Ronaldo Zamora

{{Short description|Philippine politician}} {{Philippine name|Bayan|Zamora}} {{Use Philippine English|date=May 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ronaldo Zamora | image = Ronaldo Zamora (cropped).jpg | image_size = | caption = Ronaldo Zamora during the CA’s plenary session Wednesday, September 21, 2016. | office = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives | term_start = June 30, 2013 | term_end = June 30, 2022 | predecessor = JV Ejercito | successor = Bel Zamora | constituency = San Juan | term_start1 = June 30, 2001 | term_end1 = June 30, 2010 | predecessor1 = Jose Mari Gonzales | successor1 = JV Ejercito | constituency1 = San Juan | term_start2 = June 30, 1995 | term_end2 = June 30, 1998 | predecessor2 = ''office created'' | successor2 = Jose Mari Gonzales | constituency2 = San Juan | term_start3 = June 30, 1987 | term_end3 = June 30, 1995 | predecessor3 = Neptali Gonzales | successor3 = ''District abolished'' | constituency3 = San Juan–Mandaluyong {{Collapsed infobox section begin|House positions}} | office4 = House Majority Leader | term_start4 = July 27, 1992 | term_end4 = June 9, 1995 | predecessor4 = Francisco Sumulong | successor4 = Rodolfo Albano | office5 = House Minority Leader | term_start5 = July 22, 2013 | term_end5 = June 30, 2016 | predecessor5 = Edcel Lagman | successor5 = Danilo Suarez | term_start6 = July 23, 2007 | term_end6 = June 30, 2010 | predecessor6 = Francis Escudero | successor6 = Edcel Lagman | term_start7 = July 24, 1995 | term_end7 = June 30, 1998 | predecessor7 = Hernando Perez | successor7 = Feliciano Belmonte Jr. {{Collapsed infobox section end}} | office8 = 31st Executive Secretary of the Philippines | term_start8 = July 1, 1998 | term_end8 = December 31, 2000 | president8 = Joseph Estrada | predecessor8 = Alexander Aguirre | successor8 = Edgardo Angara | office9 = Member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa from Region IV | term_start9 = June 12, 1978 | term_end9 = June 30, 1984 | party = PDP (2016–present) | other_party = UNA (2012–2015) Nacionalista (2007–2012, 2015–2016) PMP (1998–2007) NPC (1995–1998) Independent (1987–1995) KBL (1978–1987) | birth_name = Ronaldo Bayan Zamora | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|12|4}}<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url = http://www.inquirer.net/wp-content/themes/Homepage_2012/jbc/images/zamora.pdf| publisher = Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate = April 22, 2022 | title = Zamora, Ronaldo Bayan}}</ref> | birth_place = City of Greater Manila, Commonwealth of the Philippines | occupation = Lawyer | profession = Politician | alma_mater = University of the Philippines Diliman (BA, LL.B) | spouse = Rosemarie Manlapit | children = Francis Ysabel Maria Consuelo Maria (deceased) Amparo Maria | father = Manuel Zamora Sr. | mother = Amparo Bayan | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Ronaldo "Ronny" Bayan Zamora''' (born December 4, 1944) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as representative of the lone district of San Juan for 21 non-consecutive years beginning in 1995. He previously served as representative of San Juan–Mandaluyong from 1987 to 1995, as well as assemblyman for the Metro Manila (Region IV) from 1978 to 1984 at the Interim Batasang Pambansa.

He topped the bar exams in 1969<ref name="profile" /><ref name="chan1969">{{cite web| url = http://www.chanrobles.com/phsupremecourt/1969-1972.php| title = Bar Topnotchers 1969-1972| publisher = ChanRobles Publishing Company | accessdate = June 17, 2016}}</ref> and was among the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 1972.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0319/nat1-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418054941/http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/99/0319/nat1-2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |title=The Troubleshooters|accessdate=April 18, 2019|work=Asiaweek|date=March 19, 1999|first1=Antonio|last1=Lopez|first2=Sangwon|last2=Suh}}</ref> He is also a Senior Partner of Zamora Poblador Vasquez & Bretaña Law Offices.<ref name="profile" />

Zamora held various cabinet positions throughout the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos, and had served as his Assistant Executive Secretary from 1972 to 1975 and as his Presidential Assistant for Legal Affairs from 1975 to 1978. In August 1982, Zamora was appointed by president Marcos to the National Executive Committee to represent the youth sector. He later served as President Joseph Estrada's Executive Secretary from 1998 to 2000.

