ABSTRACT
President Magsaysay started his
administration favorably. He had the solid support of the people. Both houses
of Congress were controlled by his party, the Nationalista
Party. Its leaders had pledged their support to him. The Democratic Party, in
coalition with the Nationalista, also pledged its
support to the president. The press, the radio and public opinion were for him.
And feeling grateful for what the press had done for him, he appointed some
members of several Manila dailies to responsible
government positions. Eugenio Santos and Isidro L. Retizos of the Evening News, Teodoro
Valencia
of the Philippines Herald, and Vicente J. Guzman of the Manila Times, to name
only some, were appointed to some government boards. He even allowed his press
secretary to sit with the cabinet. To a great extent however, the spoil system
crept into the appointments to positions in the government under the new
administration. The Civil Service system was not so much respected as it used
to be especially during the days of the American governors.
