34 Facts About Ramon Bagatsing

Ramon Bagatsing was the only Filipino of Indian ancestry and person with disability who served as 17th Mayor of Manila from 1971 to 1986.

Ramon Bagatsing was the military hero for the Liberation of Manila during the Second World War.

Ramon Bagatsing earned the moniker "The Incorruptible" for his clean record in public service and for his unwavering anti-graft and corruption stance.

Ramon Bagatsing was born on August 19,1916, in Fabrica, Sagay, to an ethnic Filipino mother Dionisia Delaraga and Amado Ramon Bagatsing, a Punjabi immigrant from British Raj India,.

Thereafter he changed his name from Mataram Singh Banga to Amado Bhagat Singh, of which the Hiligaynon form Ramon Bagatsing has since become standard for the Philippine branch of his family.

The young Ramon Bagatsing worked as a bus conductor, night watchman, and security guard to augment his basic and school expenses.

Ramon Bagatsing began his stint as a patrolman with the Manila Police Department from 1939 to 1941.

Ramon Bagatsing began as a first sergeant from 1941 to 1943, was promoted to first lieutenant in 1944, then to captain in 1945, and major in 1946.

Ramon Bagatsing was National Commander of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and a member of the Philippine Veterans Legion, American Legion and American Disabled Veterans.

Ramon Bagatsing was a bank safe and home safety box salesman.

Ramon Bagatsing first entered public service in the 1957 elections when his province mate, then-presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Jose Yulo, convinced him to run for Congress in Manila's then third district of Sampaloc, Sta.

Ramon Bagatsing was elected Congressman for the first time and was the chairman of the House Veterans Committee.

Ramon Bagatsing was elected again as Congressman in 1961 and held the chairmanship of the powerful Justice Committee.

Ramon Bagatsing was a leading reformer and a relentless crusader against the spread of communism in the Asia-Pacific region of the world as the founding chairman of the Philippine Anti-Communist League.

Ramon Bagatsing was one of the survivors of the Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21,1971, which was at that time considered one of the bloodiest political massacres in Philippine history.

Ramon Bagatsing was among the three most critically injured, along with Senators Jovito Salonga and Sergio Osmena, Jr.

Ramon Bagatsing was briefly clinically dead until he was revived by emergency medical staff in the hospital, being confined for almost three months while undergoing numerous delicate operations.

Ramon Bagatsing set up the Manila Youth Bureau and the Tourism Office of Manila, which was a first for any local government.

Ramon Bagatsing then spearheaded the awarding of land titles to many of the city's indigent landless families, further endearing him to the poor, who were all grateful and glad to have the achievement of finally owning the land of their homes.

Ramon Bagatsing established several multi-sectoral cooperatives especially benefiting the vendors in the city's public markets, providing vital financial assistance and livelihood opportunities for Manila's less fortunate citizens.

Ramon Bagatsing made sure to take good care of the welfare of the city's workers and public school teachers by increasing their salaries, wages and benefits.

Just days prior to the main event, in order to emphasize and promote the core essence of the Miss Universe movement's advocacy, cause, and purpose, Ramon Bagatsing had organised a local festival featuring a splendid procession of select pageant candidates parading around and throughout Manila's inner-streets, communities, and barangays, with the aim of bringing closer together the foreign international beauties and the city's common folk.

Ramon Bagatsing was one of the first officials to voluntarily step down to allow for a leadership transition after the 1986 People Power Revolution.

Ramon Bagatsing was an accomplished International Director and Governor of the Lions Clubs International, the longtime Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross Manila, a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Organization, a past Director of the Philippine Jaycees and the Manila Junior Chamber, and an active leader and solid patron of various charitable institutions.

In 1958, Bagatsing founded one of the largest scholarship programs of that time, the Ramon D Bagatsing Scholarship Foundation, providing thousands of citizens the chance to receive quality education.

Ramon Bagatsing had a genuine concern for persons with disabilities, and through the Mahaveer Foundation, would often help underprivileged amputees by giving them artificial prosthetic legs, as well as, wheelchairs and crutches.

Ramon Bagatsing obtained his Master of Laws degree in 1971 from the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School and finished his Doctor of Civil Law degree in 1977 at the same university.

Ramon Bagatsing served as the first president of the Negros Occidental High School Alumni Association, Inc in the Bacolod.

Ramon Bagatsing successfully revived the Gran Copa de Manila and owned a huge Alabang ranch, where he raised many champion thoroughbreds.

Ramon Bagatsing maintained a very close friendship with the Archbishop of Manila, Cardinal Jaime Sin.

Ramon Bagatsing married his first wife Corazon Cabigo Belmonte on September 13,1939, in Manila.

Ramon Bagatsing is the grandfather of siblings Raymond Bagatsing, RK Bagatsing and Monina Bagatsing, children of Ramon "Boy" Bagatsing Jr.

Ramon Bagatsing was buried beside his wife Juanita, who died almost eight years before him, in the family mausoleum at the Manila South Cemetery.

In commemoration of his career as mayor and a supporter of horse racing industry, the Bagatsing family organized the Mayor Ramon D Bagatsing Racing Festival in 2009.