Eugenio Perez
Encyclopedia
Eugenio Pérez was a Filipino
politician who served as Speaker
of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
from 1946 to 1953. He was a member of the Liberal Party
, whose president he served as during his term as Speaker.
and his law degree from that institution’s College of Law
. While in law school, he worked as a clerk in the Bureau of Agriculture and the Executive Bureau.
In 1946, Pérez joined the newly-established Liberal Party
, which obtained a congressional majority in the House of Representatives in the 1946 general elections
. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives when the 1st Congress of the Philippines
convened later that year, and would serve as House Speaker throughout the 1st and 2nd Congresses
.
Pérez was a leading congressional ally of Presidents
Manuel Roxas
and Elpidio Quirino
, both of whom were Liberals. He helped secure the passage of the Bell Trade Act
and the Parity Rights Amendment
to the Constitution
, allowing American
citizens and corporations equal access to Philippine minerals, forests and other natural resources. He defended the exercise of President Quirino of emergency powers granted to the President after the end of World War II
. When Quirino grew increasingly unpopular, Pérez rejected pleas from fellow Members of Congress to challenge the incumbent President for the Liberal Party nomination in the 1953 presidential elections
. Perez managed the unsuccessful re-election campaign of Quirino in 1953.
The Liberal Party lost its congressional majority in the House of Representatives in the 1953 general elections. Pérez assumed the role of Minority Floor Leader, while he was succeeded as House Speaker by José Laurel, Jr.
of the Nacionalista Party
. Pérez died in office in August 1957.
, Consuelo Salazar, with whom he had three children. His child, Victoria, was the first wife of Jose de Venecia, who would become House Speaker thirty-five years after Pérez's death. Pérez is the grandfather of Joey de Venecia, a central figure in the 2007-2008 NBN controversy
.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
politician who served as Speaker
Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines is the presiding officer of the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives....
of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
House of Representatives of the Philippines
The House of Representatives of the Philippines is the lower chamber of the...
from 1946 to 1953. He was a member of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
, whose president he served as during his term as Speaker.
Early life
Pérez was born in San Carlos, Pangasinan. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the Philippines
The ' is the national university of the Philippines. Founded in 1908 through Act No...
and his law degree from that institution’s College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law
University of the Philippines College of Law or UP Law is the law school of the University of the Philippines. Since 1948, it has been located at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, the flagship campus of UP's seven constituent universities. Until the 1970s, night classes of...
. While in law school, he worked as a clerk in the Bureau of Agriculture and the Executive Bureau.
Political career
Pérez first entered politics in 1926 when he was elected to the municipal council of his hometown, San Carlos. In 1928, he was elected to the Philippine Legislature as a Representative of the Second District of Pangasinan. Pérez would be for eight consecutive terms.In 1946, Pérez joined the newly-established Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Philippines)
The Liberal Party of the Philippines is a liberal party in the Philippines, founded by then senators Senate President Manuel Roxas, Senate President Pro-Tempore Elpidio Quirino, and former 9th Senatorial District Senator Jose Avelino, on November 24, 1945 by a breakaway Liberal group from the...
, which obtained a congressional majority in the House of Representatives in the 1946 general elections
Philippine general election, 1946
The Elections for the members of the Senate held on April 23, 1946 .-Background:Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth Government in 1945 Senators Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and their allies called for the holding on an early national election to choose the president and vice...
. He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives when the 1st Congress of the Philippines
1st Congress of the Philippines
The First Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from May 25, 1946 until December 13, 1949. The body was originally convened as the Second Congress of the Commonwealth of the...
convened later that year, and would serve as House Speaker throughout the 1st and 2nd Congresses
2nd Congress of the Philippines
The Second Congress of the Philippines was the meeting of the legislature of the Republic of the Philippines, composed of the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives from December 30, 1949 until December 8, 1953.-Sessions:**First Special Session: December 30, 1949 – January 5, 1950*First...
.
Pérez was a leading congressional ally of Presidents
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Manuel Roxas
Manuel Roxas
Manuel Acuña Roxas was the first president of the independent Third Republic of the Philippines and fifth president overall. He served as president from the granting of independence in 1946 until his abrupt death in 1948...
and Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Quirino
Elpidio Rivera Quirino was a Filipino politician, and the sixth President of the Philippines.A lawyer by profession, Quirino entered politics when he became a representative of Ilocos Sur from 1919 to 1925. He was then elected as senator from 1925–1931...
, both of whom were Liberals. He helped secure the passage of the Bell Trade Act
Bell Trade Act
The Bell Trade Act of 1946, also known as the Philippine Trade Act was an act passed by the United States Congress specifying the economic conditions governing the independence of the Philippines from the United States....
and the Parity Rights Amendment
Bell Trade Act
The Bell Trade Act of 1946, also known as the Philippine Trade Act was an act passed by the United States Congress specifying the economic conditions governing the independence of the Philippines from the United States....
to the Constitution
Constitution of the Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines is the supreme law of the Philippines.The Constitution currently in effect was enacted in 1987, during the administration of President Corazon Aquino, and is popularly known as the "1987 Constitution"...
, allowing American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizens and corporations equal access to Philippine minerals, forests and other natural resources. He defended the exercise of President Quirino of emergency powers granted to the President after the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When Quirino grew increasingly unpopular, Pérez rejected pleas from fellow Members of Congress to challenge the incumbent President for the Liberal Party nomination in the 1953 presidential elections
Philippine general election, 1953
Elections for the members of the Senate were held on November 10, 1953 in the Philippines. Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino of the Liberal Party lost his opportunity to get a second full term as President of the Philippines to former Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay of the Nacionalista Party....
. Perez managed the unsuccessful re-election campaign of Quirino in 1953.
The Liberal Party lost its congressional majority in the House of Representatives in the 1953 general elections. Pérez assumed the role of Minority Floor Leader, while he was succeeded as House Speaker by José Laurel, Jr.
Jose Laurel, Jr.
José Bayani "Pepito" Laurel, Jr. , also known as José B. Laurel, Jr., was a Filipino politician who was elected twice as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines...
of the Nacionalista Party
Nacionalista Party
The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today and was responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since its founding in 1907...
. Pérez died in office in August 1957.
Family
Pérez was married to a sopranoSoprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, Consuelo Salazar, with whom he had three children. His child, Victoria, was the first wife of Jose de Venecia, who would become House Speaker thirty-five years after Pérez's death. Pérez is the grandfather of Joey de Venecia, a central figure in the 2007-2008 NBN controversy
Philippine National Broadband Network controversy
The Philippine National Broadband Network controversy involved allegations of corruption in the awarding of a US$329 million construction contract to Chinese telecommunications firm ZTE for the proposed government-managed National Broadband Network .The contract with ZTE was signed on April 20,...
.