He finished his secondary education in St. Anthony School, Singalong, Malate (Salutatorian, 1968), and he took up his tertiary education in the University of the Philippines (A.B. Economics, cum laude and Valedictorian of the class, 1971 and M.A. Economics, 1973) and he continued his postgraduate studies at Harvard University (Master in Public Administration, 1979; “A” student) and in Columbia University (Executive Program in Business Administration, 1983).
A student of Amador Valley High School claimed a violation of his first amendment right of speech when parts of his salutatorian speech were censored.
In 2009, nearly 67 years later when he was 85, he was allowed to complete his diploma at Clallam Bay High School in Clallam Bay, Washington and was the high school's salutatorian (the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class).