Salvador Laurel Former Vice President of the Philippines

Salvador Roman Hidalgo Laurel, widely known as Doy Laurel, was a distinguished Filipino lawyer and politician who played a pivotal role in the restoration of democracy in the Philippines. He served as the Vice President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992 under President Corazon Aquino and briefly held the position of the last Prime Minister of the Philippines from February 25 to March 25, 1986, before the position was abolished.

Early Life and Family Heritage

Born on November 18, 1928, Salvador Laurel was the fifth son and eighth child of José P. Laurel, the president during the Second Philippine Republic. He came from a lineage of dedicated public servants; his grandfather, Sotero Remoquillo Laurel, was a delegate to the Malolos Congress in 1899 and served as the interior secretary in the first Philippine revolutionary government.

Education and Wartime Experiences

Laurel's education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific Theater on December 8, 1941. After the closure of American Jesuit-run schools, he transitioned to De La Salle College High School, graduating in 1946. During the war, he experienced a perilous journey to Japan alongside his father and other officials, where they were confined in Nara until November 1945.

Following the war, Laurel pursued higher education with academic excellence. He attended the University of the Philippines, where he earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1952. He was a renowned orator, winning multiple inter-university contests. He furthered his studies at Yale University, his father's alma mater, where he earned a Master of Laws (LLM) in 1952 and a Doctor of Juridical Science (J.S.D.) in 1960.

Political Career and the People Power Revolution

Salvador Laurel was a major leader of the United Nationalist Democratic Organization (UNIDO). This political party was instrumental in the 1986 People Power Revolution, which successfully ended the regime of President Ferdinand Marcos. His leadership and commitment to democratic principles helped pave the way for the transition to a new government under Corazon Aquino.

Legacy

Salvador Laurel's legacy is one of intellectual rigor, and political courage. From his time as a scholar at Yale to his role as a key figure in the restoration of Philippine democracy, he remained a steadfast advocate for the rule of law and the governance of the country.