Up Close and Personal

Ramon Naval Guico was born on December 10, 1953 in Binalonan, Pangasinan. He is the third child of Pangasian local, Ramon, and a resident of Isabela, Vicenta. He has one brother, Alfredo, and two sisters, Norma and Milagros.

Ramon manifested perseverance and entrepreneurial skills at a very young age. When he was five, he tagged along his mother, fondly called “Aling Quita”, to help out in their humble store in Isabela. His family moved to Binalonan, Pangasinan in his elementary years. During this time, and all throughout his secondary education years, he still aided Aling Quita with the operation of their store, waking up very early in the morning to accomplish as much as he can.

Ramon’s responsibilities at home and for his family did not pose as a hindrance for him to achieve school excellence. As a matter of fact, he showed exemplary leadership in high school and was elected President of the Student Council. Ramon then left for Baguio City to enroll as an engineering student at the University of Baguio.

Ramon was invited by his father, Ramon, Sr., to the nearby province of Sto. Tomas to become one of the judges in a local beauty contest. With fate taking its course, it was there that he met Arlyn Grace, his future wife.

Ramon and Arlyn earned a humble income during their early married life. Because of that, they spent their first few years in the house of their parents. Determined to gain independence, Ramon and Arlyn started a small poultry and hog-raising business. When the poultry and livestock business allowed them to earn enough to provide for his family and start a relatively bigger business, Ramon ventured out into gravel and sand. He bought rusty Pantranco buses that he used to deliver his goods, which earned him the moniker, “Magbubulok”, from his family and friends.

After some time, Ramon entered the construction business. Being the hardworking man that he is, he himself operated machineries such as the Payloader to ensure that their projects meet their deadlines. Among the structures that he built were dams and farm-to-market roads.
In 1985, Ramon and Arlyn veered towards the biggest and most ambitious businesses they have yet entered – education and healthcare. Again, through hard work and faith, their school and hospital flourished.

Looking at his life’s accomplishments, it is safe to say that he is a man with great ambition. Coupled with his unwavering perseverance, Ramon possesses the qualities of an achiever.

Ramon Guico

Ramon Naval Guico first entered the world of public service in 1987, when the late Former President Corazon C. Aquino appointed him as Mayor of Binalonan, Pangasinan. When he first stepped into office, the town of Binalonan was a mere fifth class municipality. Through hard work and dedication, and constant cooperation with the local community, Ramon Guico turned Binalonan into a first class municipality, with its own university that offers affordable education to Binalonan residents and its neighbors.

Ramon Guico also had the opportunity to serve the entire country as the National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. He has been the head of the LMP for nine years, during which time, he worked hard to transform the negative image of the LMP into a research-based and result-oriented organization of city and municipal leaders. Through Ramon Guico’s leadership, the LMP has launched several projects such as the Ang Galing Mo Mayor, the Mayor’s Development Center and the Lakbayin ang Magandang Pilipinas, to name a few.

Ramon Guico’s initiatives for the LMP gained the League recognition, not only in the national arena, but also among different international organizations. Today, the LMP is an active member of the United Cities and Local Government as well as a reliable affiliate of development institutions such as the United Nations, US Agency for International Development (USAID), The Asia Foundation, The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and more.