Martin Romualdez

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez[2] (Tagalog pronunciation: [ɾomˈwɐldɛs], born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer, and politician serving as the House Majority Leader since 2019. He is concurrently serving as the Representative for the 1st district of Leyte, a position he previously held from 2007 to 2016. He unsuccessfully ran for senator in the 2016 elections.[3] Romualdez owns newspaper companies Manila Standard and the Journal Group of Publications.[4] He is also the National President of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats political party.[5]

The Honorable Martin Romualdez
House Majority Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office July 22, 2019
Preceded by	Fredenil Castro
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte's 1st district
Incumbent
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
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Lakas–CMD
Spouse(s)	Yedda Marie M. Kittilstvedt
Children	4
Education	Cornell University (BA) Harvard University (CSS) University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B.)
Net worth	₱ 475.6 million (2015)[1]

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.[6] On July 10, 2020, he was one of the 70 representatives who voted to deny the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.[7]

Early life, family, and education

Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez was born on November 14, 1963, the third child of Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez and Juliette Gomez-Romualdez.[8][9][10] 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. His paternal aunt, Imelda Romualdez Marcos, is the former First Lady of the Philippines, and as such, former President Ferdinand Marcos was his uncle, while Bongbong and Imee Marcos are his cousins.[8][9]

Romualdez attended Cornell University in the United States from 1981 to 1985, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.[8][9][11] In 1988, he earned a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University. He then enrolled at the University of the Philippines 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.[8][9][12]

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.

2016 elections

As early as April 2014, Romualdez has expressed his interest to run as Senator in the 2016 elections.[13] He filed his certificate of candidacy for Senator on October 13, 2015.[3] He will run under the Lakas–CMD party, of which he is the current national president.

In an event commemorating the 2nd 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.[14] Aside from Binay, Davao City Mayor and presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte also endorsed the candidacy of Romualdez.[15]

Personal life

Romualdez (left) with his wife Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez.

Martin Romualdez is married to Yedda Marie M. Kittilstvedt, a former beauty pageant contestant who competed in Miss International 1996. 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 (2007) and Maddey (2015).

References

1. News, RG Cruz, ABS-CBN. "Congress SALN: Who are the richest, poorest lawmakers?". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
2. "Martin Romualdez and wife Yedda: A love built on helping others". Manila Standard. February 17, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
3. "Romualdez files COC for senator; mum on presidential pick". Philippine Daily Inquirer. October 13, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
4. "Razon sells Manila Standard Today to Romualdez group". The Philippine Star. April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
5. "Lakas–CMD chief: In democracy, anyone can run". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 25, 2015. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
6. "Aquino signs into law Romualdez's PWD bill". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 30, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
7. Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
8. "Who is Martin Romualdez?". ABS-CBN News. 18 August 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
9. Tan, Kimberly Jane; Calonzo, Andreo (20 November 2009). "'Lavish dinner' host is chief fund raiser of Arroyo party". GMA News. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
10. Ong, Czarina Nicole (25 June 2018). "Sandiganbayan junks forfeiture case against Imelda's late brother". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 29 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
11. Wilensky, Joe (14 November 2013). "Alumni, students aid the Philippines". Cornell Chronicle. Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
12. "CEU Law dean leads Upsilon UNO awardees". Manila Bulletin. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
13. "Romualdez eyes Senate seat in 2016". Philippine Daily Inquirer. April 1, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
14. "Romualdez cousins supporting Binay in 2016". Rappler. December 7, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
15. Ponce Pacpaco, Ryan (May 7, 2016). "Vote for Romualdez –– Duterte". Journal Online. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.