Rep. Liwayway Chato
Lone District, Camarines Norte


LIWAYWAY Vinzons-Chato obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines in 1968. Four years before that, she obtained a
Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Santo Tomas, graduating as magna cum laude.

Prior to establishing the Chato and Vinzons- Chato Law Firm, she worked as an executive with the Anscor Group of Companies—Anscor Capital and Investment Corporation, Anscor Finance Corporation, Anscor Hagedorn Securities, Inc., and Stock Transfer Service, Inc. She also served as legal officer of Bancom Development Corp. and the Board of Investments as well as executive director of the Citizen Legal Aid Society of the Philippines.

In May 1993, she was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and served until June 30, 1998. She holds the distinction of being the first female
commissioner the bureau. For her exemplary and dedicated service in government, Vinzons-Chato was cited by the National Press Club as one of the Twelve Outstanding Women in Government and by the National Centennial Commission - National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women as one of the Outstanding Filipino Women.

Vinzons-Chato re-joined the Firm when her term at the Bureau came to a close. But public service remained a calling for her. Convinced that she would be able to address the needs of her kababayans and at the same time introduce legislation with a national focus, she ran and won the lone congressional seat for Camarines Norte in the 2007 elections.