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Mayor

MICHAEL MARCOS KEON

A public servant by heart, Michael Marcos Keon, has demonstrated and exemplified the characteristics of what a true and outstanding public official is through his distinguished and extraordinary achievements. His unquestionable professionalism and commitment to public interest, undeniable dedication and loyalty to his country, unpretentious humility, unparalleled show of justness, sincerity, and genuine concern to his colleagues and the people of the City of Laoag are the attributes of his leadership.

MMK, as he is fondly called by his colleagues and the people, was born on 22 September 1954 in Rome, Italy. His parents were the late Michael James Keon, an Australian journalist who was then the Editor-in-Chief of the Rome Daily American, the biggest English language newspaper in the Mediterranean, and Elizabeth Marcos Keon, who served as governor of the Province of Ilocos Norte for 12 years, from 1971 to 1983, and was serving as the Press Attache of the Philippine Embassy in Rome at that time.Prior to settling down in the Philippines, he lived most of his formative years abroad in Rome, Italy, then in Melbourne, Australia and later in Bangkok, Thailand. Because of this, Keon emphasizes that his upbringing influenced his leadership and management style, and how he approaches things and situations in life.He attended his primary education at the International School in Rome, Italy and later on at the Ormond State School in Australia. He further spent his secondary education at Ruam Rudi Catholic School in Bangkok, Thailand and then laterat St. Patrick’s College, a boarding school for boys in Ballarat, Western Victoria, Australia.

It was here that he took up distance running and became Ballarat school’s champion in 880-yard and 1-mile before distance running became metric. He then later left boarding school and went on to complete his secondary education at Hurstbridge High School, also in Victoria, Australia. During his stay at Hurstbridge High School, he was the school champion in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter distance run and was also a member of the school’s 4×100-meter relay freestyle swimming team.He came to the Philippines to pursue his college education at the University of the Philippines taking up English Literature with a minor in Political Science.During college, he competed in the 41st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) in 1978 and won in the 5,000-meter middle distance, setting a new record of 16 minutes and 3 seconds.At a very young age of 25, he was appointed by his uncle, the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos, as the Executive Director of Gintong Alay Project, the national sports program of the government which was established through Letter of Instructions No. 955 dated 31 October 1979.

Initially, the program was aimed to develop and train track and field athletes for international competitions. Gintong Alay Project became a highly successful program bringing about a renaissance in Philippine sports and produced some of the country’s greatest track and field athletes like Lydia de Vega and Isidro del Prado. In track and field alone, Gintong Alay broke more than a hundred National, Southeast Asian and Asian Games records. Because of its success, the scope of the program was expanded by President Marcos through Letter of Instructions No. 1022-A in 19 May 1980 to include 17 other sports eventually taking over the task of sports development from the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

The program set up a strong foundation in Philippine sports and had an overwhelming impact on both the culture and the international profile of the country.He also served as the 4th President of the Philippine Olympic Committee from 1981 to 1984, President of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association from 1981 to 1985, and President of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines in 1985.In 1998, when his cousin, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. was then the Governor of the Province of Ilocos Norte, Keon was appointed as the Sports Consultant and Director of the newly created Ilocos Norte Sports Development Council, which was a downsized version of Gintong Alay, and helped steer the Province of Ilocos Norte to an unprecedented 11 straight championships in the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet from the year 2000 to 2010. The program produced athletes that went on to win medals internationally in Taekwondo, Distance Running and Track and Field.

In 2005, Keon was appointed as the National Training Director for Team Philippines to the 23rd Southeast Asian Games hosted by the Philippines. For the first and only time in the country’s history, the Philippines emerged as the Overall Champion. Keon was responsible for the preparation of all training programs, approval of training budgets and overseeing the actual implementation of training both locally and overseas.Continuing the family tradition in public service, Keon ran for office as Provincial Board Member and eventually won a seat in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Then in 2007, he was elected with an overwhelming majority as Governor of the Province of Ilocos Norte, succeeding Bongbong Marcos. His platform of governance focused on key areas of health care, education, agriculture and tourism, with emphasis on preserving the cultural heritage and the natural environment of the province.In 2018, then Ilocos Norte Governor and now Senator Imee R. Marcos, appointed Keon as City Councilor to fill in a vacant seat in the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Laoag City. During his short stint in the city council, Keon personally witnessed the current state of the city, and the numerous problems, issues and concerns the city were facing.Because of this, Keon realized that the city and the people of Laoag were in dire need for a real change, especially in leadership.

During the May 2019 midterm national and local elections, Keon ran as city mayor and eventually got elected as the new Chief Executive of the City of Laoag.With the new administration comes the sincere promise of change and genuine public service to the people of Laoag, and a new set of leaders and workers in government who are prepared to make sacrifices for the people of this great city. This passion for selfless dedication coupled with enthusiasm is the driving force of the new administration which aims to work towards a brighter “Baro a Laoag”. Together, with the support and collective effort of all the men and women in government, and with City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon at its helm, these promises shall be pursued to make Laoag City truly a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”