30 Facts About Raul Roco

Raul Roco was the founder and presidential nominee of Aksyon Demokratiko, which he founded in 1997 as a vehicle for his presidential bid in 1998 and his second one in 2004.

Raul Roco was a former constitutional delegate, congressman, senator and Secretary of Education under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Raul Roco had a strong following among young voters in the Philippines due to his efforts to promote honesty and good governance.

Raul Roco was born in Naga in the Philippine province of Camarines Sur, the son of farmer Sulpicio Azuela Roco and public school teacher Rosario Orlanda Sagarbarria.

Later, Raul Roco received a Bachelor of Laws degree and was the college's Abbott Awardee for Over-All Excellence.

Raul Roco wrote the official school lyrics, "The Bedan Hymn" as a student.

Raul Roco was the president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines in 1961 and was named one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines in 1964.

Raul Roco campaigned for a seat to represent his district in Camarines Sur.

Raul Roco won and thus became convention's youngest Bicolano delegate.

Raul Roco became one the legal staff of the late Philippine Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, and he drafted the Study Now, Pay Later law.

Raul Roco was elected to the Senate in 1992 and 1995 serving until 2001, making many contributions that led many to recognize him as an "outstanding senator".

Raul Roco wrote the law which reformed the nation's banking system; this earned him the title "Father of the Bangko Sentral".

Raul Roco has made several contributions to education in the Philippines.

Raul Roco helped fund the teachers' cooperatives as well as the increment mandated by the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers for retiring public school teachers.

Raul Roco wrote several bills targeted at protecting and prioritizing women in the Philippines.

Raul Roco let women play major roles in the Department of Education's literacy program.

Raul Roco drafted a bill that abolished double taxation on Filipinos working abroad.

Raul Roco was given the Bantay Katarungan award by Kilosbayan for playing an integral role in the Senate impeachment trial of then-president Joseph Estrada who was impeached by the House of Representatives on 2000 for graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Raul Roco took over as education secretary of the Philippines in 2001, at a time when the Philippines had not only one of the ten most corrupt governments in the world, but its Department of Education was the fourth-most corrupt of its agencies.

Raul Roco enacted a reform of basic education curriculum in order that children would focus their studies on reading, writing, arithmetic, science, and Makabayan.

Raul Roco lost to Vice-President Joseph Estrada but had a remarkable showing in a field of eleven candidates despite being an independent candidate.

Raul Roco's strong showing was attributed to the widespread support he received from young Filipinos who eventually formed his party, Aksyon Demokratiko, and its youth arm, Aksyon Kabataan.

Raul Roco rode his success in the Department of Education into a run for the Philippine presidency in 2004.

Raul Roco's candidacy was based on his ability to fight corruption and to display fair play, decency, and honor.

Raul Roco was a front-runner in pre-election surveys and was considered a strong contender.

Raul Roco's illness forced him to leave the campaign trail for medical attention in the United States.

Raul Roco returned to the campaign trail, but concerns about his illness greatly diminished his support.

Raul Roco lost the election to the incumbent, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and finished fourth in a field of 5 candidates.

Raul Roco was the President of Aksyon Demokratiko until his death.

Raul Roco still represents the party he started, Aksyon Demokratiko, hoping to continue the advocacies that her late husband had started.