Mar Roxas
A scion of Philippine political royalty who championed economic liberalization and faced his family's legacy in two failed presidential bids.
Born 1957 (age 69)·Filipino politician·Birthday: May 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Mar Roxas's life has been framed by the immense shadow of his grandfather, the nation's first president. Born into the powerful Roxas clan, he initially pursued a career in finance on Wall Street before answering the call of public service in the Philippines. As Secretary of Trade and Industry, he became a vocal advocate for economic openness and foreign investment, earning the nickname 'Mr. Palengke' (Mr. Market) for his populist touch. His political journey was one of great expectation, often seen as a frontrunner destined for the highest office. He served as a senator and in several cabinet posts, but his presidential aspirations were thwarted twice—in 2010, when he yielded to Benigno Aquino III, and in 2016, when he lost a divisive election to Rodrigo Duterte. His career encapsulates the promises and perils of dynastic politics in a modern democracy, marked by technocratic ambition and an ultimate confrontation with shifting public sentiment.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Mar was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Mar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Secretary of Trade and Industry, where he was a key architect of policies to attract foreign investment and boost exports.
- Authored the Consumer Act of the Philippines as a senator, strengthening protections for Filipino consumers.
- Led the Department of Transportation and Communications, overseeing major infrastructure projects including the expansion of the MRT system.
- Was the Liberal Party standard-bearer in the 2016 Philippine presidential election.
Did You Know?
He worked as an investment banker for Allen & Company in New York before entering politics.
He is an avid cyclist and often participated in long-distance charity bike rides.
He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
His father, Gerry Roxas, was also a prominent senator.
“I am not here to be popular. I am here to do what is right.”
