Senator Dick Gordon’s track record in public service is one for the books.
As Mayor of Olongapo City, he brought order not only to the streets of his city but also to the lives of his people. Mayor Dick Gordon stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Olongapo, shoveling the ashfall, and recovering what was left of their lives. With him at the helm, they rebuilt their city and their lives, later becoming a model city for peace and order, health care, education, livelihood, and good governance.
After the US Military Base closed in November 1992, he inspired and empowered the local population and a fleet of young professionals from here and abroad, and turned Subic Bay into the country’s showcase for economic progress, bringing in billions in investments and creating almost 100,000 jobs. World leaders like Margaret Thatcher, Dr. Mahatir Mohammad, and U.S. President Bill Clinton came to Subic to see the miracle that was the great transformation – and they came away impressed. So with the 18 APEC head of economies during the 4th Leaders’ Summit held thereat.
While he was the author of the success that is the Subic Bay Freeport, a twist of events took him away, but in time brought him towards a call to serve more people, this time as Secretary of Tourism. He knew that tourism was the country’s ticket to development – the fastest way to progress. Through his “Wow Philippines” campaign, the country became well-known abroad, and tourists started coming. Despite the challenges of the times, with the removal from office of the sitting president, the SARS outbreak, the Oakwood mutiny, the Dos Palmas kidnapping, and numerous bombings, not to mention the global terrorism problem, Secretary Gordon kept tourism afloat. In doing so, he lived up to his mantra – “tourism means jobs; where tourism advances, poverty retreats.”
So great was his contribution to the tourism industry that its players begged him not to run for Senator in 2004. But the road has led him to the Philippine Senate, perhaps not the ideal place for a man of action, a man who wants to see results for the people now. Yet, he has distinguished himself as a prolific lawmaker, an advocate of legislation that seek to uplift our people and our country. He is the main author and advocate of an Automated Election System law. Through this system, Senator Gordon hopes to leave our people with elections that are clean, honest, fair, and credible. The Tourism Bill, signed into law recently, is also a result of Senator Gordon’s years of hard work advocating tourism development for our country. He is also the principal author of the Veterans Equity Law. And as Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, he has shown that he is one who is never afraid to take a stand on any issue, firm but fair, serious and sincere.
Senator Gordon has held many positions, and succeeded beyond expectation at every single one of them. But I think that the job he loves the most is one that he has held for over forty years – his job as a volunteer of the Philippine National Red Cross. Today, he is its Chairman, and is a Governor of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, but his commitment and dedication to this organization and the work that it does goes far beyond title and position. In fact, in everything that he does, Senator Gordon goes beyond himself. We have seen him, above and beyond the call of duty, saving lives here in our own province as with Cabanatuan, Bulacan, Albay, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Leyte, and Aurora, among many others throughout the years. Wherever there is a disaster or calamity, you can be sure that he is there, always first, always ready, always there often endangering his own life, defying his family, in order to alleviate other people’s suffering and uplift human dignity. And when the disaster is over, count on him to be there to help rebuild the community. In recent months, people have seen him in the news because of the Red Cross kidnapping crisis. People have seen him passionate, aggressive, sad, sometimes even angry. If he has appeared emotional, it is because he is a leader who truly cares – the captain of a ship who treats all of his men like they are his own children, because to him every life matters and is worthy of every effort, attention, compassion, and caring that he can give – no matter what anybody else says.
Senator Gordon is a leader with a vision for the future of his people, and a clear strategy to get them there. He is a leader who has made change, and change for the better. He has brought dignity and hope to his people and has motivated and inspired others to go in the right direction, and he, along with everybody, has sacrificed much to get there. In everything he has done, he has seen for his people a new country – a Bagumbayan. He has brought them out of the darkness and into the light. And now, he calls everyone to break free of their own limitations to chase after the horizon, to step into the light, grab hold of their own future, and finally build a nation that is enabled, ennobled and free.
Resume
DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH
5 August 1945, Castillejos Zambales
FAMILY
Spouse: Kate H. Gordon
UNESCO Mayors for Peace Prize Awardee in Asia 1998
Three-term Mayor of Olongapo City (1995-2004) and
Member 8-10th Congress Representing 1st District of Zambales(1987-1995)
Children: Marnie, Ali, LJ Brian
Father: James L. Gordon (deceased)
Founding Father of Olongapo and 1st elected Municipal Mayor of Olongapo
Mother: Amelia J. Gordon
Pearl S. Buck Woman of the Year 2003
First elected City Mayor of Olongapo
EDUCATION
1975 Bachelor of Laws
University of the Philippines
1966 A.B. History and Government
Ateneo de Manila University
WORK EXPERIENCE
01 July 2004 to
30 June 2010 Senator
Republic of the Philippines
Chair, Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon)
Chair, Senate Committee on Tourism
Chair, Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments (13th Congress)
Chair, Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises
Member, Commission on Appointments
29 Jan 2001 to
05 Jan 2004 Cabinet Secretary
Department of Tourism
Chair, Philippine Tourism Authority (ex-officio)
Chair, Philippine Convention & Visitors Corporation (ex-officio)
Chair, Intramuros Administration (ex-officio)
Chair, National Parks Development Committee (ex-officio)
Chair, Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving (ex-officio)
Member, Manila International Airport Authority (ex-officio)
Member, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (ex-officio)
Member, Board of Trustees, Philippine Retirement Authority
CORD Region III
1992 to 1998 Founding Chairman and Administrator
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (Envisioned in 1971 and together with the people of Olongapo lobbied for the creation of a free port after the rejection of the Bases Treaty in 1991)
1988 to 6/30/93 City Mayor of Olongapo
1980 to 1986 City Mayor of Olongapo
1975 to 1979 Associate
ACCRA Law Office
1974 to 1975 Director
Kong Commercial Philippines, Inc.
