Oscar Orbos
Encyclopedia
Oscar M. Orbos, popularly known as Ka Oca, is a Philippine
TV personality and host of GMA Network's
Debate with Mare at Pare
.
Orbos was a former cabinet secretary, provincial governor, and vice presidential candidate. He is now a practicing lawyer and broadcaster.
, he completed his studies at the University of the Philippines
with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics
in 1971. He enrolled in the University of the Philippines College of Law
and received his Bachelor of Laws
in 1975.
.
and represented the first district of Pangasinan
from November 1987 to December 1989. He was cited as one of the most active congressman in the 8th Philippine Congress. He was cited as one of the 1989 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for Public Service and legislation.
On January 4, 1990, President
Corazon Aquino
appointed him as secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications. As secretary, one of the most notable contributions was the yellow lane, where the two outermost lanes of 4-6 lane roads were allotted for public utility vehicles, mostly buses. He also facilitated the approval of cellular broadcast. This made it possible for company's to offer a new form of communication more popularly known as "cellular phones".
On December 21, 1990, Orbos was appointed by Aquino as her executive secretary. During that time, Iraq
already occupied Kuwait
and it had plans to make further attacks on Saudi Arabia
. Orbos facilitated measures for the repatriation and communication to overseas Filipino workers working in the Middle East
.
He resigned on July 1991 and returned to private life. He co-hosted GMA Network's Firing Line, a TV panel talk show with Teodoro Benigno, Mrs. Aquino's former press secretary. During the 1992 elections
, he actively supported fellow Pangasinense Fidel Ramos to the presidency
.
In 1995, he resigned as host of the TV program and ran for the position of Governor of
Pangasinan
. He won the election via landslide. As governor, he initiated the establishment of a Provincial Action Center to provide public direct access to all provincial and national government offices to respond to needs of his constituency. Orbos gained the highest public approval rating as governor.
Even if he was predicted to win a reelection as governor, he ran in the 1998 elections
for the position of Vice President
as a running mate of Renato de Villa
. However, he lost to Senator
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
.
to host an open debate program for TV. Jimenez is a native of Dasol, located in the first district of Pangasinan
. As a good friend, he gladly accepted the offer and was paired with Economics professor Solita Monsod
, known as "Mareng Winnie." Debate with Mare at Pare
became a phenomenal interactive and open talk show in the Philippines. The talk show was the only latetime TV program earning a high audience rating.
Despite offers to enter again to public office, he refuse so because he already called his current job "political". He earned the respect of the public for being neutral on most issues.
His brother, Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, is a popular priest who regularly appears in Sunday TV healing masses. Fr. Orbos holds office in Christ The King Seminary in Quezon City
.
His co-host, Professor Solita Monsod
, was his godmother
during his wedding
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
TV personality and host of GMA Network's
GMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
Debate with Mare at Pare
Debate with Mare at Pare
Debate with Mare at Pare is a highly watched open debate show in the Philippines. It is aired every late night Thursdays on GMA Network...
.
Orbos was a former cabinet secretary, provincial governor, and vice presidential candidate. He is now a practicing lawyer and broadcaster.
Early life
Born in Bani, PangasinanBani, Pangasinan
Bani is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines. It is located between Alaminos City and Bolinao and is named after the Bani, tree which could be found in the Poblacion...
, he completed his studies at the University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1971. He enrolled in the University of the Philippines College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law or UP Law is the law school of the University of the Philippines. Since 1948, it has been located at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, the flagship campus of UP's seven constituent universities. Until the 1970s, night classes of...
and received his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1975.
Private career
He became a legal assistant to the Paredes, Poblador, Nazareno, Azada and Tomacruz Law Firm from 1975 to 1976 and elevated to Associate Attorney in 1976. He became a Partner in 1980 and the firm was called the Poblador, Azada, Tomacruz, Paredes, Cacanindin and Orbos Law Firm. He resigned to the post in 1983 to help in the propaganda campaign to oust Ferdinand MarcosFerdinand Marcos
Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos, Sr. was a Filipino leader and an authoritarian President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He was a lawyer, member of the Philippine House of Representatives and a member of the Philippine Senate...
.
Politics
In 1987, Orbos ran and won as congressmanCongress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
and represented the first district of Pangasinan
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
from November 1987 to December 1989. He was cited as one of the most active congressman in the 8th Philippine Congress. He was cited as one of the 1989 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) for Public Service and legislation.
