The Honorable
Roman T. Romulo
Official portrait, 2022
Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Pasig
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded byRichard Eusebio
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byRobert Jaworski Jr.
Succeeded byRichard Eusebio
Chair of the Philippine House of Representatives Higher and Technical Education Committee
In office
July 30, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded bySonny Angara
Succeeded byDulce Ann Hofer
Personal details
Born
Roman Tecson Romulo

(1967-02-28) February 28, 1967 (age 56)
Quezon City, Philippines
Political partyIndependent (2015–2018; 2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		Aksyon (2018–2021)
Liberal (2009–2015)
Lakas–CMD (2006–2009)
Spouse
​
(m. 2012)​
RelationsCarlos Romulo
(granduncle)
Bernadette Romulo-Puyat
(sister)
Parents
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines, Diliman (BA, LL.B.)
Profession
Websiteromanromulo.com

Roman Tecson Romulo (born February 28, 1967) is a Filipino politician and lawyer. He served as a member of House of Representatives representing the Lone District of Pasig for four consecutive terms from 2007 to 2016 and from 2019 to present.[1] He is the son of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and grand-nephew of President of the United Nations General Assembly Carlos Romulo.

Romulo is known for authoring "Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014 (R.A. 10648)", which grants students, belonging to the top 10 bracket of the graduating class of all public high schools in the Philippines, full scholarships on their admission to any state university or college within the region where they graduated.[2]

Early life and education

Romulo was born on February 28, 1967, in Quezon City. He is the third of the five children of diplomat and politician Alberto Romulo and Rosie Lovely Tecson. His father, Alberto, was a former Senator, Budget Secretary, Finance Secretary, Executive Secretary, and Foreign Affairs Secretary.[3][4]

Romulo attended Ateneo de Manila Grade School for his primary education, where he graduated in 1981. He then attended PAREF Southridge School for his secondary education, where he graduated in 1985. He took a Bachelor's Degree in economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City and graduated in 1990. While studying there, he was a member of Upsilon Sigma Phi.[5][6] He also obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the Philippines College of Law (also in UP Diliman) in 1994.[7][8]

Romulo was admitted to the bar on June 29, 1995, with Roll No. 40361.[9]

Romulo underwent training course on Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce at the International Development Law Institute in Rome, Italy on September 2000.[10]

In 2015, Romulo was conferred the degrees of Doctor of Public Administration honoris causa by the Lyceum-Northwestern University and Doctor of Humanities honoris causa by the University of Baguio in 2015.[11][12]

Early career

Romulo worked as an associate lawyer at Quisumbing Torres & Evangelista Law Offices from 1994 to 1996. He then worked as an associate lawyer at Sycip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan Law Offices from 1996 to 1999 and as a senior associate lawyer at the same law firm from 1999 to 2007. He was one of the founding partners of Tolosa, Romulo, Agabin, Flores & Enriquez Law Offices in 2005.[13][10]

Political career

House of Representatives (2007-2016, 2019-present)

Romulo ran in Pasig's lone district during the 2004 election. He was endorsed by former Senate President Jovito Salonga and supported by former Pasig mayor Vicente Eusebio but lost to Robert Jaworski Jr., who won by a slim margin.[14][15] Romulo ran again for the House seat during 2007 election and won.[16]

During his term in the House, Romulo was the chairman of committee on Higher and Technical Education and member of the majority of committees on Basic Education and Culture, Constitutional Amendments, Economic Affairs, Human Rights, Information & Communications Technology, Metro Manila Development, Revisions of Laws, Science and Technology, and Veterans Affairs and Welfare.[17][1]

Legislative portfolio

As a member of 14th, 15th, and 16th Congress, Romulo authored 59 bills and co-authored 34 bills.

Romulo is the principal author of the House version of the following laws:[10]

Republic Act (House Bill) Short title Long title Source
R.A. 10647 (HB 3575) Ladderized Education Act of 2014 An Act Strengthening the Ladderized Interface Between Technical-Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education [18]
R.A. 10648 (HB 4860) Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014 An Act Providing Scholarship Grants to Top Graduates of All Public High Schools in State Universities and Colleges and Appropriating Funds Therefor [19]
R.A. 10650 (HB 4553) Open Distance Learning Act An Act Expanding Access to Educational Services by Institutionalizing Open Distance Learning in Levels of Tertiary Education and Appropriating Funds Therefor [20]
R.A. 10687 (HB 4591) Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act An Act Providing for a Comprehensive and Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), Thereby Rationalizing Access Thereto, Appropriating Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes [21]

2016 Senate bid

I filed my [Certificate of Candidacy (COC)] for senator, I am independent, and I support the candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe.

