes in retail trade which greatly affected the Chinese businessmen in the country. In a speech during a joint session of Congress on September 18, 1946, García said the following:

We are called upon to decide on this momentous debate whether or not this land of ours will remain the cradle and grave, the womb and tomb of our race – the only place where we can build our homes, our temples, and our altars and where we erect the castles of our racial hopes, dreams and traditions and where we establish the warehouse of our happiness and prosperity, of our joys and sorrows.

Austerity Program

In the face of the trying conditions in the country, García initiated what has been called "The Austerity Program". His administration was characterized by its austerity program and its insistence on a comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he affirmed the need for complete economic freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests (especially American) in the national economy. He promised to shake off "the yoke of alien domination in business, trade, commerce and industry." García was also credited with his role in reviving Filipino cultural arts. The main points of the Austerity Program were:

1. The government would tighten up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of exports under license and in under-pricing as well.
2. There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments.
3. Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items.
4. The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum.
5. An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the importation of gasoline and spare parts.
6. The tax system would be revised so as to attain more equitable distribution of the payment-burden and achieve more effective collection from those with ability to pay.
7. There would be an intensification of food production.

The program was hailed by the people at large and confidence was expressed that the measures proposed would help solve the standing problems of the Republic.

Bohlen–Serrano Agreement

During his administration, he acted on the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement, which shortened the lease of the American military bases from 99 years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five years.

Republic Cultural Award

In addition to his laws and programs, the García administration also put emphasis on reviving the Filipino culture. In doing so, the Republic Cultural Award was created. To this day, the award is being given to Filipino artists, scientists, historians, and writers.

1961 Presidential Election

Main article: 1961 Philippine presidential election

At the end of his second term, he ran for re–election in the Presidential elections in November 1961, but was defeated by his Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal, who belonged to the opposing Liberal Party (the President and the Vice-President are elected separately in the Philippines).

Cabinet

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
President	Carlos P. García	March 17, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Vice-President	Diosdado Macapagal	December 30, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources	Juan Rodríguez	March 18, 1957 – March 3, 1960
	César Fortich	March 3, 1960 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports	Martin Aguilar, Jr.	March 29, 1957 – September 2, 1957
	Manuel Lim	September 3, 1957 – November 17, 1957
	Daniel Salcedo	November 18, 1957 – May 31, 1959
	José E. Romero	June 1, 1959 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Finance	Jaime Hernández	March 18, 1957 – January 24, 1960
	Dominador Aytona	January 24, 1960 – December 29, 1961
Secretary of Foreign Affairs	Carlos P. García (in concurrent capacity as President)	March 18, 1957 – August 22, 1957
	Felixberto Serrano	August 22, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Health	Paulino J. García	March 18, 1957 – July 15, 1958
	Elpídio Valencia	July 15, 1958 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Justice	Pedro Tuazon	March 18, 1957 – March 1958
	Jesús Barrera	April 1958 – June 1959
	Enrique Fernández	June 1959 – July 1959
	Alejo Mabanag	May 18, 1959 – December 1961
Secretary of Labor	Ángel Castaño	March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of National Defense	Eulogio Bálao	March 17, 1957 – August 28, 1957
	Jesús Vargas	August 28, 1957 – May 18, 1959
	Alejo Santos	May 18, 1959 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Commerce and Industry	Pedro Hernáez	April 10, 1959 – January 24, 1960
	Manuel Lim	January 24, 1960 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Public Works, Transportation and Communications	Florencio Moreno	March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Administrator of Social Services and Development	Amparo Villamor	1960 – 1961
Executive Secretary	Fortunato de León	March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1957
	Juan Pajo	January 16, 1958 – August 28, 1959
	Natalio Castillo	January 24, 1960 – September 5, 1961

Post-Presidency and Death

García, circa 1960s

President García's tomb at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

After his failed re–election bid, García retired to Tagbilaran to resume as a private citizen.

On June 1, 1971, García was elected delegate of the 1971 Constitutional Convention. The convention delegates elected him as the President of the Convention. However, just days after his election, on June 14, 1971, García died from a fatal heart attack on 5:57 p.m. at his residence in Bohol Avenue (now Sgt. Esguerra Avenue), Quezon City. He was succeeded as president of the Convention by his former Vice-President, Diosdado Macapagal.

García became the first layman to lie in state in Manila Cathedral—a privilege until then limited to a deceased Archbishop of Manila—and the first President to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Honors

Foreign Honors

• Malaya: : Order of the Crown of the Realm, Honorary Recipient (D.M.N.(K)) - (1959)
• Spain: : Order of Civil Merit, Collar - (October 1, 1957)
• South Vietnam: : Order of Kim Khanh - (March 19, 1956)

References

• Zaide, Gregorio F. (1984). Philippine History and Government. National Bookstore Printing Press.

External links

Works by or about Carlos P. Garcia at Wikisource

• Media related to Carlos P. Garcia at Wikimedia Commons
• Carlos P. García on the Presidential Museum and Library