PROFILE: Richard “DICK” Juico Gordon

Date of Birth: August 5, 1945
Place of Birth: Castillejos, Zambales

Civil Status: Married to Katherine H. Gordon
Children: Marnie, Ali, LJ, Brian

Official website: www.dickgordon2010.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Olongapo-City-Philippines/Richard-J-Gordon/52384820659
Twitter Account: http://twitter.com/gordon2010

SUMMARY

Richard Gordon is banking on his long experience in public service—as a local official, lawmaker, former tourism secretary, former chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and chairman of the Philippine National Red Cross—to convince voters in the 2010 polls. A latecomer in the presidential race, Gordon is also running under a newly formed Bagumbayan Party with former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando as running mate.

The former trial lawyer has stood out in presidential debates for his eloquence and no-nonsense stand on variuos issues. However, he has lagged in pre-election surveys.

On being dubbed a dictator: Known to be brutally frank and demanding, Gordon has advocated rules and policies that were unpopular. He is perceived as a dictator, making him quip: “I’m Dick but I’m not a ‘tator.” A true leader, he said, must be feared and not a captive of his constituents.

On his low survey rankings: "We don't know how the questions are framed. We don't know the methodology or what the system is. We know it's a form of mental conditioning. We didn't give permission to have our names to be placed there or our names to be published. It's very, very unfair to us." He recently filed a civil case against polling firms.

On using Red Cross for his political campaigns: “So my skill in the Red Cross, I cannot use? I find it sad I have to be asked [about] the organization where I belong because I believe in it,” Gordon said.

Educational Attainment

• He studied grade school at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
• He finished high school at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1962
• Gordon graduated with a Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines in 1975. He finished History and Government from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1966.

Career Timeline

1966-1967, CORPORATE: Gordon was hired as Brand Manager for Procter and Gamble Philippines.

1971, CONSTITUTIONAL: He became the youngest delegate of the Constitutional Convention of the Philippines

1974-1975, CORPORATE: He became director for Kong Commercial Philippines, Inc.

1975-1979: After passing the bar, he worked in Angara Abello Concepcion Regala Cruz Law Offices (ACCRA) Law Office and eventually became Associate.

1980-1986, LOCAL POLITICS (MAYOR): Gordon won as mayor of Olongapo City. In 1986, Gordon and Joseph Estrada became two of the local executives who refused to vacate their positions after President Corazon Aquino reorganized the government. Gordon gave way for the Aquino appointed Officer-In-Charge after a formal written directive was issued from the Executive Secretary.

1987, NON-GOVERNMENT: Gordon was elected as governor of the Philippine National Red Cross, taking active roles in rescue, relief and rehabilitation during various disasters. He actively helped out during the 1990 earthquake in Cabanatuan, the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, the landslides in Aurora, Quezon, and Southern Leyte mudslide, as well as the PhilSports Arena stampede.

1988-1993, LOCAL POLITICS (MAYOR), ADMINISTRATION (SUBIC CHAIR): He won as mayor of Olongapo City again. During his term, he lobbied for the creation of a free port after the rejection of the Bases Treaty in 1991.

In 1993, a citizen questioned Gordon's dual duty as mayor of Olongapo City and as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA). After the Supreme Court decided that Gordon must hold only one position, he vacated his position as Mayor and assumed SBMA chairmanship in full capacity.

2001-2004, CABINET: Gordon served as tourism secretary under the Estrada and Arroyo administrations. With his experience as a former brand manager of Procter and Gamble Philippines and chairman of SBMA.

Gordon placed the Philippines in the international tourism map by actively marketing the Philippines in several tourism expositions and road shows with the “Wow Philippines” campaign. After 4 years of negative growth and in spite of threats of post 9-11 terrorism threats, local tourism arrival increased.

2004-2010, LEGISLATIVE: He won as senator and became the chairman of variuos Senate committees—Tourism, Constitutional Amendments (13th Congress), Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, and the Commission on Appointments. He eventually headed the Blue Ribbon Committee (or the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations) when Senator Juan Ponce Enrile assumed presidency of the Senate in 2008.

 Awards, Medals, Citations

• 2008 Gold Humanitarian Award, Japanese Red Cross and the 2007 Gold Humanitarian Service Cross Award from the Philippine National Red Cross; 1991 Aurora Aragon Quezon Peace Award from the Philippine National Red Cross
• 2006 Gawad Panday Award, Public Relations Society of the Philippines
• 2003 International Awardee, Visit Korea Year from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Korea
• 1997 Most Distinguished Alumnus from the UP Alumni Association; 1997 Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service from Letran College
• 1997 Presidential Award for Relief and Disaster Management by the Safety Organization of the Philippines
• Youngest awardee of the 1996 The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL), Philippine Jaycees Senate (Youngest Awardee); 1982 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public Administration, Philippine Jaycees Senate

Affiliations

• 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)

Business Affiliations

• Co-founder, Mt. Pinatubo Hidden Temple Shrine and Community Foundation Inc.
• Co-founder, Olongapo City Foundation Inc.
• Co-founder, James L. Gordon Foundation Inc.
• Founding chairman, Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines

–With additional research by Maria Althea Teves, Newsbreak

Sources: www.i-site.ph, www.thepoc.net, www.abs-cbnnews.com, www.election.uwebb.com, www.dickgordon2010.com, www.senate.gov.ph