Onofre Corpuz

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisDizonand the surname or paternal family name isCorpuz.

National Scientist Onofre Corpuz
Official portrait,National Academy of Science and Technology
Minister of Education, Culture & Sports
In office July 1979 – January 1984
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Juan Manuel
Succeeded by	Jaime Laya
Secretary of Education
In office December 16, 1967 – April 20, 1971
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Carlos P. Romulo
Succeeded by	Juan Manuel
13thPresident of the University of the Philippines
In office 1975–1979
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Salvador P. Lopez
Succeeded by	Emanuel V. Soriano
1stChairperson of the Career Executive Service Board
In office 1973–1978
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Jacobo C. Clave
Personal details
Born	Onofre Dizon Corpuz (1926-12-01)December 1, 1926 Camiling,Tarlac,Insular Government of the Philippine Islands
Died	March 23, 2013(2013-03-23)(aged 86) Quezon City,Philippines
Nationality	Philippines
Spouse	Dr. Aurora Corpuz
Alma mater	University of the Philippines Diliman(B.A., 1950) University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign(M.A., 1953) Harvard University(M.P.A, 1955; Ph.D., 1956)
Occupation	Professor,Public servant
Profession	Economic historian, Political scientist
Awards	National Scientist of the Philippines

Onofre Dizon CorpuzONS(December 1, 1926 – March 23, 2013) was a Filipino academic, economist, and historian. He served as the Secretary of Education of the Philippines from 1968 to 1971 and was the 13th president of theUniversity of the PhilippinesSystem from 1975 to 1979. Dr. Corpuz was later named Minister of Education under the parliamentary system wherein he was also member of the now defunctBatasang Pambansa(National Assembly) from 1979 to 1983.

Being the first one to come up with the idea of establishing the Career Executive Service (CES) in the Philippines based on existent bureaucratic structures in other countries, Corpuz served as the first chairman of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) from 1973 to 1978.

In 2004, he was namedNational Scientist of the Philippinesfor his contributions to Filipino scholarship particularly in areas of economics, history, political science, and public administration.At the time of his death, he was a Professor Emeritus at theSchool of Economicsof theUniversity of the Philippines Diliman.

Early life and education

Dr. Onofre Dizon Corpuz was born on December 1, 1926, at Taft Street, Poblacion,Camiling, Tarlacto Remigio Corpuz, a school teacher and Isabel Dizon.

He finished his primary and secondary education in his hometown province ofTarlac,Philippines.He was salutatorian of Camiling Elementary School in 1938 and ofTarlac High Schoolin 1944 before he took up his BA degree at theUniversity of the Philippines at Dilimanfrom 1946 to 1950 wherein he graduated magna cum laude. He joined theUpsilon Sigma Phifraternity in 1947. It was also here that he joined and later served as the resident Governor of the Pan Xenia fraternity.

Corpuz obtained his master's degree at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaignin theUnited Statesin 1953. He later finished aMaster of Public Administration(MPA) degree in 1955 and a PhD in Political Economy and Government in 1956 fromHarvard University.

In 1976, theRoyal Chulalongkorn Universityin Thailand awarded him a PhD,honoris causain 1976.

Career

During the Marcos administration

Dr. Corpuz was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Education by former President then dictatorFerdinand Marcos Sr.in 1966 and was promoted to Secretary in 1968. As head of the country's education department, he joined the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Council. He was also concurrently chairperson of the Population Commission.

In 1972, he became the Founding President of the government-owned Development Academy of the Philippines. Corpuz later ran for a position and won in theBatasang Pambansa,the legislative body of the parliamentary Philippines during the Marcos Sr. dictatorship. As a member of the legislature, he served as Minister of Education. He took a break from government service in 1983.

During the Aquino administration

The economist reentered government as member of the board of the National Historical Institute in 1987 during the time of former PresidentCorazon C. Aquino.

Later career

Necrological serviceof Dr. Onofre Corpuz atParish of the Holy Sacrifice.

Professor Corpuz served as president of the now defunctThe Manila Chroniclefrom 1994 to 1996. Earlier, he was part of the Board of Governors of theEast-West CenterinHonolulu, Hawaiifrom 1974 to 1976. East-West Center is closely linked to several academic institutions in Hawaii, particularly theUniversity of Hawaii.

Research

Dr. Corpuz conducted research at the United StatesLibrary of Congress,theWidenerandHoughton LibrariesatHarvard University,theNew York Public Library,theBritish Museum Library,and theGeneral Archive of the IndiesinSevilla,Spain. He was also a visiting research associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies,University of London.

His specializations included economic history, public administration and policy. His previous research formed the basis for his best-known published works, which include:ThePhilippines(1965; Prentice-Hall);Roots of the Filipino Nation2 vols. (1989; Aklahi Foundation);An economic history of the Philippines(1997; University of the Philippines Press); andSaga and triumph: the Philippine revolution against Spain(2002; University of the Philippines Press).

Personal life

Professor Corpuz was married to retired professor and former dean of the College of Home Economics (CHE) of University of the Philippines Dr. Aurora G. Corpuz.

External links

• UP to pay tribute to National Scientist O.D. Corpuz
• A tribute to O.D. Corpuz
• A tribute to O.D. Corpuz: Unconventional Thinker
• O.D. at the School of Economics