Carlos Polestico Garcia (November 4, 1896 – June 14, 1971) was a Filipino teacher, poet, orator, lawyer,

public official, political economist, organized guerrilla and Commonwealth military leader, who was the
eighth President of the Philippines.

Early life
Garcia was born in Talibon, Bohol on November 4, 1896, to Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia
Polestico, who were both natives of Bangued, Abra.

Garcia grew up with politics, with his father serving as a municipal mayor for four terms. He
acquired his primary education in his native town Talibon, then took his secondary education in
Cebu Provincial High School, now Abellana National School, both on top of his class. Initially,
he pursued his college education at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, and
later studied at the Philippine Law School, the College of Law of National University, where he
earned his law degree in 1923 and later, he received his honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities,
Honoris Causa from National University in 1961. He was among the top ten in the bar
examination.[1]

Rather than practice law right away, he worked as a teacher for two years at Bohol Provincial
High School. He became famous for his poetry in Bohol, where he earned the nickname "Prince
of Visayan Poets" and the "Bard from Bohol".

Family
On May 24, 1933, he married Leonila Dimataga, and they had a daughter, Linda Garcia-Campos.

Political career
Garcia entered politics in 1925, scoring an impressive victory to become Representative of the
Third District of Bohol. He was elected for another term in 1928 and served until 1931. He was
elected Governor of Bohol in 1933, but served only until 1941 when he successfully ran for
Senate, but he was unable to serve due to the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the
World War II. He assumed the office when Congress re-convened in 1945 after Allied liberation
and the end of the war. When he resumed duties as senator after the war, he was chosen Senate
majority floor leader.[2] The press consistently voted him as one of the most outstanding senators.
Simultaneously, he occupied a position in the Nacionalista Party.

World War II
Garcia refused to cooperate with the Japanese during the war. He did not surrender when he was
placed on the wanted list with a price on his head. He instead and took part in the guerilla
activities and served as adviser in the free government organized in Bohol.[citation needed]
Vice-Presidency
See also: Ramón Magsaysay § Presidency

Garcia (right) and Magsaysay (left)

Garcia was the running mate of Ramón Magsaysay in the 1953 presidential election in which
both men won. He was appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by President Magsaysay, and for
four years served concurrently as Vice-President.

As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, he opened formal reparation negotiations in an effort to end the
nine-year technical state of war between Japan and the Philippines, leading to an agreement on
April 1954. During the Geneva Conference of 1954 on Korean unification and other Asian
problems, Garcia, as chairman of the Philippine delegation, attacked communist promises in
Asia and defended the U.S. policy in the Far East. In a speech on May 7, 1954–the day that the
Viet Minh defeated French forces at the Battle of Diên Biên Phu in Vietnam– Garcia repeated
the Philippine stand for nationalism and opposition to Communism.[citation needed]

Garcia acted as chairman of the eight-nation Southeast Asian Security Conference held in Manila
in September 1954, which led to the development of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
(SEATO).[3]

Presidency
Presidential styles of
Carlos P. Garcia
Reference style His Excellency
Spoken style Your Excellency
Alternative style Mr. President
Economy of the Philippines under
President Carlos Garcia
1957–1961
Population
1957
22.68 million
 Gross Domestic Product
1957 Php 189,457 million ($ 94.7 billion)
1961 Php 224,430 million ($85.0 billion)
Growth rate, 1957-61 4.6%
Per capita income
1957 Php 8,353
1961 Php 7,927
Total exports
1957 Php 35,980 million
1961 Php 39,845 million
Exchange rates
1 US US$ = Php 2.64
1 Php = US US$ 0.38
Sources: Philippine Presidency Project
Malaya, Jonathan; Eduardo Malaya. So Help Us God... The
Inaugurals of the Presidents of the Philippines. Anvil
Publishing, Inc.

Accession

Vice-President Carlos P. Garcia (right) did not inaugurated President upon Magsaysay's death at
the Council of State Room in the Executive Building of the Malacañan Palace complex. The oath
of office was administered by Chief Justice Ricardo Paras.

At the time of President Magsaysay's sudden death on March 17, 1957, Garcia was heading the
Philippine delegation to the SEATO conference then being held at Canberra, Australia.[4] Having
been immediately notified of the tragedy, Vice President Garcia enplaned back for Manila. Upon
his arrival he directly repaired to Malacañang Palace to assume the duties of President. Chief
Justice Ricardo Paras, of the Supreme Court, was at hand to administer the oath of office.
President Garcia's first actions dealt with the declaration of a period of mourning for the whole
nation and the burial ceremonies for the late Chief-Executive Magsaysay.[4]
Anti-Communism

After much discussion, both official and public, the Congress of the Philippines, finally,
approved a bill outlawing the Communist Party of the Philippines. Despite the pressure exerted
against the congressional measure, President Carlos P. Garcia signed the said bill into law as
Republic Act No. 1700 on June 19, 1957.[4][5]

Republic Act № 1700 was superseded by Presidential Decree № 885, entitled "Outlawing
Subversive Organization, Penalizing Membership Therein and For Other Purposes." This was
amended by Presidential Decree № 1736, and later superseded by Presidential Decree № 1835,
entitled, "Codifying The Various Laws on Anti-Subversion and Increasing the Penalties for
Membership in Subversive Organization." This, in turn, was amended by Presidential Decree №
1975. On May 5, 1987, Executive Order № 167 repealed Presidential Decrees № 1835 and №
1975 as being unduly restrictive of the constitutional right to form associations.[6]

On September 22, 1992, Republic Act № 1700, as amended, was repealed by Republic Act №
7636.[7]

Filipino First Policy

Main article: Filipino First policy

President Garcia exercised the Filipino First Policy, for which he was known. This policy
heavily favored Filipino businessmen over foreign investor. He was also responsible for changes
in retail trade which greatly affected the Chinese businessmen in the country. In a speech during
a joint session of Congress on September 18, 1946, President Garcia said the following:

“
We are called upon to decide on this momentous debate whether or not this land of
ours will remain the cradle and grave, the womb and tomb of our race – the only
place where we can build our homes, our temples, and our altars and where we erect
the castles of our racial hopes, dreams and traditions and where we establish the
warehouse of our happiness and prosperity, of our joys and sorrows.[8] ”
Austerity Program

In the face of the trying conditions of the country, President Garcia initiated what has been called
"The Austerity Program". His administration was characterized by its austerity program and its
insistence on a comprehensive nationalist policy. On March 3, 1960, he affirmed the need for
complete economic freedom and added that the government no longer would tolerate the
dominance of foreign interests (especially American) in the national economy. He promised to
shake off "the yoke of alien domination in business, trade, commerce and industry." Garcia was
also credited with his role in reviving Filipino cultural arts.[3] The main points of the Austerity
Program were:[4]
 1. The government would tighten up its controls to prevent abuses in the over shipment of
exports under license and in under-pricing as well.
2. There would be a more rigid enforcement of the existing regulations on barter shipments.
3. Government imports themselves were to be restricted to essential items.
4. The government also would reduce rice imports to a minimum.
5. An overhauling of the local transportation system would be attempted so as to reduce the
importation of gasoline and spare parts.
6. The tax system would be revised so as to attain more equitable distribution of the
payment-burden and achieve more effective collection from those with ability to pay.
7. There would be an intensification of food production.

The program was hailed[4] by the people at large and confidence was expressed that the measures
proposed would help solve the standing problems of the Republic.[4]

Bohlen–Serrano Agreement

During his administration, he acted on the Bohlen–Serrano Agreement, which shortened the
lease of the American Bases from 99 years to 25 years and made it renewable after every five
years.[9]

Republic Cultural Award

In addition to his laws and programs, the Garcia administration also put emphasis on reviving the
Filipino culture. In doing so, the Republic Cultural Award was created. To this day, the award is
being given to Filipino artists, scientists, historians, and writers.[10]

1961 Presidential Election

Main article: Philippine presidential election, 1961

At the end of his second term, he ran for re–election in the Presidential elections in November
1961, but was defeated by his Vice-President Diosdado Macapagal, who belonged to the
opposing Liberal Party (the President and the Vice-President are elected separately in the
country).