On January 4, 1990, President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
appointed him as secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications. As secretary, one of the most notable contributions was the yellow lane, where the two outermost lanes of 4-6 lane roads were allotted for public utility vehicles, mostly buses. He also facilitated the approval of cellular broadcast. This made it possible for company's to offer a new form of communication more popularly known as "cellular phones".
On December 21, 1990, Orbos was appointed by Aquino as her executive secretary. During that time, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
already occupied Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and it had plans to make further attacks on Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Orbos facilitated measures for the repatriation and communication to overseas Filipino workers working in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
He resigned on July 1991 and returned to private life. He co-hosted GMA Network's Firing Line, a TV panel talk show with Teodoro Benigno, Mrs. Aquino's former press secretary. During the 1992 elections
Philippine general election, 1992
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1992. This was the first general election under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. An estimated 80,000 candidates ran for 17,000 posts from the presidency down to municipal councilors...
, he actively supported fellow Pangasinense Fidel Ramos to the presidency
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
.
In 1995, he resigned as host of the TV program and ran for the position of Governor of
Governor of Pangasinan
The Governor of Pangasinan is the highest political office in the province of Pangasinan, Philippines.-Governors:*Conrado Estrella, Sr. * ? *Aguedo Agbayani ,*Demetrio Demetria *Rafael Colet...
Pangasinan
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
. He won the election via landslide. As governor, he initiated the establishment of a Provincial Action Center to provide public direct access to all provincial and national government offices to respond to needs of his constituency. Orbos gained the highest public approval rating as governor.
Even if he was predicted to win a reelection as governor, he ran in the 1998 elections
Philippine general election, 1998
The senatorial election was held in the Philippines on May 11, 1998. The two main competing coalitions in the senatorial election were the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP and the Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino -led coalition composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino , Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino , the...
for the position of Vice President
Vice President of the Philippines
-Description:The Vice-President is the first in the Philippine line of succession, assuming the Presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal by impeachment and subsequent conviction of the incumbent. The position was abolished by Martial Law in 1972, and was not included in the original text...
as a running mate of Renato de Villa
Renato de Villa
Renato "Rene" de Villa is a political figure in the Philippines and founder of the rightist political party Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa.-Biography:...
. However, he lost to Senator
Senate of the Philippines
The Senate of the Philippines is the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, the Congress of the Philippines...
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
.
Debate Host
In late 1998, Orbos was offered by Menardo Jimenez, president of GMA NetworkGMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
to host an open debate program for TV. Jimenez is a native of Dasol, located in the first district of Pangasinan
Pangasinan
Pangasinan is a province of the Republic of the Philippines. The provincial capital is Lingayen. Pangasinan is located on the west central and peripheral area of the island of Luzon along the Lingayen Gulf, with the total land area being 5,368.82 square kilometers . According to the latest census,...
. As a good friend, he gladly accepted the offer and was paired with Economics professor Solita Monsod
Solita Monsod
Solita Collas-Monsod, popularly known as Mareng Winnie, is a Filipino broadcaster, host, economist, professor, and writer.Professor Monsod is best remembered for her role as Socio-economic Planning Secretary during the term of President Corazon Aquino and as a co-host in the GMA Network show Debate...
, known as "Mareng Winnie." Debate with Mare at Pare
Debate with Mare at Pare
Debate with Mare at Pare is a highly watched open debate show in the Philippines. It is aired every late night Thursdays on GMA Network...
became a phenomenal interactive and open talk show in the Philippines. The talk show was the only latetime TV program earning a high audience rating.
Despite offers to enter again to public office, he refuse so because he already called his current job "political". He earned the respect of the public for being neutral on most issues.
Private life
Oca or Pareng Oca, to whom he is often called, is married to Rosita Sioson.His brother, Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, is a popular priest who regularly appears in Sunday TV healing masses. Fr. Orbos holds office in Christ The King Seminary in Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...
.
His co-host, Professor Solita Monsod
Solita Monsod
Solita Collas-Monsod, popularly known as Mareng Winnie, is a Filipino broadcaster, host, economist, professor, and writer.Professor Monsod is best remembered for her role as Socio-economic Planning Secretary during the term of President Corazon Aquino and as a co-host in the GMA Network show Debate...
, was his godmother
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
during his wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
.