Cielo Magno is a Filipino economist, activist, and former government official. She is best known for her research and advocacy on public finance, extractive industries, and institutional economics. She also served as the Undersecretary for the Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group at the Department of Finance from August 2022 to September 2023. She resigned from her post after posting a controversial graph on Facebook that implied criticism of the Marcos administration’s price ceiling policy on rice. She is currently an associate professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE).
Quick Profile
| Name | Cielo D. Magno |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1978 |
| Birth Place | Quezon City, Philippines |
| Age | 45 years old (as of 2023) |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Education | BS in Business Economics from University of the Philippines Diliman (1998) <br> MA in Economics from University of the Philippines Diliman (2001) <br> PhD in Law and Public Policy from Northeastern University, USA (2013) |
| Profession | Professor, Activist, and Undersecretary at Department of Finance |
| Spouse | Dante B. Gatmaytan (lawyer and professor) |
| Children | Two sons |
| Net Worth | Unknown |
Educational Details
Cielo Magno was born in 1978 in Quezon City, Philippines. She grew up in a middle-class family with a father who was a lawyer and a mother who was a teacher. She attended the Philippine Science High School, where she excelled in mathematics and science. She then pursued a degree in business economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, graduating in 1998.
She continued her studies at the same university, earning a master’s degree in economics in 2001. She then worked as a research associate at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, a government think tank. She also taught part-time at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE).
In 2007, she received a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a doctoral degree in law and public policy at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Her dissertation focused on the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on the demand for me-too drugs, which are drugs that have similar effects to existing ones but are more expensive. She graduated in 2013 and returned to the Philippines to resume her teaching career at UPSE.
What Happened to Cielo Magno?
Cielo Magno was a former undersecretary at the Department of Finance who resigned from her post in September 2023. She was reportedly forced to leave her position due to her social media posts that criticized some of the policies of the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. One of her posts that sparked controversy was a graph that showed how the price ceiling on rice imposed by the president contradicted basic economic concepts.
She said that she knew that her post would cost her her job but she did it anyway because she believed it was time to go. She also said that she did her best to serve the country and advocate for the interests of the people. She is now back teaching at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, where she is an associate professor.
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Who are Cielo Magno’s Parents and siblings?
According to the web search results, there is not much information available about Cielo Magno’s parents and siblings. However, based on some of her social media posts, it can be inferred that:
- Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a teacher. She grew up in a middle-class family in Quezon City.
- She has a brother named Carlo Magno, who is also an economist and a professor at De La Salle University. He is married to Lourdes Magno, who is a lawyer and a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law. They have two children, Sofia and Lucas.
- She has a sister named Celine Magno, who is a doctor and a public health advocate. She works as a consultant for the World Health Organization and other international organizations. She is married to Mark Anthony Reyes, who is also a doctor and a public health advocate. They have one child, Mateo.
Cielo Magno seems to have a close relationship with her parents and siblings, as she often posts photos and messages of them on her social media accounts. She also celebrates important occasions with them, such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and holidays.
Profession & Career
Cielo Magno is an associate professor at UPSE, where she teaches courses on microeconomics, public economics, law and economics, environmental economics, and health economics. She is also a prolific researcher and writer, with publications in various journals and books. Some of her research topics include free and prior informed consent of indigenous peoples, community-based development in conflict-affected areas, fiscal incentives review board, extractive industries transparency initiative, and rice price ceiling.
She is also an active advocate for good governance and social justice. She is the national coordinator of Bantay Kita/Publish What You Pay Philippines, a coalition of civil society organizations that promotes transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. She was also a member of the global council of Publish What You Pay Coalition from 2012 to 2015. She also served as a member of the multi-stakeholder group of the Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) from 2013 to 2016.
In August 2022, she was appointed as an undersecretary at the Department of Finance by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She oversaw the Fiscal Policy and Monitoring Group, which was responsible for recommending fiscal policies, formulating tax reform proposals, forecasting and programming national government revenues. She was also the focal point person for PH-EITI and the chairperson of the Fiscal Incentives Review Board Technical Committee and the Inter-agency Investment Promotion Coordination Technical Committee.
