Rodolfo Biazon

Biazon was born on April 14, 1935 in Batac, Ilocos Norte. His father Rufino Biazon, was a doughmaker then, while his mother Juliana Gaspar, was a clotheswasher. His father died and left him along with his mother and three younger sisters when he was seven years old. At a young age of eight, he and his sisters had already experienced hardship, especially during the Japanese regime. Living in a makeshift shanty in Cavite, they had to peddle food, collected bottles and newspapers, which were later sold in order to earn a living for the family. In spite of their condition, it did not stop him from obtaining his education.

He enrolled as a Grade One student at the age of eleven, in 1946. In order to support his education, and at the same time look for ways to earn money, so he went to school in the morning and worked in the afternoon. He would collect seashells in Manila Bay which were in turn sold at the market. He studied in Jose Rizal Elementary School, Pasay City, for his primary education where he graduated salutatorian. He continued working, washing clothes for other people in order to sustain his high school education at the Jose Abad Santos High School located at the Arellano University, Pasay City in 1955. He also graduated from this school with honors. He stopped doing laundry and instead worked as a laborer in then Highway 54 now known as EDSA, this time to sustain his college education in FEATI where he took mechanical engineering.

He also attended other trainings or schooling which include the TOP Management Program at the Asian Institute of Management; Command and General Staff Course in Quantico, Virginia, U.S.; Crisis Program in California, U.S.; Allied Combat Intelligence Course in Okinawa, Japan; Senior Officer Maintenance Course in Kentucky, U.S.; Amphibious Warfare Course in Quantico, Virginia, U.S. and, Military Instructors in Norfolk, Virginia, United States.[1]

He entered the Philippine Military Academy in 1957, although he applied and passed for the US Navy. He was the class goat of PMA Class 1961 yet this did not prevent him from achieving his goal.

As a soldier, he attained the following posts: Superintendent of PMA in 1986-87, Commandant of the Philippine Marines (PMC) in 1987-89, Commanding General of the NCR Defense Command in 1988-90, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Vice Chief of Staff in 1990-91 and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff in 1991.

He was assigned in Davao in 1983 during the Marcos administration. It was the time when the trust and confidence of the civilians in the military were returned as he took the initiative to do so.

During his tenure both as the Commanding General of the AFP NCR Defense Command and Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps, he quelled an attempted coup by the Reform the Armed Forces Movement (RAM), led by Col. Gringo Honasan. He led the Marines and the officers and men of the AFP NCR Defense Command in foiling the coup attempt.

Gen. Biazon was chosen to be the third Armed Forces Chief of Staff of the 5th Republic, after Fidel V. Ramos and Renato de Villa, and the first one to come from the ranks of the PMC on 1991. Prior to that, he served then also as the Vice Chief of Staff of the AFP under De Villa.

• Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
• Martial Law Unit Citation
• Distinguished Service Star
• Gold Cross Medal
• Outstanding Achievement Medal
• Bronze Cross Medal
• Military Merit Medals with one spearhead device and four bronze anahaws
• Military Commendation Medals
• Long Service Medal
• Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
• Luzon Anti Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Visayas Anti-Dissidence Campaign Medal
• Mindanao Anti-dissidence Campaign Medal
• Jolo and Sulu Campaign Medal
• Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation Operation Ribbon
• Combat Commander's Badge
• AFP Parachutist Badge

He met Ms. Monserrat Narag Bunoan as a classmate in the Philippine Military Academy. Eight months after his graduation in the Philippine Military Academy, he eventually married Monserrat or "Monchie" as she is called.

They have three children, Rita Rosanna, Rino Rudiyardo and Rozzano Rufino (three time Muntinlupa City Congressman; married to Trina Biazon), who were all successful in their own fields.[2]

• Philippine Senators' Biography - Senator Rodolfo Biazon
• 12th Congress of the Philippines