Arturo Tolentino

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Arturo Tolentino

8th Vice President of the Philippines
1st Vice President of the 4th Republic
In office
February 16, 1986 – February 25, 1986
President Ferdinand E. Marcos
Preceded by None[1]
Succeeded by Salvador Laurel

In office
1984 – 1985
Preceded by Miguel Collantes
Succeeded by Pacifico A. Castro

Born September 19, 1910
Tondo, Manila
Died August 2, 2004
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Political party Nationalist People's Coalition
Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
Nacionalista
Spouse Constancia Conde †
Other Positions in Government
President of the Senate of the Philippines
19661967
Senator of the Philippines
19571972, 19921995
Assemblyman, Manila
19841986
Assemblyman, National Capital Region
19781986
Representative, 3rd District of Manila
19491957

Arturo Modesto Tolentino (September 19, 1910August 2, 2004) was a prominent political figure in the Philippines who briefly held the position of vice president in 1986. He is more well known as the father of the Philippine “archipelagic doctrine” and expert on the Law of the Sea.

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 Mapua 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.

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. This allegedly fraudulent outcome would eventually lead to the EDSA Revolution which ousted Marcos and installed Aquino as president.

Tolentino then would launch a coup on July 6, 1986 declaring that since Marcos was in exile, he was constitutionally the acting President of the Philippines. Marcos allies and about 100 soldiers marched to the luxurious Manila Hotel, barricading it with trucks, and installing a rebel seat of government there. He was expecting massive support, but only several thousands of Marcos loyalists supported the attempted power grab. On July 8, he agreed to disperse his thousands of civilian supporters and about a hundred military backers, ending the failed coup attempt.

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.

[edit] References

  • Zaide, Sonia M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All Nations Publishing. 

Arturo Tolentino graduated From V. Mapa High School formerly the Manila East High School as a Valedictorian not at Mapua HighSchool as previously stated. Mapua High School is not yet existent at the time Mr. Tolentino was in High School

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ 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.

Arturo Tolentino graduated from V. Mapa High School the former Manila East High School as a valedictorian not at Mapua High School as previously stated. Mapua High School is not yet existent when Arturo tolention was in high school. (Felipe Sison-VMHS 85)

[edit] External links

Attempts
at regime change
in the Philippines
(1970–2006)

Civil unrest (1970)
People Power (1986)
Claim of Tolentino (1986)
Honasan's First (1987)
Honasan's Second (1989)
Fall of Estrada (2001)
May 1 riots (2001)
July 27 mutiny (2003)
February 24 coup (2006)

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
Preceded by
Restored
Vice President of the Philippines
February 16-25, 1986
Succeeded by
Salvador Laurel


Vice Presidents of the Philippines

Trías | Osmeña | Quirino | Lopez | Garcia | Macapagal | Pelaez
Lopez | Tolentino | Laurel | Estrada | Arroyo | Guingona | de Castro

In other languages