Loading ...Edgardo Javier Angara (born September 24, 1934) is a politician in the Philippines. He is currently (until 2013) a senator. Born to a middle-class family in Baler, Aurora.
Senator Edgardo Angara currently chairs the powerful Committee on Finance, Committee on Science, and the COMSTE (Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering).
Angara earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1958. Upon graduation, he was elected to the prestigious Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi international honor societies. He earned his Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan’s School of Law in the United States in 1964.
In May 1972, Angara together with classmates from the UP College of Law and Juan Ponce Enrile, founded the ACCRA Law Offices, which became the country’s most recognized and prestigious law firm in less than a decade. From 1981 to 1987, Angara became president of the University of the Philippines. It was under Angara’s term that UP won its only UAAP basketball championship.
Angara’s achievements brought him into politics. He was a senator from 1987 until 1998. He was senate president from 1993 to 1995.
Angara prepared to run for president in the 1998 Philippine election, but decided against it when it became clear that he could not win over the popular vice president Joseph Estrada. He accepted a deal offered by Estrada to run as his vice presidential candidate, with the promise that he would be given a major role in running the government. Although Estrada overwhelmingly won the presidential race, Angara garnered 22% of the vote and placed second in a field of 9 candidates, losing to Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino.
In 1999, Angara was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by Estrada.
On January 6, 2001, as Estrada’s presidency was crippled by an impeachment trial and widespread allegations of corruption, Angara was appointed Executive Secretary following the resignation of Ronaldo Zamora, who was running for Congress. He only served for 14 days, as Estrada was toppled by the EDSA II Revolution on January 20. Angara was one of the few cabinet members who stood by Estrada until the end of his presidency.
Angara successfully ran for senator in the 2001 Philippine election. He was re-elected to a fourth term in 2007, making him the longest serving senator in the post-EDSA revolution legislature. Angara authored or sponsored many laws including the Free High School Education Act, the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE LAw, the Generics Act, the law which created Philhealth, the original Senior Citizens Act, Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act, Government Procurement Act, the Renewable Energy Act, among several others.
On January 18, 2008, Senators Mar Roxas and Edgardo Angara stated that in 2010, there will be at least 7 contentants: the known presidential aspirants are Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. Sen. Francis Escudero denied any interest in 2010.
Other Information
- Birth name : Edgardo Javier Angara
- Birthday : September 24, 1934
- Birthplace : Baler, Tayabas
- Political party : Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-2004; 2005 to date)
- Other political affiliations : Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Angara Wing) (2004-2005)
- Schools Attended :
- Bachelor of Laws degree, University of the Philippines (1958)
- Master of Laws degree, University of Michigan’s School of Law, United States (1964)
- Spouse(s) : Gloria Manalang
- Profession : Lawyer, Politician
- Religion : Roman Catholic
Career Highlights
- Senator of the Philippines, Incumbent (June 30, 2001)
- Executive Secretary, (January 6 – January 20, 2001)
- Secretary of Agriculture, (1999 – January 6, 2001)
- President of the Senate of the Philippines, (1993 – 1995)
- Senator of the Philippines, (1987 – 1998)
- President, University of the Philippines System, (1981 – 1987)
Dulce Ann Hofer
Panfilo Lacson