His mother, the first female vice-governor and governor of Ilocos Norte, was the sister of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos.

[2] His father worked for the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and had a hand in setting up the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna.

"Long March" with Mao Zedong during the Chinese Revolution, covering the monumental event for the Chicago Daily Tribune.

[citation needed] Before entering politics, Keon worked in the sports sector as director of the Gintong Alay program.

This project was launched on October 31, 1979 and was intended to ensure the success of Philippine sports to promote and ultimately to achieve gold medals in international events.