Jose Laurel Jr.

José Bayani "Pepito" Laurel Jr. y Hidalgo[1] (August 27, 1912 – March 11, 1998), also known as José B. Laurel Jr., was a Filipino politician who was elected twice as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. A stalwart of the Nacionalista Party, he was the party's candidate for Vice President of the Philippines in the 1957 elections.


José B. Laurel Jr.
9th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
February 2, 1967  April 1, 1971
PresidentFerdinand Marcos
Preceded byCornelio Villareal
Succeeded byCornelio Villareal
PresidentRamon Magsaysay (1954–1957)
Carlos P. Garcia (1957)
In office
January 25, 1954  December 30, 1957
PresidentRamon Magsaysay
Preceded byEugenio Pérez
Succeeded byDaniel Z. Romualdez
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Batangas' 3rd District
In office
December 30, 1941  December 30, 1957
Preceded byMaximo M. Kalaw
Succeeded byJosé M. Laurel IV
In office
December 30, 1961  September 22, 1972
Preceded byJosé M. Laurel IV
Succeeded byAbolished
(Next held by Milagros Laurel-Trinidad)
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Batangas
In office
June 30, 1984  March 25, 1986
Serving with Manuel Collantes, Hernando Perez, Rafael Recto
Member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission
In office
June 2, 1986  October 15, 1986
Member of the Philippine National Assembly from Batangas
In office
September 25, 1943  February 2, 1944
Serving with Maximo M. Malvar
Personal details
Born
José Bayani Laurel Jr. y Hidalgo

(1912-08-27)August 27, 1912
Tanauan, Batangas, Philippine Islands
DiedMarch 11, 1998(1998-03-11) (aged 85)
Metro Manila, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Political partyNacionalista Party
Spouse(s)Remedios Lerma
Children2
RelativesJosé P. Laurel (father)
José III (brother)
Salvador (brother)
Sotero II (brother)
Arsenio (brother)
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
OccupationLawyer

Early life

He was born on August 27, 1912 in Tanauan, Batangas, the eldest son of José P. Laurel, who would serve as President of the Philippines from 1943 to 1945. His brother, Salvador, would become Vice-President of the Philippines in 1986, Sotero would be elected Senator in 1987. Another brother, Jose S. Laurel III served as Ambassador to Japan. His youngest brother, Arsenio was the first two-time winner of the Macau Grand Prix

Laurel finished his intermediate and secondary education in Manila, and enrolled at the University of the Philippines. In 1936, he received his law degree from the U.P. College of Law and passed the bar exams the following year. He was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.

Political career

In 1941, Laurel won his first election, as a Member of the House of Representatives from Batangas. However, his term was interrupted by the Japanese invasion in late 1941.[2] For the duration of the war, Laurel assisted his father, who was designated as President of the Philippines under the 2nd Philippine Republic.

When the Philippine Congress was restored upon independence in 1946, Laurel again sought election to the House of Representatives representing the Third District of Batangas. He was successful in his bid, and would be re-elected to the Second and Third Congresses. In 1954, he was elected to his first term as Speaker of the House. He gave up his Speakership, as well as his seat in the House in 1957 when he was drafted instead to run as vice-president under the Nacionalista ticket spearheaded by Carlos P. Garcia. He was defeated by Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party even as Garcia went on to victory.

In 1961, Laurel regained his seat in the House of Representatives, and would serve in that capacity until martial law was declared in 1972. He was again elected Speaker in February 1967 and remained in that position until 1971, when Cornelio Villareal of the Liberal Party regained the Speakership.[3] Laurel retired from politics after Congress was closed in 1972. He reemerged in the public eye as a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that drafted the present Philippine Constitution.

During his congressional career, Laurel focused on economic issues. He was an advocate of a planned economy and protectionism.[3] Laurel was among those who, in 1965, recruited Senate President Ferdinand Marcos to join the Nacionalista Party as its presidential candidate against Diosdado Macapagal.

Death and family

Laurel died of pneumonia at the age of 85 on March 11, 1998.

Two of his children, Jose Macario IV and Lally also became Members of the House of Representatives, representing the same seat their father had held.[4] The actor Noel Trinidad was his son-in-law. Godson of Jose Laurel Jr : Douglas Jose Anthony Cruzado 1965 (Parents: Pete Cruzado, Noeline Race-Cruzado).

Notes

  1. José P. Laurel Memorial Foundation. Freewebs.com. Retrieved on 2016-06-25.
  2. Paras & La Vina, p. 106
  3. Paras & La Vina, p. 107
  4. Paras & La Vina, p. 108

References

  • Paras, Corazon L.; La Vina, Dean Karlo B. (1996). The Speakers of the Philippine Legislative Branch. House of Representatives of the Philippines. ISBN 971-92100-0-1.
  • New York Times (1998-03-18). "Jose Laurel Jr., 85, Ex-Manila Politician".
Political offices
Preceded by
Eugenio Pérez
Speaker of the House of Representatives
1953–1957
Succeeded by
Daniel Romualdez
Preceded by
Cornelio Villareal
Speaker of the House of Representatives
1967–1971
Succeeded by
Cornelio Villareal
House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Maximo M. Kalaw
Representative, 3rd District of Batangas
1941–1957
Succeeded by
Jose M. Laurel IV
Preceded by
Jose M. Laurel IV
Representative, 3rd District of Batangas
1961–1972
Succeeded by
Milagros Laurel-Trinidad
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