Ernesto Mata

Mata was born on 7 November 1915 in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. In 1933 he graduated from Ilocos Norte High School and took further education at the University of the Philippines Junior College at Vigan, Ilocos Sur. He passed the Philippine Constabulary Academy entrance exam a year later, graduating in March 1937. That same year, he became a Third Lieutenant and was assigned with the 23rd Philippine Constabulary Company in Iloilo City.[2]

During World War II he fought in the United States Army Forces in the Far East and was a commanding officer for the 3rd Battalion, 74th Regiment, and 71st Division in Negros. From 1942 to 1945, instead of surrendering to the Imperial Japanese Army, he led the 72nd Division of the 7th Military District on the island of Negros and assisted in the liberation of the Philippines from the Japanese invaders. He served as aide-de-camp for President Sergio Osmeña. He later completed the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Georgia and the Command and General Staff College course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.[2]

When World War II ended, Mata began studying at the Institute of Foreign Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs. He attended the Harvard Advance Management Programs in Baguio in 1958. On June 16 of that year, he became Military Assistant to Jesus Vargas who then was Defense Secretary. Two years later, he took a course in Modern Weapon Familiarization at Fort Bliss, Texas and the same year made tours of various armies of Greece, Italy, and Spain.[2]

In March 1962, he became commander of the 1st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and on 24 June 1963, became their commanding general. He was promoted during President Diosdado Macapagal's term to Brigadier General a month later. He retired on June 1964 but was recalled back to duty on 22 January 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos and was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He also became Southeast Asia Treaty Organization Military advisor and when he finally retired from the military on 21 January 1967, he was appointed as Secretary of National Defense. He served without receiving a salary, relying only on his pension as a retired general. He was able to collect his accumulated salary as Defense Secretary in September 1972, more than two years after he relinquished the post.[2]