Philippine President. A native of Ibu, Zambales, Magsaysay served as the President of the Philippines from December 30, 1953, until his death on March 17, 1957. Born to an industrial arts teacher, blacksmith proprietor, and gentleman farmer, and his wife, a dry goods store proprietor, Magsaysay was educated at the Zambales Academy, and the Jose Rizal College. A member of the Liberal Political Party, and the Nationalista Party, he served as a Supply Officer with the rank of Major for Colonel Gyles Merrill from 1942 to 1945, Military Governor of Zambales in 1945, Representative of Zambales from 1947 to 1950, Chairman of the National Defense Committee, and as Secretray of National Defense in the Quirino Cabinet from 1950 to 1953. Magsaysay also served in World War II, as a Member of the 31st Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. After the fall of Bataan in 1942, he helped to organize the Western Luzon Guerilla Forces that fought against the Japanese. The recipient of several awards his honours include, Knight Grand Cordon, Special Glass, Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant from Thailand on April 16, 1955, Collar, Knight Grand Cordon, Most Exalted Order of George I from Greece on October 2, 1956, Collar, Order of the Golden Heart, awarded posthumously on August 31, 1957, and the Quezon Service Cross, awarded posthumously on July 4, 1958. On March 16, 1957, Magsaysay set out from Manila to Cebu, aboard a new plane that he had just purchased from the Philippine Air Force, to speak to people at an educational institution. On the morning of March 17, 1957, his plane was reported missing. On the afternoon of March 17, 1957, the President's plane was found to have crashed on Mount Manunggal, Asturias, Cebu Province. All the people on board including the president were killed except a journalist named Nestor Mata. A few days later on March 22, 1957, Magsaysay was given a funeral with over 2 million people attending. The Ramon Magsaysay Award was established in his honour in April 1957.