1960s
1960
Voted one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) in the field of public service.
1961
Became governor in 1961 after the Governor’s resignation.
1963
Elected Governor (age 31) of Tarlac Province, winning in all 17 towns of the province, posting the highest majority ever garnered by a gubernatorial candidate in the province.
Dubbed as the “Wonder Boy of Philippine Politics.”
Voted one of the Twenty Four Outstanding Young Men in the Philippines.
1964
Philippine Delegate, Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA) Conference held in Korea.
1965
Special Assistant to President Diosdado Macapagal. Accompanied Pres. Macapagal in State visits to Cambodia and Indonesia.
Spokesperson, Philippine Delegation, Afro-Asian conference in Algiers, Africa.
1966
Project Director, Tarlac “Project Spread”. A joint undertaking of the National Economic Council (Philippine government) and the U.S.A.I.D., designed to increase rural income.
1967
Elected as the youngest Senator of the Philippines, (35 years old) the lone opposition Liberal Party candidate to survive the election sweep made by Pres. Marcos Nacionalista Party.
Elected Secretary-General of the Liberal Party.
1968
Author of several speeches, and many articles while serving as a public servant contained in the book “A Garrison State in the Make and other Speeches” by Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino, Jr. (BSAF Publication). Senator Aquino also authored/co-authored several bills filed and approved in Congress to benefit the masses.
Authored several privilege speeches printed in the “Ninoy Aquino – Speech Series,” 1968-1970s.
1968-1971
Outstanding Senator, voted yearly by the Philippines Free Press, the Philippines’ leading political weekly magazine.