Pres CPG Tenders State Dinner for US Pres. Eisenhower

Every time a Philippine State Dinner is tendered by the incumbent President and the First Lady for a visiting head of state, everything has to be perfect. 

It is the time to showcase the best of Philippine hospitality, observe the strictest protocol, and execute the best photo opportunities

Behind the smiles, the sumptuous fusion of Philippine and international cuisine, glittering & expensive silverware, the most fabulous outfits and the the most dazzling jewelry are the intense jostling for the all- important invites, the thorough security checks and the food tasting

When US President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower came for a State Visit to the Philippines through the invitation of then Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia, everyone was thrown into a tizzy. Mind you, he was no ordinary president. He was not only the leader of the world's most powerful nation but also a certified war hero and newsmaker.

The Malacanang staff's job then begins at planning and conceptualizing the event. The kind of entertainment and its execution, the selection of waiters and their training, their uniforms, haircut and background check on each of them. More than a million and one details had to be attended to ensure the success of the seemingly quite simple dinner

Here's a glimpse of the State Dinner tendered by Phil President Carlos P. Garcia and First Lady Leonila Garcia for American President Ike Eisenhower

  

President Eisenhower shares a light moment with First Lady Inday Garcia

Everyone awaits the highlight of the evening: The Bayanihan Company

even Pres. Eisenhower is enthralled by the Singkil Dance

The Itik- itik is performed to the bemused & fascinated smiles of the American delegation

in between the performances, Pres. CPG explains the dances to Pres. Ike 

Photo Credits:

Associated Press

Life Magazine

http://philippinediplomaticvisits.blogspot.com

The Other Side of Pres. Carlos P. Garcia

Presidential Family Portrait

President Carlos P. Garcia with his family—daughter Linda Garcia-Campos, son-in-law Fernando Campos, and his wife Leonila cradling their first grandchild, Maria Carla G. Campos.

A lot has been said and written about the long and brilliant political career of Bohol's most illustrious son, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, but only a few really knew his private persona especially as a husband, as father and as grandfather

FIRST LOVE. FIRST LADY.FIRST FAMILY 

affectionate kiss for the First Lady's cheeks

Leonila "Inday" Dimataga of Opon, Cebu (now Lapu-Lapu City) comes from a family of politicians. 

She finished with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Santo Tomas. While practicing her profession in Bohol, she met a young lawyer named Carlos P. Garcia.

They were married on May 24, 1933. She became his lucky star for when they married it was the start of his illustrious career as a leader and as statesman. 

Their marital union bore an only child that they named Linda Garcia.

Linda was a grounded and level- headed First Daughter who was close to the Malacanang staff and was accommodating to the Boholanos who always dropped by Malacanang

Linda Garcia & Reynald Gatal show some dance moves 
while the First Couple looks on

The only child of President CPG & First Lady Leonila eventually married Fernando Campos who later on became Undersecretary of Commerce.

They have three children: 

Maria Carla, Rosa Isabel and Jose Carlos.

Here are some of reminiscences on Pres. Garcia as shared by his only grandson, Jose Carlos Garcia Campos:

Did you know that the country's former leader was fond of gardening? “

When my lolo was already out of politics, he would often garden and take care of his wild dogs and pigs. While he went around our place every morning, I’d follow him,” Campos recalls. 

 “That’s why he loved the University of the Philippines in Diliman because of the trees and open spaces. For him, it was the best place to study.”

 “My lolo was a typical Filipino who believed that the best conversations happen over lunch or dinner.”

Playing chess was President Garcia's favorite leisure activity

Pres. Carlos P. Garcia almost always played 

chess with his professor- friends

But Garcia’s favorites were the chess set (which he played with professor friends every night) and the Yamaha grand piano given by the Embassy of Japan. 

“He didn’t play the piano but he would always request ‘Matud Nila’ from guests who knew how to play,” Campos says. 

Pres CPG & the First Lady return from Washington, DC 
via San Francisco & stops for a Honolulu visit
Hickam Air Force Base, 30 June 1958, 

INSEPARABLE COUPLE

Campos describes his grandparents as an “inseparable” couple. 

