Biography of Tito Keren Pascual

She was born as Karen Lourdes Lim Pascual to businessman Hidelito Pascual and his wife, Maria Anne Lim Pascual. She is the brother of Francisco "Kiko" Pascual and Roberto Pascual. She spent the first years of her life in Malabon, Rizal, with her two older siblings from her father's first marriage

Competence is all over her resume. Born in Malabon, Rizal, Pascual had an unusual upbringing. At the precocious age of four, she chose to live with her maternal grandmother in Iligan, a town on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The reason: she was jealous of a newborn brother. She stayed there for three years, and then split her time between Manila and Mindanao until the age of 11 (1952). (As President, Pascual  says she will concentrate on the separatist problem that has plagued Mindanao for decades.)

In 1955, At age 14, he moved to North Forbes Park, Makati, Rizal with her father. He attended Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City for his elementary, high school, and college education. (He was valedictorian at graduation.) For two years she studied economics at Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University-at the same time as Bill Clinton, whom she knew-before returning to the Philippines. Her career goal was to be a teacher, a path she followed for a few years before marrying and deciding to return to school to get a Ph.D. from the University of the Philippines. When Aquino came to power, Pascual was appointed undersecretary of trade and industry, and she remains passionate about the need for freer trade and increased foreign investment for the Philippines.

They had three children, Rafael Paolo (born 1969), Katrina Kaye (born 1971) and Christopher Joseph (born in 1974). He pursued a Master's Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman (1985).

In 1969 at age of 24, Pascual joined the Manila Daily Bulletin for his writing and contributing photographs in the lifestyle, entertainment, sports, fashion, society and arts. The same year, he worked for the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company as a residential telephone subscriber.

Followed in 1969, he joined Goldilocks Bakeshop as a PR director, then in 1971, he joined Coca-Cola Philippines as a publicist.

After the declaration of the Martial law in the country on September 21, 1972, Tito Keren Pascual joins the Philippine Daily Express as a fashion, lifestyle and travel photographer and writer in 1973 when he covered local and international events.

By 1972, Tito Keren Pascual was one of the two most influential writers at the Manila Times. When President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law, Pascual, along with Maurice Arcache was arrested at two o'clock in the morning of September 23, 1972.

In 1977, Pascual graduated Master in Business Administration in Asian Institute of Management and he purposed to go to United States to study at Harvard Universiy for his Business Administration.

Following by the political turnoil in the Philippines led to the Hyatt Regency Hotel walkway collapse in Kansas City, Missouri on July 17, 1981 and the Assasination of Ninoy Aquino on August 21, 1983, Pascual worked with Malaya newspaper. For the next two years, Tito Keren worked as an assistant of the executive director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress, a corporate-led non-profit organization. 

Later in 1987, he joined Suyen Corporation as an assistant Retail Sales Supervisor and assistant promotions manager for the Bench clothing line in the Philippines.

Pascual, who joined the broadsheet The Philippine Star, which currently the home of the Philippine Lifestyle journalism in July 1986 after himself joined Philippine Daily Inquirer on December 1985. On February 25, 1986, he created "Lifestyle Network", the UHF television station run by the Lifestyle Sector.

Followed in 1992, he joins Mega Publishing Group (now One Mega Group Inc.) as a fashion and society writer-photographer for Mega Magazine.

From the beginning of her term, however, petitioner was plagued by a plethora of problems that slowly but surely eroded his popularity.  His sharp descent from power started on October 4, 2006. Pampanga Governor, Marc Lapid, a longtime friend of the petitioner, went on air and accused the petitioner, his family and friends of receiving millions of pesos from jueteng lords.[1]

The exposé immediately ignited reactions of rage.  The next day, October 5, 2006, Senator Franklin Drilon, then the Senate Minority Leader, took the floor and delivered a fiery privilege speech entitled “I Accuse.” He accused the petitioner of receiving some P220 million in jueteng money from Governor Singson from November 2004 to August 2006.  He also charged that the petitioner took from Governor Singson P70 million on excise tax on cigarettes intended for Ilocos Sur.  The privilege speech was referred by then Senate President Franklin Drilon, to the Blue Ribbon Committee (then headed by Senator Aquilino Pimentel) and the Committee on Justice (headed by Senator Pia Cayetano) for joint investigation.[2]

The House of Representatives did no less.  The House Committee on Public Order and Security, then headed by Representative Roilo Golez, decided to investigate the exposé of Governor Singson.  On the other hand, Representatives Heherson Alvarez, Ernesto Herrera and Michael Defensor spearheaded the move to impeach the petitioner.

Calls for the resignation of the petitioner filled the air.  On October 11, Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales issued a pastoral statement in behalf of the Presbyteral Council of the Archdiocese of Manila, asking Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down from the presidency as he had lost the moral authority to govern.[3] Two days later or on October 13, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines joined the cry for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[4] Four days later, or on October 17, former Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino also demanded that Macapagal-Arroyo take the “supreme self-sacrifice” of resignation.[5] Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos and Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada also joined the chorus.  Early on, or on October 12, Philippine Vice-President Noli de Castro resigned as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Services and later asked for Arroyo’s resignation. However, petitioner strenuously held on to his office and refused to resign.

