25 most influential leaders in Philippine politics
MANILA, Philippines - Leadership is action, not position. — Donald H. McGannon
Who are the 25 top movers and shakers in the exciting, colorful, sometimes treacherous and often topsy-turvy world of Philippine politics? Can we the citizenry appeal to these leaders to hopefully help change the future of our society by putting public interest above self-interests?
1. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III — A man of destiny and political reformer who originally didn’t have any ambitions to become president, the 51-year-old P-Noy decisively won the 2010 election with 15.2 million votes after the death of his mother, ex-President Cory C. Aquino, and due to his commitment to push anti-corruption reforms. The only son of democracy icons Senator Ninoy Aquino and Cory Aquino, he previously served as senator and Tarlac congressman. One of his early jobs after college was at the non-profit Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). An eloquent public speaker and idealistic in his dream of a Philippine society with less poverty and less political corruption, P-Noy is a history buff, Ateneo economics graduate, a practical shooting expert, and an audiophile who likes folk, jazz and bossa nova music.
Vice President Jejomar Binay 2. Jejomar “Jojo” Binay — The populist former mayor of Makati City and former chairman of the Metro Manila Development authority (MMDA) pulled off the biggest political upset victory in modern Philippine electoral history, when he came from far behind in the surveys and won the vice-presidential race in 2010. Binay overcame childhood poverty, graduated with political science and law degrees from the University of the Philippines (UP), worked as college lecturer in various schools and was a courageous human rights lawyer who was jailed for his activism. He was appointed mayor of Makati by the late President Cory C. Aquino after the 1986 EDSA uprising, and is now leader of the UNO and PDP-Laban parties. He also heads the government’s mass housing program, and is presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino affairs. One of his numerous civic endeavors is being national president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. His son Jejomar Erwin “Jun-jun” Binay Jr. succeeded him as mayor of Makati City.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile 3. Juan “Manong Johnny” Ponce Enrile — The brilliant 87-year-old Senate President Enrile is a tough survivor of childhood poverty in Cagayan province and of the vicissitudes of Philippine politics. Graduating cum laude with an associate of arts degree from the Ateneo, cum laude with a law degree from the University of the Philippines and a law degree from Harvard, the former defense minister of the Marcos era became a key player in the 1986 EDSA uprising that catapulted Cory Aquino to the presidency after a coup d’etat against President Ferdinand Marcos failed.
Speaker Sonny Belmonte 4. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte, Jr. — Speaker Belmonte is an outstanding leader of the House of Representatives with 286 legislators, a former journalist and working student in his youth and a lawyer by training. In 1986, then President Cory C. Aquino appointed him head of several financially ailing government corporations, which he successfully turned around and made profitable. He served as president of GSIS, Manila Hotel, Philippine Airlines and head of other institutions. As mayor of Quezon City, he upheld prudent fiscal management, reforms, improved the business environment, modernized infrastructures and pushed socio-economic development. His daughter Joy is now vice mayor of Quezon City.
Chief Justice Renato Corona 5. Renato Corona — Son of the late Atty. Juan M. Corona (who wept for the first time in front of his son when the latter graduated with a law degree) and UST accounting summa cum laude graduate Eugenia Coronado Corona, Chief Justice Renato C. Corona studied college and law at the Ateneo de Manila University and earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He earned his doctorate in civil law from the University of Santo Tomas with summa cum laude honors. His eldest brother, Atty. Arturo Corona, was Department of Transportation & Communications (DOTC) Secretary of President Cory C. Aquino. SGV Group founder Washington SyCip said to him after the chief justice appointment of Corona — who was a former SGV executive — “You make us very proud, you make the entire organization very proud.” Chief Justice Corona says he hopes to strengthen the Philippine judiciary and improve the judicial system.
Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa 6. Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa, Jr. — A graduate of economics at University of Santo Tomas and law at the Ateneo de Manila University, Executive Secretary Ochoa occupies the influential post known as “Little President” and has been a long-time legal counsel of P-Noy. The 50-year-old lawyer is reputedly also leader of the so-called Samar faction in the P-Noy administration. His late father Paquito Ochoa, Sr. was mayor of Pulilan, Bulacan and a close friend of P-Noy’s dad Senator Ninoy Aquino. A former vice president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and former city administrator of Quezon City, Ochoa is also law firm partner — now on leave — of Senator Bongbong Marcos’s wife Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos.
DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas 7. Manuel “Mar” Roxas III — Apart from now being cabinet secretary in charge of the Department of Transportation and Communications, the Wharton-educated former Wall Street investment banker Mar is president of the ruling Liberal Party. He is also reportedly leader of the Balay faction in the P-Noy administration. His wife, award-winning ABS-CBN 2 broadcaster Korina Sanchez, is also politically astute. A former Lee Kuan Yew fellow awarded by the Singapore government and a legislator with numerous progressive socio-economic bills, Mar said that he only entered politics after the death of his idealistic elder brother Congressman Gerardo “Dinggoy” Roxas, Jr. at a young age. Mar came back to spend his brother’s last three months by his side.
Former President Joseph Estrada 8. Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada—Former president, vice-president, senator, San Juan mayor and six-time Famas Best Actor awardee Erap is still a formidable force in Philippine politics and genuinely loved by the masses. He landed a surprising second place to P-Noy and Senator Manny Villar in the 2010 presidential race despite lack of resources and showbiz celebrity endorsers. His sons Jinggoy and JV are respectively senator and congressman, while his second wife Guia Gomez is now mayor of San Juan City.
Secretary Butch Abad 9. Florencio “Butch” Abad — One of the most trusted officials and also election campaign manager of P-Noy, Liberal Party stalwart and Budget & Management Secretary Butch Abad studied business management and earned a law degree from the Ateneo de Manila University and his master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. His daughter Julia Andrea is head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and son Luis Andres is chief of staff of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. Secretary Abad’s late sister was the famed artist Pacita Abad.
Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima 10. Cesar A. V. Purisima — Hardworking Finance Secretary Purisma is former chairman of SGV Group and a leader of the Hyatt 10, along with Secretary Butch Abad, who resigned from the cabinet of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during the “Hello Garci” scandal. He was former trade and industry secretary. Purisima earned his BS Commerce degree, majoring in accounting and management of financial institutions, from De la Salle University (1979) and his MBA from J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. He was a topnotcher in the 1979 Certified Public Accountant Board Examination.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima 11. Leila de Lima — Justice Secretary de Lima is one of the most high-profile officials of the P-Noy administration at the forefront of various controversies from the Hubert Webb case to the Maguindanao massacre. She is a graduate of De La Salle University and salutatorian of San Beda Law School. Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno recommended de Lima as justice secretary after he turned down the post offered him by P-Noy.
Rep. Gloria Arroyo 12. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo — Despite the government’s ongoing attacks on her alleged massive corruption during her presidency from 2001 to 2010, now Pampanga representative GMA is still a political force as a leader of the opposition. A workaholic, Assumption summa cum laude graduate as well as alumna of the Ateneo and UP, she led the Philippines towards robust economic growth averaging 4.5 percent per year during her term. GMA was a former economics professor with P-Noy as one of her Ateneo students. She is also Chief Girl Scout of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
Former Senator Manny Villar 13. Manuel “Manny” B. Villar, Jr. — Leader of the Nacionalista Party, pragmatic and smart Senator Villar has the rare distinction of having led two chambers of Philippine Congress both as senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives. He is successful both in business and politics, an accounting and MBA graduate of UP Diliman. His son Mark is now a Las Piñas congressman. His wife former Congresswoman Cynthia Aguilar Villar is a daughter of former Las Piñas Mayor Filemon Aguilar and sister of incumbent Mayor Vergel Aguilar.
Senator Chiz Escudero 14. Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero — Senator Escudero is a close ally of P-Noy, trusted confidant of Vice-President Jojo Binay and former spokesman of opposition presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr. Chiz is a prime-mover behind the controversial but successful “Noy-Bi” campaign during the 2010 election. He is a former congressman representing Sorsogon and former minority floor leader. Chiz told this writer that he used to teach at his alma mater, UP Law School, but a law forbids government personnel or officials to hold two government jobs so he misses teaching. Chiz earned his master’s in international and comparative law from Georgetown University. Now 41 years old, he is reputed to be a contender for the vice-presidency in 2016.
Senator Miriam Santiago 15. Miriam Defensor Santiago — A firebrand senator, intellectual giant, constitutional law expert and former agrarian reform secretary, Senator Santiago almost won the closely-contested 1992 presidential election. She has also won the 1988 Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service due to her past anti-corruption efforts. A grade school and high school valedictorian, she became the first female editor in chief of the UP college newspaper the Philippine Collegian, also graduating magna cum laude from UP with a bachelor of arts degree and a law degree cum laude. She went on to earn her master’s and doctorate degrees in law from the University of Michigan.
