Cornelio Villareal

Filipino lawyer and politician (1904–1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cornelio Tupaz Villareal (September 11, 1904 December 22, 1992[2]) was a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1962 to 1967, and again from 1971 to 1972. Popularly known as Kune, his congressional career representing the Second District of Capiz spanned six decades.

Preceded byJose Laurel Jr.
Succeeded byQuerube Makalintal (as speaker of the Interim Batasang Pambansa)
Succeeded byJose Laurel Jr.
Quick facts The Honorable, 11th and 13th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines ...
Cornelio T. Villareal
11th and 13th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
In office
April 1, 1971  September 23, 1972
Preceded byJose Laurel Jr.
Succeeded byQuerube Makalintal (as speaker of the Interim Batasang Pambansa)
In office
March 9, 1962  February 2, 1967
Preceded byDaniel Z. Romualdez
Succeeded byJose Laurel Jr.
House Minority Leader
In office
January 25, 1960  March 9, 1962
Preceded byFerdinand Marcos
Succeeded byDaniel Z. Romualdez
Member of the House of Representatives from Capiz's 2nd district
In office
June 30, 1987  June 30, 1992
Preceded byDistrict re-established[1]
Succeeded byVicente Andaya Jr.
In office
June 11, 1945  September 23, 1972
Preceded byJosé Dorado
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
9th Governor of Capiz
In office
1942–1945
Preceded byGabriel Hernandez
Succeeded byLudovico Hidrosollo
7th President of the Liberal Party
In office
April 1964  May 10, 1969
Preceded byFerdinand Marcos
Succeeded byGerardo Roxas
Personal details
BornCornelio Tupaz Villareal
(1904-09-11)September 11, 1904
DiedDecember 22, 1992(1992-12-22) (aged 88)
PartyLiberal (1946-1992)
Other political
affiliations
Nacionalista (1934-1946)
SpouseAngeles Lema
Alma materSilliman University
Philippine Law School (LL.B)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer
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Early life and education

Villareal was born in Mambusao, Capiz. He finished his intermediate and secondary education in Capiz, and enrolled at the Silliman University for his pre-law course.[3] In 1929, he received his law degree from the Philippine Law School. He passed the bar exams on December 7, 1929.

Political career

Villareal as a delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention, published by Benipayo Press (c.1935)

Villareal's political career began in 1934, when he was elected as a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. In 1941, Villareal won his first election as a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Second District of Capiz. Due to the Japanese invasion in late 1941, he did not assume office until 1945.[4] He was re-elected in 1946 under the banner of the Liberal Party, and served continuously until 1972. In 1951, Villareal unsuccessfully sought election to the Philippine Senate, for the seat vacated by Fernando Lopez upon the latter's election as vice-president.

Villareal (left) was re-elected as House Speaker, replacing Jose Laurel Jr. (right) in 1971.

Villareal was first elected Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 5th Congress, in March 1962. During the 6th Congress, he was unseated as speaker in 1967 by Jose Laurel Jr. of the Nacionalista Party. Villareal regained the speakership from Laurel Jr. during the 7th Congress in 1971, and served in that capacity until Congress was abolished upon the declaration of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos in September 1972.[4]

Villareal official portrait during the 8th Congress.

Villareal withdrew from politics until Congress was restored following the ouster of Marcos. At age 83, he was again elected to his congressional seat in the Second District of Capiz in 1987. He was the oldest member of the 8th Congress, while his colleague from Capiz, Gerardo Roxas Jr., was the youngest member of Congress.

Villareal did not seek re-election following the expiration of his term in June 1992.

Death

Villareal died on December 22, 1992, almost six months after stepping down from Congress, aged 88.[2]

During his congressional career, Villareal advocated liberal economic and trade policies such as decontrol and decentralization.[5]

Notes and references

Bibliography

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