— Roman Romulo's statement in English after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) last October 14, 2015.[22]

Romulo ran for a seat in the Senate during 2016 election under the Partido Galing at Puso, a coalition of senators, Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, for presidential and vice-presidential election, and their line-up for Senate election. He filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections office in Palacio del Gobernador, Intramuros, Manila on October 14, 2015. He said he aims to create a “strong middle class” by promoting higher education and lowering income tax rates.[23][24][25] He was also endorsed by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who won the presidential election.[26][27][28] Romulo, however, didn't win the race and was ranked 22nd on the tally.[29] His sister, Mons, who ran in Pasig's at-large congressional district and lost to Richard Eusebio, said in her Instagram post that their family will remain a helping hand in Pasig and the country despite losing the elections.[30]

Personal life

Romulo married politician and television host Shalani Soledad at 17:00 PST on January 22, 2012, at St. Benedict Church in Ayala Westgrove Heights, Silang, Cavite.[31][32] Romulo was a member judge on Metrobank Foundation's Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) in 2014.[33][34] In 2015, PeopleAsia's Magazine named him as one of the Men Who Matter awardees.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b "HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | 16th Congress of the Philippines". Wayback Machine. Congress.gov.ph. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ Mauricio-Arriola, Tessa (July 4, 2015). "You are an 'Iskolar ng Bayan'". Manila Times. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  3. ^ Arcellana, Juaniyo (May 26, 2003). "Streets & dreams". Philippine Star. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  4. ^ Arcellana, Juaniyo (March 22, 2015). "Former Sec. Of DFA Dr. Alberto G. Romulo to address 69th ABCollege Commencement Exercises". Andres Bonifacio College. Mindanao Observer. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Torrevillas, Domini M. "Upsilonians hold 12th world congress". philstar.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  6. ^ "CEU Law dean leads Upsilon UNO awardees". Manila Bulletin News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  7. ^ "Profile - Roman Romulo : Roman Romulo". Romanromulo.com. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "University of the Philippines Alumni". University of the Philippines Alumni. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "LAW LIST". Supreme Court of the Philippines. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Romulo, Roman. "Roman Romulo CV" (PDF). Romanromulo.com. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Apayao State College". Rotary Club of Manila. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  12. ^ "Balita - May 28, 2015" (PDF). Apayao State College. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "TRAFGLAW.COM LAW Office: Tolosa, Romulo, Agabin, Flores & Enriquez - Partners". Tolosa, Romulo, Agabin, Flores & Enriquez Law Offices. 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  14. ^ "Salonga backs Roman Romulo in Pasig". World News Network. Philippine Star. May 5, 2004. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Alquitran, Non (April 30, 2004). "Pasig mayor twits Jaworski". Philippine Star. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  16. ^ Pedroche, Al (May 5, 2007). "Roman Romulo sa Pasig, Maritoni Francisco sa Navotas". Philippine Star. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  17. ^ "Higher and Technical Education - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | 16th Congress of the Philippines". Wayback Machine. Congress.gov.ph. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  18. ^ "Republic Act. No. 10647" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. November 21, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  19. ^ "Republic Act. No. 10648" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. November 27, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  20. ^ "Republic Act. No. 10650" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. December 9, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  21. ^ "Republic Act. No. 10687" (PDF). Senate.gov.ph. October 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  22. ^ "Roman Romulo files COC for senator, declares support for Grace Poe". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  23. ^ Siazon, Rachel (November 4, 2015). "Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero announce senatorial bets under 'Team Galing at Puso'". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  24. ^ Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (October 14, 2015). "Roman Romulo files COC for senator, declares support for Grace Poe". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  25. ^ "WATCH: Who filed their candidacy October 14, 2015". Rappler. October 14, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  26. ^ Caduaya, Editha (October 10, 2015). "Duterte identifies senatorial candidates he will support". Rappler. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  27. ^ Herrera, Christine (June 29, 2015). "First five named in Duterte slate". Manila Standard. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  28. ^ Regalado, Edith (October 14, 2015). "Roman Romulo files COC for senator, declares support for Grace Poe". Philippine Star. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  29. ^ "#PHVote 2016 Philippine Election Results". Rappler. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  30. ^ "Romulos to remain a helping hand despite losing in elections". Politics.com.ph. May 15, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  31. ^ Calonzo, Andreo (January 22, 2012). "Shalani Soledad, Rep. Roman Romulo tie the knot". GMA News. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  32. ^ Evangelista, Patricia (January 22, 2012). "Who's who at the Roman Romulo - Shalani Soledad wedding - Rappler". Rappler. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  33. ^ "2014 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers named". Philippine Star. August 21, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  34. ^ "8 public school teachers, 2 UP professors win Metrobank teaching award". GMA News. August 19, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
  35. ^ Lo, Ricky (June 25, 2015). "Roman, Shalani working hard at 'joint venture'". Philippine Star. Retrieved March 29, 2017.
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