Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. (born July 6, 1949), better known as
Noli de Castro or
"Kabayan" Noli de Castro, was
Vice President of the Philippines-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
(2004–2010).
A radio and TV newsreader and commentator by profession, De Castro was elected
SenatorThe Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
in 2001 and
Vice President-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
in 2004. He is the first independent candidate to receive the highest number of votes in a Philippine senatorial election and the first elected Vice President of the Philippines to run independently, although he campaigned in both elections under an alliance that supported the candidacy and administration of
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
.
De Castro currently anchors his radio program Kabayan on
DZMMABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
and TV Patrol.
Early life and broadcasting career
Noli de Castro was born in the town of
PolaPola is a 4th class municipality in the province of Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 31,938 people in 6,400 households....
,
Oriental MindoroOriental Mindoro is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila...
. He graduated from the
University of the EastThe University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
in 1971 with a degree in Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Banking and Finance from the University of the East and a doctorate degree Honoris causa from the
Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesThe Polytechnic University of the Philippines commonly known as PUP is a public research university in the Philippines. It was founded on October 19, 1904 as the Manila Business School, offering commerce-related courses...
.
De Castro began his career as a broadcaster during the
Marcos dictatorshipFerdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, when press freedoms were suppressed. He worked as a field reporter for Johnny de Leon, a popular radio announcer at the time. He later became a radio announcer in
RPNRadio Philippines Network, Inc. is a broadcast television network in the Philippines co-owned by the Government Communications Group, Solar Entertainment Corporation, Far East Managers and Investors Inc., and private sectors. This station studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol...
's
DWWWDWWW is an AM stereo station owned and operated by Interactive Broadcast Media in the Philippines. The studio is located at #32 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at Brgy. Tagalag, Valenzuela City, Philippines...
station from 1982 to 1986.
After the ouster of Marcos, de Castro joined
ABS-CBNABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
. He got his break into television as the segment host of Good Morning, Philippines' "At your Service". He also joined
dzMMABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
, a radio station of ABS-CBN, as the anchorman of "Kabayan". It was because of the popularity of the program that he gained the nickname "Kabayan Noli".
In 1987, De Castro became host of "
Magandang Gabi, BayanMagandang Gabi, Bayan named after his signature open and close of Noli de Castro, was a top rated news magazine program in the Philippines. the show's last broadcast was on the 31st of December, 2005. The cancellation of the show rumored to be caused by problems with long-time host Noli de Castro...
" (Good Evening, Nation) and anchorman of the news and public affairs hit, "TV Patrol". In January 1999 he became overall head of production of "TV Patrol" and vice president of dzMM.
Senate
In 2001, Noli De Castro successfully ran for senator as an independent candidate, though he campaigned with the opposition. He garnered more than 16 million votes, the highest ever for a senator in the history of Philippine politics at that time.
In his three (3) years at the Senate, VP De Castro authored 252 bills and resolutions, 140 of which he principally authored. He authored the following significant laws: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Senior Citizens Act, Balikbayan Law, Quarantine Act and Newborn Screening Test Act.
Among the most significant legislations he authored and principally sponsored is the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2002 or RA 9257, which honors senior citizens for their special role in society and to continuously make them productive members of the community. Said law expanded the benefits and advantages of senior citizens without qualifying whether or not they earn less than P60, 000, which was a prerequisite under the old law. Further, said law ensured for our Senior Citizens the following: availment of employment rights and training programs for those who have reached the compulsory retirement age under existing laws but are still willing and able to continue with their employment; unconstrained access to formal and non-formal education; establishment of a National Health Program for Senior Citizens; setting up of residential care or group home for the aged in every province; recognition of Civil and Political Rights of the Senior Citizens and protection against violation of the same; granting of additional benefits and privileges in the form of discounts, tax exemptions, free medical and dental services; and protection against discrimination.
