Gregorio Y Zara was a Filipino physician and politician who served as the 13th President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1972. He was born on March 14, 1907, in Paco, Manila, Philippines, to Gregorio Y Zara Sr., a doctor, and Maria Clara Alonso Y Zara.
Y Zara attended the University of Santo Tomas, where he earned his medical degree in 1928. He then went on to study at Harvard University, where he earned a master's degree in public health in 1931.
After returning to the Philippines, Y Zara worked as a doctor and public health official. He also served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1934 to 1941.
During World War II, Y Zara served as a military doctor with the Philippine Commonwealth Army. He was captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner of war for three years.
After the war, Y Zara returned to the Philippines and resumed his work in public health. He also served as the mayor of Manila from 1952 to 1956.
In 1965, Y Zara was elected President of the Philippines. His presidency was marked by a number of significant achievements, including the passage of the Land Reform Act of 1966, which sought to redistribute land to the country's poor farmers.
Y Zara also oversaw the construction of a number of infrastructure projects, including the San Juanico Bridge, which connects the islands of Leyte and Samar.
In 1972, Y Zara declared martial law in the Philippines. He justified his decision by arguing that the country was in a state of emergency and that martial law was necessary to restore order.
Y Zara's declaration of martial law was controversial and unpopular with many Filipinos. He was criticized for authoritarian tendencies and for using martial law to suppress dissent.
In 1986, Y Zara was overthrown by the People Power Revolution. He fled the country and went into exile in Hawaii, where he lived until his death in 1991.
Y Zara's legacy is complex and controversial. He is both praised for his achievements as president and criticized for his authoritarian tendencies. However, there is no doubt that he was a significant figure in Philippine history.