His lolo, Carlos said, was “calm and reserved” who did yoga, breathing and stretching as early as 5 a.m. 

His lola Leonila was the chikadora who ran all the events and parties in the house.

“I was 7 when my Lolo was the president of the Philippines but I didn’t know its significance,” Campos says.

THE POET

Garcia became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where he earned the distinction, “Prince of Visayan Poets” and the “Bard from Bohol.”

His framed masterpiece, “Ang Babayeng Pilipinhon” (The Filipino Woman) can be found at Penthouse A.

Note: Penthouse A at El Jardin del Presidente brings Carlos and Leonila “Inday” Garcia back to life. 

Showcasing the memorabilia of the eighth president of the Philippines and his family, the condominium in QC is the original house of the Garcias, built in 1955.

 It was renovated in 2002.

“He loved to write spiritual and sensual poems in Visayan,” Campos says. “Whenever he would attend a public event, he was always asked to recite a poem before his speech.”

At home, Garcia insisted the first language the young people should learn was Visayan.

“He would always say, ‘You’ll learn Tagalog and English in school but no one will teach you Visayan so I’ll teach you that,” Campos says.

But with visitors, Garcia spoke in English.

He was also fluent in Spanish and Latin.

Every night, he and daughter Linda would read lines from Spanish books or poems.

Garcia’s favorite was the Chilean writer and politician Pablo Neruda.

1960: US President receives then Sen. Marcos & wife Imelda

A Nacionalista, Garcia was close to former president Ferdinand Marcos. 

During the holidays, the Garcias would be invited to the Christmas party and New Year’s toast at Malacañang.

“While they partied, my siblings and I would participate in the children’s activities led by the Marcos kids,” Campos says.

Mr. Campos mentioned about the The Carlos Garcia memorabilia which is a legacy for the next generation so that they will know how the former president lived and get a glimpse of his works.  

“Our long-term plan is to build his memorabilia in Bohol, his hometown.His beliefs& ideals came from this place where he grew up, became a teacher, mayor and governor.

The problem is raising the funds for the museum and getting more support from the local government.”  

The museum is slowly coming to life and in fact, it already had its soft opening. Hopefully,everything would be solved by the time we mark the 60th year when Pres. Garcia assumed the presidency and made every Boholano proud.

Here's more :

 CPG: Bohol's Favorite Son

Thanks to Rowena C. Burgos of Philippine Daily Inquirer October 12, 2008

Pres. CPG: Bohol's Favorite Son

FAVORITE SON OF BOHOL

As the 2013 local elections conclude on May 13, let us pause and remember one of Bohol's most brilliant politicians so that our aspiring leaders can emulate him. 

He is considered as the Most Illustrious Son of Bohol whose long and brilliant political career was punctuated with his ascendancy to presidency of the country

The position was later affirmed and validated with his election months after assuming it  

He was born the second of five children to Policronio "Manoy Coni" Garcia and Ambrosia "Mending" Butay- Polistico in Talibon, Bohol on November 4, 1896 which is celebrated every year as "Bohol Day" to honor Pres. Garcia. 

EDUCATION He completed his primary education in his hometown Talibon, Bohol and finished his secondary education in Cebu Provincial High School. 

He later studied at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental,  for his bachelor's degree and proceeded to the Philippine Law School (now Philippine College of Criminology) where he earned his law degree and graduated on top of the class in 1923.  

He made it as one of the Top Ten in the national bar examinations. 

Before practicing law, he worked as a teacher for two years at Bohol Provincial High School (now known as Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School. 

 Pres. Carlos P. Garcia & First Lady Leonila D. Garcia

He was married to Leonila Dimataga, a licensed pharmacist from Opon, Cebu (now Lapulapu City) with whom he had an only child, Linda Garcia.

