Benjamin Romualdez

Benjamin "Kokoy" Trinidad Romualdez (September 24, 1930 – February 21, 2012) was a Filipino politician who served as Governor of Leyte and later appointed as ambassador to the United States, China and Saudi Arabia. He was a younger brother to former first lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos and the father of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Personal life The son of the late Vicente Orestes Romuáldez, a former dean of the law school of St. Paul's College in Tacloban City, Kokoy Romualdez began his career in politics after serving as an assistant of then Speaker Daniel Romualdez from 1957 to 1961. He was a younger brother to former First Lady Imelda Marcos and the father of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. He was married to Juliette Gomez and their children are: Daniel, a practicing architect in New York, and partner Michael; Benjamin Philip, president and chief executive officer of Benguet Corp., who is married to Inquirer president and CEO Maria Alexandra; Ferdinand Martin, who is married to Yedda Marie; Marean, an investment banker, and husband Thomas; sisters Imelda Marcos, Alita Martel, Conchita Yap and brothers Alfredo and Armando. Political life Romualdez embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in politics spanning more than 20 years. He served several terms as Leyte governor from 1967 to 1986. During this time, his brother-in-law, President Ferdinand Marcos also appointed him as ambassador to China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.