Gilberto Teodoro
Encyclopedia
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr. (born on June 14, 1964 in Isabela, Philippines
), or more commonly known as Gilbert/Gibo, is the former secretary of the national defense of the republic of the Philippines
, having assumed the post in August 2007 until November 15, 2009. He was a member of the House of Representatives
, representing the First District of Tarlac
province, from 1998 to 2007. In March 2009, he announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines
in the May 2010 elections
.
He is also known for his efforts as the Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) when Mega Manila
was hit by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy).
in 1981, and obtained his undergraduate degree in Commerce from De la Salle University
in 1985. He then studied Law at the University of the Philippines
from 1985 to 1989, and finished at the top of his class. He was also awarded the Dean's Medal of Academic Excellence. The same year, he passed the Bar with a score of 86.185 percent, landing No. 1 among thousands of examinees. In 1997, he obtained his Master of Law degree from Harvard Law School
in Boston, Massachusetts.
According to his classmates, Teodoro was "very intelligent", an unconventional nerd. They have also added that he is “very unassuming” and a “very cool” person. During his college days, he had not been involved in campus politics, and had been busy with his other commitments outside school, including being a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Tarlac and learning how to fly planes.
Teodoro had been a lawyer for seven years at the EP Mendoza Law firm. He was also admitted to the State Bar of New York.
and became a member of the Tarlac Sangguniang Panlalawigan
at the time that his mother was the Tarlac representative in the National Assembly.
province. He assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader in the 11th Congress
and head of the Nationalist People's Coalition
House members. He was also a member of the House contingent to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Teodoro was a part of the "Bright Boys
" clique.
Following his three terms in office—the maximum number allowed by the constitution — he was succeeded by his wife, Monica Prieto-Teodoro
.
in August 2007 at the age of 43, like the late Ramon Magsaysay
, he is also the youngest person to ever hold the position.
, Teodoro concurrently headed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), a temporary organization that supports the relief efforts being done by the local government in times of natural disasters. When Typhoon Ketsana hit the country, Teodoro immediately issued an appeal for international aid through the United Nations
and organized relief operations in the affected areas given the limitations in resources and the scale of the disaster. He mitigated the devastation wrought by the typhoon and prioritized the areas at risk of being wiped out.
Under the law (PD 1566), the NDCC's role as a temporary or ad hoc
committee is very limiting because it places the budget and primary responsibility during natural disasters on the hands of local government officials. For this reason, Teodoro expressed the desire for bills that seek to replace PD 1566 with a permanent Disaster Risk Reduction Council (DRRC) that will be given the right powers and resources to correct the weaknesses of the current law.
in the May 2010 election. Months earlier, he quit his old party Nationalist People's Coalition
(NPC) to join the merged administration party Lakas Kampi CMD and cast his name in the ruling party's contenders for the 2010 elections.
On September 16, 2009, voting 42–5 through secret balloting, the executive committee of Lakas-Kampi officially selected Teodoro as their party's presidential standard bearer for the May 2010 elections, edging out the other nominee, MMDA
Chairman Bayani Fernando
. The announcement was made by Lakas-Kampi Secretary General Gabriel Claudio after a deliberation that lasted for approximately an hour.
Teodoro's campaign platform includes encouraging political growth in the provinces and improving healthcare and education. He has also stated that he would not interfere if Arroyo were to be charged at a later date.
On November 20, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
resigned her post as the Chairman of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and handed over the post to Teodoro.
Teodoro's campaign slogan was "Galing at Talino" (capability
and competence
). According to him, public service does not only entail integrity, but ability and competence as well because people are looking for clear plans and not just mere promises and most of all positive campaigning. During the campaign, he shunned from mudslinging and encouraged other Presidentiables to do away with smear campaigning because it breeds disunity among Filipinos.
On May 11, 2010, a day after the elections were held, Teodoro gracefully conceded defeat to the leading Presidential candidate, Senator Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party. During a press conference he held in the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD national headquarters in Metro Manila, Teodoro wished Aquino well and also announced his decision to return to private life in order to take care of his wife and only son.
and former Batasang Pambansa
member Mercedes Cojuangco-Teodoro. He is also the nephew of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.
, chairman of San Miguel Corporation
.
Teodoro is the second cousin of another Presidential candidate, Noynoy Aquino, son of former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. While Teodoro's mother, Mercedes Cojuangco, is the first cousin of Aquino's mother, former President Corazon Aquino
, both families have always been on different sides of the political fence since 1960s. During the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos
, Teodoro's father served as Social Security System administrator while Noynoy Aquino’s father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
, was a leading opposition leader.
Teodoro is married to Monica Prieto
, with whom he has a son, Jaime Gilberto.
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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...
), or more commonly known as Gilbert/Gibo, is the former secretary of the national defense of the republic of the 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...
, having assumed the post in August 2007 until November 15, 2009. He was a member of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
, representing the First District of Tarlac
Tarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
province, from 1998 to 2007. In March 2009, he announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
in the May 2010 elections
Philippine general election, 2010
Elections for all positions in the Philippines above the barangay were held on Monday, May 10, 2010. The elected president will become the 15th President of the Philippines, succeeding President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is barred from seeking re-election due to term restrictions...
