Homage to Doy Laurel

We were grieved to hear that former Vice President Salvador "Doy" Laurel died in California last Wednesday from cancer of the lymph. He was a patriot and a gentleman of the old school. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo did right when she offered a state funeral for Laurel with "a period of national mourning" from January 24 to the day of Laurel’s funeral at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig. Till then, all flags in all government buildings here and abroad will be raised at half-mast.

Doy belonged to the distinguished Laurel family. His father was president of the Japanese-sponsored republic and his brother was speaker of the house. He finished law at the University of the Philippines, obtained a master of law and a doctorate in juridical science at Yale University. He was one of the youngest senators when elected in 1967 and became a parliament member in 1973. When he saw that the parliament was just a Marcos rubber stamp, he resigned.

After Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino’s assassination in 1982, Doy was the main local contact of the overseas Ninoy Aquino Movement and furnished vital information on the Marcos hidden billions in the United States. It was he and former President Cory Aquino who were most instrumental in bringing about the restoration of our constitutional democracy in 1986. He was so self-effacing that he gave way to Cory Aquino for the presidency and accepted to be her vice president.

Doy was named most outstanding Senator for the period of 1960 to 1971. He authored five laws for the poor, nine laws on judicial reform, the Government Reorganization Act and the Amendment to the Land Reform Law. The International Bar Association conferred him the title of "Most Oustanding Legal Aid Lawyer of the World" and the distinction of being "Lawyer of the Year" was the award handed him by the Justice and Court Reporters Association of the Philippines.

Patriotism is the noblest love. David D. Field analyzed it by saying, "Patriotism has its roots deep in the instincts and the affections. Love of country is the expansion of filial love." And Mohandas K. Gandhi narrowed it down to "the love of humanity". Doy’s patriotism was a total dedication to his country that lasted a lifetime.

What we personally admired about Doy was his simple life-style. He did all the good he could but shied away from publicity. He was courteous and polite to all. The eyeglasses we wear to this day Doy gave to us as a gift. One day he showed me his glasses as the latest thing in the United States. They were not available locally. I was really impressed because they were practically indestructible. Without my telling him, he brought a pair back for me when he took his next trip abroad. That was how thoughtful he was to friends and acquaintances.