Zamora is the father of San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, Representative Bel Zamora of San Juan, and Representative Pammy Zamora of Taguig–Pateros's 2nd district.

==Early life== Ronaldo Zamora was born on December 4, 1944, in Manila, Philippines to Manuel G. Zamora Sr., a Malacañang protocol officer from the 1930s to the 1960s,<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1962/06/25/official-week-in-review-june-17-june-23-1962/|title=Official Week in Review|journal=Official Gazette|volume=58|issue=26|date=June 25, 1962|pages=ccliii-cclviii|access-date=April 28, 2026|publisher=Bureau of Public Printing|quote=PRESIDENT Macapagal gave today long overdue recognition and honors to a Palace oldtimer when he conferred on Minister Manuel Zamora, presidential protocol officer, the personal rank of ambassador.}}</ref> and Amparo Bayan Zamora.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Tan|editor-first=Ruben A.|title=The Philippine Congress: 1987-1992|date=1988|publisher=Creative Computech Publishing Corp.|page=59 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SUSOAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q&f=false|access-date=April 28, 2026|chapter=Hon. Ronaldo B. Zamora}}</ref> His brothers are Manuel "Manny" Zamora Jr. and Salvador "Buddy" Zamora.

Zamora received his elementary and secondary education at De La Salle College (now De La Salle University). He then enrolled at University of Philippines Diliman, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in political science in 1965 and Bachelor of Laws in 1969, both as ''magna cum laude''. He was the topnotcher of the bar exams in 1969.<ref name="profile" /><ref name="chan1969" />

==Political career== Zamora joined politics during the administration of Ferdinand Marcos at the Presidential Economic Staff, as the chief economist from 1966 to 1967, senior information officer from 1967 to 1970, Technical Assistant Staff Service Unit from 1970 to 1972. He later served under the Office of the President as Acting Assistant Executive Secretary from 1972 to 1974, Assistant Executive Secretary from 1974 to 1975, and Presidential Assistant for Legal Affairs from 1975 to 1978.<ref name="profile" />

Zamora was first elected into public office in 1978 together with Imelda Marcos and 19 other candidates of the administration coalition Kilusang Bagong Lipunan as parliament members from Metro Manila (designated as Region IV). By 1982, Zamora was appointed by president Marcos to the National Executive Committee to represent the youth sector, concurrent to his position as assemblyman.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yC5RAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA5433-IA4|title=Official Weeks in Review|journal=Official Gazette|volume=78|issue=41|date=October 11, 1982|page=ccxiii|access-date=July 4, 2025|publisher=Bureau of Public Printing|quote=The other three appointees are Chairman Roberto S. Benedicto[...] and Assembly Ronaldo Zamora Capital Region to represent the youth sector.}}</ref> In 1984, when the constituency in the Batasang Pambansa was modified—to elect members by province and cities, instead of regions—Zamora ran for the parliamentary seat for San Juan–Mandaluyong but lost to opposition candidate Neptali Gonzales.

When Congress was restored under a new constitution in 1987, he ran and was elected representative of the lone district of San Juan–Mandaluyong in 1987 and 1992, and as representative of the lone district of San Juan in 1995. He was also elected as House Minority Floor Leader during the 10th Congress of the Philippines.

