<figure class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-30/raul-daza.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Black-and-white official portrait of a smiling Raul A. Daza wearing eyeglasses and a traditional embroidered long-sleeve Barong Tagalog during the 8th Congress of the Philippines" />
<figcaption>
Representative Raul A. Daza in his official portrait for the 8th Congress of the Philippines (<time datetime="1987">1987</time>–<time datetime="1992">1992</time>), following the restoration of the House of Representatives after the <a href="/articles/2981/the-people-power-revolution-a-turning-point-in-philippine-history" class="news-link">EDSA People Power Revolution</a>.   
</figcaption>
</figure>


<h2>
Early Life and Education
</h2>
<p>
Daza was born in Manila on <time datetime="1935-05-02">May 2, 1935</time>, to <strong>Raymundo B. Daza</strong>, a lawyer, and <strong>Rosario Aguila</strong>, a public school teacher. He had eight siblings (four brothers and four sisters). He attended public elementary and secondary schools in <a href="/articles/2989/the-historical-journey-of-quezon-city" class="news_link">Quezon City</a> and graduated from the <a href="/kauswagan/articles/1188/today-in-philippine-history-june-18-1908-the-university-of-the-philippines-was-established" class="news_link">University of the Philippines</a> (UP) High School in <time datetime="1951">1951</time>, where he was active in student government.
</p>
<p>
He earned a Bachelor of Laws (<em>cum laude</em>) from the University of the Philippines College of Law in <time datetime="1957">1957</time>, was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, and placed 11th in the <time datetime="1957">1957</time> Philippine Bar examinations. He later obtained a Master of Business Administration (<em>cum laude</em>) from the <strong>University of the East</strong>. He passed the Philippine Certified Public Accountant examinations in <time datetime="1968">1968</time>. While in the United States during exile, he became the first Philippine-educated professional to pass both the California Bar and CPA examinations without formal U.S. education and practiced law there.
</p>
<h2>
Entry into Politics and Pre-Martial Law Career
</h2>
<p>
Daza joined the Liberal Party in <time datetime="1965">1965</time>. In <time datetime="1967">1967</time> he ran in a special election for the lone district of Northern Samar (to fill the seat of the late <a href="/articles/3052/today-in-filipino-history-february-18-1913-eladio-balite-was-born-in-bobon-samar" class="news_link">Representative Eladio T. Balite</a>) as a Nacionalista but lost to <strong>Vice Governor Eusebio Moore</strong>. In <time datetime="1969">1969</time>, running as a Liberal, he defeated Moore and served as representative until Congress was abolished after the <a href="/kauswagan/articles/627/today-in-philippine-history-on-september-21-1972-president-ferdinand-e-marcos-placed-the-philippines-under-martial-law" class="news_link">declaration of martial law in <time datetime="1972-09">September 1972</time></a>. He was among the legislators who challenged the constitutionality of martial law before the Supreme Court and campaigned against the ratification of the <time datetime="1973">1973</time> Constitution. He did not opt to serve in the interim national assembly.
</p>
<p>
Before entering politics full-time, he owned a boxing stable called <strong>D'Diamonds</strong> with roughly a dozen fighters; he later served for 16 years as chairman (and later vice-chairman) of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).
</p>
<h2>
Martial Law, Exile, and Opposition
</h2>
<p>
Facing arrest, Daza fled with his family to the United States on <time datetime="1973-01-23">January 23, 1973</time>, and was granted political asylum. Based in Los Angeles, California, he remained active in the anti-Marcos opposition, including work with the <a href="/articles/3016/the-movement-for-a-free-philippines" class="news_link">Movement for a Free Philippines</a> under figures such as <strong>Raul Manglapus</strong> and <strong>Heherson "Sonny" Alvarez</strong>. He was later linked by U.S. authorities to groups involved in urban resistance activities in the Philippines. On <time datetime="1985-08-12">August 12, 1985</time>, he returned despite a pending warrant, was arrested on charges related to the <a href="/kauswagan/general-blogs/1751/the-light-a-fire-movement-heroes-or-terrorists" class="news_link">Light-A-Fire Movement</a> (including subversion, arson, and homicide), and was granted bail after pressure from U.S. senators. He joined the "parliament of the streets” and campaigned for <a href="/kauswagan/articles/897/today-in-philippine-history-january-25-1933-cory-aquino-was-born-in-manila" class="news_link">Corazon Aquino</a> in the <time datetime="1986">1986</time> snap election.
</p>


