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Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr. (born July 6, 1949), better known as Noli de Castro or “Kabayan” Noli de Castro, is a politician and former broadcast journalist in the Philippines. De Castro was elected Senator in 2001 and was elected as Vice President of the Philippines in 2004. He is the first independent Senatorial topnotcher and the first elected independent Vice-President.
Noli de Castro was born in the town of Pola, Oriental Mindoro. He graduated from the University of the East in 1971 with a degree in Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Banking and Finance from the University of the East and a doctorate degree Honoris causa from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
De Castro began his career as a broadcaster during the Marcos dictatorship, when press freedoms were suppressed. He worked as a field reporter for Johnny de Leon, a popular radio announcer at the time. He later became a radio announcer in RPN’s DWWW station from 1982 to 1986.
After the ouster of Marcos, de Castro joined ABS-CBN. He got his break into television as the segment host of Good Morning, Philippines’ “At your Service”. He also joined dzMM, a radio station of ABS-CBN, as the anchorman of “Kabayan”. It was because of the popularity of the program that he gained the nickname “Kabayan Noli”.
In 1987, De Castro became host of “Magandang Gabi Bayan” and anchorman of the news and public affairs hit, “TV Patrol”. In January 1999 he became overall head of production of “TV Patrol” and vice president of dzMM.
Other Information
- Name : Manuel Leuterio de Castro, Jr.
- Also known as : Kabayan
- Birthday : July 6, 1949
- Birthplace : Pola, Oriental Mindoro
- Political party : K4 (2004)
- Schools Attended :
- Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Banking and Finance, University of the East (1971)
- Doctorate degree Honoris causa, Polytechnic University of the Philippines
- Spouse : Arlene Sinsuat
- Children :
- Katherine De Castro
- Profession : broadcast journalist
- Religion : Roman Catholic
Career Highlights
- 14th Vice President of the Philippines, (5th Vice President of the 5th Republic),Incumbent (June 30, 2004)
- Senator of the Philippines (2001 – 2004)
- TV Patrol Anchor (1987-2004)
- Magandang Gabi, Bayan Anchor (1988-2004)
Notable Events
- 2010 presidential elections
- Bigamy and abandonment case (August 2007)
Arnold Bautista