Alberto "Bert" Gatmaitan Romulo (born August 7, 1933) is a Filipino politician and diplomat. He served in the Philippines in various capacities as executive secretary, finance secretary, foreign affairs secretary, and budget secretary. His most recent office is his leadership of the Department of Foreign Affairs before and during the early period of the administration of

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Benigno Aquino III Benigno Simeon Aquino III (; born Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines ...

. Romulo was born in

Camiling, Tarlac Camiling, officially the Municipality of Camiling, (; ; ), is a municipality in the Philippine province, province of Tarlac in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 87,319 people. Camiling is one of the fastest-g ...

from Pangasinan and Tagalog parents. He was then elected as member of the

Regular Batasang Pambansa The Regular Batasang Pambansa (English language, English: Regular National Assembly), or the First Batasang Pambansa, was the meeting of the Batasang Pambansa (legislature), Batasang Pambansa from the beginning of its session on July 23, 1984 ...

representing

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...

in 1984. He then joined government service as the interim Minister of the Budget of President

Corazon Aquino María Corazón "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines and the first woman president in the country, from Presidency of Corazon ...

during the transition period following the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. He was a

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

from 1987 to 1998, during which time he served as Majority Leader for five years. As Majority Leader, he greatly helped then Senate President Neptali Gonzales, Sr. in running the plenary sessions of the Senate and in executing its legislative mill. In November 1989, Romulo avoided a fatal helicopter crash near Maulong, Catbalogan when an Army commander convinced him to ride another helicopter going to Catbalogan. He became finance secretary in January 2001, having been appointed when President

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Maria Gloria Macaraeg Macapagal-Arroyo (; born April 5, 1947), often referred to as PGMA or GMA, is a Filipino academic and politician who served as the 14th president of the Philippines from Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 2001 to 2010 ...

took office and formed her own cabinet. He left this position in May 2001; Romulo was later appointed as an executive secretary. On August 18, 2004, he was appointed foreign secretary, and which he would hold until February 25, 2011, under President Aquino. He served as Chairman of the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 Sovereign state, states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its ...

or ASEAN in 2007. In March 2017, Romulo was appointed chairman and director of the board of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Romulo, Alberto 1933 births Living people Secretaries of foreign affairs of the Philippines De La Salle University alumni People from Pangasinan People from Tarlac Executive secretaries of the Philippines Secretaries of finance of the Philippines Senators of the 8th Congress of the Philippines Senators of the 9th Congress of the Philippines Senators of the 10th Congress of the Philippines Majority leaders of the Senate of the Philippines Secretaries of budget and management of the Philippines Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Quezon City Manuel L. Quezon University alumni Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino politicians Benigno Aquino III administration cabinet members Arroyo administration cabinet members Corazon Aquino administration cabinet members Members of the Batasang Pambansa Heads of government-owned and controlled corporations of the Philippines Duterte administration personnel Grand Crosses of the Order of Lakandula