Salvador Laurel | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1986 | |
| 8th Vice President of the Philippines | |
| In office February 25, 1986 – June 30, 1992 | |
| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Re-established Title last held byFernando Lopez |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Estrada |
| 5th Prime Minister of the Philippines | |
| In office February 25, 1986 – March 25, 1986 | |
| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Cesar Virata |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| 16thSecretary of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office March 25, 1986 – February 2, 1987 | |
| President | Corazon Aquino |
| Preceded by | Pacifico A. Castro (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Manuel Yan |
| Member of theInterim Batasang Pambansa | |
| In office June 12, 1978 – September 16, 1983 | |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office December 30, 1967 – September 23, 1972[1] | |
| 7thPresident of theNacionalista Party | |
| In office 1986–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Jose Roy |
| Succeeded by | Manny Villar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel (1928-11-18)November 18, 1928 Paco, Manila, Philippines[a] |
| Died | January 27, 2004(2004-01-27) (aged 75) Atherton,California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Libingan ng mga Bayani |
| Political party | Nacionalista (1967–2004) |
| Other political affiliations | UNIDO (1980–1988) KBL (1978–1979) |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Laurel family |
| Parent(s) | Jose P. Laurel Pacencia Hidalgo |
Salvador Roman Hidalgo LaurelKGCR[2] (Tagalog pronunciation:[laʊˈɾɛl], November 18, 1928 – January 27, 2004), also known asDoy Laurel, was aFilipinolawyer andpolitician who served as theVice President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under PresidentCorazon Aquino and briefly served as the lastPrime Minister from February 25 to March 25, 1986, when the position was abolished. He was a major leader of theUnited Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO), the political party that helped topple theregime of PresidentFerdinand Marcos with the 1986People Power Revolution.
Salvador Laurel was the fifth son and eighth child ofJosé P. Laurel, who served as president during theSecond Philippine Republic. Salvador was born into a family with a long lineage of public servants spanning several generations. His grandfather, Sotero Remoquillo Laurel, was a delegate to theMalolos Congress in 1899 and interior secretary in the first Philippine revolutionary government under PresidentEmilio Aguinaldo.
Laurel first enrolled atCentro Escolar de Señoritas, where he studied from 1933 to 1935. Laurel's father wanted Laurel to experience a public school education and enrolled him first in the Paco Elementary School (1935–36) and then the Justo Lukban Elementary School (1936–37). He finished elementary schooling atAteneo de Manila Grade School in 1941. Laurel received second honors in his first year of high school, with a general average of 93.4. Barely three months later, his studies came to an abrupt halt with the outbreak of the war in thePacific Theater on December 8, 1941. The Japanese government temporarily closed the AmericanJesuits run school, which prompted Laurel to enroll atDe La Salle College High School, where he graduated in 1946.
Laurel was a member ofUpsilon Sigma Phi during his university studies.[3]
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Towards the end of the war, the JapaneseSupreme War Council issued an order to have Philippine government officials flown to Japan. President Laurel volunteered to go alone to spare his Cabinet members the ordeal of being separated from their families. His wife, Paciencia, and seven of his children went with him. The officials who accompanied him were formerSpeaker of theNational AssemblyBenigno Aquino Sr., former Minister of EducationCamilo Osias and his wife, and General Mateo Capinpin. On March 22, 1945, the group evacuated fromBaguio. It began a long and perilous overland journey toTuguegarao, where a Japanese navy plane would fly the group to Japan viaFormosa (nowTaiwan) andShanghai,China.[4] The odyssey ended inNara, where they were confined until November 10, 1945.[5]
The prolonged confinement allowed 15-year-old Salvador, both romantic and impressionable, to pursue his passion for writing poetry and prose while satisfying his love for reading. He eagerly devoured any English book he could find and often discussed the material with his mentor, Camilo Osias. Yet, the moments he treasured most during his stay in Nara were the morning walks in the park with his father, José, who shared his views on life during their conversations.
On September 15, 1945, his father, Jose P. Laurel, his older brotherJose Laurel III, and Benigno Aquino Sr. were arrested by a group of Americans headed by Colonel Turner and were taken toYokohama prison. The Laurel family, except for the former president and Jose III, was flown to Manila two months later, on November 2, 1945.[5]
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Christmas 1945 was the bleakest one for the Laurel family; theirPeñafrancia home was looted and emptied of its furniture, while the former president was placed insolitary confinement inSugamo Prison in Japan. Salvador gifted his father a book entitledThe World in 2030 A.D. by theEarl of Birkenhead. Lacked in writing instruments, he used that book to write hisMemoirs.[6] He also wrote the poemTo My Beloved Father to lift up his father's spirits, and sent it to him as a Christmas present.
