Mel Mathay

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Mel Mathay

| image = Ismael “Mel” Austria Mathay Jr.png

| imagesize =

| smallimage =

| caption =

| order = 8th

| office = Mayor of Quezon City

| 1blankname = {{nowrap|Vice Mayor}}

| 1namedata = {{Unbulleted list|Charito Planas (1992–1995)|Herbert Bautista (1995–1998)|Jorge L. Banal (1998)|Fe Consuelo S. Angeles (1998–2001)}}

| term_start = June 30, 1992

| term_end = June 30, 2001

| predecessor = Brigido R. Simon Jr.

| successor = Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

| office2 = Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Authority

| term_start2 = June 30, 1992

| term_end2 = June 30, 1994

| president2 = Fidel V. Ramos

| predecessor2 = Ignacio Bunye

| successor2 = Prospero Oreta

| order3 =

| office3 = Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Quezon City's 4th congressional district

| term_start3 = June 30, 1987

| term_end3 = June 30, 1992

| predecessor3 = Position created

| successor3 = Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.

| office4 = Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman)
from Quezon City

| term_start4 = June 30, 1984

| term_end4 = March 25, 1986

| alongside4 = Orlando S. Mercado, Cecilia Muñoz-Palma and Alberto Romulo

| order5 =

| office5 = Vice Governor of the Metro Manila Commission

| governor5 = Imelda Marcos

| term_start5 = 1979

| term_end5 = 1986

| appointer5 = Imelda Marcos

| predecessor5 = Position created

| successor5 = Position abolished

| order6 =

| office6 = Vice Mayor of Quezon City

| 1blankname6 = {{nowrap|Mayor}}

| 1namedata6 = Norberto S. Amoranto

| term_start6 = January 1, 1968

| term_end6 = December 30, 1971

| predecessor6 = Mariano Sta. Romana

| successor6 = Carlos Albert

| birth_name = Ismael Austria Mathay Jr.

| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=y|1932|6|26}}

| birth_place = Manila, Philippine Islands

| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=y|2013|12|25|1932|6|26}}

| death_place = Pasig, Philippines

| nationality =

| party = Independent (1992–2004, 2005–13)

| otherparty = KBL (1984–92)
LDP (2004){{Cite web |date=January 6, 2004 |title=Mathay files bid |url=https://www.philstar.com/metro/2004/01/06/234141/mathay-files-bid |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Philstar.com}}

| spouse = {{Unbulleted list|{{marriage|Sonia Gandionco||2012|reason=her death}}|{{marriage|Vilma Valera|2013}}}}

| relations = Ara Mina (granddaughter)
Cris Mathay (grandson)

| children = 4

| restingplace = Christ the King Parish - Greenmeadows, Quezon City

| residence = Quezon City

| alma_mater = University of the Philippines Diliman (BS)
San Beda College (LL.B)

| occupation = Politician

| profession = Lawyer

| religion =

| signature =

}}

Ismael Austria Mathay Jr. (June 26, 1932 – December 25, 2013),{{cite web|url=https://quezoncity.gov.ph/quezon-city-leaders/|title=Quezon City Leaders|accessdate=November 29, 2021|website=Quezon City Government Official Website|date=April 14, 2021 }} also known as Mel Mathay, was a Filipino lawyer and politician who last served as the Mayor of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001. Previously, he had also served as vice mayor of Quezon City from 1968 to 1971, secretary to the commissioner of the General Authority Office from 1972 to 1981, vice governor of the Metro Manila Commission from 1979 to 1986, an assemblyman representing Quezon City in the Regular Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986, representative for the city's 4th district from 1987 to 1992, director of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System from 1979 to 1987, and chairman of the Metro Manila Authority (now Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) from 1993 to 1994.

