JOSE P. LAUREL (1943-1945)

                         

                                                      "Puppet President"

 
-He was officially the government's caretaker during the Japanese occupation of World War II.

-born March 9, 1891, Tanauan, Luzon, Philippines

-Criticized as a traitor by some, his indictment for treason was superseded later by an amnesty proclamation in 1948.

                                                   Contributions and Achievements:

• since the early 1960s, Laurel considered a legitimate president of the Philippines

• organized KALIBAPI (Kapisanan sa Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas, or Association for Service to the New Philippines), a provisional government during Japanese occupation

• declared Martial Law and war between the Philippines and the U.S./United Kingdom in 1944

• with his family, established the Lyceum of the Philippines     

11 Reasons Why Jose P. Laurel Was A Total Badass

By  FilipiKnow

Stooge. Lackey. Collaborator. These adjectives are but part of the typical odious memories we Filipinos have of Jose P. Laurel, and it’s not hard to blame us. After all, he was the puppet president of the Japanese during World War II, right?

However, his role during those trying times has overshadowed the fact that he is probably one of the most accomplished Filipinos of all time, an intellectual giant admired by the likes of Jovito Salonga, Lorenzo Tañada, Claro M. Recto, and countless others.

1. The "P" in his name is a tribute to Jose Rizal's brother.

2. He often clashed with the American governor-general.

3. He is the only president to have served in all three branches of government.

4. He was a reluctant collaborator.

5. He survived three gunshot wounds.

6. He turned Malacanang Palace into a Filipino fortress.

7. He saved Manuel Roxas' life...twice

8. He also saved an aide from the Japanese.

9. He refused to draft a single Filipino into the military.

10. The judge trying his treason case resigned to defend him instead.

11. He ran for Senator one last time and won.


A great patriot, eminent jurist, statesman, legislator, and constitutionalist. To describe Jose P. Laurel in short. He made many contributions because of those characteristics. Even if many Filipinos said that he is a puppet president of the Japanese, his role during those trying times has overshadowed the fact that he is probably one of the most accomplished Filipinos of all time.

"A nation fights for independence and tries to achieve the maximum of safety, not only because
it is its God-given right to be independent and free from molestation but because without freedom and security, it does not have full opportunity to work out it own destiny."

 
                                                                                                   -Jose P. Laurel