Josephine Sato

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Ylagan, the birth surname or paternal family name is Ramirez, and the marital name is Sato.

Josephine Ylagan Ramirez-Sato (born April 29, 1954) is a Filipino politician. She served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the Lone District of Occidental Mindoro under the Liberal Party from 2013 to 2022.

Josephine Sato
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Occidental Mindoro's Lone District
In office June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Girlie Villarosa
Succeeded by	Leody Tarriela
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2004
Preceded by	Ricardo Quintos
Succeeded by	Girlie Villarosa
5th Governor of Occidental Mindoro
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013
Preceded by	Jose T. Villarosa
Succeeded by	Mario Gene Mendiola
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Peter Medalla Jr.
Succeeded by	Jose T. Villarosa
Vice Governor of Occidental Mindoro
In office February 2, 1988 – June 30, 1992
Personal details
Born	Josephine Ylagan Ramirez (1954-04-29) April 29, 1954 (age 71) San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines[1]
Political party	Liberal (2012-present)
Other political affiliations	NPC (2004–2012) Lakas–CMD (2001–2004) Independent (1987–2001)
Spouse	William Nobuo Sato[2]
Alma mater	St. Theresa's College (BA) University of the Philippines (LLB)

Education

Sato attended St. Theresa's College where she attained a BA Major in Political Science in 1973 where she was included at her college's dean's list. She also attended University of the Philippines where she graduated as a Bachelor of Laws and top 14 among her graduating batch in 1978.^[3]

In 1986, she accomplished a program on instructions of lawyers-international law and taxation at Harvard University School of Law and in 1987 she completed her urban studies and planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.^[3]

Political career

In 1988, Sato was elected as vice governor of Occidental Mindoro until 1992. After her term as vice governor, she was elected as governor for three consecutive terms (1992–1995, 1995–1998, 1998–2001). She then served her first term as congresswoman at the House of Representatives from 2001–2004 and was barred by law to run for a fourth consecutive term. After Sato's first term as congresswoman, she again served for three consecutive terms as governor of her province (2004–2007, 2007–2010, 2010–2013). Then after her sixth term as governor, she was again elected as congresswoman of Occidental Mindoro.^[3]

In 2015, she was appointed as secretary general of the Liberal Party.^[4]

In 2022, she filed her candidacy for governor in the 2022 Occidental Mindoro local elections. She lost to Eduardo Gadiano after only garnering 92,208 votes.