Cornelio Tupaz Villareal (September 11, 1904 – December 22, 1992) was a Filipino lawyer and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who served as

Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines The speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines (), more popularly known as the House speaker, is the presiding officer and the highest-ranking official of the lower house of Congress, the House of Representatives, as well as t ...

from 1962 to 1967, and again from 1971 to 1972. Popularly known as Kune, his congressional career representing the Second District of

Capiz Capiz (), officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon language, Capiznon/Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the central part of the Western Visayas Regions of the Philippines ...

spanned six decades.

Early life

Villareal was born in

Mambusao, Capiz Mambusao, officially the Municipality of Mambusao ( Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Mambusao''; ), is a municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 40,690 people. It is from Roxas ...

. He finished his intermediate and secondary education in

, and enrolled at the Silliman University for his pre-law course. In 1929, he received his law degree from the Philippine Law School and passed the bar exams on December 7, 1929.

Political career

Villareal's political career began in 1934, when he was elected as a delegate to the 1935 Constitutional Convention. In 1941, Villareal won his first election as a Member of the House of Representatives, representing the Second District of

. Due to the Japanese invasion in late 1941, he did not assume office until 1945.Paras & La Vina, p. 116 He was re-elected in 1946 under the banner of the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

, and served continuously until 1972. In 1951, Villareal unsuccessfully sought election to the

Philippine Senate The Senate of the Philippines () is the upper house of Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the House of Representatives as the lower house. The Senate is composed of 24 senators who are elected at-large (the country f ...

, for the seat vacated by Fernando Lopez upon the latter's election as

Vice-President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

. Villareal was first elected Speaker of the House of Representatives during the 5th Congress, in March 1962. During the 6th Congress, he was unseated as speaker in 1967 by Jose Laurel Jr. of the

Nacionalista Party The Nacionalista Party (Filipino language, Filipino and Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; , NP) is a political party in the Philippines which is the oldest existing party in the country and in Southeast Asi ...

. Villareal regained the Speakership from Laurel Jr. during the 7th Congress in 1971, and served in that capacity until Congress was abolished upon the declaration of

martial law Martial law is the replacement of civilian government by military rule and the suspension of civilian legal processes for military powers. Martial law can continue for a specified amount of time, or indefinitely, and standard civil liberties ...

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...

in September 1972. Villareal withdrew from politics until Congress was restored following the ouster of Marcos. At age 83, he was again elected to his congressional seat in the Second District of Capiz in 1987. He was the oldest member of the 8th Congress, while his colleague from Capiz, Gerardo "Dinggoy" Roxas, Jr., was the youngest member of Congress. Ironically, Roxas would outlive Villareal only by a few months. Villareal did not seek re-election following the expiration of his term in June 1992.

Death

Villareal died on December 22, 1992, almost six months after stepping down from Congress, aged 88. During his congressional career, Villareal advocated liberal economic and trade policies such as decontrol and decentralization.Paras & La Vina, p. 116-117

Notes

References

* , - , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Villareal, Cornelio T. 1904 births 1992 deaths Politicians from Capiz Speakers of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Members of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from Capiz Silliman University alumni Liberal Party (Philippines) politicians 20th-century Filipino lawyers Minority leaders of the House of Representatives of the Philippines Philippine Law School alumni Presidents of the Liberal Party of the Philippines Visayan people Filipino anti-communists