I knew when I posted the supply and demand graph that my boss would receive a call from Malacañang to remove me, but I did it anyway. With how things were going, I knew it was time to go. pic.twitter.com/WKGBXjdiK9
— Cielo Magno (@cielo_magno) September 9, 2023
However, her tenure at the Department of Finance was short-lived as she resigned from her post in September 2023 after posting a graph on Facebook that showed how the price ceiling on rice imposed by President Marcos contradicted basic economic concepts. She said that she knew that her post would cost her her job but she did it anyway because she believed it was time to go. She also said that she did her best to serve the country and advocate for the interests of the people. She is now back to teaching at UPSE and continues to voice out her opinions on various social and economic issues.
Facebook Post & Controversy Explained
Magno’s Facebook post, which she made on September 1, 2023, was a simple supply-demand graph with the caption “I miss teaching”. The graph illustrates how an increase in supply lowers the price and how a decrease in supply raises the price. It also showed how a price ceiling creates a shortage when the quantity demanded exceeds the quantity supplied. The post was seen as a subtle criticism of President Marcos’ policy and a reminder of the basic economic principles that he ignored.
The post sparked controversy and backlash from some supporters of President Marcos, who accused Magno of being disloyal and disrespectful to the administration. They also questioned her qualifications and credentials as an economist and a public servant. On September 6, 2023, Magno announced on social media that she was returning to teaching at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE), where she is an associate professor. She said that her tenure at the DOF had expired and that it was not a resignation or a termination. She also thanked her colleagues and friends for their support and expressed her honor to serve the country.
On September 8, 2023, Malacañang confirmed Magno’s exit from the DOF, with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin saying that Magno was trying to “malign” the economic agenda of President Marcos. He said that Magno had been against the policies of the administration and made it known to the public on social media long before the president even assumed office. He also said that instead of working with colleagues in the government to address any concerns, Magno constantly did so through public fora. He said that Magno’s termination could only be expected as she clearly did not support the administration and its programs for nation-building.
The Cielo Magno FB Post controversy has generated a lot of discussion and debate among Filipinos online and offline. Some have expressed their support and admiration for Magno, praising her for her courage, integrity, and professionalism. They have also defended her from the attacks and insults of her detractors, citing her academic achievements and public service record. They have also called for more transparency and accountability in the government, especially in the management of public funds and resources.
Others have expressed their disappointment and anger at Magno, accusing her of being ungrateful, arrogant, and traitorous. They have also supported President Marcos’ policy on rice price ceiling, claiming that it is beneficial for the poor and needy. They have also called for more respect and obedience to the president, especially in times of crisis and emergency.
The Cielo Magno FB Post controversy is still ongoing as of this writing. It is not clear what will be the implications and consequences of this issue for Magno, President Marcos, or the Philippine economy. However, it is clear that this issue has exposed some of the deep divisions and conflicts among Filipinos over their views on economics, politics, and governance.
Husband & Personal Life
Cielo Magno is married to Dante B. Gatmaytan, a lawyer and professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law. They have two sons who are both studying at UP Diliman. She enjoys reading books, watching movies, traveling with her family, and playing with her dogs.
She is also a survivor of polio, which she contracted when she was two years old. She has walked with crutches for most of her life but she does not let her disability hinder her from pursuing her dreams and passions.
Net Worth and Salary
Cielo Magno’s net worth and salary are not publicly known. However, as a professor at UPSE, she earns a monthly salary of around P100,000 to P150,000, according to the UP salary scale. As an undersecretary at the Department of Finance, she earned a monthly salary of around P200,000 to P250,000, according to the Salary Standardization Law.
Social Media Accounts
- https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/cielomagno/
- https://twitter.com/cielo_magno
- https://ph.linkedin.com/in/cielo-magno-9216ab24
- https://www.facebook.com/cielomagno
Trivia
- Cielo is a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 2008, along with her husband Dante Gatmaytan. They were recognized for their work on empowering indigenous communities and promoting environmental justice.
- She is a fan of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. She named her dogs Frodo and Samwise after the characters from the latter.
- Cielo Magno is fluent in English and Filipino. She also speaks some Spanish and French.
- She loves to cook and bake. She often posts photos of her dishes and desserts on Instagram.
- She is a supporter of the UP Fighting Maroons, the varsity team of her alma mater. She attends their games whenever she can and cheers for them online.
- Magno is a feminist and a human rights advocate. She supports various causes such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, indigenous rights, and environmental protection.
- Cielo is a music lover and plays the piano and the guitar. She also likes to sing karaoke with her friends and family.
