Diosdado Macapagal

Trivia

• Macapagal's foreign policy displayed an eccentric course. On the one hand, he affirmed that he would never recognize Communist China despite what the United States or other nations might decide.
• On the other, he criticized in May 1962 the United States support of Laos neutralists as "a species of sophistry that can only weaken the defense of the free world."
• In June 1962 Macapagal registered a claim of Philippine sovereignty over British North Borneo (Sabah).
• In July he proposed the establishment of a greater Malayan confederation which would supersede the British-sponsored plan for the Federation of Malaysia.
• This would be a step toward ultimate establishment of a Pan-Asian Union. Macapagal initiated the Manila Accord of July 31, 1963, signed by himself, President Sukarno of Indonesia, and Abdul Rahman of Malaya; on August 6 the three chiefs of state issued the Manila Declaration toward the establishment of Maphilindo, designed to set up closer ties between the three countries in their collective fight against neocolonialism.
• This plan broke up with the formation on Aug. 1, 1964, of the Federation of Malaysia by the Malayan and British governments.
• Although Macapagal prided himself in being the "conscience of the common man," he failed in preventing his administration from being wrecked by the Stonehill scandal of 1962, which revealed massive government corruption and racketeering that involved almost the whole bureaucracy and Congress.
• Despite Macapagal's so-called incorruptibility, he failed to solve decisively the major social and economic problems of the nation.
• Macapagal lost his bid for re-election in 1965 to Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled for the next 20 years.
• Macapagal became president on Nov. 14, 1961, defeating Garcia.

Quotes

• “I have sat at the sumptuous tables of power, but I have not run away with the silverware.”