.
He is also known for his efforts as the Chairman of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) when Mega Manila
Mega Manila
Mega Manila is the term used for the regions of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and Metro Manila. It is frequently used in the press, advertising, television and radio...
was hit by Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy).
Educational background
Teodoro finished secondary school at Xavier SchoolXavier School
Not to be confused with Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan.Xavier School , located in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines, is a private Catholic college preparatory school for boys run by the Society of Jesus' Philippine Province...
in 1981, and obtained his undergraduate degree in Commerce from De la Salle University
De La Salle University
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
in 1985. He then studied Law at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
from 1985 to 1989, and finished at the top of his class. He was also awarded the Dean's Medal of Academic Excellence. The same year, he passed the Bar with a score of 86.185 percent, landing No. 1 among thousands of examinees. In 1997, he obtained his Master of Law degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in Boston, Massachusetts.
According to his classmates, Teodoro was "very intelligent", an unconventional nerd. They have also added that he is “very unassuming” and a “very cool” person. During his college days, he had not been involved in campus politics, and had been busy with his other commitments outside school, including being a member of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Tarlac and learning how to fly planes.
Teodoro had been a lawyer for seven years at the EP Mendoza Law firm. He was also admitted to the State Bar of New York.
Before Congress
At the age of 16, in 1980, Teodoro was elected as the Kabataang Barangay (KB) President in Tarlac. He went on to lead Central LuzonCentral Luzon
Central Luzon , also known as Region III , is an administrative division or region of the Republic of the Philippines, primarily serve to organize the 7 provinces of the vast central plain of the island of Luzon , for administrative convenience...
and became a member of the Tarlac Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Sangguniang Panlalawigan
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is the legislature of all provinces in the Philippines. It passes ordinances and resolutions for the effective administration of the province...
at the time that his mother was the Tarlac representative in the National Assembly.
Congressman
From 1998 to 2007 he was a House Representative for the First District of TarlacTarlac
Tarlac is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Luzon Island. Its capital is Tarlac City. Tarlac borders Pampanga to the south, Nueva Ecija to the east, Pangasinan to the north, and Zambales to the west...
province. He assumed the position of Assistant Majority Leader in the 11th Congress
11th Congress of the Philippines
The Eleventh Congress of the Philippines is the meeting of the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives...
and head of the Nationalist People's Coalition
Nationalist People's Coalition
The Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC is a political party in the Philippines.-History:The Party was founded in 1991 after some members of the Nacionalista Party led by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez bolted from the Nacionalista Party after some disagreements with Nacionalista party...
House members. He was also a member of the House contingent to the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. Teodoro was a part of the "Bright Boys
Bright Boys
The Bright Boys were seven first-term administration congressmen of the House of Representatives of the Philippines who were dubbed as such by Joseph Estrada during his term as President of the Philippines.-Background:...
" clique.
Following his three terms in office—the maximum number allowed by the constitution — he was succeeded by his wife, Monica Prieto-Teodoro
Monica Prieto-Teodoro
Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, or simply Nikki Teodoro, is the Representative of the 1st district of Tarlac and the spouse of Gilbert Teodoro, a former Secretary of the Philippine National Defense. Teodoro is also the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the House Committees on the Welfare of...
.
Secretary of National Defense
Teodoro was appointed Secretary of the Department of National DefenseDepartment of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
in August 2007 at the age of 43, like the late Ramon Magsaysay
Ramon Magsaysay
Ramón del Fierro Magsaysay was the third President of the Republic of the Philippines from December 30, 1953 until his death in a plane crash in 1957. He was elected President under the banner of the Nacionalista Party.-Early life:Ramon F...
, he is also the youngest person to ever hold the position.
Chairman of National Disaster Coordinating Council
While serving as the Secretary of the Department of National DefenseDepartment of National Defense (Philippines)
The Department of National Defense is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for guarding against external and internal threats to peace and security in the country...
, Teodoro concurrently headed the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), a temporary organization that supports the relief efforts being done by the local government in times of natural disasters. When Typhoon Ketsana hit the country, Teodoro immediately issued an appeal for international aid through the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and organized relief operations in the affected areas given the limitations in resources and the scale of the disaster. He mitigated the devastation wrought by the typhoon and prioritized the areas at risk of being wiped out.
Under the law (PD 1566), the NDCC's role as a temporary or ad hoc
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
committee is very limiting because it places the budget and primary responsibility during natural disasters on the hands of local government officials. For this reason, Teodoro expressed the desire for bills that seek to replace PD 1566 with a permanent Disaster Risk Reduction Council (DRRC) that will be given the right powers and resources to correct the weaknesses of the current law.
