Our Presumptive Speaker.

Straight from the Horse's Mouth

“We hope to not only heal the nation but also heal the economy. These are the top priority programs of the majority in the incoming administration. And the key element here, of course, is unity.” — Rep. Martin Romualdez

Leyte First District Representative and House Majority leader FERDINAND MARTIN ROMUALDEZ, like many Manila Rotarians who have assumed leadership in the highest echelons of our government, is the presumptive choice to be elected as Speaker of the House in the 19th Congress, which will make him the 31st speaker in an illustrious line of leaders that headed our national legislative assembly since 1898. Under his leadership, the lower chamber is poised to prioritize measures to get the country out of the COVID-19 pandemic and sustain its economic recovery.

Born as the third child of Benjamin “Kokoy” Romualdez and Juliette Gomez, he belongs to an influential and affluent clan. His father, Benjamin, served as the Governor of Leyte and was appointed as the ambassador to the United States, China and Saudi Arabia. He is also the nephew of former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and late Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos. His cousins, Bongbong and Imee Marcos are also active in politics today with the former overwhelmingly elected as the next Philippine president and the latter serving as Senator.

Rep. Martin attended Cornell University in the United States from 1981 to 1985, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government. In 1988, he earned a Certificate of Special Studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University. He later enrolled at the University of the Philippines, College of Law in 1988, where he became a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He eventually earned his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1992. Immediately after earning his law degree, he began to serve as concurrent trustee and president of Doña Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical and Dr. Vicente Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation. In 1995, he started work as director and legal counsel for the CARPA Realty Development Corporation, and as trustee for Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Medical Foundation.

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. The family also owns the renowned Metro Manila broadsheet Manila Standard, the Journal Group of Publications, and the mass media firm Philippine Collective Media Corporation. He is also the National President of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party.

A University of the Philippines-educated lawyer, Rep. Martin was first elected to the post of House majority leader in 2016 as part of a term-sharing deal for Speaker between Taguig City Rep. Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco. In 2019, he ran under the Lakas Party as Congressman in the First District of Leyte, defeating Lino Dumas of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP). As Representative, he authored bills that focused on overseas Filipino workers, laborers, health among many others. During his first stint in Congress, he has authored 325 bills, co-authored 60 more, and was elected Majority Leader on the House Committee on Rules.

House leaders and prominent members expressed support to Rep. Martin for the House Speakership largely because of his legislative prowess, his mastery of the legislative grind, and his reputation as a consensus builder. Many believe that he will be a vital cog as the incoming administration fulfills its vision of unity and prosperity for the country. Certainly, the 19th Congress under the leadership of a Speaker Martin Romualdez will augur well in the passage of important and crucial legislative reforms for the country and the Filipino people under the incoming administration.

Of course, the Rotary Club of Manila is expected to throw its full support to one of its own. Speaker Romualdez will definitely bring the House of Representatives to new and greater heights under a common goal of unity towards economic and moral recovery, social justice and the rule of law. Congratulations!