Arturo Tolentino
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Arturo M. Tolentino (1910 – August 3, 2004) was a prominent political figure in the Philippines. He was 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 also held the Vice Presidency in 1986. Never forgotten as a prominent statesman, 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 Tomas.
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.
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, UST, UE, UM, Arellano University, FEU, Manila Law College, Philippine Law School, San Beda College and the 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. The COMELEC proclaimed Marcos and Tolentino as winners, though the NAMFREL tally showed that Aquino and Laurel were leading by a thin margin. Historians will forever be in dispute with the result of the snap elections, as some believe that Marcos really won by a very thin margin, and so votes were padded to make it look like Marcos won by a landslide. Some dispute that Aquino was in fact consistently leading in the NAMFREL tally. This allegedly fraudulent outcome would eventually lead to the EDSA Revolution which ousted President Ferdinand Marcos and installed Corazon Aquino as president.
Tolentino then would launch a coup on July 6, 1986 declaring that since Marcos was in exile, he was officially 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.
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.pl:Arturo Tolentino