Edgardo Angara

Edgardo Javier Angara (Tagalog pronunciation: [aŋˈɡara], September 24, 1934 – May 13, 2018)[1][2] was a Filipino politician who served as the President of the Senate of the Philippines from 1993 to 1995. He was a Senator from 1987 to 1998 and then served as Secretary of Agriculture from 1999 to 2001. He served in the Senate again from 2001 to 2013. He also previously served as the President of the University of the Philippines, and was succeeded by political scientist Dr. José Abueva.

For other uses, see Angara (disambiguation).
In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Javier and the surname or paternal family name is Angara.
The Honourable

Edgardo J. Angara
Edgardo Angara in 2000
16th President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
January 18, 1993 – August 28, 1995
PresidentFidel Ramos
Preceded byNeptali Gonzales
Succeeded byNeptali Gonzales
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2013
In office
June 30, 1987 – June 30, 1998
32nd Executive Secretary of the Philippines
In office
January 6, 2001 – January 20, 2001
PresidentJoseph Estrada
Preceded byRonaldo Zamora
Succeeded byRenato de Villa
29th Secretary of Agriculture
In office
May 25, 1999 – January 6, 2001
PresidentJoseph Estrada
Preceded byWilliam Dar
Succeeded byDomingo Panganiban
Minority Floor Leader of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
August 28, 1995 – October 10, 1996
PresidentFidel Ramos
Preceded byWigberto Tañada
Succeeded byNeptali Gonzales
15th President of the University of the Philippines
In office
1981–1987
Preceded byEmanuel V. Soriano
Succeeded byJosé Abueva
Personal details
Born(1934-09-24)September 24, 1934
Baler, Tayabas, Insular Government of the Philippine Islands
DiedMay 13, 2018(2018-05-13) (aged 83)
Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines
Political partyLaban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992–2018)
(Angara wing, 2004–2005)
Spouse(s)Gloria Manalang
ChildrenRosalyn "Anna" Angara
Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara
Alexandria "Alex" Angara-Cole
Katerina "Katya" Angara
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
University of Michigan
ProfessionLawyer

Early life and career

Edgardo Angara was born in Baler, Aurora.[3] He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1958.[4] While in university, he joined the Sigma Rho fraternity.[5] Upon graduation, he was elected to the Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi international honor societies.[6] He earned his LL.M. from the University of Michigan Law School in the United States in 1964.[7]

In May 1972, Angara together with classmates (and fraternity brothers from Sigma Rho) from the UP College of Law and Juan Ponce Enrile, founded the ACCRA Law Offices,[8] which became the country's most recognized and prestigious law firm in less than a decade. From 1981 to 1987, Angara became president of the University of the Philippines.[7] He rallied alumni in the country and abroad to pool their resources for various projects to mark UP's diamond jubilee in 1983, including the creation of additional professorial chairs and faculty grants. Through his efforts, the liberal arts curriculum was strengthened, a seven-year honors medical curriculum installed, humanities and science were energized, and a multi-campus university organization was instituted.

He defended the state university's tradition of dissent and fiscal autonomy, while maintaining its reputation for academic excellence. He established stronger links with the business community and alumni organizations, raising the biggest faculty endowment in the university.

Senator of the Philippines (1987−1998)

Angara's achievements brought him into politics. He first served as senator from 1987 until 1992. By this time, he had established a reputation as a resolute reformer and firm leader, winning praise for his non-confrontational stance on contentious domestic and international issues, while building consensus at the same time.

Senate Presidency (1993−1995)

He was Senate President from 1993 to 1995. As a Senate Chief, Angara, with his aggressive and consensus-building approach leadership style, rallied the Upper Chamber to pass bills and resolutions for an Executive-Legislative cooperation in economic reforms, which resulted in the Economic Summit of August 1993. It was likewise during his term that the Senate adopted a policy to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes and saw the ratification of the " Earth Summit " treaty, along with five pro-environment treaties, many of which have already been enacted into law.[4] He made a difference in the lives of millions of Filipinos by pushing for the passage of laws on arts and culture, agriculture, education, good governance, health and social welfare.

In August, 1995, he resigned from the Senate Presidency and was elected as the new Minority Leader of the Senate.

Educational and economic initiatives

As chairman of the Congressional Commission on Education, Angara sponsored laws that resulted in the creation of the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skill Development Authority, both of which enabled the Department of Education to focus on its main concern - basic education.

