Antonio Diaz
Encyclopedia
Antonio Magsaysay-Diaz was a Congressman of Zambales
, the Philippines. He was a nephew of former President Ramon Magsaysay
.
A lawyer, he was one of the longest-serving politicians in the province and was known for supporting the education of students from poor families in his district.
According to a statement from the family, Diaz gave the bulk of his pork barrel funds to his scholarship program which included the provision of tuition money and stipends to some 500,000 high school and college students not only in his district but in the entire province.
In the last 10 years, Diaz allocated approximately P500,000 million for this program alone, “a clear testament to his dedication in realizing his vision of education for the youth from his beloved province,” according to his family.
Records from Diaz’s office showed that public school students in the district receive at least P1,000 each a year while those in private schools get at least P4,000 each.
Camat said the funds given to students are supplemented by bonuses and other forms of assistance given to the scholars and their families.
He said the scholarship program was the key to Diaz’s political clout with voters in the province. “He was very dedicated to improving it and reaching more beneficiaries and giving more to them,” he said.
Diaz also championed the cause of the World War II veterans who served under the United States Command, being a war veteran himself.
Diaz obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1954.
He made his career in government service, starting out as deputy customs commissioner (1963-19640), head of the legal department of the Land Reform Commission (1964-1965), and was subsequently elected vice governor of Zambales (1967-1969), before winning the first of many congressional terms in 1969.
He was also a member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984.
Diaz’s mother, Mercedes, is a sister of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.
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Zambales
Zambales is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is Iba. Zambales borders Pangasinan to the north, Tarlac and Pampanga to the east, and Bataan to the south. The province lies between the South China Sea and the Zambales Mountains. With a land area of...
, the Philippines. He was a nephew of former President Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
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Early life
Diaz, a member of the Magsaysay political clan of Zambales, served the province variously as vice governor and representative since the 1960s.A lawyer, he was one of the longest-serving politicians in the province and was known for supporting the education of students from poor families in his district.
According to a statement from the family, Diaz gave the bulk of his pork barrel funds to his scholarship program which included the provision of tuition money and stipends to some 500,000 high school and college students not only in his district but in the entire province.
In the last 10 years, Diaz allocated approximately P500,000 million for this program alone, “a clear testament to his dedication in realizing his vision of education for the youth from his beloved province,” according to his family.
Records from Diaz’s office showed that public school students in the district receive at least P1,000 each a year while those in private schools get at least P4,000 each.
Camat said the funds given to students are supplemented by bonuses and other forms of assistance given to the scholars and their families.
He said the scholarship program was the key to Diaz’s political clout with voters in the province. “He was very dedicated to improving it and reaching more beneficiaries and giving more to them,” he said.
Diaz also championed the cause of the World War II veterans who served under the United States Command, being a war veteran himself.
Diaz obtained his law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1954.
He made his career in government service, starting out as deputy customs commissioner (1963-19640), head of the legal department of the Land Reform Commission (1964-1965), and was subsequently elected vice governor of Zambales (1967-1969), before winning the first of many congressional terms in 1969.
He was also a member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984.
Diaz’s mother, Mercedes, is a sister of the late President Ramon Magsaysay.
Personal life
He was married by Felmida V. Diaz with four children: Ramon Victor, Roderick Albert, Roberto Carlos and Rica Victoria, daughters-in-law Anna, Carla and Maria, son-in-law Ronald Arambulo and grandchildren Regina, Marianna Antonia, Bianca Alberta, Ricardo, Rafael, Sabrina Victoria and Sidney Louise.Education
- Elementary: Castillejos Elementary School (1934-1940)
- High School: Letran College (1940-1950)
- College: Ateneo de Manila UniversityAteneo de Manila UniversityThe Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
; Associate in Arts, graduated Magna Cum Laude (1952) and Bachelor of Laws (1954)
Career history
- Professor of political science of Far Eastern UniversityFar Eastern UniversityFar Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
(1955–1957) - Head executive assistant; Head, legal department of Land Reform Commission (1956–1958)
- Vice president of Federation of Free Farmers (1956–1957)
- Barangay captain of Santa MariaSanta MariaSanta María or Santa Maria may refer to:*The name of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Mary, the mother of Jesus, in various languages such as Italian, Portuguese or SpanishIn nautical transport:...
, Castillejos, ZambalesCastillejos, ZambalesCastillejos is a municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 42,910 people in 7,238 households.-Barangays:Castillejos is politically subdivided into 14 barangays.* Balaybay* Buenavista...
(1958–1961) - Chief executive assistant Department of Finance (1961–1963)
- Deputy commissioner, Bureau of Customs (1963–1964)
- Legal consultant, Benguet Consolidated Mining Corporation (1964–1966)
- Chairperson, PNB Provident Fund of Philippine National BankPhilippine National BankThe Philippine National Bank is one of the largest banks in the Philippines, ranking fourth in terms of assets...
(1966–1970) - Provincial vice governor of Zambales (1967–1969)
- Director of Philippine National RailwaysPhilippine National RailwaysThe Philippine National Railways , or PNR, is a state-owned railway company in the Philippines, operating a single line of track on Luzon. As of 2010, it operates one commuter rail service in Metro Manila and a second in the Bicol Region. PNR restored its intercity service to the Bicol region in 2011...
(1967–1969) - Representative, lone district, Zambales House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives of the PhilippinesThe House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
(1969–1972) - Director and senior vice president, Philtrust Company (1978–1984)
- Representative of Batasang PambansaBatasang PambansaThe Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
(1984–1986) - Deputy minister, Department of Tourism (1985–1986)
- Partner, Albano, Garcia, Diaz Law Office (1987–1992)
- Representative, 2nd district, Zambales House of Representatives (1992–2001; 2004–2010)
Deaths
He died on August 3, 2011 (Wednesday) cause of multiple organ failure secondary to sepsis and pneumonia at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City, a statement from his family said. He was 83. Teodoro Camat, who heads Diaz’s office in Zambales’ 2nd congressional district, said the lawmaker died at 6:20 a.m. Camat said Diaz’s body will be taken to the Iba Cathedral here on Saturday after necrological services at the House of Representatives. The body will then be transferred for the wake in his hometown at San Marcelino, ZambalesSan Marcelino, Zambales
San Marcelino is a 1st class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 29,052 people in 5,866 households.-Etymology:...
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