May 13, 1957 - Family Ties
The youngest of three siblings, Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II is born to Gerardo Roxas (Capiz) and Judy Araneta (Bago City, Negros Occidental). Mar's father, Gerardo Roxas, was a former Senator (1963 - 1972), and the only son of Manuel Roxas, the first President of the Third Philippine Republic, and Trinidad de Leon-Roxas.
From left to right (standing): Dinggoy (older brother), Judy (mother), Ria (older sister). Seated: Senator Gerry (father), Mar
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1964-1979 Background in Economics
Mar graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1974 and the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.
Wharton graduate
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August 21, 1971 - Bombing of Plaza Miranda
In a Liberal Party campaign rally, two hand grenades were tossed into the stage injuring the party's senatorial candidates, one of whom was Gerry Roxas, Mar's father. He was with his wife Judy who also sustained injuries. Mar, a high school student in Ateneo de Manila, would witness first-hand the dangers of being embroiled in political life.
Liberal Party President and Senator Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas endorses the LP slate for the City of Manila
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Before entering public service, Mar worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for Small and Medium Enterprises. He eventually rose through the ranks to become an assistant vice president of the New York-based Allen & Company.
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EDSA Icon Senator Ninoy Aquino fought for true freedom alongside fellow Senator Gerry Roxas, Mar's father. Ninoy considered Gerry a brother. When Gerry died, Ninoy was asked to say a few words. He said: "Long time ago, a poet read and I quote:
'God give us a man a time like this demands:Dear God, if you really love and care for the Filipino people, give us another Gerry."
Strong mind, great heart,
True faith and ready hands.
A man whom the lust of office does not kill.
A man whom the spoils of office cannot buy.
A man who possesses a principle and a will.
A man who will not lie.'
The full tribute can be found here
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When Cory Aquino ran for President during the 1986 snap elections, Mar came back to the Philippines to help her in the campaign.
Mar would later help organize a series of investment
round-table discussions with the American business community for President Corazon Aquino.
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Gerardo "Dinggoy" Roxas was Mar's older brother and Congressman for the 1st District of Capiz. He died of cancer in 1993. In the special congressional election that followed, Mar runs and begins his life as a public servant.
"My brother [a congressman] died at a very early age. He was the real politician, the real successor of my family's heritage of serving the people...It was in 1993 when we found out that he was dying. This is still a very painful experience that I will not talk about too much. Needless to say, I went back to the Philippines to be with him for what was going to be the last three months of his life."
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May 1, 1993 - January 2, 2000 Congressman Mar served as a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the First District of Capiz. He was elected to three consecutive congressional terms: 1993-1995, 1995-1998, and 1998-2001.
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The Fair Education Act (Republic Act No. 7880), authored by Congressman Roxas, is signed into law. Before its enactment, the budget for education infrastructure was based on political patronage or the "palakasan" system. Because of this law, a mechanism now exists for a fair distribution of the education budget among all the legislative districts based on student population ratios and classroom shortages.
The Fair Education Act or Republic Act No. 7880
is more popularly known as the Roxas Law.
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