2010 presidential campaign
In March 2009, Teodoro announced his intention to run for President of the PhilippinesPresident of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
in the May 2010 election. Months earlier, he quit his old party Nationalist People's Coalition
Nationalist People's Coalition
The Nationalist People's Coalition or NPC is a political party in the Philippines.-History:The Party was founded in 1991 after some members of the Nacionalista Party led by then Rizal Governor Isidro Rodriguez bolted from the Nacionalista Party after some disagreements with Nacionalista party...
(NPC) to join the merged administration party Lakas Kampi CMD and cast his name in the ruling party's contenders for the 2010 elections.
On September 16, 2009, voting 42–5 through secret balloting, the executive committee of Lakas-Kampi officially selected Teodoro as their party's presidential standard bearer for the May 2010 elections, edging out the other nominee, MMDA
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority , is an agency of the Republic of the Philippines created embracing the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Taguig, Navotas and San Juan and the...
Chairman Bayani Fernando
Bayani Fernando
Bayani Flores Fernando is the former Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority .He has announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election. However, after talks with Richard Gordon, he agreed to slide as Vice President for Gordon's newly-established...
. The announcement was made by Lakas-Kampi Secretary General Gabriel Claudio after a deliberation that lasted for approximately an hour.
Teodoro's campaign platform includes encouraging political growth in the provinces and improving healthcare and education. He has also stated that he would not interfere if Arroyo were to be charged at a later date.
On November 20, 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...
resigned her post as the Chairman of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and handed over the post to Teodoro.
Teodoro's campaign slogan was "Galing at Talino" (capability
Capability
Capability is the ability to perform actions.As it applies to human capital, capability is the sum of expertise and capacity.It is a component within the theories of:* Capability-based security and Capability-based addressing in computing...
and competence
Skill
A skill is the learned capacity to carry out pre-determined results often with the minimum outlay of time, energy, or both. Skills can often be divided into domain-general and domain-specific skills...
). According to him, public service does not only entail integrity, but ability and competence as well because people are looking for clear plans and not just mere promises and most of all positive campaigning. During the campaign, he shunned from mudslinging and encouraged other Presidentiables to do away with smear campaigning because it breeds disunity among Filipinos.
On May 11, 2010, a day after the elections were held, Teodoro gracefully conceded defeat to the leading Presidential candidate, Senator Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party. During a press conference he held in the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD national headquarters in Metro Manila, Teodoro wished Aquino well and also announced his decision to return to private life in order to take care of his wife and only son.
Family
Teodoro, born in Isabela, is the only child of former Social Security System administrator Gilberto Teodoro, Sr.Gilberto Teodoro, Sr.
Gilberto Teodoro, Sr. was a former SSS administrator.-Personal life:Gilbert Teodoro, Sr. was father of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., is also survived by his wife and former Batasang Pambansa member Mercedes Cojuangco-Teodoro, daughter-in-law Representative Monica Prieto-Teodoro and...
and former Batasang Pambansa
Batasang Pambansa
The Batasang Pambansa , also known by its nickname, the Batasan, was the former parliament of the Philippines, established as an interim assembly in 1978 and finally as an official body in 1984. Under the 1973 constitution, it replaced the former Congress established under the 1935 Commonwealth...
member Mercedes Cojuangco-Teodoro. He is also the nephew of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.
Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr.
Eduardo Murphy Cojuangco, Jr. , also known as Danding Cojuangco, is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and beverage corporation in the Philippines and Southeast Asia, former Philippine ambassador, and former governor of Tarlac. In 2005, his personal wealth was estimated at...
, chairman of San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation
Established in 1890 as a brewery, San Miguel Corporation is Southeast Asia's largest publicly listed food, beverage and packaging company with over 17,000 employees in over 100 major facilities throughout the Asia-Pacific....
.
Teodoro is the second cousin of another Presidential candidate, Noynoy Aquino, son of former President Corazon Aquino and former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. While Teodoro's mother, Mercedes Cojuangco, is the first cousin of Aquino's mother, former President Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
, both families have always been on different sides of the political fence since 1960s. During the administration of former President Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
, Teodoro's father served as Social Security System administrator while Noynoy Aquino’s father, former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
Benigno Aquino, Jr.
Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. was a Filipino Senator and a former Governor of Tarlac. Aquino, together with Gerry Roxas and Jovito Salonga, formed the leadership of the opposition to the Marcos regime in the years leading to the imposition of martial law in the Philippines...
, was a leading opposition leader.
Teodoro is married to Monica Prieto
Monica Prieto-Teodoro
Monica Louise Prieto-Teodoro, or simply Nikki Teodoro, is the Representative of the 1st district of Tarlac and the spouse of Gilbert Teodoro, a former Secretary of the Philippine National Defense. Teodoro is also the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the House Committees on the Welfare of...
, with whom he has a son, Jaime Gilberto.
Memberships
Teodoro, who holds distinct memberships in the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, UP Alumni Association, UP Law Alumni Association, Harvard Alumni Association and the Harvard Law Alumni Association, is also a licensed commercial pilot with a Learjet 31 rating and a Colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve.External links
- Department of National Defense
- Official website
- Volunteers website
- Will you vote for Gilberto Teodoro for President? - 2010 Philippines election poll
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