<h2>
Post-EDSA Roles and Legislative Leadership
</h2>
<p>
After the <time datetime="1986">1986</time> EDSA People Power Revolution, President Aquino appointed him Deputy Minister of the <strong>Presidential Commission on Good Government</strong> (PCGG), which pursued recovery of Marcos ill-gotten wealth. He also briefly served in an appointed capacity related to Northern Samar governance. From <time datetime="1999">1999</time> to <time datetime="2000">2000</time> he was Commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Constitutional Reforms under <a href="/kauswagan/articles/1078/today-in-philippine-history-april-19-1937-erap-estrada-was-born-in-tondo-manila" class="news_link">President Joseph Estrada</a>.
</p>
<p>
Elected to the restored House in <time datetime="1987">1987</time> for Northern Samar's 1st District, he served three consecutive terms (<time datetime="1987">1987</time>–<time datetime="1998">1998</time>). He was elected Speaker Pro Tempore (roughly <time datetime="1992">1992</time>–<time datetime="1995">1995</time>/<time datetime="1998">1998</time>) and Senior Deputy Speaker. In the historic 8th Congress he helped draft the House's parliamentary rules. He later returned to the House (<time datetime="2010">2010</time>–<time datetime="2013">2013</time> and <time datetime="2016">2016</time>–<time datetime="2019">2019</time>), making him one of the longest-serving members across the pre- and post-martial law eras and, at one point, the only sitting legislator who had served before <time datetime="1972">1972</time>. As Liberal Party president (<time datetime="1994">1994</time>–<time datetime="1998">1998</time>/<time datetime="1999">1999</time>), he also chaired the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats. Throughout, he remained loyal to the Liberal Party for more than 60 years.
</p>
<h2>
Governorship of Northern Samar
</h2>
<p>
Daza served three consecutive terms as Governor of Northern Samar (<time datetime="2001">2001</time>–<time datetime="2010">2010</time>). He focused on laying a blueprint for development in a province long burdened by poverty, emphasizing infrastructure, education, healthcare, local economic opportunity, and good governance so that communities could achieve greater dignity and prosperity. Provincial officials later credited his leadership with shaping the province's political and developmental landscape.
</p>
<h2>
Memoirs, Later Years, and Personal Interests
</h2>
<p>
In <time datetime="2025">2025</time>, at age 90, he launched the later volumes of his multi-volume memoirs <em>A Life</em> - specifically <em>Years of Crisis (1974–1983)</em> and <em>Years of Hope (1984–1987)</em> - covering his exile, opposition work, and the transition back to democracy. Earlier volumes addressed his childhood in Samar and Manila and his UP years. These works drew praise from contemporaries as personal eyewitness accounts of critical decades in Philippine history.
</p>
<p>
He was widely described as a man of integrity, humility, empathy, and unwavering principle who "stood firm in his convictions” and believed that, despite political differences, "we have only one flag, and we have only one country.”
</p>
<h2>
Personal Life and Family
</h2>
<p>
He married <strong>Teresita S. "Tessie” Ruiz</strong> on <time datetime="1959-12-05">December 5, 1959</time>, at San Agustin Church in Intramuros; their marriage lasted more than 60 years. They had four children, including <strong>Paul R. Daza</strong> (who followed him as both governor and representative of Northern Samar) and others (Gina, Apple/Joan, and John). His grandson <strong>Niko Raul (Nikko) Daza</strong> succeeded his father Paul as representative of Northern Samar's 1st District. The family has remained prominent in the province's politics.
</p>


Raul A. Daza Biography: Northern Samar Leader & Liberal


Comprehensive biography of Raul A. Daza (1935–2026): 7-term congressman, 3-term Northern Samar governor, anti-Marcos exile, and democracy defender.
