President Carlos P.

Garcia

I. Biography
 Life History
 Education
 Family
II. Trivia
III. As President / Accomplishment Program
IV. Videos/ Clip

Carlos Polestico García (November 4, 1896 – June 14, 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer,
public official, political economist, organized guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader, who was
the eighth President of the Philippines.

García was born in Talibon, Bohol on November 4, 1896, to Policronio García and Ambrosia Polestico,
who were both natives of Bangued, Abra.

García grew up with politics, with his father serving as a municipal mayor for four terms. He acquired his
primary education in his native town Talibon, then took his secondary education in Cebu Provincial High
School, now Abellana National School, both at the top of his class. Initially, he pursued his college
education at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and later studied at the Philippine
Law School, the College of Law of National University, where he earned his law degree in 1923 and later,
he received his honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa from National University in 1961.
He was among the top ten in the bar examination.[1]

Rather than practice law right away, he worked as a teacher for two years at Bohol Provincial High
School. He became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where he earned the nickname "Prince
of Visayan Poets" and the "Bard from Bohol".

Family

 On May 24, 1933, he married Leonila Dimataga, and they had a daughter, Linda Garcia-Campos.
 President Carlos P. Garcia with his family—daughter Linda Garcia-Campos, son-in-law Fernando
Campos, and his wife Leonila cradling their first grandchild, Maria Carla G. Campos.
 President Carlos P. Garcia with his family—daughter Linda Garcia-Campos, son-in-law Fernando
Campos, and his wife Leonila cradling their first grandchild, Maria Carla G. Campos.
President Carlos P. Garcia with his family—daughter Linda Garcia-
Campos, son-in-law Fernando Campos, and his wife Leonila cradling
their first grandchild, Maria Carla G. Campos.

 Born  Carlos Polestico García


November 4, 1896
Talibon, Bohol
Captaincy General of
the Philippines

 Died  June 14, 1971 (aged 74)

Quezon City, Metro
Manila
Philippines

 Resting place  Libingan ng mga

Bayani, Taguig,
Philippines

 Political party  Nacionalista Party

  Spouse(s)  Leonila
Dimataga (m. 1933–
1971)

 Children  Linda García-Campos

 Alma mater  Silliman University[1]

Philippine Law School
National University
(Philippines)

 Profession  Lawyer

Political career

 García entered politics in 1925, scoring an impressive victory to become Representative of the
Third District of Bohol. He was elected for another term in 1928 and served until 1931. He was
elected Governor of Bohol in 1933, but served only until 1941 when he successfully ran
for Senate, but he was unable to serve due to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during
the World War II. He assumed the office when Congress re-convened in 1945 after Allied
liberation and the end of the war. When he resumed duties as senator after the war, he was
chosen Senate majority floor leader.[2] The press consistently voted him as one of the most
outstanding senators. Simultaneously, he occupied a position in the Nacionalista Party.

World War II

 García refused to cooperate with the Japanese during the war. He did not surrender when he
was placed on the wanted list with a price on his head. He instead and took part in the guerilla
activities and served as adviser in the free government organized in Bohol.

 Vice-Presidency
See also: Ramón Magsaysay § Presidency
  Garcia (right) and Magsaysay (left)

García was the running mate of Ramón Magsaysay in the 1953 presidential election in which both men
won. He was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Magsaysay, and for four years served
concurrently as Vice-President.

As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, he opened formal reparation negotiations in an effort to end the nine-
year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to an agreement on April 1954.
During the Geneva Conference of 1954 on Korean unification and other Asian problems, García, as
chairman of the Philippine delegation, attacked communist promises in Asia and defended the U.S.
policy in the Far East. In a speech on May 7, 1954–the day that the Viet Minh defeated French forces at
the Battle of Diên Biên Phu in Vietnam– Garcia repeated the Philippine stand for nationalism and
opposition to Communism.[citation needed]

García acted as chairman of the eight-nation Southeast Asian Security Conference held in Manila in
September 1954, which led to the development of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

 LAWS AND PROGRAMS

Filipino First Policy

This is the law that was passed by the Garcia administration, to give local businessmen more priority over foreign investors. The
government sector would help local businessmen are entering industry that was filled with foreign competitors and give them
aid and sometimes financial assistance. Products of Filipino businessmen were also preferred over foreign products.

Bohlen–Serrano Agreement
The Bohlen-Serrano Agreement was the law that shortened the original 99 year lease of US bases here in the Philippines to 25
years, the agreement was renewable for periods only up to 5 years.

Austerity Program
The Austerity Program was implemented by Garcia in order to curt the rampant graft and corruption within the country. The
program centered on wise spending, industry, thrift, trustworthiness, integrity and honesty. He also urged people to avoid
luxury items and to live a simple life and reminded government officials and employees’ corruption destroys the peoples trust
in the government.

Republic Cultural Awards

The Garcia administration also put emphasis on cultural revival, due to the colonization of many countries he felt that the
revival of the Filipino culture was needed. The award was given to Filipino artists, scientist, historians and writers.
  BENEFICIARIES OF THE LAWS AND PROGRAMS

Filipino First Policy

The people that benefitted from this policy are the businessmen of the Philippines, they had an increase support and protection
from the government. This enabled them to help improve our economy at that time. Foreign investors were not totally ignored
they could still participate in investing in businesses in the country but there should be a 60-40 ratio of ownership within the
business.