Trudge on, noble leader
And with thy dauntless
Courage
Swerve not in thy glorious, tho'
thankless path,
And heed not their threats
and wrath;
Forgive them who are nescient
And
With their perennial
Discontent
Thy goals impend;
Assuage thy bitter struggle
and with thy
Sapient calm, O Sage!
The glorious and the great
Have always been exalted late
And in the midst of great
work condemned.
At La Salle, he joined a group of young men who planned to go by sea to theDutch East Indies (Indonesia since 1949) and joinSukarno in thestruggle for independence from theDutch Empire, but local authorities stopped them at the pier. He completed his secondary education at La Salle in March 1946.
His father, Jose P. Laurel, and brother, Jose III, would finally return to the Philippines on July 23, 1946.[5]
Although all his older brothers were lawyers, he enrolled at theUniversity of the Philippines[which?] as a pre-medicine student, where he obtained his AA (pre-medicine) and was admitted to medicine proper, shifting to law two years later. He was admitted to the law school while working to complete his (AA Pre-Law). He received his LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree in UP in March 1952. He was a member of the Student Editorial Board of thePhilippine Law Journal.[7]
He was acclaimed the University Champion Orator after he won the first prize in three consecutive inter-university oratorical contests: the 1949 Inter-University Oratorical contest sponsored by the Civil Liberties Union, the Student Councils Association of the Philippines, and the Inter-University Symposium on theJapanese Peace Treaty in 1951.
Without waiting for the bar examination results, he left forConnecticut to study atYale University, his father'salma mater, where he earned hisMaster of Laws degree in 1952. He earned the titleDoctor of Juridical Science at Yale University in 1960.[8]
Of his studies and scholastic endeavors at Yale University,Myres S. McDougal, aSterling Professor of Law, Emeritus of the Yale Law School, wrote:
Salvador H. Laurel was a superb scholar at Yale. Like his father in an earlier day, he came to us in the vital formative years of his intellectual development, and remained to earn his master of laws degree (LLM) and doctorate in juridical science (J.S.D.) with highest standing.I have taught so many brilliant students from other countries at Yale Law School. Doy was one of the very best and has always been one of my favorites. His papers and comments were always informed, perceptive, wise, creative and deeply dedicated to the public and common interest. His deepest loyalty and devotion is to his own country, but he is aware of a larger interdependent world.
Laurel later marriedCelia Díaz (May 29, 1928 - July 12, 2021) in 1950, a society debutante. He was the grandfather of actressDenise Laurel. He had a daughter who is also an actress, Pia Pilapil, to a veteran actressPilar Pilapil.[9]
InManila, Laurel joined his brothers at the Laurel Law Offices inIntramuros, where he began his career as a barrister with a strong commitment to legal aid. Troubled by the discovery that 94% of cases filed by indigent individuals in the fiscal office were dismissed due to lack of counsel, he founded the Citizen's Legal Aid Society of the Philippines (CLASP) in 1967. Laurel actively campaigned nationwide, rallying lawyers to join his mission to provide justice for people experiencing poverty. By the end of its first year, CLASP had enlisted 750 lawyers.
For his advocacy and dedication as the "Defender of the Defenseless," Laurel was recognized as "Lawyer of the Year 1967" by the Justice and Court Reporters Association (JUCRA). In 1976, his efforts gained international acclaim when theInternational Bar Association awarded him the "Most Outstanding Legal Aid Lawyer of the World" in Stockholm. Reflecting on the honor, Laurel recalled his surprise and pride at being recognized for his work with CLASP, advocacy for justice-of-the-poor laws, and steadfast commitment to human rights during the martial law era.[10]
In addition to his legal practice, Laurel was a distinguished legal scholar and professor at Lyceum University. He edited the Proceedings of the Philippine Constitutional Convention (1934–1935), meticulously reproducing records kept by his father, Dr. José P. Laurel, a delegate to the Convention. This monumental work, spanning seven volumes, was published in 1966.