Early life and education

Ismael Austria Mathay Jr. was born in Manila on June 26, 1932, to Ismael Mathay Sr., who would later serve as a Cabinet member under President Sergio Osmeña,{{cite web|url=http://www.pangulo.ph/prexy_sgo.php|title=Sergio Osmeña: 2nd President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines - War Cabinet 1944-45|publisher=The Philippine Presidential Project|accessdate=July 23, 2009}} and Josefina Mathay.{{cite web|url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?fsaall:2:./temp/~pp_mDz8::@@@mdb=fsaall,brum,detr,swann,look,gottscho,pan,horyd,genthe,var,cai,cd,hh,yan,lomax,ils,prok,brhc,nclc,matpc,iucpub,tgmi,lamb,hec,krb|title=CALL NUMBER: LC-USW3- 054094-C [P&P]|publisher=Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress|accessdate=July 23, 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.geni.com/people/Mel-Mathay/6000000004212697006|title=Ismael Austria Mathay, Jr.|website=Geni.com|accessdate=May 12, 2024}}

Mathay graduated in 1953 with bachelor's degree in Business Administration Major in Economics in the University of the Philippines, where he joined the prestigious Upsilon Sigma Phi. Soon after graduation, he enrolled at the College of Law in San Beda College and successfully passed the bar examination in 1957.

Political career

Mathay was elected Vice Mayor of Quezon City in 1967, serving from 1968 to 1971. In 1972, he was appointed secretary to the commissioner of the watchdog General Authority Office, a genuine recognition for his talent and integrity. Mathay had completed tenure of 9 years.

Prior to his becoming city mayor, he served as the vice-governor of the Metro Manila Commission from 1979 to 1986, an assemblyman representing Quezon City in the Regular Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986, and congressman representing Quezon City's 4th district from 1987 to 1992.{{cite news|url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/322052/former-qc-mayor-dies|title=Former QC mayor dies|date=29 December 2013|accessdate=12 November 2022|work=SunStar}}{{cite web|url=https://mmda.gov.ph/images/pdf/Transparency/qms/2022/QM-02-2022.pdf|title=QM-02-2022|website=Metropolitan Manila Development Authority|accessdate=12 November 2022|date=1 April 2022}} He was director of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System from 1979 to 1987, and chairman of the Metro Manila Authority from 1993 to 1994. He tried to reclaim the mayoral position in 2004 and 2010 but lost to Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Herbert Bautista, respectively.

Personal life

Mathay married his long-time partner Vilma Valera early in 2013, one year after the death of his first wife Sonya Gandionco. Actress Ara Mina and San Juan City councilors Cris and Ismael "Macky" Mathay IV are his grandchildren through his son Ismael "Chuck" Mathay III.{{cite news|url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/06/carving-a-name-in-politics|title=Carving a name in politics|first=Rikki|last=Mathay|date=July 6, 2022|accessdate=December 8, 2024|publisher=Manila Bulletin}}

Death

Mathay died of a heart attack at the age of 81 on December 25, 2013, at The Medical City Ortigas in Pasig.{{cite news|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/12/25/13/former-qc-mayor-dies-christmas-day|title=Former QC mayor dies on Christmas day|work=abs-cbnnews.com|date=25 December 2013|accessdate=25 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/46631-mel-mathay-dies|title=Former QC Mayor Mel Mathay dies at 81|work=rappler.com|date=25 December 2013|accessdate=25 December 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Ismael-%E2%80%98Mel%E2%80%99-Mathay,-81&id=81216|title=Ismael 'Mel' Mathay, 81|work=bworldonline.com|date=26 December 2013|accessdate=26 December 2013}} His remains were cremated on December 28 and later inurned at Christ the King Parish - Greenmeadows in Quezon City.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/manila-times/20131227/281612418230246?srsltid=AfmBOoo33e-9rMxdKut5EUez3M3lAuakmOtqjgy75_gznJC6xIEdQvCd|title=Imelda Marcos mourns Mel Mathay|publisher=The Manila Times|date=December 27, 2013|accessdate=January 12, 2025}}