Diosdado Macapagal
Ninth Philippine president; introduced land reform and shifted Independence Day.
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal Sr. (September 28, 1910 – April 21, 1997), also known colloquially as 'Apung Dadong', was the ninth president of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965. He previously served as the fifth vice president from 1957 to 1961 under Carlos P. Garcia, and as a member of the House of Representatives. He is remembered for introducing the country's first land reform law, shifting the observance of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, and for being the father of future president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
- born
- September 28, 1910, Barrio San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga
- died
- April 21, 1997, age 86 (heart failure, pneumonia, renal complications)
- field
- Politics, law, economics, poetry
- nationality
- Filipino
- known_for
- Ninth president of the Philippines; first land reform law; shifting Independence
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Diosdado Macapagal was born on September 28, 1910, in Barrio San Nicolas, Lubao, Pampanga, the third of five children in a poor family. His father, Urbano Romero Macapagal, was a poet writing in Kapampangan, and his mother was Romana Pangan Macapagal. He is a distant descendant of Don Juan Macapagal, a prince of Tondo and great-grandson of the last reigning lakan of Tondo, Lakandula. He graduated valedictorian from Lubao Elementary School and salutatorian at Pampanga High School, then studied at the University of the Philippines Manila and later at Philippine Law School on a scholarship, but was forced to quit after two years due to poor health and lack of money. He returned to Pampanga, producing and starring in Tagalog operettas patterned after classic Spanish zarzuelas, and married Purita de la Rosa in 1938. With help from philanthropist Don Honorio Ventura and relatives, he completed his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Santo Tomas in 1936, topping the 1936 bar examination with a score of 89.95%. He later earned a Master of Laws degree in 1941, a Doctor of Civil Law degree in 1947, and a PhD in economics in 1957, with a dissertation titled 'Imperatives of Economic Development in the Philippines'.
Reader's Guide
Macapagal's presidency (1961–1965) focused on suppressing graft and corruption and stimulating economic growth. He introduced the Philippines' first land reform law, placed the peso on the free currency exchange market, and liberalized foreign exchange and import controls. Many reforms were crippled by a Congress dominated by the rival Nacionalista Party. He is also known for shifting the country's observance of Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, commemorating President Emilio Aguinaldo's unilateral declaration of independence from the Spanish Empire in 1898. He stood for re-election in 1965 but was defeated by Ferdinand Marcos. Under Marcos, Macapagal was elected president of the 1970 constitutional convention that drafted the 1973 Constitution, though the manner of ratification and modification led him to later question its legitimacy. He died of heart failure, pneumonia, and renal complications on April 21, 1997, at the age of 86. Macapagal was also a poet in the Spanish language, though his poetic oeuvre was eclipsed by his political biography.
Did You Know?
- Macapagal topped the 1936 bar examination with a score of 89.95%.
- He was a distant descendant of Don Juan Macapagal, a prince of Tondo and great-grandson of the last reigning lakan of Tondo, Lakandula.
- He earned a Doctor of Civil Law degree in 1947 and a PhD in economics in 1957, both from the University of Santo Tomas.
- As vice president, he was the first Philippine vice president elected from a rival party of the president, serving under Carlos P. Garcia.
- He was elected president of the 1970 constitutional convention that drafted the 1973 Constitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Diosdado Macapagal?
Diosdado Macapagal was the ninth president of the Philippines, holding office from 1961 to 1965 after first serving as the fifth vice president under Carlos P. Garcia. The Filipino public affectionately called him 'Apung Dadong,' a warm, fatherly nickname that stuck throughout his political career.
What are Diosdado Macapagal's major achievements?
He is most celebrated for enacting the Philippines' first comprehensive land reform law and for correcting the national Independence Day observance from July 4 to the historically accurate June 12. Before the presidency, he also represented his district in the House of Representatives.
How does Diosdado Macapagal's story end?
He died on April 21, 1997, at age 86, after a prolonged illness involving heart failure, pneumonia, and kidney complications. His political legacy carried forward through his daughter Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who would go on to become president herself.
Why is Diosdado Macapagal important in Philippine history?
He reshaped national identity by fixing the Independence Day date and tackled rural poverty through landmark agrarian legislation. His career spanned multiple branches of government, making him one of the most broadly experienced leaders in the country's post-independence era.
What is Diosdado Macapagal's background and popular nickname?
Born on September 28, 1910, in the small barrio of San Nicolas in Lubao, Pampanga, he rose from modest beginnings to the highest office in the land. That humble origin earned him the enduring moniker 'The Poor Boy From Lubao' among Filipinos.
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