He is well known as the running mate of former First Lady Imelda Marcos when she ran for president in the 1992 Philippine presidential election.

[citation needed] He first served as the governor of Zambales in 1968–1986, beginning before and lasting throughout the Marcos administration.

After losing the vice-presidential race under KBL of former first lady Imelda Marcos in 1992, he won re-election in the 1998 elections as governor of Zambales.

His second daughter Mary Rose Magsaysay was appointed Undersecretary of Energy 2009-2010 and is currently Deputy Executive Director of Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Assistant Secretary Mary Rose Magsaysay MPA C|CISO C|EH was former Director IV of the same and previous to that was HTC-Highly Technical Consultant of DICT and before that, trustee of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and previously Special Fintech Consultant of CEZA.

GOVICs daughter-in-law is a former Zambales first district Rep. Milagros "Mitos" Magsaysay is married to his eldest son Honorary Consul of PNG to the Philippines Jesus "JV" Vicente E. Magsaysay former Board of Director of SBMA for 12 years.