Barred from seeking another term in 1998, Zamora helped his long-time political ally and townsmate Joseph Estrada in his presidential bid in 1998. Estrada later appointed Zamora as his Executive Secretary.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.newsflash.org/199805/hl/hl000649.htm|title=Erap's Cabinet: Zamora, Espiritu, Mercado|date=May 9, 1998|accessdate = June 17, 2016|publisher=Phililppine Headline News Online|last=Vanzi|first=Sol Jose}}</ref> Concurrent to president Estrada's impeachment trial, Zamora resigned from Estrada's cabinet in late December 2000 to run for representative of San Juan again in 2001, although he clarified that it was not done to abandon Estrada.<ref>{{cite news|author=AP|title=5 Cabinet men may quit to run in polls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qFg1AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2&article_id=3696,26192580|access-date=July 4, 2025|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|volume=15|issue=347|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=November 21, 2000|page=A2|quote=They [Ronaldo Zamora and four other officials] also want to make sure the resignations are not misinterpreted as an abandonment of the President[...]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nocum|first=Armand N.|title=To run or not to run: Puno takes 2 weeks off to decide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x4c1AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5&article_id=548,3156540|access-date=July 4, 2025|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|volume=16|issue=13|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=December 21, 2000|page=A5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cueto|first=Donna S.|title=Zamora replacement picked, but...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4c1AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA2&article_id=2775,6429446|access-date=July 4, 2025|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|volume=15|issue=347|publisher=The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc.|date=December 29, 2000|page=A2|quote=[Ronaldo] Zamora and [[Dong Puno|[Ricardo] Puno [Jr.]]] have submitted their resignations and have gone on terminal leave to prepare for their election campaigns.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Go|first=Miriam Grace A.|url=http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2001/02/21/metro-manilas-political-cauldron/|title=Metro Manila's Political Cauldron|date=February 21, 2001|accessdate=June 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011104615/http://archives.newsbreak-knowledge.ph/2001/02/21/metro-manilas-political-cauldron/|archive-date=October 11, 2016|work=Newsbreak}}</ref> He would be reelected again in 2004 and in 2007, for three terms. In the 14th Congress (2007–2010), Zamora was also elected as House Minority Floor Leader.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.philstar.com/nation/7839/report-jdv-new-house-speaker-zamora-minority-leader|title=Report: JDV is new House Speaker, Zamora is minority leader|date=July 23, 2007|accessdate=June 17, 2016|work=The Philippine Star}}</ref>

After stepping down from Congress upon being term-limited in 2010, Zamora served as a member of the Board of Directors of Nickel Asia Corporation, a mining company founded by his brother Manuel Jr., from 2011 to his retirement from the company in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/162797-gina-lopez-commission-on-appointments/|title=Lopez urges CA: 'Make decisions based on common good'|first=Jee|last=Geronimo|access-date=April 22, 2022|date=February 28, 2017|work=Rappler}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/NICKEL-ASIA-CORPORATION-7768159/news/Nickel-Asia-Corporation-Announces-Retirement-of-Ronaldo-B-Zamora-as-Director-Effective-from-July-2-39001224/|title=Nickel Asia Corporation Announces Retirement of Ronaldo B. Zamora as Director, Effective from July 23, 2013|website=Market Screener|date=July 23, 2013 |accessdate=April 22, 2022}}</ref> He also served as Chairman of the Rio Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation and later of Cagdianao Mining Corporation, subsidiaries of Nickel Asia Corporation.<ref name="profile" />

In 2013, Zamora was elected as representative of San Juan. He served as House Minority Leader for the third time in the 16th Congress of the Philippines.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/philippines/34488-belmonte-speaker-zamora-new-house-minority-leader/|title=Belmonte still Speaker; Zamora new House Minority Leader|work=Rappler|date=July 22, 2013|access-date=April 22, 2022}}</ref> He was re-elected in 2016 and 2019. He would retire from politics at the end of his term in 2022, according to his son Francis, who was elected Mayor of San Juan in 2019. He was succeeded by his daughter, Bel Zamora; his other daughter, Pammy Zamora, also assumed office as representative of Taguig's 2nd district on the same year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1119133/zamora-im-not-looking-at-building-a-political-dynasty|title=Zamora: 'I'm not looking at building a political dynasty'|first=Krissy|last=Aguilar|date=May 15, 2019|accessdate=April 22, 2022|website=INQUIRER.net}}</ref>

==Personal life== Zamora is married to Rosemarie "Rose" Manlapit, and they have two children: Consuelo Maria (1970–2008)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Aning|first1=Jerome|last2=Tubeza|first2=Philip C.|title='No need to heal, nothing to fix'|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/238077/no-need-to-heal-nothing-to-fix|access-date=July 4, 2025|newspaper=Inquirer.net|publisher=Inquirer Interactive, Inc.|date=July 28, 2012}}</ref> and Francisco Javier ("Francis", born 1977). Zamora also had two children with Mimi Jorge: Ysabel Maria ("Bel", born 1983) and Amparo Maria ("Pammy", born 1988).

==References== {{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zamora, Ronaldo}} Category:1944 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century Filipino lawyers Category:Estrada administration cabinet members Category:Executive secretaries of the Philippines Category:Filipino business executives Category:Members of the Batasang Pambansa Category:Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from San Juan, Metro Manila Category:Minority leaders of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Category:Nacionalista Party politicians Category:Partido Demokratiko Pilipino politicians Category:People from San Juan, Metro Manila Category:University of the Philippines Diliman alumni