2007, August 31. President Ramon Magsaysay,
Birth Centenary
Litho Offset.
Amstar Company, Inc. Perf. 14.
Singles,
Sheets of 50 (5 x 10)
7p
Portrait of President Magsaysay, Man of the Masses -
Singles (50,000)
Designer: Vic Serevo
First Day Covers: Manila
& Iba, Zambales
PRESIDENT RAMON MAGSAYSAY - 100th BIRTH
ANNIVERSARY
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.