de la Rosa
Bro. Andrew Gonzalez
Santos Mangio, FUAP
Architect and Environmental Planner
Nestor Mangio with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo during his oathtaking as Chairman of Clark International Airport Corporation
Who would ever thought that on April 14, 1950 when Nestor S. Mangio was born to Tomas Mangio, Sr. and the former Benita Santos in a small village called Palawi in the barrio of San Juan in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, Philippines would be featured four decades later in the Philippine Daily Star and in other architectural magazines for his outstanding professional accomplishments and his involvement in socio-civic-religious activities. But then, if you review the history of the little village of Palawi, you may have a second thought of thinking in the negative way because there were indeed some patriotic, courageous and hard-working people from that place who contributed and participated in the struggle to gain Philippine independence and played major roles in the political and economic development of the Philippines particularly in the province of Pampanga.
The contributions of the David, Galang, Hilario, Madamba, Mangio, Ocampo, Pamintuan, Quizon, Santiago, Santos and Singian families in nation building will always be remembered and mentioned by historians from generation to generation. The historic bridge in Palawi is the boundary between the city of San Fernando and the municipality of Bacolor, a former provincial capital and the capital of the Philippines during the British occupancy of Manila in 1762-1764. At that time Don Simon de Anda y Salazar became a Spanish lieutenant governor, moved the national government center to Bacolor and recruited Filipinos mostly from Pampanga to gain back Manila from the British forces. The Filipino troops on the side of Spain against England were led by two Kapampangans named Manalastas and Col. Santos de los Angeles and a Tagalog named Col. Francisco de San Juan. It was also at this Palawi Bridge that the brave Kapampangan Katipuneros repelled the invading Spaniards at the height of the Philippine Revolution in the late 19th century against Spain and later the same spot was a battleground between patriotic Kapampangans and American soldiers during the Philippine-American war.
In the last two decades of the 20th century, three prominent gentlemen from Palawi made their marks in the service of their country and were honored individually by the Provincial Government of Pampanga as Most Outstanding Kapampangans in the eighties and the nineties.
The first honoree, Brigadier General Romeo S. David, rose to the rank of regional commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and when he retired from the military service, President Cory C. Aquino designated him as president and chief executive officer of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Executive Vice President of Philippine Airline. When General Fidel Ramos got elected president of the Philippine republic, he requested General David to serve as president and chief executive officer of Clark Development Corporation and Clark International Airport.
The second honoree, Vice Admiral Armando Q. Madamba became Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and when he retired from the military service, President Fidel Ramos appointed him as Ambassador to the Asian Pacific Economic Council (APEC) in Singapore.
The third honoree, Nestor S. Mangio became a famous architect, an environmental planner and a successful real estate developer. No other village in Pampanga ever produced at least three outstanding individuals in a span of twenty years like Palawi, a little village divided by a half-kilometer strip of concrete highway between two bridges crossing two little rivers, which overflow with streaming water during the rainy season.
As a young boy who grew up with ten other siblings, Nestor helped his parents in tending their busy grocery store and squeezed some time to read his books and diligently did his homework assigned by his teachers from Don Bosco Academy in Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines where he completed his secondary education with high honors (1st Honorable Mention) in 1966.
Following his dream and professional ambition, Nestor matriculated at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines and graduated four years later in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and passed the government examination for architects with flying colors in 1972.
Typical of a young and ambitious architect who was so eager to have professional experience in his chosen profession, Nestor patiently applied his architectural skill and creativity where he always excelled and gained the respect not only of his peers but also his growing clientele.
Today, more than thirty six years after he graduated from the College of Architecture of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and two years after he earned his certificate in Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he received the Model Student of Harvard Class III AMDP Award, Nestor is an acknowledged internationally famous architect, a environmental planner, a world-renown lecturer and convener in urban design and environmental planning as well as a successful real estate and community developer.
As an outstanding business executive and successful entrepreneur, he currently serves with distinction as Principal Architect and Environmental (Urban) Planner of Nestor S. Mangio and Associates, President of N.S. Mangio Construction and Development Corporation, Chairman and President of Central Country Estate, Inc., Owner and General Manager of Hotel Gracelane, Chairman of the Lakeshore Marketing Corporation, Managing Director of Nobleman Properties, Inc., President and General Manager of A.C. Emerald Realty and Development Corporation, President of Haulman Trading and Forwarding Corporation and Chairman and President of Lakeshore Country Club.
Compassionate as he is, despite of Nestor's busy schedule he finds time to get involve in charitable activities as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lugud Capampangan Foundation, Inc., President of Aguman Capampangan Educational Foundation, Inc.,
Member of the Board of Trustees and EXCOM of Fr. Fernando Suarez Foundation -Mary Mother of the Poor
and as Presiding Elder of the Spirit of Love Catholic Community. He also led as president and/or chairman of El Circulo Fernandino, Independence Day Celebration, San Fernando Town Fiesta and several annual San Fernando Giant Lantern Festivals.
Nestor was also elected president of the United Architects of the Philippines, chancellor of the UAP College of Fellows, president of the Don Bosco Academy Alumni Association, Rotary Club of San Juan Metro, District 3800, Club Capampangan of Pampanga, Chairman of the National Real Estate association of the Philippines, Director of Chamber of Real Estate Builders Association (National and International) and chairman of many other socio-civic-religious organizations. He represented the Philippines and his profession to several national and international conferences in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, USA, Germany, Turkey and in Spain.
To take advantage of Nestor's management expertise, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos appointed him as a director of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Clark Development Corporation and Fort Bonifacio Development Corporation on March 16, 1993 and re-appointed him on July 27, 1995 as BCDA Director for another 5-year term but served only until July 27, 1998.
To enhance the economic development being generated by the Clark Development Corporation and to respond to the growing air transportation needs of the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Nestor as Chairman of Clark International Airport Corporation.
In recognition of his illustrious and remarkable accomplishments, Nestor was honored as Outstanding Architect by the Angeles City Jaycees; Outstanding Alumnus by Don Bosco Academy and Outstanding Kapampangan by the Province of Pampanga. He is a Fellow of the United Architects of the Philippines and the Architects of Asia. The Philippine Professional Regulatory Commission bestowed on him the Outstanding Professional of the Year Award for Architecture in 2005 while The Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints selected him as Best Contractor for the Years 2004 and 2005. He also received the Design Award for Paskuhan Village , Blessed Rinaldi Servant Leader Award and the Building and Construction Interchange Asia Award.
As a celebrated achiever, Nestor obviously has a great mind, but he also has a very sympathetic heart. He is able to reach out to all kinds of individuals and think humanely.
Nestor and his equally talented and charming wife, Marionette P. Mangio are blessed with four children namely Brian John, Hazel Ann, Michael John and Julie Ann. Enjoying the good life, the Mangios own and maintain residences in the cities of San Fernando, Angeles, Baguio, Subic, Quezon City and Fort Bonifacio.
The Central Country Estate, Inc. which is headed by Nestor Mangio
as president was bestowed the Developer of the Year by the Chamber of Real Estate and Builders' Association, Inc. in a ceremony at the
Manila Hotel on April 26, 2007. Central Country Estate, Inc. is the owner and developer of internationally known Lakeshore Estate located
in Mexico, Pampanga, Philippines.
(Andro S. Camiling - 03/26/07)