Author: 2000 Miles Computer House

Macapagal also passed the Land Reform Bill which freed many farmers from slavery as tenant farmers.
Forming of Maphilindo (Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia) through a foreign policy. This paved the way for the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He changed the date of Philippine Independence from July 4 to June 12 to give significance to the Declaration of Philippine Independence by President Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 and filed the claim to Sabah on June 22, 1962.
He also implemented many economic policies to bolster the growth of Philippine agriculture, manufacturing industries and trade . Coming out of retirement from public service, he ran for Constitutional Convention Delegate and was eventually elected as President of the 1971-1972 Constitutional Convention.
It was during his term that the Philippines filed its claim of Sabah which continues up to the present. The Philippines claimed Sabah because it was given as a gift for the Sultan of Sulu.
The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu had given the Philippine government the authority to pursue the claim on Sabah legally in international courts.
He started to use the Filipino language in all official communications, diplomas, diplomatic credentials, certificates, and other documents which is still being continued up to now.

Graft and Corruption (Stonehill Scandal)
Rise in Consumer Goods Prices
Peace and Order Issues
Macapagal’s privileged subjects in congress and business paraded their lavish wealth in conspicuous parties and anomalous deals.

Who is the second wife of President Diosdado Macapal?
She is the daughter of President Diosdado Macapagal and his second wife, Evangelina Macaraeg who also became president in the Philippines?
President Diosdado Macapagal is also known as?
What is the original date of the Philippine Independence Day?
What year does his first wife died?

Answer: 1. Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg, 2. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 3. Poor Boy from Lubao, 4. July 4, 5. 1943

References:
http://www.chrispforr.net/row3/americans/pdf/chapter21.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diosdado_Macapagal
http://bloomspresidents.wordpress.com/diosdado-p-macapagal-1961-1965/

Prepared by:
Kenny Jane Lagazo
Richard Tabuyo

"The strength of the nation lies in the
well-being of the
common man."

- Diosdado Macapagal

Diosdado Macapagal was born on September 28, 1910 in Lubao, Pampanga, the second of four children in a poor family. His father, Urbano Macapagal, was a poet who wrote in the local Pampangan language, and his mother, Romana Pangan Macapagal, was a schoolteacher who taught catechism. He is a distant descendant of Don Juan Macapagal, a prince of Tondo, who was a great-grandson of the last reigning Rajah of Selurong, Rajah Lakandula. The family earned extra income by raising pigs and accommodating boarders in their home. Due to his roots in poverty, Macapagal would later become affectionately known as the "Poor boy from Lubao".
Macapagal excelled in his studies at local public schools, graduating valedictorian at Lubao Elementary School, and salutatorian at Pampanga High School. He finished his pre-law course at the University of the Philippines, then enrolled at Philippine Law School in 1932, studying on a scholarship and supporting himself with a part-time job as an accountant.
Macapagal raised enough money to continue his studies at the University of Santo Tomas. He also gained the assistance of philanthropist Honorio Ventura, the Secretary of the Interior at the time, who financed his education.
First Marriage
In 1938 he married Purita dela Rosa and they had two children namely Arturo Macapagal and Cielo Macapagal-Salgado until Purita's death in 1943.
Second Marriage
In 1946 he married Dr. Evangelina Macaraeg, with whom he had two children, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who became President of the Philippines and Diosdado Macapagal Jr.

Macapagal announced his retirement from politics following his 1965 loss to Marcos. In his retirement, Macapagal devoted much of his time to reading and writing.
He published his presidential memoir, authored several books about government and economics, and wrote a weekly column for the Manila Bulletin newspaper.
Diosdado Macapagal died of heart failure, pneumonia and renal complications at the Makati Medical Center on April 21, 1997. He is buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Macapagal fought to suppress graft and corruption within the government and also tax evasion.
He also aimed to stimulate the economy and placed the peso in the free currency-exchange market, encouraging the wealthiest families to invest.

President Diosdado Macapagal on the bridge of the USS Oklahoma City in 1962.

Emergency Employment
President Macapagal tried to boost the Philippine economy by giving jobs to young Filipinos through a new program called Emergency Employment Administration (EEA). Thousands of jobs were created in reforestation, land clearing, and home industries.
Economic Liberalization
Lifting of foreign exchange controls: Under Garcia, foreign (mostly American) companies in the Philippines had been prohibited from taking their profits back to the US. Macapagal lifted the controls, allowing foreign businesses to send their profits home.
Floating Peso: Under Garcia, the Peso had a fixed exchange rate, to keep low prices for domestically-produced goods and food. Macapagal allowed the Peso to “float” on currency exchange markets, causing a nearly-100% devaluation of the Peso, leading to increased consumer prices, hurting Filipino consumers.
Lifting of import controls: Under Garcia, foreign imports were limited, to encourage domestic production by Philippine businesses.

Opened Malacanang to the Public; however it didn’t last long because people started to only loft around.
Dismissed Corruption in the government when the official couldn’t justify his sudden acquisition of wealth.
Changed the Date of the Philippine Independence from June 12 to July 4.
Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 Abolished share tendency on rice and corn farmlands and establishment of a leasehold system where farmers would pay rentals to landlords instead of harvests.
Republic Act No. 3512 – An Act Creating A Fisheries Commission Defining Its Powers, Duties and Functions, and Appropriating Funds Therefor.
Republic Act No. 3844 – An Act To Ordain The Agricultural Land Reform Code and To Institute Land Reforms In The Philippines, Including The Abolition of Tenancy and The Channeling of Capital Into Industry, Provide For The Necessary Implementing Agencies, Appropriate Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes.