Benjamin Romualdez Explained

Benjamin Romualdez
Birth Name:Carlos Benjamin Orestes Trinidad Romualdez
Birth Date:24 September 1930[1]
Birth Place:Manila, Philippine Islands
Death Place:Makati, Philippines
Office:Governor of Leyte
Term Start:December 30, 1967
Term End:March 25, 1986
Predecessor:Norberto Romualdez Jr.
Successor:Benjamin P. Abella
Office1:Ambassador of the Philippines to the United States
Term Start1:1982
Term End1:1986
President1:Ferdinand Marcos
Corazon C. Aquino
Predecessor1:Eduardo Z. Romualdez
Successor1:Emmanuel Pelaez
Party:Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (1978–1986)
Nacionalista (1967–1978)
Occupation:Politician
Children:4, including Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
Restingplace:The Heritage Park, Taguig, Metro Manila

Carlos Benjamin Orestes "Kokoy" Trinidad Romualdez[2] (September 24, 1930 – February 21, 2012) was a Filipino politician who served as Governor of Leyte and later appointed as ambassador to the United States, China and Saudi Arabia.[3]

He was a younger brother to former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos[3] and the father of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.[4]

Personal life

The son of the late Vicente Orestes Romuáldez, a former dean of the law school of St. Paul's College in Tacloban, Kokoy Romualdez began his career in politics after serving as an assistant of Speaker Daniel Romualdez, his first cousin, from 1957 to 1961. He was a younger brother to former First Lady Imelda Marcos and the father of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. He was married to Juliette Gomez and their children are: Daniel, a practicing architect in New York, and partner Michael; Benjamin Philip, president and chief executive officer of Benguet Corp., who is married to Inquirer president and CEO Maria Alexandra; Ferdinand Martin, who is married to Yedda Marie; Marean, an investment banker, and husband Thomas; sisters Imelda Marcos, Alita Martel, Conchita Yap and brothers Alfredo and Armando.

He was part of the Romualdez Clan, the strongest political clan of Eastern Visayas. According to his niece Imee Marcos, their ancestors came from Northern Samar, settled in Leyte, and prospered in Tacloban. One of their ancestors was a part of the Sumuroy Revolt which started in Northern Samar.

Political life

Romualdez embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in politics spanning more than 20 years. He served several terms as Leyte governor from 1967 to 1986. During this time, his brother-in-law, President Ferdinand Marcos also appointed him as ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.[4]

Romualdez was instrumental in the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the People's Republic of China in the 1970s, becoming Manila's first ambassador to Beijing. He also led the Marcos government's negotiations with the United States regarding the renegotiation of the two countries' bases agreement.[5]

He was elected as a member of the Batasang Pambansa in 1984, but chose to remain ambassador to the United States, and was therefore disqualified to sit in the parliament.

In 1986, he went into exile with his family following the People Power Revolution, and returned fourteen years later in 2000.[3]

Death

He died on the afternoon of February 21, 2012, of cancer, at Makati Medical Center in Makati at the age of 81. His remains were brought to Tacloban for a funeral before being laid to rest at The Heritage Park in Taguig on February 27.[6] [7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Untold Story of Imelda Marcos. Pedrosa, C.N.. 1969. Tandem Publishing Company. April 1, 2015.
  2. News: The misunderstood Remedios Trinidad Romualdez. Todd Sales. Lucero. May 3, 2023. December 30, 2023. The Freeman.
  3. News: Sabuco . Ulysses . May 3, 2000 . Kokoy: I've grown old and ugly . .
  4. News: Rouchelle R.. Dinglasan. Kokoy Romualdez, powerful younger brother of Imelda Marcos, dies at 81 . . February 21, 2012 . February 22, 2012.
  5. Encarnacion Tadem . Teresa S. . The Rise and Fall of Virata's Network: Technocracy and the Politics of Economic Decision Making in the Philippines . 10.20495/seas.5.1_35 . Southeast Asian Studies . 5 . 1 .
  6. News: Leyteños pay last respects to Kokoy. February 28, 2012. December 30, 2023. INQUIRER.net. Cebu Daily News. Tacloban.
  7. News: The man who wore no socks laid to rest. Cynthia. Balana. February 29, 2012. December 30, 2023. Philippine Daily Inquirer.