| Joseph Emilio Abaya | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Cavite's 1st District | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 30, 2004 |
|
| Preceded by | Plaridel Abaya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 28, 1966 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Rowena Abesamis |
| Profession | Politician |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Joseph Emilio "Jun" Aguinaldo Abaya (born May 28, 1966) is a Filipino politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he has been elected to two terms as a Member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the 1st District of Cavite. He first won election to Congress in 2004, and was re-elected in 2007.
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Jun, as he is commonly called, is the great grandson of the first Philippine president, Emilio Aguinaldo, and the descendant of Isabelo Abaya, the revolutionary hero and founding father of Candon, Ilocos Sur. He is also the second son of the three-term Congressman Plaridel M. Abaya.
Jun finished his elementary education from the De La Salle University in 1979. During his secondary schoolyears, he was a consistent honor student at the Philippine Science High School that he became a University and College scholar of the University of the Philippines where he took his engineering studies. While in UP, Jun took and topped the entrance examination for the Philippine Military Academy that he was sent by the government to the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, USA where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics (1988) with distinction of being a consistent Dean's Lister in all the semesters he was there. Jun then proceeded to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA and completed Master's degree in Electrical Engineering (1989 - he was also a fellowship awardee).
He thought it fit to prepare himself further as a lawmaker that he studied law. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University, School of Law in April 2005. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2007.
Prior to representing the 1st district, Cavite to the House of Representatives in 2004, he first served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a Cadet (1984–1988) and as a Naval officer of the Philippine Navy (1988–2004).
He ran for congressman in 2004 and represented the 1st District of Cavite to the 13th Congress of the Philippines. He was re-elected in the 2007 elections. During the 14th Congress, He was Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology. He was also Co-Chairman, with Senator Eduardo Angara, of the Joint Congressional Committee on Science and Technology and Engineering.
During the 15th Congress (2010) and on his last term, he serves as the Chairman of House Committee on Appropriations.
In 2009, he among with fellow representatives of Cavite -- Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. and Jesus Crispin Remulla -- authored the biggest congressional reapportionment in the history of the Philippines by passing Republic Act No. 9727, unofficially titled The Cavite Congressional Reapportionment Act of 2009, bringing the representatives of Cavite from three to seven.
Jun is happily married to his batchmate at the Philippine Science High School, Dr. Rowena Abesamis, M.D., a pediatrician at the St. Luke's Medical Center with whom he is blessed with three children: Emilio Francisco (Miong), Iñigo Jose (Ingo), and Felicia Maria Antonella (Ichay). Unfortunately, their fourth child, Veanna, died shortly after she was born.
He was the Vice president of PMA Maringal Class of 1988 and is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Friends of Aguinaldo Shrine.
| House of Representatives of the Philippines | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Plaridel Abaya |
Representative, 1st District of Cavite 2004–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |