The nation mourned when President Ramon F. Magsaysay died on March 17, 1957. He had won the undying affection of his people because of his selflessness and the integrity that characterized his administration.

President Ramon F. Magsaysay was born in Iba, Zambales, on August 31, 1907. As a youth, he exhibited traits that marked him above his generation. History was his favorite subject, Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s “Last Farewell” (in Ilocano) his favorite poem, and Francisco Baltazar’s Florante at Laura his choice reading. Self-reliant, avid learner, simple and honest, he was at home with the masses. He finished his college studies as a working student. He was an automobile mechanic and shop superintendent when World War II broke out. He organized a guerrilla force, the Western Luzon Guerrilla Forces. After the war, he entered politics and was elected congressman.

Appointed on August 31, 1950, as Secretary of National Defense by then President Elpidio R. Quirino, he broke the backbone of the Huk rebellion. “I have repeatedly and publicly said,” he wrote later, “that merely killing dissidents will not solve the Communist problem. Its solution is in the correction of social evils and injustices and in giving the people a decent government, free from dishonesty and graft.”

President Magsaysay was the youngest elected President at 46 and he had the least – 7 years – public service. In his December 30, 1953, Inaugural Address, he declared that his goal was to establish a government based upon honesty and morality, a government sensitive to the people’s needs, dedicated to their best interests, and a government inspired by the ideals of liberty.” To President Magsaysay, government was best which did most for the people, as quickly as possible.

He chose men of unquestioned integrity, men who had established reputations of competence and distinction in their respective fields. He demanded that those in government service should be hardworking, efficient, honest, and courteous. He made an example of himself so that those in government service should follow.

President Magsaysay lived honorably and honestly. Unfortunately, a tragic plane crash on March 17, 1957, ended his efforts to realize his goals for his country and people.

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) created the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1957, to “honor President Magsaysay’s memory and perpetuate his example of integrity in public service and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.”

May the Filipino race produce another Ramon F. Magsaysay.