Arturo Tolentino
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| Arturo Tolentino | |
 | |
| In office February 16 – February 25, 1986 | |
| President | Ferdinand E. Marcos |
| Preceded by | Abolished[1] Title last held byFernando Lopez |
| Succeeded by | Salvador Laurel |
| In office January 17, 1966 – January 26, 1967 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Succeeded by | Gil Puyat |
| In office 1984–1985 | |
| President | Ferdinand Marcos |
| Preceded by | Miguel Collantes (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Pacifico A. Castro (Acting) |
| In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 1995 | |
| In office December 30, 1957 – September 23, 1972 | |
Mambabatas Pambansa, Manila | |
| In office 1984–1986 | |
Regional Assemblyman, National Capital Region | |
| In office 1978–1984 | |
| In office December 30, 1949 – December 30, 1957 | |
| Succeeded by | Ramon Bagatsing |
| Born | September 19, 1910 Tondo, Manila |
| Died | August 2, 2004 (aged 93) Quezon City, Metro Manila |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Nationalist People's Coalition Kilusang Bagong Lipunan Nacionalista |
| Spouse(s) | Constancia Conde |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Contents |
Early career
Tolentino was also a former congressman (1949 - 1957) and senator (1957 - 1972). He held the Senate Presidency from (1965 - 1967). He was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the Marcos administration (1984 - 1985), served in the Batasang Pambansa. He was elected and again served in the Philippine Senate (1992 - 1995).As a student, Tolentino was noted for his excellent scholarship. He was valedictorian of the Manila East High School (now V. Mapa High School)(1928); valedictorian (cum laude) University of the Philippines College of Law (1934); a bar topnotcher (1934). He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy (cum laude) with a gold medal award from the UP in 1938, and received the degrees of Master of Law (meritissimus) and Doctor of Civil Law (meritissimus) from the University of Santo Tomás.
As a Debater and orator, he won seven gold medals (including the Quezon Medal) and two silver loving cups. He held the title of “Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Champion of the Philippines” in 1934. He successfully debated with American students from the University of Oregon in 1933 and from the University of Washington in 1934. In U.P., he was also editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian and a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.
Tolentino engaged in the practice of law after passing the bar in 1934, and was a recognized legal luminary.
He was a law professor in the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomás, University of the East, University of Manila, Arellano University, FEU, Manila Law College, Philippine Law School, San Beda College and Quezon College.
Vice-Presidency
He was chosen by Ferdinand Marcos as his vice-presidential running mate for the February 7, 1986 snap elections. They were against the united opposition of Corazon Aquino and Salvador Laurel. According to the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) final tally, Aquino and Laurel were consistently in the lead. The final tally showed Laurel winning by over 800,000 votes—roughly the same margin by which it showed Aquino defeating Marcos. However, according to the COMELEC tally, Tolentino won over Laurel with a margin of around one million votes. He became the Vice President of the Philippines on February 16, 1986. His, however, was a short-lived tenure and without actual exercise of power and authority[2]. The allegedly fraudulent outcome would eventually lead to the People Power Revolution which ousted Marcos and installed Aquino as president.Post Vice-Presidency
When the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines was overwhelmingly approved in a plebiscite, Tolentino announced he would respect the will of the people. In 1992, he successfully ran for the Senate. However, his bid for reelection in 1995 was not successful and he retired from politics.
Respected by many Filipinos not only for his extemporaneous amendments to major measures and enlightened brand of politics, Tolentino was also known as a scholar, writer, diplomat, and distinguished author of law books.
He died of a heart attack on the night of August 2, 2004 at the age of 93. His remains lie in state at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
He had seven children, as acknowledged in his last will and testament (1971): Arturo Jr., Evelyn, and Annabella with Consuelo David; Bernadette, Salvador, and Victorio with Constancia Conde; and Ma. Elenita with Rosita Robles.
References
- Zaide, Sonia M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All Nations Publishing .
Notes
- ^ 1973 Constitution of the Philippines originally did not provide for the position of Vice President. Tolentino proposed an amendment adopted in 1984, which provided for the position of vice-president to be filled in 1987. Tolentino was able to run for the position earlier than scheduled because President Marcos submitted a conditional resignation to be able to call for snap elections in 1986.
- ^ [1]
External links
| Attempts at regime change in the Philippines (1970–2007) |
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| Civil unrest (1970) |
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Ferdinand E. Marcos | President of the Senate of the Philippines 1966–1967 | Succeeded by Gil J. Puyat |
| Preceded by Carlos P. Romulo | Philippine Minister of Foreign Affairs 1984–1985 | Succeeded by Salvador Laurel |
| Vacant Title last held by Fernando Lopez | Vice President of the Philippines February 16-25, 1986 | Succeeded by Salvador Laurel |
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