Jovito Salonga

ASome of the major political happenings in the Philippines during those years include: 1. The declaration of Martial Law on September 21, 1972 by President Ferdinand Marcos; 2. Persecution of political oppositionists including Benigno Aquino, and Jovito Salonga, among a very long list; 3. Adoption of a new constitution in 1973, providing for a parliamentary system of government; 4. Adoption of Amendment No. 6 in 1976, giving President Marcos sweeping powers; 5. Creation of a Metropolitan authority overseeing the development of the Metropolian Manila area; 6. Communist insurgency;7. Muslim separatism in Mindanao and Sulu. There are many more, but I am pressed for time.

AAteneo and Lasalle are good schools but UP is the best. Choose UP. It is a state university and the premier school in the country. It is globally recognized for its world-class quality of education. Most of brilliant public figures in the Philippines such as Miriam Defensor Santiago, Ferdinand Marcos, Jovito Salonga and etc. are graduates of UP. Miriam has Masters and Doctorate degrees in the US. And she is recognized by the United Nations as one of the Constitutional Law and International Law experts in the World. Ninety percent of those occupying high positions in our government are from UP. The first asian woman who made it to the US Bar is from UP.

AThe essay "The Educated Man" was originally published in Sen. Salonga's book, A Plea for Sobriety published in the 1960's and now out of print. The essay appears in his 2003 book, The Intangibles That Make A Nation Great available at National Bookstore or at Regina Publishing Co. #7 First Avenue, Acacia Lane, Mandaluyong City. Call (02) 534-5889.

AJovito R. Salonga

AJovito R. Salonga is considered one of the most outstanding Senators of the country, having served under three presidents(Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos and Corazon Aquino). He was an opposition Senator during the Martial Law years of Marcos rule and was among the victims of the Plaza Miranda Bombing and later became a political detainee after he was arrested by the Marcos government for subversion. He later became Senate President during the time of Pres. Cory Aquino and was the first chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government or PCGG tasked to go after Marcos cronies and their ill gotten wealth. He was one of 12 senators including Joseph Estrada who voted against the retention of U.S. Bases in the Philippines. He later ran for the Presidency during the 1992 elections but lost to Fidel Ramos.

AGloria Macapagal-Arroyo (1992-1998), current Philippine president Benigno Aquino Jr., Marcos opposition leader and husband of Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Joseph Estrada, former Philippine president Raul Manglapus, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, former Philippine president, the last Senator to be elected President Blas Ople, former Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Aquilino Pimentel, Jr., activist and current Senator Gil Puyat, statesman Jovito Salonga, Three-time top elected senator, Marcos opposition leader, former PCGG Chairman. Lorenzo Tañada, statesman Arturo Tolentino, former Philippine vice-president Manuel Villar, former House Speaker and current Senate President Claro M. Recto, former senator and statesman Miriam Defensor Santiago, former presidential candidate and current Senator. Fermin Torralba, prominent Visayan senator & current Senate Secretariat during the Early Philippine Republic. Juan Ponce Enrile, former Minister of National Defense under Marcos and current Senator. Luisa Ejercito Estrada, the first First Lady to win a seat in the Senate, also a wife of a former Senator and President. Manuel L. Quezon, first Senate President and who lobbied for a nationally-elected senate established in 1940.