Realizing the importance of speedy resolution of disputes before contesting parties go to court, VP de Castro filed the Alternative Dispute Resolution (RA 9285) in 2000. RA 9285 sought to relieve the judicial courts of numerous disputes, thus unclogging our court dockets. De Castro had in mind the poor section of our society – those that cannot afford a long and costly trial and thus are usually desperate in their quest for justice.
He explained:
Translated to English:
He also authored the Balikbayan Law in 2002 to grant our modern day heroes an additional tax-exempt shopping privilege on purchases of livelihood tools so they can invest their earnings in small and medium scale businesses. The law also provides skills training for the balikbayan and his or her family members to enable them to become economically self-reliant upon their return.
Deeply concerned with the importance of health, he also crafted the Newborn Screening Test Act of 2001 and the Quarantine Act. VP De Castro authored the Newborn Screening Test Act to test infants for five potentially devastating and fatal metabolic disorders, namely, congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia (GAL), phenylketonuria (PKU) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). This is because any infant could look normal and healthy at first glance; however, detailed screening is necessary to detect early symptoms of the disorders that could result to retardation, in the extreme case death. This law likewise integrates newborn screening into the government’s existing health care delivery system to improve social justice and health awareness, without the people having to pay a cent for such test. On another note, the Quarantine Act seeks to build a strong defense against the killer pneumonia and other similar contagious diseases. He proposed the establishment of Quarantine system and broadening of the authority of quarantine officers while safeguarding the constitutional rights of the person detained.
Vice-Presidency
In the
2004 Philippine electionThe senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 10, 2004. The major coalitions that participated are the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan composed of parties that support the candidacy of president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino ,...
, De Castro ran for vice president. He won by a narrow margin over Senator
Loren LegardaLoren Legarda is a Filipino broadcast journalist, environmentalist, and politician of Visayan ancestry, notable as the only female to top two senatorial elections . During the 2004 Philippine general election, she ran for the position of Vice-President as an Independent with Fernando Poe, Jr...
but an electoral protest was filed by the latter. The Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), dismissed the said protest. He was appointed by President
ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
as
secretaryA Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
for housing and urban development having been appointed as Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Council (HUDCC). As HUDCC Chair, Vice President De Castro also serves as ex officio Chairman of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF or Pag-IBIG Fund), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) as well as ex officio Vice Chairman of the Home Guaranty Corporation (HGC). He has also been designated as concurrent Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers, as Alternate Chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Head of the Task Force Against Illegal Recruitment, Price Monitoring Czar and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development of the MIMAROPA Region (composed of the provinces of Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).
Bigamy and abandonment case
In August 2007, charges of bigamy, falsification of public documents, perjury were filed against De Castro and his wife Arlene Sinsuat de Castro by Arlene's sons from previous marriage. The sons Jhoveenel Ombus, 34, and Arjurie Omar Sinsuat Olor accused Arlene Sinsuat de Castro of abandoning them at Calamba, Laguna in 1979, and of having failed to acknowledge that they were her sons. The brothers alleged that the De Castros were married on July 16, 1991, although Arlene’s alleged previous marriage on Nov. 17, 1971 to Juanito Olor, their father, had not been annulled. The case was dismissed for lack of probable cause.
2010 presidential election
De Castro has consistently been a front-runner for the
2010 presidential electionsElections for all positions in the Philippines above the barangay were held on Monday, May 10, 2010. The elected president will become the 15th President of the Philippines, succeeding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is barred from seeking re-election due to term restrictions...
. Being the Vice President, he is popular among voters to replace outgoing president
Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoGloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
. However, he did not show up during the deadline of filing of Certificate of Candidacy last December 1. On the latest interview conducted by
Karen DavilaKaren Davila or Kristin Karen Davila in real life is an award-winning broadcast journalist, one of the most-admired TV news personality, Filipina TV Host and News Anchor from ABS-CBN. She is one of the news anchor of Bandila and Headstart with Karen Davila on ANC...
, he announced his retirement from politics and intention to get back to his old job as a broadcast journalist.
Post Vice-Presidency and returning career
Leaving office on June 30, 2010, De Castro continued anchoring his Saturday morning commentary show "Para Sa'Yo Bayan" (For you, Nation) until July 10, 2010. Two days later, on July 12, 2010, he made his full-time comeback on radio when his morning radio program, "Kabayan" was relaunched. He was reinstated as its newsreader and commentator of such show. The program is aired over AM radio station
DZMMABS-CBN DZMM Radyo Patrol 630 is the flagship AM station of ABS–CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Broadcast Center, Sgt. Esguerra Ave., cor. Mo. Ignacia St., Diliman, Quezon City, while the transmitter is located at F. Navarette St., Obando, Bulacan...
and simulcast over its television counterpart,
DZMM TeleRadyoABS-CBN DZMM TeleRadyo is a cable TV channel broadcasting a simulcast of ABS-CBN's flagship AM radio station DZMM, as well as a live video feed of the radio booth itself...
.
On November 3, 2010, ABS-CBN announced his return together with
Korina SanchezKorina Maria Sanchez-Roxas is a Filipina broadcast journalist, TV host and commercial endorser.-Early life:Korina Sanchez was born on October 5, 1964 in Hong Kong. Her father, Ramon P. Sanchez, Sr. , was the General Manager of then Hong Kong landmark, Ambassador Hotel. She is the only girl of Ramon...
as weeknight anchors of TV Patrol. They joined
Ted FailonMario Teodoro Failon Etong , better known by his names Ted Failon or Teodoro Failon is a Filipino broadcast journalist, radio commentator, and a former congressman representing the first district of Leyte, Philippines, from 2001 to 2004.-Early life:Ted Failon was born and raised in Tacloban City,...
on November 8, 2010.
On January 10, 2011, he joined Ted Failon as the weekday anchor of "Radyo Patrol Balita: Alas Siyete" (Radio Patrol News: Seven O'Clock). The said newscast airs from DZMM nationwide via
DYABABS-CBN DYAB Radyo Patrol 1512 Cebu is the AM station of ABS-CBN Corporation in Cebu City, Philippines. The station's studio is located at the ABS-CBN Central Visayas Broadcast Center in Jagobiao, Mandaue City, while its transmitter is located at Cogon Pardo, Cebu City.ABS-CBN DYAB Cebu operates...
(Cebu) and
DXABABS-CBN DXAB Radyo Patrol 1296 Davao is the flagship AM station of ABS-CBN Corporation in the Philippines. The station's studio is located at ABS-CBN Broadcast Complex, Broadcast Avenue, Matina hills, Davao City, while it's transmitter is located at Km 4 McArthur Highway, Matina in Davao...
(Davao) and worldwide via
The Filipino ChannelThe Filipino Channel is an international television station owned by the Philippine-based multimedia conglomerate ABS-CBN Corporation. The network is currently available in Asia Pacific, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and the United States. It has over two million subscribers in these...
. He and Failon are also co-anchors of Kabayan, which continues for about 30 minutes after the newscast.
De Castro made a special guest appearance at the 6th anniversary special of ABS-CBN's child-oriented sketch comedy show
Goin' BulilitGoin' Bulilit is a sketch comedy show broadcasted on and by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It is a gag show featuring children in various comedic situations. It is the rival of the now defunct GMA show "Bubble Gang Jr."....
aired on February 6, 2011.
On September 25, 2011 episode of
Gandang Gabi, Vice!Gandang Gabi Vice is a Philippine comedy musical talk show hosted by stand-up comedian Vice Ganda. Debuting on May 22, 2011, it airs every Sunday night on ABS-CBN. For its first season, the show was slated for thirteen episodes...
, de Castro made an appearance as
Vice GandaVice Ganda is a Filipino comedian, host, actor and recording artist. He is a regular host/judge on ABS-CBN’s talent show Showtime and starred on his two films, one of which considered as the highest-grossing film in Philippine cinema....
's guest for interview & sampling of TV Patrol.
External links