It was not until 1967 that Salvador H. Laurel seriously entered politics, running for theSenate under theNacionalista Party. During his campaign, he was injured in a car accident while returning to the Magellan International Hotel inCebu City in the early hours of September 24, 1967.[11][12] Due to his injuries, Laurel underwent a surgical operation in Manila, with his wifeCelia briefly campaigning on his behalf during his recovery.[11] Upon returning to his senatorial campaign, Laurel attempted to be energetic in his demeanor in order to offset his injured image with a cast.[11][13] Laurel ultimately won a Senate seat in thesixth Congress, and officially took his oath of office as senator on December 30, 1967. At 39 years old, Laurel became the youngest Nacionalista senator in post-war history – a record that would be held for the next 40 years.[14]
In the Senate, he authored five "justice for the poor laws" also known as "Laurel laws."[15]
1.R.A. 6033,requiring courts to give priority to cases involving poor litigants;
2.R.A. 6034,giving free meals, travel and lodging allowances to poor litigants and their witnesses;
3.R.A. 6035,providing free transcript of stenographic notes to poor litigants;
4.R.A. 6036,dispensing with bail in minor cases; and
5.R.A. 6127,crediting prisoners with the full period (only one-half under previous law) of their detention in the service of prison terms
Laurel also authored nine judicial reform laws from 1968 to 1970; the Government Reorganization Act; and amendments to the Land Reform Code, one of which created the Department of Agrarian Reform.[16]
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice, Laurel reported on the Administration of Justice in Central Luzon (1969); the State of the Philippine Penal Institution and Penology (1969); the Criminal Jurisdiction Provisions of the RP-US Military Bases Agreement (1969); the Dissident Problem in Central Luzon (1971); and Violations of Civil Liberties in the case of the "Golden Buddha" (1971).
Laurel helped represent the country in numerous international assemblies. He was sent to the United Nations General Assembly thrice and to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in Lima, Peru 1968. Later, when he was elected member of theinterim National Assembly in 1978, Laurel was designated head of the Philippine delegation to the First General Assembly of theASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization in Singapore.
In 1972, Senator Laurel was the first high-ranking Filipino government official to visit thePeople's Republic of China (PRC). He was met byPremierZhou Enlai,Vice Premier (laterPresident)Li Xiannian, and other high officials of the Chinese government. Upon his return, he submitted an extensive report to the Senate on his China visit. He strongly advocated for the resumption of friendly ties with the PRC and the adoption of theOne-China Policy, which eventually became the official stand of the Philippines.
Laurel was voted the "Most Outstanding Senator" from 1968 to 1971.[needs context]
During martial law, Laurel engaged in fiery speeches that exhorted the people not to be afraid and to join him in the fight to restore democracy.[17]
Through his leadership, he succeeded in organizing the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO), drawing within its ambit leaders such asCesar Climaco,Soc Rodrigo,Gerardo Roxas,Dominador Aytona,Eva Estrada Kalaw,Rene Espina,Mamintal Tamano,Domocao Alonto and his nephew Abul Khayr, Raul Gonzalez, Homobono Adaza and Abe Sarmiento and all significant political parties who were opposed to the dictatorship. The UNIDO was the political party that ended the dictatorship.[18]
Laurel was unanimously endorsed by his party, the UNIDO.[year needed] During the UNIDO national convention at the Araneta Coliseum on June 12, 1985, nearly 25,000 delegates attended and proclaimed him the party standard-bearer in the snap election against President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Corazon Aquino, widow of Ninoy Aquino, spoke before the vast assembly endorsing Laurel's candidacy. Five months later, however, she declared her candidacy, causing a major crisis in the opposition – a rift that could cause its downfall and ensure a Marcos victory.
A series of meetings were arranged between the two opposition candidates to iron out their differences, but the impasse could not be broken up to the third meeting. Cory, backed by the Convenors group, was determined to run for president. Finally, Laurel said he would agree to run as her vice president provided she ran under the UNIDO banner, but Cory refused. Laurel immediately filed his certificate of candidacy as president at theCommission on Elections.
In the same year, writerNick Joaquin published his biography of Laurel titledDoy Laurel in Profile: A Philippine Political Odyssey.[20][21]
Cory sent Ninoy's sister, Lupita Kashiwahara, to inform Laurel that she had changed her mind and was willing to run under the UNIDO. True to his word and anxious to keep the opposition united to win the snap elections, Laurel made the supreme sacrifice of giving up his lifetime's work and presidential ambition to give way to Corazon C. Aquino.
The Cory–Doy campaign vigorously began, and on February 25, 1986, they took their oaths, respectively, as president and vice president of the Philippines at the Club Filipino.[18]
| Vice Presidential styles of Salvador Laurel | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Reference style | His Excellency The Honourable[22] |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Alternative style | Mr. Vice President |
For a month following thePeople Power Revolution in late February 1986, Laurel became the only person in Philippine history to hold the posts ofvice president,prime minister, andforeign minister concurrently. The office of prime minister was abolished in late March 1986.
