Teofisto de Lara Guingona III is a man who has lived his public life in accordance with the principle that public office is apublic trust . All government officials must at all times be accountable to the people.
TG, as he is called by friends and colleagues, is presently the congressman of the Second District of the Province of Bukidnon. His district includes the capital city of Malaybalay, as well as the prosperous business city of Valencia.
TG Guingona is the third generation of public servants. His lolo, Teofisto Guingona Sr., served as the Governor of the entire Mindanao during the term of President Manuel Quezon during the 1930’s. His father, Teofisto “Tito” Guingona, has served our country as Chairman of the Commission on Audit, Senator, Executive Secretary, Secretary of Justice, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and Vice-President. TG Guingona is now on his second term as congressman of Bukidnon.
TG graduated from the Ateneo de Manila with a degree in Economics and Law. He is married to Atty. Maria Victoria Guingona and they have a son, Bobby.
While in college at the Ateneo, he already joined the student government. This was when he got his first taste of raw politics. One sunny day, TG Guingona and his colleagues in the student government joined a protest rally of the opposition party LABAN or Lakas ng Bayan to protest the massive cheating by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos during the elections for the 1978 Interim Batasan Pambansa. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino headed the LABAN ticket. While marching along Espana avenue, in Manila, TG and the entire Ateneo student government were arrested together with other prominent opposition personalities. At the tender age of 19 years old, TG was incarcerated at Bicutan Center together with Nene Pimentel, Joker Arroyo, Soc Rodrigo, and Lorenzo Tanada Sr. He shared the prison cell with his father and mother, who were also present in the rally. The experience was at first traumatic for TG, but it also transformed him into a man capable of confronting life’s many challenges.
Presently, TG Guingona is a member of the opposition and is a member of the minority group at congress. He is a Deputy Minority floor leader and is the Minority representative to the powerful JCPC- or the Joint Congressional Power Commission which deals with matters relating to energy and electricity.
TG Guingona strongly believes in the principles of transparency in governance and accountability of government officials. He has played a major role in the move to impeach President Arroyo and has had a significant role in opposing Charter Change. He involved himself in issues such as military corruption, human rights and extra-judicial killings. His plans and programs are directed towards building a healthy and educated citizenry with improved access to food, technology and energy. He is presently very focused on budget reform policies.
TG has lived his life in accordance with the maxim: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”