He died on June 14, 1971 in Quezon City and was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig, Metro Manila

Here are some facts and figures on the late Atty. Carlos Polistico Garcia of the Nacionalista Party, the Eighth President of the Philippines and the Fourth President of the Third Republic

as Vice President to President Ramon Magsaysay 

PRESIDENTIAL DETAILS: It was March 18, 1957, when Vice- President Garcia, at the age of 61,  assumed the presidency from Pres. Magsaysay who perished in a tragic plane crash in Mt. Manunggal in Balamban, Cebu Province. 

His first presidential term was from March 18, 1957 to December 30, 1957 for a total of eight months, the remainder of Pres. Magsaysay's first presidential term. 

Straight from the airport, Vice President Carlos P. García was inaugurated as the 8th President of the Philippines upon Magsaysay's death on March 17, 1957 at the Council of State Room, Executive Building, Malacañan Palace. 

Administering the oath of office was Chief Justice Ricardo Paras 

 President Carlos P. García at necrological services
 for the late Pres. Ramon Magsaysay

At the time of the sudden death of President Ramon Magsaysay, Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. García was heading the Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia. 

Having been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice President García enplaned back for Manila. 

Upon his arrival he directly repaired to Malacañang Palace to assume the duties of President. Chief Justice Ricardo Paras of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the oath of office. 

President García's first actions dealt with the declaration of a period of mourning for the whole nation and the burial ceremonies for the late Chief-Executive Magsaysay.

The following link details the aftermath of the plane crash that killed Pres. Magsaysay:

The Day President Ramon Magsaysay Died

 SECOND PRESIDENTIAL TERM:

Second term: December 30, 1957-December 30, 1961 (elected)

After completing the unfinished presidential term of Pres. Magsaysay, everyone thought it was smooth sailing for Garcia for the 1957 presidential elections especially after he had secured the nomination of the Nacionalista Party but Senator Claro M. Recto had other plans. He bolted the NP to run for President under the Nationalist Citizens’ Party.  

Other Magsaysay supporters established the Progressive Party of the Philippines and endorsed Manuel Manahan for President. 

The Liberal Party, for its part, fielded former Speaker Jose Yulo for President.  

The showdown had been set again for Jose Yulo of Negros Occidental and Carlos P. Garcia of Bohol whose first encounter was during the 1953 elections where both ran for Vice- President  

 Pres. CPG & First Lady Leonila Garcia welcome

House Speaker Daniel Z. Romualdez and his wife

for New Year “At Home” in Malacanang, 1960.

 during the 1957 election campaign

FOUR CANDIDATES FOR 1957 PRESIDENCY

And so it was a four- cornered fight during the 1957 Philippine Presidential elections. 

In a repeat of their 1953 encounter where both ran for Vice- President, Garcia trounced his main opponent Yulo, bested Recto and Manahan, and won the Philippine Presidency in his own right.

Results:

Carlos P. Garcia          Nacionalista Party                                               41.30 %

Jose Yulo                          Liberal Party                                                           27.60 %

Manuel Manahan        Progressive Party of the Philippines       20.90 %

Claro M. Recto           Nacionalist Citizen's Party                              8. 55%

Results of the 1957 Presidential Elections

His Second Inauguration for 1957 was on December 30 at the Independence Grandstand, Manila at the age of 62

Here is an excerpt of his inaugural speech:

Again, I reverently invoke the aid of the Divine Creator, Infinite Fountain of all blessings, that we may have unity where we have been divided, that we may have faith and courage where we have faltered and weakened, that we may be given light and vision where we have walked in darkness, that we may have love where we have been selfish, and that we may achieve lasting peace, prosperity and happiness for the people.

