Trivia about President Ramon F. Magsaysay

President of the Philippine Republic from 1953 to 1957, President Ramon Magsaysay was born on August 31, 1907 in Iba, Zambales to Exequiel Magsaysay and Perfecta del Fierro. He was called “The Guy” by his admirers, he gave meaning to people’s participation in the democratic process.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from Jose Rizal College in 1932. After graduation, he worked as bus mechanic in the transportation firm of Try-Tran Company and eventually became its manager. During the Japanese invasion in the Philippines, he joined the Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces and was later appointed overall commander of the Zambales Military District. He was appointed Military Governor of Zambales in 1945.

In 1946, he was elected representative of Zambales and was reelected in 1949. He was named Secretary of National Defense in 1950. As secretary he employed unorthodox methods to crush and win over the Huks. In 1953, he ran for President and won by a landslide victory. He was the first President to open the gates of Malacanang to the people. He visited the most remote barrios. His life was abruptly ended on March 17, 1957 in a plane crash in Mount Manunggal in Cebu on his return to Manila after fulfilling an official function.