Calixto R. Catáquiz
Encyclopedia
Calixto R. Catáquiz is the incumbent mayor
of San Pedro, Laguna
, Philippines
. He is also a businessman and banker, and once managed the Laguna Lake Development Authority
from 2001 to 2003.
. His parents were Rodolfo C. Catáquiz of Unisan, Quezon
, and Rosa T. Ramírez of San Pedro, Laguna
. His parents were the pioneers of the balút
industry in San Pedro. Calex, as his family members and friends call him, grew up in his mother's hometown. He was an only child from an affluent family.
Catáquiz had his elementary education first in San Pedro Central Elementary School (1959-1961), then he transferred to Canossa School of Santa Rosa, Laguna (1961-1965).
He spent his high school and college days in San Beda College
, Manila where he took up Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Management).
. Back in his hometown of San Pedro, he founded the Sampaguita Savings Bank at age 30.
. He lost during his first foray into Philippine politics.
During the 1986 People Power Revolution, he led San Pedro's delegation of the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA), funding the participants with his own money (for food, transportation, and other protest rally materials). His association with the opposition brought him into a misunderstanding with none other but his parents, who were known close friends of former dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Due to his participation in EDSA, the leaders of the newly installed president
Corazón C. Aquino's Revolutionary Government appointed him as the Officer In Charge of San Pedro, replacing Vierneza. It was not an easy ascent into power because Mayor Vierneza, like most local chief executives at that time, refused to go down, believing that Aquino's revolutionary government was illegal. Thus, a forced takeover ensued wherein Catáquiz supporters clashed with Vierneza's men.
Mayor Catáquiz served as San Pedro's OIC from 1986 to 1988. During the 1988 Philippine elections, he was elected into office for the first time. He remained in power until 1998.
In 2001, he was seen once again in the second People Power Revolution at EDSA. Upon Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
's appointment as President of the Philippines, Catáquiz was tasked to head the Laguna Lake Development Authority.
As LLDA General Manager, he was able to make Laguna de Bay
a member of the Living Lakes of the World.
2007 saw him once again as San Pedro's mayor. His final term will last not longer than September 2010.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of San Pedro, Laguna
San Pedro, Laguna
The City of San Pedro is a first class Municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. San Pedro is Laguna's gateway to Metro Manila since it lies on the boundary with Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila's southernmost city...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. He is also a businessman and banker, and once managed the Laguna Lake Development Authority
Laguna Lake Development Authority
The Philippines' Laguna Lake Development Authority abbreviated as LLDA is one of the attached agencies of the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources responsible in the preservation, development and sustainability of the Laguna de Bay and its 21 major tributary rivers.- History...
from 2001 to 2003.
Early life and education
Calixto Catáquiz was born in ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. His parents were Rodolfo C. Catáquiz of Unisan, Quezon
Unisan, Quezon
Unisan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines and is the first capital of the province of Kaliraya, now Quezon. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 23,911 people.-History:...
, and Rosa T. Ramírez of San Pedro, Laguna
San Pedro, Laguna
The City of San Pedro is a first class Municipality in the province of Laguna, Philippines. It is named after its patron saint, Saint Peter. San Pedro is Laguna's gateway to Metro Manila since it lies on the boundary with Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila's southernmost city...
. His parents were the pioneers of the balút
Balut
A balut is a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell.Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut are mostly sold by street vendors in the regions where they are available. It is commonly sold as streetfood in the Philippines...
industry in San Pedro. Calex, as his family members and friends call him, grew up in his mother's hometown. He was an only child from an affluent family.
Catáquiz had his elementary education first in San Pedro Central Elementary School (1959-1961), then he transferred to Canossa School of Santa Rosa, Laguna (1961-1965).
He spent his high school and college days in San Beda College
San Beda College
San Beda College or Dalubhasaan ng San Beda in Filipino is a Private Benedictine college run by the Benedictine monks in the Philippines. It is located on Mendiola Street in San Miguel, Manila...
, Manila where he took up Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Management).
After graduation
After his studies, Catáquiz assisted his parents in their various businesses. He became the bank manager of Entrepreneur Bank (Rural Bank of Unisan) which his father had founded in the latter's hometown of Unisan, QuezonUnisan, Quezon
Unisan is a 4th class municipality in the province of Quezon, Philippines and is the first capital of the province of Kaliraya, now Quezon. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 23,911 people.-History:...
. Back in his hometown of San Pedro, he founded the Sampaguita Savings Bank at age 30.
Political career
According to Mayor Catáquiz, he never really had any intention at all to run for any public office. He was just prodded by the people of San Pedro, particularly former Mayor José L. Amante, to run against then incumbent Mayor Felicísimo Vierneza during the 30 January 1980 Philippine ElectionsPhilippine local election, 1980
Local elections for governors, vice governors, mayors and vice mayors in the nation's first elections for provincial and municipal officials since the declaration of martial law were held on January 30, 1980. As usual, President Ferdinand Marcos's party the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan dominated the...
. He lost during his first foray into Philippine politics.
During the 1986 People Power Revolution, he led San Pedro's delegation of the Justice for Aquino, Justice for All (JAJA), funding the participants with his own money (for food, transportation, and other protest rally materials). His association with the opposition brought him into a misunderstanding with none other but his parents, who were known close friends of former dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Due to his participation in EDSA, the leaders of the newly installed president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Corazón C. Aquino's Revolutionary Government appointed him as the Officer In Charge of San Pedro, replacing Vierneza. It was not an easy ascent into power because Mayor Vierneza, like most local chief executives at that time, refused to go down, believing that Aquino's revolutionary government was illegal. Thus, a forced takeover ensued wherein Catáquiz supporters clashed with Vierneza's men.
Mayor Catáquiz served as San Pedro's OIC from 1986 to 1988. During the 1988 Philippine elections, he was elected into office for the first time. He remained in power until 1998.
In 2001, he was seen once again in the second People Power Revolution at EDSA. Upon Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
's appointment as President of the Philippines, Catáquiz was tasked to head the Laguna Lake Development Authority.
As LLDA General Manager, he was able to make Laguna de Bay
Laguna de Bay
Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia after Tonle Sap in Cambodia and Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia. It is on the island of Luzon between the provinces of Laguna to the south and Rizal to the north...
a member of the Living Lakes of the World.
2007 saw him once again as San Pedro's mayor. His final term will last not longer than September 2010.