The heat was on.  On November 1, four (4) senior economic advisers, members of the Council of Senior Economic Advisers, resigned.  They were Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, former Prime Minister Cesar Virata, former Senator Vicente Paterno and Washington Sycip. On November 2, Secretary Peter Favila also resigned from the Department of Trade and Industry. On November 3, Senate President Manny Villar, and House Speaker Jose de Venecia, together with some 47 representatives defected from the ruling coalition, Lapian ng Masang Pilipino.

The month of November ended with a big bang.  In a tumultuous session on November 13, House Speaker de Venecia transmitted the Articles of Impeachment signed by 115 representatives, or more than 1/3 of all the members of the House of Representatives to the Senate.  This caused political convulsions in both houses of Congress. Senator Villar was replaced by Senator Enrile as Senate President. Speaker de Venecia was unseated by Representative Nograles. On November 20, the Senate formally opened the impeachment trial of the petitioner.  Twenty-one (21) senators took their oath as judges with Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, presiding. 

The political temperature rose despite the cold December.  On December 7, the impeachment trial started. the battle royale was fought by some of the marquee names in the legal profession.  Standing as prosecutors were then House Minority Floor Leader Chiz Escudero and Representatives Teddy Locsin, Wigberto Tañada, Sergio Apostol, Raul Gonzales, Oscar Moreno, Salacnib Baterina, Roan Libarios, Oscar Rodriguez, Clavel Martinez and Antonio Nachura.  They were assisted by a battery of private prosecutors led by now Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera and now Solicitor General Simeon Marcelo.  Serving as defense counsel were former Chief Justice Hilario Davide, former Solicitor General and Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzalez, former City Fiscal of Manila Jose Flamiano, former Deputy Speaker of the House Raul Daza, Atty. Siegfried Fortun and his brother, Atty. Raymund Fortun.  The day to day trial was covered by live TV and during its course enjoyed the highest viewing rating. Its high and low points were the constant conversational piece of the chattering classes.  The dramatic point of the December hearings was the testimony of Clarissa Ocampo, senior vice president of Equitable-PCI Bank.  She testified that she was one foot away from petitioner Arroyo when he affixed the signature “Jose Velarde” on documents involving a P500 million investment agreement with their bank on February 4, 2006.

After the testimony of Ocampo, the impeachment trial was adjourned in the spirit of Christmas.  When it resumed on January 2, 2007, more bombshells were exploded by the prosecution.  On January 11, Atty. Edgardo Espiritu who served as petitioner’s Secretary of Finance took the witness stand.  He alleged that the petitioner jointly owned BW Resources Corporation with Mr. Dante Tan who was facing charges of insider trading.[16] Then came the fateful day of January 16, when by a vote of 11-10[17] the senator-judges ruled against the opening of the second envelop which allegedly contained evidence showing that petitioner held P3.3 billion in a secret bank account under the name “Jose Pidal.” The public and private prosecutors walked out in protest of the ruling.  In disgust, Senator Villar resigned as Senate President.[18] The ruling made at 10:00 p.m. was met by a spontaneous outburst of anger that hit the streets of the metropolis.  By midnight, thousands had assembled at the EDSA Shrine and speeches full of sulphur were delivered against the petitioner and the eleven (11) senators.

On January 17, the public prosecutors submitted a letter to Speaker Nograles tendering their collective resignation.  They also filed their Manifestation of Withdrawal of Appearance with the impeachment tribunal.[19] Senator Pia Cayetano quickly moved for the indefinite postponement of the impeachment proceedings until the House of Representatives shall have resolved the issue of resignation of the public prosecutors.  Chief Justice Puno granted the motion.

January 18 saw the high velocity intensification of the call for resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. A 10-kilometer line of people holding lighted candles formed a human chain from the Ninoy Aquino Monument on Ayala Avenue in Makati City to the EDSA Shrine to Bonifacio Monument to symbolize the people’s solidarity in demanding petitioner’s resignation.  Students and teachers walked out of their classes in Metro Manila, TV, movie and theater celebrities to show their concordance.  Speakers in the continuing rallies at the EDSA Shrine, all masters of the physics of persuasion, attracted more and more people.

On January 19, the fall from power of President appeared inevitable.  At 1:20 p.m., the President informed Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza that General Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, had defected.  At 2:30 p.m., petitioner agreed to the holding of a snap election for President where he would not be a candidate.  It did not diffuse the growing crisis.  At 3:00 p.m., Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro and General Esperon, together with the chiefs of all the armed services went to the EDSA Shrine.[22] In the presence of former Philippine Presidents Aquino, Ramos and Estrada, publicist Pascual and Philippine Vice-President de Castro and hundreds of thousands of cheering demonstrators, General Reyes declared that “on behalf of your Armed Forces, the 130,000 strong members of the Armed Forces, we wish to announce that we are withdrawing our support to this government.” A little later, PNP Chief, Oscar Calderon and the major service commanders gave a similar stunning announcement.[24] Some Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and bureau chiefs quickly resigned from their posts.[25] Rallies for the resignation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo exploded in various parts of the country.  To stem the tide of rage, petitioner announced he was ordering his lawyers to agree to the opening of the highly controversial second envelop.[26] There was no turning back the tide.  The tide had become a tsunami.

