THE GREAT POETS OF THE PHILIPPINES (SERIES)PRES.CARLOS P. GARCIA

Carlos Polístico García, commonly known as Carlos P. García, (4 November 1896 – 14 June 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer, public official, political economist and guerrilla leader, who was the eighth President of the Philippines.

Contents

• 1 Early life
• 2 Marriage
  • 2.1 Descendants
• 3 Political Career
• 4 Vice-Presidency
• 5 Presidency
  • 5.1 Accession
  • 5.2 Anti-Communism
  • 5.3 Filipino First Policy
  • 5.4 Austerity Program
  • 5.5 Bohlen–Serrano Agreement
  • 5.6 1961 Presidential Election
  • 5.7 Cabinet
• 6 Post-Presidency and Death
• 7 References
• 8 External links

Early life[edit]

García was born in Talibon, Bohol, 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 Talibon, then took his secondary education in Cebu Provincial High School. Initially, he pursued his college education at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and later studied at the Philippine Law School where he earned his law degree in 1923. He was among the top ten in the bar examination.^[1]

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".

Marriage[edit]

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

Descendants[edit]

• Teodoro P. García, Sr.
• Teodoro P. García, Jr.
• Dominique Marie L. García (b. 1988)
• Timothy Daniel L. García (b. 1989)
• Raphael L. García (b. 1992)
• Jace Jotham M. Cortez García (b. 2009)

Political Career[edit]

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 Second World War. He assumed the office when Congress re-convened in 1945 after Allied liberation and the end of the war.

Vice-Presidency[edit]

See also: Ramón Magsaysay § Presidency

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 technicalstate of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to an agreement in 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 7 May 1954–the day that theViet Minh defeated French forces at the Battle of Diên Biên Phu in Vietnam– García 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).^[2]

Presidency

Accession

Vice-President Carlos P. García (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 17 March 1957, García was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia.^[3] 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 Paras, 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.^[3]

Anti-Communism[edit]

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. García signed the said bill into law as Republic Act No. 1700 on 19 June 1957.^[3][4]

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 5 May 1987, Executive Order № 167 repealed Presidential Decrees № 1835 and № 1975 as being unduly restrictive of the constitutional right to form associations.^[5]

On 22 September 1992, Republic Act № 1700, as amended, was repealed by Republic Act № 7636.^[6]

Filipino First Policy[edit]

President García 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 18 September 1946, President 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.[7]

Austerity Program[edit]

In the face of the trying conditions of the country, President 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 3 March 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.[2] The main points of the Austerity Program were:[3] The government would tightened up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of exports under license and in under-pricing as well. There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments. Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items. The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum. An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the importation of gasoline and spare parts. 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. There would be an intensification of food production. The program was hailed[3] by the people at large and confidence was expressed that the measures proposed would help solve the standing problems of the Republic.[3]

Bohlen–Serrano Agreement[edit]

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.[citation needed]

1961 Presidential Election[edit]

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 (in the Philippines, the President and the Vice-President are elected separately).

Post-Presidency and Death[edit]

President García's tomb at theLibingan ng mga Bayani.

After his failed re–election bid, García retired to Tagbilaran to resume as a private citizen. On 1 June 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 14 June 1971, García died from a fatal heart attack. He was succeeded as president of the Convention by his former Vice-President, Diosdado Macapagal.^{[citation needed]}

García became the first layman to lie in state at the Manila Cathedral (an honour previously reserved for deceased Archbishops of Manila) and the first President to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.