He authored the Free High School Act that ensured secondary education even for the poorest; the Senior Citizens Act (or The Angara Law) that allowed the elderly to avail of substantial discounts when buying medicine or riding public transport; the National Health Insurance Act, or PHILHEALTH, that provided insurance to every citizen; and the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE), the biggest scholarship program.

Under his Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), farmers and fisher folk benefited from improved seeds and plant materials, better irrigation, better financing and market access.

He authored the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers and was the principal author of the laws that created the new National Museum and the National Commission on Culture and the Arts.

1998 Vice-Presidential bid

Angara prepared to run for president in the 1998 Philippine election, but decided against it when it became clear that he could not win over the popular vice president Joseph Estrada. He accepted a deal offered by Estrada to run as his vice presidential candidate.[9] Although Estrada overwhelmingly won the presidential race, Angara placed second in a field of 9 candidates, losing to Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino. Macapagal-Arroyo won 12.6 million votes compared to Angara's 5.6 million.[10]

Estrada administration (1998−2001)

Chairman of the Philippine National Bank (1998–1999)

Upon the inauguration of Estrada as president on June 30, 1998, Angara was named by him to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Philippine National Bank, then a wholly government-owned bank. During his tenure, major policy reforms as well as innovations were introduced by him at the said bank.

Agriculture Secretary (1999−2001)

In 1999, Angara was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by Estrada.[11] During his term as Secretary of Agriculture (1999–2001), he had the opportunity to implement his own creation, AFMA. He oversaw an improvement of food production programs and support services that led to a bigger harvest of rice, a development that underscored the drive to attain food security. Overall, the agricultural sector saw a growth rate of 3.6 percent a year since 2000, compared with a 1.2 percent growth over the past two decades.[12]

Executive Secretary (2001)

On January 6, 2001, as Estrada's presidency was crippled by an impeachment trial and widespread allegations of corruption, Angara was appointed Executive Secretary following the resignation of Ronaldo Zamora, who was running for Congress.[13] He only served for 14 days, as Estrada was toppled by the EDSA II Revolution on January 20. Angara remained loyal to Estrada until the end of his presidency, though he later asserted that his support for Estrada was contingent on the latter's undertaking to pass reforms.[14]

Return to the Senate (2001–2013)
Then-University of the Philippines President Edgardo Angara with President Corazon Aquino and Agriculture Minister Ramon Mitra Jr. visit the International Rice Research Institute in 1986
Angara (8th from left): October 4, 2012 historic Declaration of the Church of St. Dominic in Quezon City, Philippines (National Shrine of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of La Naval/Santo Domingo Parish Church) as National Cultural Treasure: (L-R) - Joy Belmonte (Quezon City Vice Mayor), Cong. Vicente Crisologo (5th), Dr. Jereym Barns, CESO III, Director IV,[15] National Museum of the Philippines, (7th), Senator Edgardo Javier Angara, (8th), Rev. Fr. Giuseppe Pietro V. Arsciwals, O.P., Rector,[16] (9th) & Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of the Philippines[17] (10th), per Republic Act No. 10066 - National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 - announced officially by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines[18] and by the National Museum of the Philippines.[19]

Angara successfully ran for senator in the 2001 Philippine election.[4]

He was re-elected to a fourth term in 2007,[4] making him the longest-serving senator in the post-EDSA revolution legislature, matching Senator Lorenzo Tanada who served four consecutive terms from 1947 to 1972.[8] Angara authored or sponsored many laws including the Free High School Education Act, the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE Law, the Generics Act, the law which created Philhealth, the original Senior Citizens Act, Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act, Government Procurement Act, the Renewable Energy Act, among several others.[8]

In 2007, Senator Edgardo Angara and Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District of Aurora) authored Republic Act No. 9490[20] which created the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the body tasked to administer the economic zone in Brgy. Motiong, Casiguran, Aurora. Later on, Republic Act No. 10083 was enacted which amended the name to Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority or better known as APECO.[21] The APECO was created to generate jobs and livelihood not only for Aurora but its neighboring provinces. As a logistics hub, it is a very timely and strategic infrastructure investment for the Philippines catering to Trans-Pacific Ocean traffic.[22]

In the Senate, Angara chaired the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture[23] Committee on Science and Technology,[24] and the COMSTE (Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering).[25]

From January 16 to May 29, 2012, Angara acted as one of the Senator-Judges in the impeachment trial of the Senate of then Chief Justice Renato Corona and was one of the 23 Senator-Judges that voted to convict him of the impeachment charges exhibited by the House of Representatives and remove him from public office.