Austerity Program
The austerity program benefited the common Filipino and the Garcia administration, because of the implementation of this
program the government was able to regain some of the trust that they lost due to the rampant corruption in the country.
While the Filipinos were able to once again trust the government.

Republic Cultural Awards

Filipino artist could now get the recognition for their works that were left ignored. The main focus of the society at the time was
improving the economy.

 HOLES AND SHORTCOMINGS OF THE LAWS

Filipino First Policy

The policy centered on the economic progress that the “masa” was not affected at all by this. This led to much criticism about
his concern for the common Filipino.

Austerity Program
Even though the Austerity Program was launched in order to help eliminate the corruption within the government. The result
was very unsuccessful since the problem carried over to the next administration.

 SUMMARY OF GOVERNANCE

The focus of the Garcia administration focused on economic independence from foreign interest. Garcia wanted the Philippines
to be an industrialized, self-sustaining country that would not have to heavily rely on the products of foreign companies.

Garcia also tried implanting his Austerity Program in hopes of eliminating corruption in his administration all the while
bolstering moral fiber to the government leaders and employees.

At the end of his term Garcia was criticized for his lack of program for the Filipino common man which was the focus of the next
president Macapagal that is why he lost the election to him.
Carlos P. Garcia Facts
Carlos P. Garcia (1896-1971) was the fourth president of the Republic of the Philippines. He
was noted for the enunciation of the Filipino First Policy, intended to complete and guarantee
Philippine economic independence and sovereignty.
Carlos P. Garcia was born in Talibon, Bohol, on November 4, 1896. He took law courses at Silliman
University in 1918-1919 and graduated with a law degree from the Philippine Law School. He
topped the bar examination in 1923. He was elected for three terms (1925-1931) as representative of
the third district of Bohol. He served for three terms (1933-1941) as governor of Bohol Province. For
13 years (1941-1954) Garcia served in the Senate of the Philippines.
During World War II, in May 1942, Garcia was hunted by the Japanese military authority because of
his loyalty to the Allied cause and his refusal to surrender and cooperate with the government. After
the war he participated in several missions to Washington to work for the approval of the Philippine
Rehabilitation and War Damage Claims. He was a delegate to the World Conference at San
Francisco to draft the charter of the United Nations Organization in May 1945. He acted as presiding
officer of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization Conference in Manila in 1954, which produced the
Manila Treaty and the Pacific Charter.
From 1947 to 1953 Garcia was vice president of the Nacionalista party directorate, and he also
served in the Cabinet beginning in 1953 as vice president and secretary of foreign affairs. When he
was in the Senate, he was chairman and member of numerous key committees, among them
government reorganization, foreign affairs, public works, army and navy, and justice. He was also a
member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. From 1946 to 1951 Garcia served as minority floor leader
of the Senate.

Succeeded President
When President Magsaysay was killed in an airplane accident on March 17, 1957, Garcia became his
successor, having been elected vice president in November 1953. In the elections of 1957 Garcia won
over three other candidates and became fourth president of the republic since its independence in
1946.
Garcia's main achievement before he became president involved his activities as foreign policy
expert for the government. As secretary of foreign affairs, he opened formal reparation negotiations
in an effort to end the nine-year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to
an agreement in April 1954. During the Geneva Conference on Korean unification and other Asian
problems, Garcia as chairman of the Philippine delegation attacked communist promises in Asia and
defended the U.S. policy in the Far East. In a speech on May 7, 1954, the day of the fall of Dien Bien
Phu, Garcia repeated the Philippine stand for nationalism and opposition of communism.
Garcia acted as chairman of the eight-nation Southeast Asian Security Conference held in Manila in
September 1954, which led to the development of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, known as
SEATO. Garcia's cardinal principles in foreign affairs, as announced in a speech on November 30,
1957, were "to maintain and improve Philippine-American relations" and "to foster closer ties with
our Asian neighbors."
Stressed Austerity, Nationalism
Garcia's administration was characterized by its austerity program and its insistence on a
comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he affirmed the need for complete economic
freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the dominance of foreign interests
(especially American) in the national economy. He promised to shake off "the yoke of alien
domination in business, trade, commerce and industry." Garcia was also credited with his role in
reviving Filipino cultural arts.
The prevalence of graft and corruption in the government, institutional carryover from previous
administrations, and U.S. disfavor of his Filipino First Policy put Garcia on the defensive and led
partly to his defeat in the 1961 elections. Garcia died in 1971 at the age of 74.

Further Reading on Carlos P. Garcia

Extensive information on Garcia is in Eufronio Alip, ed., The Philippine Presidents from Aguinaldo
to Garcia (1958); Jesús V. Merritt, Our Presidents: Profiles in History (1962); and Pedro A.
Gagelonia, Presidents All (1967). See also Hernando J. Abaya, The Untold Philippine Story (1967).
Further information can be found in Ester G. Maring and Joel M. Maring, eds., Historical and
Cultural Dictionary of the Philippines (1973)