As secretary of foreign affairs from February 1986 to September 1987, Vice President Laurel represented the Philippines in various international conferences attended by the heads of state. His official visit to China in 1986 was hailed as the "milestone marking the re-orientation of Philippine foreign policy".[23]
For his services, Laurel received on June 21, 1996, the Gawad Mabini Award, with the highest rank oftaking kampong; he was awarded the grand cross of theOrder of Isabella the Catholic by KingJuan Carlos I of Spain in 1986; and awarded the grand cross of the Order of Liberty and Unity from the Association for the Unity of Latin America in 1993 in New York.
He resigned from the Cabinet as secretary of foreign affairs on September 8, 1987, citing "fundamental differences on moral principles" with President Corazon Aquino. Manuel Yan succeeded him in February 1987.
In 1992, Laurel ran for president (under the banner of the Nacionalista Party) and lost in a field of seven contenders.[24] This was his first and only electoral defeat since 1967.
In 1993, Laurel was appointed by President Ramos to be chairman of the National Centennial Commission in the run-up to thePhilippine Centennial celebrations of the country's independence on June 12, 1898.
Laurel was supposed to resign after the centennial celebrations, but PresidentJoseph Estrada extended his term and abolished the commission only in 1999. A few months later, Laurel was charged with graft before theSandiganbayan (political antigraft court) for misappropriating funds to construct the controversial₱1.165-billionCentennial Expo in theClark Freeport Zone inAngeles City. Laurel vehemently denied the allegation and stood as his defense counsel.
The charges, however, were eventually proved groundless in court.[25]
Following his retirement from public service in 1999, Laurel devoted much of his time to law practice, international consultancy, free legal aid, and writing books. He also busied himself with the Nacionalista Party, of which he was president.
In June 2003, Laurel flew to the United States to seek medical intervention after he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes. He died on January 27, 2004, in his rented home inAtherton, California. He was 75 at the time of his death.[26] His remains werecremated days afterward. On January 29, PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation No. 544, declaring seven days of official mourning for Laurel.[27] Laurel’s ashes were brought to his hometown ofTanauan, Batangas, on February 5 for a necrological service at St. John the Evangelist Church. His ashes were later brought to the Batangas Provincial Capitol inBatangas City for a memorial service. His ashes were interred at theLibingan ng mga Bayani inTaguig on February 6.[28]
In addition, Arroyo awarded Laurel the grand cross of theOrder of Lakandula posthumously on February 7, 2004. In 2005, his widow Celia Diaz-Laurel wrote and published the biographyDoy Laurel, and by 2010, she published his manuscript written in 1999,After 100 Years, What Next?.[29][30][31][32]
:Grand Cross (Bayani) of theOrder of Lakandula, February 7, 2004 (posthumous)[33]
: Grand Cross (Dakilang Kamanong) of theGawad Mabini, 1996[34]
: TheOrder of the Knights of Rizal, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR).[35]{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)'Its fender rammed into the side of our car and hurled this big burly fellow against me [Salvador Laurel]. I was crushed by his weight. I had no time to brace myself for the impact.'
The Laurels win hands down, or up, what with[...] Doy running for the Senate and almost getting crippled in a campaign accident[...]
As for the Opposition, there was no fanfare. The movie press was not invited to any function at all. Vice-presidential Doy Laurel did send his autographed biography to select members.
520[:]Doy Laurel in profile: a Philippine political odyssey. Nick Joaquin. Metro Manila: Makati Trade Times, 1985. 325p.
Oct. 29, 6 p.m., Powerbooks Greenbelt: Celia Diaz-Laurel launches a book about former vice president Doy Laurel
His charming widow Celia Diaz Laurel, who had discovered the manuscript in a drawer, finally decided to publish it.
He worked at the same time on a book that would distill his thoughts on where the country had gone wrong and what it must do.[...] It is a takeoff from Rizal's work and is titled 'After 100 Years—What Next?'
In his book titledNeither Trumpets Nor Drums, which he launches today[...]
FORMER Vice President Salvador Laurel will launch his latest book tomorrow [March 12], 4:30 p.m., at the Ballroom ofWack Wack Golf and Country Club,Mandaluyong City.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Office abolished due toMartial Law Title last held by Fernando Lopez | Vice President of the Philippines 1986–1992 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of the Philippines1 1986 | Position abolished |
| Preceded by Pacifico A. Castro as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs | Secretary of Foreign Affairs 1986–1987 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| First | UNIDO nominee forVice President of the Philippines 1986 | Last |
| Preceded by | President of theNacionalista Party 1989–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Vacant Title last held by Alejo Santos | Nacionalista nominee forPresident of the Philippines 1992 | Vacant Title next held by Manny Villar |
| Notes and references | ||
| 1. Position abolished March 25, 1986 (Proclamation No. 3, s. 1986.Official Gazette. March 25, 1986.) | ||
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