Diosdado Macapagal was a Filipino leader who served as the ninth President of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965 and the sixth Vice-President from 1957 and 1961. He was also a Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Pampanga's 1st District from 1949 to 1957 and helmed the Constitutional Convention of 1970. Originally from Lubao, Pampanga, Macapagal became a government lawyer after obtaining degrees from the University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. He was covertly involved in the anti-Japanese resistance during the Allied liberation against the Japanese and was an important figure in the Philippine foreign service before joining politics. During his tenure as the President of the Philippines, numerous efforts were launched to weed out corruption in the government, but many of these initiatives were hindered by a Congress controlled by the rival Nacionalista Party. In the later years of his life, Macapagal performed the duties of a seasoned statesman. He was also an accomplished poet and made a significant contribution to the Philippine literature.