MANILA, Philippines — Jose P. Laurel Sr. was one of the highly regarded and beloved Presidents of the Philippines. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines. He completed his masteral studies at the Escuela de Derecho, his doctoral degree in Civil Law at Yale School of Law, and his Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities at UST.

He began his government career as a messenger in the Bureau of Forestry and later become the head of the bureau. Appointed Secretary of Interior, he resigned from his post after clashing with Governor Leonard Wood. His resignation triggered the Cabinet Crisis of 1923 as other Cabinet members also resigned. In 1934, he was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he was one of the “Seven Wise Men” who drafted the Constitution of 1935.

Under the Commonwealth of the Philippines, he was appointed Chief Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He penned the decision for the Nalundasan Case which acquitted Ferdinand E. Marcos, and the decision in Calalang vs. Williams (December 2, 1940) in which he expanded the notion of social justice. He co-authored the Rizal Law (Republic Act 1425) which stressed the importance of studying Dr. Jose P. Rizal’s life and ideals in all schools. He signed the Laurel-Langley Agreement of 1954 in which the Philippines regained all its territories.

On October 14, 1943, he was elected President of the Second Republic. After World War II, in 1949, he ran for President, but lost to Elpidio R. Quirino. He ran for Senator in 1951 and won. He gave way to Ramon F. Magsaysay as the Nacionalista Party candidate for the Presidency in 1953. He died of massive heart attack and stroke on November 6, 1959.

As we observe his Death Anniversary on Sunday, we pay tribute to a true statesman, a visionary, and a man who was willing to give his all in the service of his countrymen.