 The Second Inauguration of Carlos P. Garcia, at the Independence Grandstand 
(now known as the Quirino Grandstand). Bohol Governor Juan Pajo held the 
bible as Carlos P. Garcia, a fellow Boholano, took his oath as Philippine President

December 30, 1957:

 Pres. Garcia tenders Manila Motorcade for US President Dwight Eisenhower

THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS DURING HIS TERM:

During his presidency, the following held the most important positions in the country:

Vice President               : Diosdado Macapagal (December 30, 1957-December 30, 1961)

Chief Justice                  : Ricardo M. Paras (April 2, 1951-February 17, 1961)

Senate President            : Eulogio Rodriguez (January 22, 1957-April 5, 1963)

Speaker of the House   : Daniel Z. Romualdez (January 27, 1958-December 30, 1961) 

PREVIOUS POSITIONS HELD BY PRES. GARCIA:

Executive Bureaucracy        : Member, Rehabilitation Commission

Provincial                                       : Governor of Bohol (1933-1941)

Cabinet                                          : Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1953-1957)

National                                          : Vice-President of the Philippines (1953-1957)

Legislative Lower House      :  Representative, Lone District of Bohol (1925-1931)

Upper House                                  : Senator (1945-1953)

Judicial                                            : None

Others                                             : President, 1971 Constitutional Convention

Military                                          : Guerilla resistance leader

WHEN IKE VISITED CALOY IN MANILA:

A high point during President Garcia's term was the State Visit to the Philippines by President Dwight Eisenhower of the United States in June 1960

Just how many Philippine presidents can brag about being visited by the president of the world's most powerful nation?

 Welcome Ceremony at Manila Airport for U.S. President Eisenhower

 The Order of Sikatuna: Rank of Raja, the highest recognition awarded by the
Philippine govt for diplomatic & foreign relations and named after
Boholano chieftain Raja Sikatuna, is conferred by Pres. Garcia to
U.S. President Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower

Pres.Eisenhower delivering a speech at the Quirino Grandstand the president is 

wearing the collar of the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Raja

 Pres.Eisenhower's left is his daughter in-law, BarbaraState Dinner
Malacañang Palace 

Being a staunch supporter for Phil culture, Pres. Garcia invites the Bayanihan Dancers 

to perform for US Pres. Eisenhower during the State Dinner in Malacanang Palace

 President Garcia with First Lady Leonila Garcia
proposes a toast for President Eisenhower

 commemorative postage stamp of US President's RP visit

LIFE AFTER THE PRESIDENCY:

In 1961, faced by the so-called “White Paper” disseminated by Senator Eulogio “Amang” Rodriquez, President Garcia lost his reelection bid to the rising political leader from Pampanga, and his Vice President Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party. 

Ironically, Boholanos would vote overwhelmingly for Macapagal's daughter Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo in her victorious 2004 presidential bid.

December 30, 1957: President Carlos P. Garcia alongside First Lady Leonila Dimataga-Garcia, and Vice Pres. Diosdado Macapagal and Mrs. Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal during Pres. CPG's inaugural ball 

Four years later, CPG would lose his reelection bid to Macapagal

After his failed reelection bid, Garcia retreated to private life, living in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

December 30, 1961. Pres. Diosdado Macapagal & family on their way to pick up outgoing Pres. CPGbefore proceeding to Quirino Grandstand for his Inauguration as incoming President

Seen at the back of the First Couple is First Daughter Gloria Macapagalwho would be installed 40 years later as Philippine President GMA

December 30, 1961: Last few minutes as incumbent President and outgoing Vice-President, respectively, Carlos P. Garcia and Diosdado Macapagal prepare to depart for Macapagal’s inaugural(Seen 2nd from left is ex Tagb Mayor Jose Ma. Rocha who served as one of CPG's Palace Staff)

1971 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

On June 1, 1971, Garcia was elected delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. 

Convention delegates elected him president of the convention on June 11, 1971 with his then vice president Diosdado Macapagal replicating his role as vice president to the illustrious Boholano statesman

 Three Philippine Presidents: During the 1966 Manila Summit, President Ferdinand E. Marcos

is flanked candidly by former presidents Diosdado Macapagal and Carlos P. Garcia

Note their different style interpretations of the Barong Tagalog

UNTIMELY DEMISE 

However, just four days after his election, on June 14, 1971, Garcia suffered a fatal heart attack. He was succeeded as president of the convention by his vice president, former president Diosdado Macapagal. 

Garcia’s administration was anchored on three basic policies: 

Austerity, Filipino First Policy and Cultural Revival