Carlos P. Garcia

For the municipality named after the president, see President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol.

Carlos P. García
8th President of the Philippines 4th President of the Third Republic
In office March 17, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Vice President	None (March 17 – December 30, 1957) Diosdado Macapagal (1957–1961)
Preceded by	Ramón 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 17, 1957
President	Ramón Magsaysay
Preceded by	Fernando López
Succeeded by	Diosdado Macapagal
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
In office December 30, 1953 – March 17, 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 Third District
In office 1925–1931
Preceded by	Teodoro Abueva
Succeeded by	Filomeno Caseñas Orbeta
Personal details
Born	Carlos Polestico García (1896-11-04)November 4, 1896 Talibon, Bohol Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	June 14, 1971(1971-06-14) (aged 74) Tagbilaran, Bohol Philippines
Resting place	Libingan ng mga Bayani, Taguig, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista Party
Spouse	Leonila Dimataga
Children	Linda García-Campos
Alma mater	Silliman University Philippine Law School National University (Philippines)
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Carlos Polestico Garcia, commonly known as Carlos P. Garcia, (November 4, 1896 – June 14, 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

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

Garcia 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, both on 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, he received his Honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa from National University in 1961. He was among the top ten 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 Garcia-Campos.

Political career

Garcia 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

Garcia 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

Garcia 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, Garcia, 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.

Garcia 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. Garcia
Reference style	His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Alternative style	Mr. President

Economy of the Philippines under
President Carlos Garcia
1957–1961

Population
1957	$\approx$ 22.68 million
Gross Domestic Product
1957	Php 189,457 million ($ 94.7 billion)
1961	Php 224,430 million ($85.0 billion)
Growth rate, 1957-61	- 2.56 %
Per capita income
1957	Php 8,353
1961	Php 7,927
Total exports
1957	Php 35,980 million
1961	Php 39,845 million
Exchange rates
1 US US$ = 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. Garcia (right) was inaugurated 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 Paras.

At the time of President Magsaysay's sudden death on March 17, 1957, Garcia was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia. Having been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice President Garcia enplaned back for Manila. Upon his arrival he directly repaired to Malacañang Palace to assume the duties of President. Chief Justice Ricardo Paras, of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the oath of office. President Garcia'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, President Carlos P. Garcia 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

President Garcia exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investor. 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, President Garcia 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 of the country, President Garcia 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." Garcia was also credited with his role in reviving Filipino cultural arts. The main points of the Austerity Program were:

1. The government would tightened 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 Bases from 99 years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five years.

1961 Presidential Election

Main article: Philippine presidential election, 1961

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 country).

Cabinet

OFFICE	NAME	TERM
President	Carlos P. Garcia	March 17, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Vice-President	Diosdado Macapagal	December 30, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources	Juan Rodriguez	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 – December 28, 1959
	José Romero	May 18, 1960 – 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
	Elpidio 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 Castano	March 18, 1957 – December 30, 1961
Secretary of National Defense	Eulogio Balao	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 Hernaez	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

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

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

On June 1, 1971, Garcia 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, Garcia died from a fatal heart attack. He was succeeded as president of the Convention by his former Vice-President, Diosdado Macapagal.

Garcia 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: Honorary Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (1959)
• Spain: Knight of the Collar of the Order of Civil Merit (October 1, 1957)
• South Vietnam: Kim Khanh Medal (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. Garcia on the Presidential Museum and Library