1971 Youngest Delegate
Constitutional Convention of the Philippines
1966 to 1967 Brand Manager
Procter and Gamble (Philippine Manufacturing Company)
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2008 Ateneo USA Award – Public Service
Ateneo USA Chicago All Ateneo Convention
2008 Gold Humanitarian Award
Japanese Red Cross
2007 Gold Humanitarian Service Cross Award
Philippine National Red Cross
2006 Gawad Panday Award
Public Relations Society of the Philippines (Highest Honor and Recognition)
2005 Emilio Aguinaldo Outstanding Achievement Award in Public Service
Provincial Government of Cavite
2003 International Awardee, Visit Korea Year
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Korea
2002 Aduana Awardee for Public Service
Aduana Foundation
2001 Gintong Ama Awardee
Gintong Ama and Ina Foundation
2001 Silver Humanitarian Award
Philippine National Red Cross
2000 Upsilonian Noble and Outstanding (UNO)
Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association (Highest Honors)
1997 Most Distinguished Alumnus
UP Alumni Association (Highest Award)
1997 Presidential Award for Relief and Disaster Management
Safety Organization of the Philippines
1997 Sports Hall of Fame
Ateneo de Manila Alumni Association
1997 Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service
Letran College
1996 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL)
Philippine Jaycees Senate (Youngest Awardee)
1996 Man of the Year Alas Singko y Media Program, ABS-CBN
1995 One of the 20 Great Asians of the Future
Asiaweek Magazine 20th Anniversary Special
1995 One of Who's Who in Asia
NHK TV Japan
1994 One of the 50 Young Leaders of Asia
Asahi Shimbun, Japan
1993 Luminary Award for Exemplary Achievement in Public Administration
Upsilon Sigma Phil Alumni Association
1991 Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award
Philippine National Red Cross (Highest National Award)
Gold Vision Triangle Award National YMCA (Highest National Award)
Award for Outstanding and Dynamic Leadership in Government Service
International Lions Club National
Award for Community Service
Rotary Club of Makati, San Miguel Corporation Republic Day
Award National Council of Women of the Philippines
1983 Professional Award in the Public Administration
UP Alumni Association
1982 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public Administration
Philippine Jaycees Senate
POLITICAL, SOCIO-CIVIC & PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
International Red Cross/Red Crescent Federation, elected to the Governing Board (2005-present)
Pacific Asia Travel Association, Member and past Chairman for 2003-2004
World Tourism Organization, Commissioner for East Asia and the Pacific (2001-2004)
Philippine National Red Cross, Chairman and CEO (2004-present)
Boys Scouts of the Philippines, Chairman - James L. Gordon Council
U.P. Alumni Association, Chairman – Olongapo Chapter
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Full Member
Upsilon Sigma Phi Alumni Association, Member
Ateneo de Manila University Alumni Association, Director
Presidential Bases Conversion Committee, Member
Citizen's Legal Aid Society of the Philippines, Member
Party for Philippine Progress, Training Committee Youth Arm, National Chairman (1966)
Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines, Founding Chairman (1997)
CONFERENCES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS ABROAD
EDUCATION
2008 UN-ASEAN International Pledging Session for Myanmar
Rangoon, Burma May 2008
Working Group on Advocacy and Communications
International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC) Governing Board
Geneva, Switzerland May 2008
Guest Speaker, Forum on Security in Asia Post US Bases, Center for Strategic Studies and In’l Studies(CSIS)
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA April 2008
Resource Speaker, Roundtable on Security in Asia and the Pacific,
Okinawa Prefecture
Okinawa, Japan March 2008
2007 Working Group on Advocacy and Communications International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent(IFRC) Governing Board
Geneva, Switzerland November 2007
Working Group on Advocacy and Communications International Federation Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC) Governing Board
Geneva, Switzerland March 2007
2006 Special Meeting of International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent(IFRC) Governing Board
Geneva, Switzerland June 2006
Extraordinary Session International Federation Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC) Governing Board
Geneva, Switzerland February 2006
2005 Guest Speaker, 5th International Conference on Volunteerism and Philanthropy
Singapore, May 2005
Speaker, World Economic Forum(WEF)
New Delhi, India, November 2005
2005 Guest Speaker, 5th International Conference on Volunteerism and Philanthropy
Singapore, May 2005
2005 Guest Speaker, 5th International Conference on Volunteerism and Philanthropy
