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Hon. Edgardo J. Angara
Senator of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office  June 30, 2001
Executive Secretary
In office January 6 – January 20, 2001
Secretary of Agriculture
In office 1999 – January 6, 2001
President of the Senate of the Philippines
In office 1993 – 1995
Senator of the Philippines
In office 1987 – 1998
President, University of the Philippines System
In office 1981 – 1987
Born	September 24, 1934 (1934-09-24) (age 75) Baler, Tayabas
Political party	Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (1992-2004; 2005 to date) Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Angara Wing) (2004-2005)
Spouse(s)	Gloria Manalang
Occupation	Lawyer; Politician
Profession	Lawyer; Politician
Religion	Roman Catholic

Edgardo Javier Angara (born September 24, 1934) is a politician in the Philippines. He is currently (until 2013) a senator.

Chairmanships and Committees in the Senate

Senator Edgardo Angara currently chairs the powerful Committee on Finance, Committee on Science, and the COMSTE (Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering).

Early life and career

Edgardo Angara was born to a middle-class family in Baler, Aurora.

Angara earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1958. Upon graduation, he was elected to the prestigious Pi Gamma Mu and Phi Kappa Phi international honor societies. He earned his Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan's School of Law in the United States in 1964.

In May 1972, Angara together with classmates from the UP College of Law and Juan Ponce Enrile, founded the ACCRA Law Offices, which became the country's most recognized and prestigious law firm in less than a decade. From 1981 to 1987, Angara became president of the University of the Philippines. It was under Angara's term that UP won its only UAAP basketball championship.

Political career

Angara's achievements brought him into politics. He was a senator from 1987 until 1998. He was senate president from 1993 to 1995.

Angara prepared to run for president in the 1998 Philippine election, but decided against it when it became clear that he could not win over the popular vice president Joseph Estrada. He accepted a deal offered by Estrada to run as his vice presidential candidate, with the promise that he would be given a major role in running the government. Although Estrada overwhelmingly won the presidential race, Angara garnered 22% of the vote and placed second in a field of 9 candidates, losing to Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino.

In 1999, Angara was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture by Estrada.

On January 6, 2001, as Estrada's presidency was crippled by an impeachment trial and widespread allegations of corruption, Angara was appointed Executive Secretary following the resignation of Ronaldo Zamora, who was running for Congress. He only served for 14 days, as Estrada was toppled by the EDSA II Revolution on January 20. Angara was one of the few cabinet members who stood by Estrada until the end of his presidency.

Angara successfully ran for senator in the 2001 Philippine election. He was re-elected to a fourth term in 2007, making him the longest serving senator in the post-EDSA revolution legislature. Angara authored or sponsored many laws including the Free High School Education Act, the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education or GASTPE LAw, the Generics Act, the law which created Philhealth, the original Senior Citizens Act, Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act, Government Procurement Act, the Renewable Energy Act, among several others.

On January 18, 2008, Senators Mar Roxas and Edgardo Angara stated that in 2010, there will be at least 7 contentants: the known presidential aspirants are Sen. Mar Roxas, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. Sen. Francis Escudero denied any interest in 2010.^[1]

External links

• Senate of the Philippines - Edgardo Angara
• EdAngara.com - Official Website of Philippine Senator Edgardo J. Angara
• Edgardo Angara's Assets and Liabilities
• Friendster account of Sen. Edgardo Angara
• http://www.cyberdyaryo.com/commentary/c2001_0110_01.htm
• abs-cbnnews.com, Three foreign groups want to partner with local govt for Aurora ecozone - 01/26/2008

References