Ismael Austria Mathay Jr. (June 26, 1932 – December 25, 2013), also known as Mel Mathay, was a Filipino lawyer and politician who last served as the Mayor of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001. Previously, he had also served as vice mayor of Quezon City from 1968 to 1971, secretary to the commissioner of the General Authority Office from 1972 to 1981,

vice governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a " second-in-com ...

of the Metro Manila Commission from 1979 to 1986, an assemblyman representing Quezon City in the

Regular Batasang Pambansa The Regular Batasang Pambansa (English language, English: Regular National Assembly), or the First Batasang Pambansa, was the meeting of the Batasang Pambansa (legislature), Batasang Pambansa from the beginning of its session on July 23, 1984 ...

from 1984 to 1986, representative for the city's 4th district from 1987 to 1992, director of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System from 1979 to 1987, and chairman of the Metro Manila Authority (now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) from 1993 to 1994.

Early life and education

Ismael Austria Mathay Jr. was born in

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

on June 26, 1932, to Ismael Mathay Sr., who would later serve as a Cabinet member under President

Sergio Osmeña Sergio Osmeña Sr. (, ; zh, c=吳文釗, poj=Gô͘ Bûn-chiau; September 9, 1878 – October 19, 1961) was a Filipino people, Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the List of presidents of the Philippines, fourth president of the Ph ...

, and Josefina Mathay. Mathay graduated in 1953 with bachelor's degree in Business Administration Major in Economics in the University of the Philippines, where he joined the prestigious Upsilon Sigma Phi. Soon after graduation, he enrolled at the College of Law in

San Beda College San Beda University () is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution run by the Order of Saint Benedict in San Miguel, Manila, Philippines. It was founded by the Benedictines in 1901. The main campus is situated ...

and successfully passed the

bar examination A bar examination is an examination administered by the bar association of a jurisdiction that a lawyer must pass in order to be admitted to the bar of that jurisdiction. Australia Administering bar exams is the responsibility of the bar associat ...

in 1957.

Political career

Mathay was elected Vice Mayor of Quezon City in 1967, serving from 1968 to 1971. In 1972, he was appointed secretary to the commissioner of the watchdog General Authority Office, a genuine recognition for his talent and integrity. Mathay had completed tenure of 9 years. Prior to his becoming city mayor, he served as the

of the Metro Manila Commission from 1979 to 1986, an assemblyman representing Quezon City in the

from 1984 to 1986, and congressman representing Quezon City's 4th district from 1987 to 1992. He was director of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System from 1979 to 1987, and chairman of the Metro Manila Authority from 1993 to 1994. He tried to reclaim the mayoral position in 2004 and

2010 The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...

but lost to Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and

Herbert Bautista Herbert Constantine "Bistek" Maclang Bautista (born May 12, 1968) is a Filipino actor and politician who served as mayor of Quezon City, the Philippines' largest city by population, from 2010 to 2019. Bautista has starred in numerous films and ...

, respectively.

Personal life

Mathay married his long-time partner Vilma Valera early in 2013, one year after the death of his first wife Sonya Gandionco. Actress

Ara Mina Hazel Pascual Reyes Klenk Mathay-Almarinez (born May 9, 1979), professionally known as Ara Mina-Almarinez, is a Filipino actress, singer, endorser, and entrepreneur. Recognized as the "Millennium Goddess", Mina is a recipient of a FAMAS Awar ...

and San Juan City councilors Cris and Ismael "Macky" Mathay IV are his grandchildren through his son Ismael "Chuck" Mathay III.

Death

Mathay died of a heart attack at the age of 81 on December 25, 2013, at

The Medical City Ortigas The Medical City Ortigas is a tertiary care hospital in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines. Opened in 2004, it is the main hospital of The Medical City (TMC) which maintains a network of hospitals and clinics which are mostly based in the Philippi ...

Pasig Pasig, officially the City of Pasig (), is a highly-urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 803,159 people. It is located along the eastern border of Metro Mani ...

. His remains were cremated on December 28 and later inurned at Christ the King Parish - Greenmeadows in Quezon City.

In popular culture

He was portrayed by Marlon Mance and Billy Jake Cortez as the young Mel Mathay in the 2023 film '' Martyr or Murderer''.

References

, - , - 1932 births 2013 deaths Chairpersons of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Independent politicians in the Philippines Kilusang Bagong Lipunan politicians Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino politicians Mayors of Quezon City Members of the Batasang Pambansa Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Quezon City Nacionalista Party politicians Politicians from Quezon City Ramos administration personnel San Beda University alumni {{Philippines-politician-stub