Martin Romualdez
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Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez[1] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ɾoˈmwɐldɛs], born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer and politician serving as the Speaker of the House of Representatives since July 25, 2022. He is also serving as the Representative for the 1st district of Leyte since 2019 and previously from 2007 to 2016. He formerly served as the House Majority Leader from 2019 to 2022, and unsuccessfully ran for senator in the 2016 elections.[2] He is a first cousin of President Bongbong Marcos
Martin Romualdez | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 28th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office July 25, 2022 | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Lord Allan Velasco |
| House Majority Leader | |
| In office July 22, 2019 – July 25, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Fredenil Castro |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Jose Dalipe |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte's 1st district | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Yedda Marie Romualdez |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Remedios L. Petilla |
| Succeeded by | Yedda Marie Romualdez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez November 14, 1963 Philippines |
| Political party | Lakas–CMD |
| Spouse | Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Benjamin Romualdez(father) Juliette Gomez-Romualdez(mother) |
| Alma mater | |
Romualdez is the owner of newspaper companies Manila Standard and the Journal Group of Publications and mass media firm Philippine Collective Media Corporation.[3] He is also the National President of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats political party.[4]
Biography
Family
Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez was born on November 14, 1963, the third child of Benjamin Romualdez and Juliette Gomez-Romualdez.[5][6][7] The Romualdezes are an influential and affluent family. His father, Benjamin, served as Governor of Leyte and Ambassador to the United States, and was also one of the richest men in the Philippines.[citation needed] His paternal aunt is Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who was the former First Lady of the Philippines.[8][9] This makes former President Ferdinand Marcos his uncle, while President Bongbong and Senator Imee Marcos are his cousins.[5][6]
Education
Romualdez attended Cornell University in the United States from 1981 to 1985, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.[5][6][10] In 1988, he earned a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University. He later enrolled at the University of the Philippine College of Law in 1988, where he became a brother of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1992.[5][6][11] He was admitted to the bar in 1993.
Career
Also in 1992, Romualdez started to serve as concurrent trustee and president of Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical and Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation. In 1995, meanwhile, he started work as director and legal counsel for the CARPA Realty Development Corporation, and as trustee for Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation. He still holds both offices. Before his work in his family's foundations, he spent a considerable time in the banking field. He was chairman of the board for Equitable PCI Bank, as well as Director for several companies, among them Philippine Commercial International Bank, Equitable Card Network, EBC Investments, Inc., Equitable Savings Bank, PCI Leasing Corporation, and PCI Capital Corporation.[citation needed]
As early as April 2014, Romualdez has expressed his interest to run as Senator in the 2016 elections.[12] He filed his certificate of candidacy for Senator on October 13, 2015.[2] He will run under the Lakas–CMD party, of which he is the current national president.
In an event commemorating the second anniversary of the Typhoon Haiyan aftermath in Tacloban on November 7, 2015, Romualdez, declared his support for the presidential candidate of the United Nationalist Alliance, Jejomar Binay.[13] Aside from Binay, Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte also endorsed the candidacy of Romualdez.[14]
Romualdez is also the author of the House Bill No. 1039, which was enacted into law by President Benigno Aquino III as Republic Act No. 10754 or an act on expanding the benefits and privileges of people with disabilities.[15]
On July 10, 2020, Martin and his wife Yedda Romualdez are among the 70 congressman who voted "yes" to reject the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[16]
On late November 2022, Marcos, together with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, plans to file the House Bill 6398, also known as the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). The aim is to create a sovereign wealth fund for the Philippines. The bill draws inspiration from South Korea's Korea Investment Corporation.
On late November 2022, Romualdez, together with Marcos family, plans to file the House Bill 6398, also known as the Maharlika Investments Fund (MIF). The aim is to create a sovereign wealth fund for the Philippines. The bill draws inspiration from South Korea's Korea Investment Corporation.[17][18] MIF is targeted to be approved by the House of Representatives on December 12, 2022.[19] Economist Michael Batu said the bill can help raise money to help the government's programs and achieve development goals, if managed properly.[20]
Personal life
Martin Romualdez is married to Yedda Marie M. Kittilstvedt, a former beauty pageant contestant who competed in Miss International 1996 and won. She is known as a staunch advocate of women's and children's rights issues. They have four children together: Andrew Julian (2000), Ferdinand Martin, Jr. (2001), Mariabella Gabrielle “Minxie” (2007), and Yedda Marie Danielle "Maddey" (2015). The family is currently living in Makati City, Philippines.
References
- ^ . Manila Standard. February 17, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ a b "Romualdez files COC for senator; mum on presidential pick". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 13, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ "Razon sells Manila Standard Today to Romualdez group". The Philippine Star. April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ "Lakas–CMD chief: In democracy, anyone can run". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 25, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ a b c d . ABS-CBN News. August 18, 2009. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ a b c d Tan, Kimberly Jane; Calonzo, Andreo (November 20, 2009). . GMA News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ Ong, Czarina Nicole (June 25, 2018). . Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ Gutierrez, Jason (November 9, 2018). "Imelda Marcos Is Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Corruption". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ "Imelda Marcos found guilty of 7 counts of graft". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
- ^ Wilensky, Joe (November 14, 2013). . Cornell Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ . Manila Bulletin. April 9, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
- ^ "Romualdez eyes Senate seat in 2016". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- ^ "Romualdez cousins supporting Binay in 2016". Rappler. December 7, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ^ Ponce Pacpaco, Ryan (May 7, 2016). . Journal Online. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ^ "Aquino signs into law Romualdez's PWD bill". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 30, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
- ^ Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
- ^ "Romualdez, Sandro Marcos file bill creating PH sovereign wealth fund". Rappler. November 29, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Cigaral, Ian Nicolas (December 3, 2022). "Does the P250-B Maharlika Wealth Fund make sense?". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ "Kamara, target na maaprubahan ang Maharlika Wealth Fund Bill sa December 12 bago mag adjourn para sa holiday". Brigada News Philippines. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ Gutierrez, Pia (December 5, 2022). "Economist: Maharlika fund can help govt complete projects if managed properly". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). Retrieved December 5, 2022.