| Michael
Marcos Keon was born in Rome, Italy on 22 September 1954,
while his mother Elizabeth Marcos Keon was serving as Press
Attaché at the Philippine Embassy, and his father (and
namesake) Michael Keon, was editor-in-chief of the biggest
English language newspaper in the Mediterranean. He lived
in Europe and Thailand prior to settling down in Australia,
where he studied at St. Patrick’s College, and was the
school middle distance and cross-country champion.
Coming to the Philippines,
Michael continued his studies at the University of the Philippines,
majoring in English Literature, with a minor in Political
Science. While at U.P., he competed in the UAAP where he was
the record holder in the 5,000 meter track event for16 years.
He has competed in national events as well as in the MILO
Marathon. In 1978, Michael masterminded the creation of the
University of the Philippines Road Runner’s Club, the
first running club in the Philippines, which helped to spread
the joys of distance running throughout the campus and precipitated
an upsurge in distance-running participation.
In
1979 to 1986, he was the Executive Director of the Project
Gintong Alay and Chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee
from 1981 to 1984. He also became the President of the Philippine
Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA) from 1981 to
1985 and the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines
(ABAP) in 1985.
He was the Consultant for Sports Development of the Province
of Ilocos Norte from 1998-2003, and was responsible for making
the province IRAA champion eight times. He is the Chairman
of the Philippine Taekwondo Association for Luzon Affairs.
He was also appointed as National Training Director for the
Southeast Asian Games in 2005 where the Philippines emerged
as champion for the first time.
Continuing the family tradition
in public service, he ran for office, becoming a Provincial
Board Member for the 1st district of the Province of Ilocos
Norte from 2004-2007. As Chairman of the Committee on Tourism,
he spearheaded the building of the recreation complex called
Dap-ayan completed in 2005, and the Ilocos Norte Hotel and
Convention Center which is currently under construction. He
was likewise the principal sponsor of an ordinance for the
conservation and protection of the natural, cultural, physical,
and intangible heritage of the province.
In
May 2007, he was elected governor of the province, a position
once held by his mother, with an overwhelming majority. His
platform of government focuses on the key areas of health
care, education, agriculture and tourism, with particular
emphasis on preserving the cultural heritage and the natural
environment of the province.
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