Sotero 'Teroy' Laurel: Last of the Old Guard

Senator Sotero “Teroy” Laurel was the last of the Old Guard and herewith are excerpts of eulogies delivered in Congress last September 17:

By Sen. Aquilino Pimentel: “It was during our term in the Senate that Teroy came out of the cocoon of his scholarly style that enveloped his life as a worthy heir working in the shadow of outstanding legislators who preceded his entry into the political arena. / As a son of the nationalist Senator Jose P. Laurel and a brother to the fiery Speaker Pepito Laurel and to the outstanding advocate of the rule of law, Sen. Doy Laurel, Teroy unlike other scions of political families did not have the rosy road in politics cut out for him. He did not content himself to bask in the glory of the achievements of the macho Laurel leaders. He struck out on his path of hard work, of scholarly devotion to the minutiae of lawmaking and proved himself equal to the task of lawmakers and, perhaps, unconsciously tried to equal, if not better the great deeds at lawmaking or in public office of his own kith and kin. And he did.

“He espoused unpopular causes he believed good for the country. He supported my proposal to have a logging ban for 25 years; backed up the Local Government Code that some thought would promote divisiveness; endorsed the dismantling of the US military bases; opposed the sale or disposal of the Roppongi and other properties in Japan as unconscionable proposals because those properties were paid to us in reparation of the atrocities committed during the Japanese war and had become heirlooms of the nation. / Since I believe in the kinship of ideals over mere verbal assurances of fraternal respect, I am humbled by my friendship with a man who was every inch worthy of the title Senator of the Land. / Teroy would not have been that good without the devoted and unwavering support of his wife, Lorna, and of the Laurel clan justifiably known for the love that unites many of the branches of their families even today.”

By Sen. Mar Roxas:

“Uncle Teroy had a simple, unassuming presence in the midst of a passion for music and the arts. I was always at home with him because he was accessible, yung abot ba, the kind who would encourage you and give you a sense of what was possible. / Beneath that deep reserve of love and warmth was a steely, principled leader. He would counsel me about our country and our responsibility, our obligation for our being.

“Uncle Teroy wielded his nationalism with unswerving, boundless determination. He loved the Filipino people with genuine care and affection. / He spent the greater part of his life mentoring love of country to a whole generation. That is one of the reasons why the Lyceum became a bastion of nationalism, an institution that raised fierce fighters against the dictatorship. And he did not only teach love of country. He walked the talk.

“Few leaders have ever graced these halls who loved their country so much, who fought for it so passionately and who mentored the rising generations to do the same thing./ Uncle Teroy lives on in this chamber just as much as every historic moment that has taken place within these halls — when votes were cast or signatures written for the cause of this, our great nation — against colonial rule, dictatorship, corruption and the abuse of power, and for a stronger economy, a better life for our people and pride in our blood and heritage. Uncle Teroy has received the highest accolade one can give a public servant. Indeed, at the end of my career, I would like the same said of me: “Respetado siya. Disenteng tao. Hindi inabuso ang kapangyarihan. Nakatulong sa kanyang kababayan. Minahal ang Inang Bayan.”

By Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile:

“He exhibited the qualities that the country demands of its senators. No wonder he was known as “Mr. Integrity’. He was among the very few public officials who had not been sullied by charges of graft and corruption. As if this sterling distinction were not enough, Sotero Laurel was one of the Magnificent 12 who voted against the treaty extending the stay of the US bases. His incisive and challenging questions pricked our conscience: ‘Does not common sense tell us that it is time to take stock of ourselves, to wake up and stand on our own two feet, to leave the andador almost 50 years after the grant of independence by America and learn how to walk and fend for ourselves?’”