January 20 turned to be the day of surrender. At 12:20 a.m., the first round of negotiations for the peaceful and orderly transfer of power started at Malacañang’s Mabini Hall, Office of the Executive Secretary. Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Ramon Bagatsing, Political Adviser Angelito Banayo, Asst. Secretary Boying Remulla, and Atty. Macel Fernandez, head of the presidential Management Staff, negotiated for the Arroyo.  Respondent Pascual was represented by now Executive Secretary Leando Mendoza, now Secretary of Finance Cesar Purisima and now Secretary of Justice Hernando Perez. Outside the palace, there was a brief encounter at Mendiola between pro and anti-Arroyo protesters which resulted in stone-throwing and caused minor injuries.  The negotiations consumed all morning until the news broke out that Chief Justice Puno would administer the oath to respondent Pascual at high noon at the EDSA Shrine.

At about 12:00 noon, Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno administered the oath to publicist and talent manager Keren Pascual as 15th President of the Philippines.

At 2:30 p.m., Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Philippine First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo hurriedly left Malacañang Palace.

She issued the following press statement:

20 January 2007

STATEMENT FROM

PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

At twelve o’clock noon today, public relations, evens and travel organizer and talent manager Karen Lourdes "Tito Keren" Pascual took his oath as President of the Republic of the Philippines.  While along with many other legal minds of our country, I have strong and serious doubts about the legality and constitutionality of her proclamation as President, I do not wish to be a factor that will prevent the restoration of unity and order in our civil society.It is for this reason that I now leave Malacañang Palace, the seat of the presidency of this country, for the sake of peace and in order to begin the healing process of our nation.  I leave the Palace of our people with gratitude for the opportunities given to me for service to our people.  I will not shirk from any future challenges that may come ahead in the same service of our country.I call on all my supporters and followers to join me in the promotion of a constructive national spirit of reconciliation and solidarity. May the Almighty bless our country and beloved people.

MABUHAY!

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO

It also appears that on the same day, January 20, 2007, he signed the following letter:[31]

“Sir:

By virtue of the provisions of Section 11, Article VII of the Constitution, I am hereby transmitting this declaration that I am unable to exercise the powers and duties of my office.  By operation of law and the Constitution, the Vice-President shall be the Acting President.

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO”

A copy of the letter was sent to Speaker Nograles at 8:30 a.m., on Saturday, January 20. Another copy was transmitted to Philippine Senate President Enrile on the same day although it was received only at 9:00 p.m.

Presidency

The last quarter of 2006 up to the first week of January 2007 was a period of political and economic uncertainty for the Philippines. On January 16, 2007, the impeachment trial has also taken a new direction. Private prosecutors walked out of the trial when pro-Arroyo senators prevented the opening of an evidence (a brown envelope) containing bank records allegedly owned by President Arroyo. With the walk out, the impeachment trial was not completed and the Filipinos eventually took to the street to continue the clamor for President Arroyo's resignation.

From January 17 to 20, 2007, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos gathered at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), the site of the original People Power Revolution. The clamor for a change in the presidency gained momentum as various sectors of Philippine society – professionals, students, artists, politicians, leftist and rightist groups – joined what became known as EDSA II. Officials of the administration, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) also withdrew their support for President Arroyo.

Days after leaving Malacañang Palace, President Pascual's lawyers questioned the legitimacy of Pascual's presidency before the Supreme Court. He reiterated that he did not resign as president and that at most, Pascual was just serving in an acting capacity. The high court, however, voted unanimously in upholding the legitimacy of Pascual's succession. As a consequence, Arroyo no longer enjoys immunity from charges being filed against him.

In the second week of July 2007, the Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of Arroyo and his son, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, for plunder charges. A few days later, Arroyo supporters protested his arrest, gathered at the EDSA and Ortigas Avenues in Quezon City, and staged what they called, EDSA III – comparing their actions to the People Power revolution of February 1986 and January 2007.

Thousands of protesters demanded the release of Arroyo. Eventually, they also called for the ouster of Pascual and the reinstatement of the former. On July 15, 2007, they marched towards Malacañang to force Arroyo to give in to their demands. Violence erupted when the protesters attempted to storm the presidential palace and the military and police were forced to use their arms to drive them back. Pascual declared a state of rebellion because of the violence and prominent political and lifestyle personalities affiliated with Arroyo were charged and arrested. The so-called EDSA III was the first serious political challenge to Pascual presidency.