On October 3, 2012, he announced his run for governor of Aurora (province) in the 2013 Philippine election, but he withdrew and was replaced by his younger brother, Baler Mayor Arthur Angara.

On June 30, 2013, Angara's fourth term as Senator ended.

  • Senator Edgardo Angara and Cong. Vicente Crisologo standing at Holy Mass
  • Senator Angara chats with Crisologo

Special Envoy to the European Union (2017–2018)

On May 17, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Angara as the special envoy of the Philippines to the European Union.[26]

Death

Edgardo Angara died from an apparent heart attack on May 13, 2018, at the age of 83. His death was announced by his son Sonny over his Twitter page. Angara's necrological services were conducted in the Senate halls on the morning of May 16. His former Senate colleagues such as Sen. Wigberto Tañada attended his funeral, while others such as Rene Saguisag, Pia Cayetano, Nene Pimentel, and former Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, gave eulogies to Angara, while other senators, including President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo visited Angara's funeral in The Heritage Park in Taguig. Sonny announced his father will be buried in Baler, Aurora, his father's hometown.[27]

References
  1. "Former Senate president Edgardo Angara dies". Rappler. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
  2. "Former senator Edgardo Angara passes away". GMA News. May 13, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  3. "GMA stresses rehabilitation; Baler radar to be upgraded". Manila Bulletin. 1 July 2008.
  4. "Edgardo J. Angara lawyer profile". martindale.com.
  5. "Resume of Senator Angara - Senate of the Philippines". www.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  6. "Biography of Senate President Angara". Senate of the Philippines official website. Archived from the original on 2010-02-09.
  7. "Resume of Senator Angara". Senate of the Philippines official website. Archived from the original on 2011-06-11.
  8. "Senator Edgardo J. Angara biography". Senate of the Philippines official website. Archived from the original on 2010-02-09.
  9. Kirk, Don (9 May 1998). "As Presidential Election Nears, Business Community Ponders Popularity of Estrada". New York Times.
  10. "Philippine Congress Affirms Ex-Actor As New President". New York Times. 20 May 1998.
  11. Navarro, Rico (10 December 2000). "LDP urges reforms at Manila Hotel meet". Manila News.
  12. Know Ed|edangara.com
  13. "President Estrada Appoints Angara As New Executive Secretary". Xinhua. 5 January 2001.
  14. Fuller, Thomas (7 November 2000). "Philippine House Panel Clears Impeachment of Estrada". New York Times.
  15. "National Museum: Message from Director, Jerry Barns". Nationalmuseum.gov.ph. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  16. "National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, La Naval de Manila - Message". Lanavaldemanila.com. 2011-08-23. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  17. "Lack of funds hounds future national cultural treasure | News | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere". Gmanetwork.com. 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  18. "CBCP: Sto Domingo church to be named 'national treasure' Oct 4 | News | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere". Gmanetwork.com. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  19. "Sto. Domingo Church to be declared national treasure". CBCP News. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  20. "Congress of the Philippines: Republic Act No. 9490" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  21. "Congress of the Philippines: Republic Act No. 10083" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  22. "No conflict of interest in APECO-Sen. Angara". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-11-29.
  23. "List of Committees". Philippine Star. 5 April 2011.
  24. Uy, Veronica (6 March 2008). "Legarda says law creating DICT within year". Archived from the original on 2009-09-27.
  25. Villafania, Alexander (20 October 2009). ""Standard time" aimed at solving "Filipino time"". The Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2009-10-22.
  26. Placido, Dharel (May 17, 2017). "Duterte appoints former Senate President Angara as special envoy to the EU". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  27. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/991193/live-eulogies-for-late-senate-president-edgardo-angara-at-senate
Preceded by
Emmanuel V. Soriano		 President of the University of the Philippines
1981–1987		 Succeeded by
José Abueva
Preceded by
Neptali A. Gonzales		 President of the Senate
1993–1995		 Succeeded by
Neptali A. Gonzales
Preceded by
William D. Dar		 Secretary of Agriculture
1999–2001		 Succeeded by
Leonardo Montemayor
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