Senator Ed Angara 16. Edgardo “Ed” Angara — An outstanding and cerebral senator noted for his socio-economic reform bills, he built up the influential ACCRA law firm and was former president of the University of the Philippines. He will finish his third term in 2013 and is reportedly grooming his brilliant Harvard-trained only son Aurora Congressman Juan Eduardo “Sonny” Angara as next senator. Former Senate President Ed Angara studied at UP and earned his master’s degree in law from University of Michigan.
Rep. Bongbong Marcos 17. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos II — Eloquent, mild-mannered and pragmatic, former Ilocos Norte Governor and now Senator Bongbong Marcos is an economics graduate of Oxford University and earned his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is the only son of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos and now Congresswoman Imelda Romualdez Marcos. His wife, top lawyer Liza Araneta Marcos, is a niece of Pedro Cojuangco, brother of the late President Cory C. Aquino and uncle of P-Noy, and she helped arranged for Bongbong and elder sister Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos to visit the wake of Cory.
Senator Ping Lacson 18. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson — A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) with a master’s degree in government management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Senator Lacson is an ally of P-Noy. He is a fearless political leader unique for his advocacy of turning down all pork barrel funds, because he believes legislators should make laws and not roads. A resilient political survivor, he made a name for himself as the iron-willed, gutsy and efficient former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Senator Loren Legarda 19. Loren Legarda — A high school valedictorian of Assumption College and cum laude graduate of UP, an environmentalist and former multi-awarded TV journalist, Loren is the only woman politician to have topped two senatorial elections. Among the many progressive socio-economic laws the workaholic legislator has authored include the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, the Climate Change Act, the Magna Carta for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, the Cheaper & Quality Medicines Act and others.
Former Secretary Gibo Teodoro 20. Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro — Ex-Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro lost the 2010 presidential election, but won credibility as a decisive, brilliant and ethical leader. He studied Commerce at De La Salle University, topped his class at UP Law School, was No. 1 bar topnotcher, then earned his master’s of law degree from Harvard University. He has an outstanding public service record as legislator and cabinet secretary unblemished by corruption or scandal, and many hope he will run for senator in 2013.
Former Senator Richard Gordon21. Richard “Dick” Gordon — A graduate of history and government from the Ateneo and law from UP, also a former brand manager at Procter & Gamble, the eloquent and hyperactive former Tourism Secretary Dick Gordon is best remembered for his success in managing the Subic Freeport. He is now chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross, currently radio and TV host in Ateneo schoolmate Manny V. Pangilinan’s TV5 broadcast network, and he is reportedly planning to return to the Senate in 2013.
Senator Bong Revilla 22. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. — Popular movie actor, film producer and TV host Bong Revilla is a former governor of Cavite province and early this year was elected as president of the opposition’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. His wife is the hardworking Cavite Congresswoman Lani Mercado-Revilla. His younger brother Strike Revilla is mayor of their hometown of Bacoor, Cavite, while younger sister Andrea Bautista-Ynares is the wife of Rizal Governor Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III. Revilla is the first actor to be appointed chairman of the anti-piracy Optical Media Board (OMB), which later paved the way for other actors Edu Manzano and incumbent chairman Ronnie Ricketts to assume the post.
Gov. Vilma Santos 23. Vilma “Ate Vi” Santos-Recto — The popular governor of Batangas province reportedly turned down invitations for her to run as vice-president in the 2010 election and she switched from Lakas party to P-Noy’s Liberal Party in late 2009. She is former three-term mayor of Lipa City and the street-smart political partner of husband Senator Ralph Recto. When asked if she plans to someday run for president of the Philippines, the multi-awarded film and TV actress said she never makes political plans and is “only concerned about doing a good job serving the people of Batangas as governor.”
Rep. Manny Pacquiao 24. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao — An inspiring rags-to-riches saga, Pacquiao, the disciplined world boxing champion, is now Saranggani congressman. Colleagues said he is hardworking and is studying politics earnestly, while GMA 7 chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon told this writer: “Manny Pacquiao has a bright political future.” His Manny Many Prizes show on GMA 7 has become wildly popular. A former ally of Nacionalista standardbearer Manny Villar, Pacquiao in 2010 switched to P-Noy’s Liberal Party.
Former Rep. Risa Hontiveros 25. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel — The principal author of the crucial and progressive Reproductive Health (RH) bill in the House of Representatives, Risa is a former congresswoman and fearless activist, even as a student opposing the Bataan nuclear power plant and later calling for the ouster of then President Gloria M. Arroyo, leader of the social democrat (not Communist) Akbayan party and Ateneo cum laude graduate. She is one of the staunchest supporters of P-Noy. Risa is also a former TV journalist, recipient of the Kapisanan ng Mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas’ Golden Dove Award for Best Female Newscaster.