Singapore, May 2005
2004 Speaker, 53rd Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Conference
Jeiju Island, Korea, April 2004
Presenter, 111th International Parliamentary Union(IPU) General Assembly
Geneva, Switzerland, September 2004
Speaker, United Nations(UN) General Assembly
New York, USA, October 2004
2002 World Tourism Organization(WTO) -Tourism Recovery Commission
London, November 2002
Conference Host, International Conference on Anti-Terrorism and Tourism Recovery
Manila, November 2002
Speaker, United Nations(UN) International Colloquium on Regional Governance
Cancun, Mexico, February 2002
2001 50th Pacific Asia Travel Association(PATA) Conference
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 2001
1999 Delegate, 27th International Federation Red Cross Red Crescent (IFRC) Convention
Geneva, Switzerland, November 1999
Discussant, 10th ASEAN Red Cross and Red Crescent Leaders Conference
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 1999
1998 Speaker “Change Management in the Philippines – The Subic Experience” ADB Economic and Development Forum
Tokyo Japan, January 1998
Speaker, Asia Cities Forum
Columbia University, New York, USA, March 1998
1997 Speaker, U.S. Business Council Convention (Premier organization of U.S. CEO's)
Williamsburg, Virginia, USA, 10 May 1997
Speaker, “The Philippines: U.S. - RP Relations and the role of Filipino-Americans” Asia Society Conference
L.A. Convention Center, USA, 7 May 1997
Speaker, 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)
Seoul, South Korea
4th Annual Asia-Pacific Roundtable w/ Sen. Bill Bradley & Former Sec. of State, George Shultz Stanford University
Pebble Beach, California
Guest Speaker, "The Transformation of Subic Bay - Lessons for Leadership & Management" Brunei Darussalam International Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Bandar Seri Begawan, Negra, Brunei Darussalam
Chairman & Moderator, ”Japan's anticipated role in the Pacific Century - Leader of Follower?” Pacific Rim Forum – Hong Kong Handover
Hong Kong
Keynote Speaker
Launch of the Philippine Trade Strategy
Perth, Australia
1996 Keynote Speaker: International Symposium on Small and Medium Sized Business for Asia
Tokyo, Japan
Keynote Speaker: Acer Group 20th Anniversary Celebration Conference & Global Distributors Meeting with Bill Gates, Microsoft President & CEO, Stan Shih, Acer Founder & CEO
Taipei, Taiwan, June 1996
Participant, World Economic Forum (WEF) "Sustainable Globalization"
Davos, Switzerland
Participant, Center for Strategic and International Studies "Global and Political Vulnerabilities"
Stockholm, Sweden
Keynote Speaker, "International Symposium on Small and Medium Sized Business For Asia"
Tokyo, Japan
Discussant, "Issues and opportunities in Asia" (with 30 business and government leaders in Asia)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1995 Presenter, "Potential for Foreign Investment in the Development of Subic Bay" Asia Pacific Air Cargo Conference
Singapore
1994 Delegate, Asian-U.S. Leaders conference sponsored by Senator Bill Bradley and the Asia Pacific Research Center of Stanford University; one of seven Asian leaders invited to the conference.
California U.S.A.
1993 1993 Asia Society Forum
Asia Society
Houston and New York, U.S.A.
2nd International Colloquim of Mayor's, Defenders of Children
Mexico City, Mexico
1987 Delivered a Paper, “Social and Economic Impact of Foreign Military Bases” Conference on Foreign Military Bases
Singapore
1986 Participant, Georgetown University Leadership Training Seminar (one of 30 World Leaders invited)
Washington D.C., U.S.A.
1983 Delegate, International Visitors Program (IVP) sponsored by the U.S. States Department, in 18 Cities of the United States to observe city administration and management.
1981 City Management Training for City Mayors, sponsored by RSO, MLGCD, USAID, to the University of California at Berkeley
San Diego, Carson City, Los Angeles, Bremerton, Washington and New York City,USA
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14th Congress Senators
* Edgardo J. Angara
* Benigno S. Aquino III
* Joker P. Arroyo
* Rodolfo G. Biazon
* Alan Peter Compañero S. Cayetano
* Pia S. Cayetano
* Miriam Defensor Santiago
* Juan Ponce Enrile
* Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
* Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero
* Richard "Dick" Gordon
* Gregorio B. Honasan II
* Panfilo M. Lacson
* Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
* Loren B. Legarda
* M.A. Madrigal
* Kiko Pangilinan
* Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.
* Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr.
* Mar A. Roxas
* Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV
* Manny Villar
* Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
SOURCE: http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/gordon_bio.asp
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