Nov 27 2007
Great Capizeño Leaders of the Paradise Philippines
Aside from the sea food, delicacies and festivals here in Roxas City, Capiz, the place is also known to be the origin of greatest leaders of the paradise Philippines.
Late President Manuel Acuña Roxas is the first president of the paradise Philippines when the United States recognized the Philippines independence after the Japanese Invasion and WII in 1946. He is known to give amnesty to arrested “Japanese collaborators” in 1948, except for those who committed violent crimes.
Hon. Senator Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas a representative of the First District of Capiz and, later as a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines from 1963 to 1972, Gerry Roxas sponsored legislation that benefited the masses — improved living conditions, provided employment and family income and in general, promoted equitable sharing in the wealth of the nation. He also wrote many bills of national importance and was consistently voted by the Philippines Free Press and other national publications as one of the outstanding Senators of the Philippines. Today his family founded a foundation that gives scholarships to poor but deserving students of Capiz that is named after him, the Gerry Roxas Foundation (actually I’m one of their scholars).
Hon. Manuel “Mar” Araneta Roxas II, is currently one of the active Senator of the Philippines today. He is known to common masses to be “Mr. Palengke” because during his time as the DTI Secretary he pushed for the development of the “palengke” (market) as the basic unit of the economy and the root of progress, advocating not only consumer welfare and protection but also sound trade and investment policies, particularly SME development. He is hailed also as the ‘Father of the Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Industries’ due to his contribution in harnessing the potential of the paradise Philippines as a global e-services hub.
As of yesterday, Senator Mar Roxas was named as the president of the Liberal Party (LP), replacing the former Senate President Franklin Drilon. It is reported that the Senator Mar Roxas is being eyed by the party as its presidential bet for the Philippines Presidential Elections in 2010.
I’m hoping that a Capizeño will lead us all Filipinos to a better life and a better place to live for everyone, a PARADISE PHILIPPINES for all!
Sources: Wikipedia, Manila Bulletin Online
