#TodayinHistory in 1898, Lorenzo Tañada y Martinez, the longest-serving #Filipino senator (24 years in #SenatePH), staunch opposition leader vs. the Marcos dictatorship, & campaigner for the removal of U.S. military bases in #PH, is born in Gumaca, Quezon. (THREAD)
Born in the year when the Americans were already amassing troops in #PH, and when Filipinos were seeking international recognition for their independence, Tañada was the son of the last gobernadorcillo of Gumaca, and fourth of 9 children.
At the age of 14, Tañada became an activist, when he joined his classmates to boycott their American proctor for having required them to go to school even on weekends just to build a playground. He was an achiever. In 1924, he topped the pensionado exam, studying in the US.
Tañada earned his Master of Laws in @Harvard, and eventually pursued public service. He was appointed as Solicitor General under #PH presidents Osmeña & Roxas. Upon running for the Senate in 1947, he garnered the most votes, serving from that year on until 1971 as senator.
When Pres. F. #Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972 and railroaded the Con-con to have a new constitution that gave him Executive & Legislative powers, Tañada continued to oppose the dictatorship, leading street protests w/ the opposition.
Read: tmblr.co/ZtGCUx2FFoSbXe…
In yet another challenge to Marcos' authoritarian rule, Tañada filed a case to the Supreme Court, using the 1973 Constitution itself to point out that Marcos' decrees, many of w/c were not published in the Official Gazette, have no basis (Tañada vs. Tuvera, 1985).
Tañada won the case, as SC ruled: "The Court therefore declares that presidential issuances of general application, which have not been published, shall have no force and effect." lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1…
Even after Marcos was deposed, Tañada organized the Anti-Bases Coalition (ABC) to oppose the renewal of the Military Bases Agreement, even when Pres. Corazon Aquino was for it.
When the #SenatePH voted out the renewal (12-11 votes) in 1991, the chamber erupted in applause, and turning to Tañada, who was on a wheelchair to witness the vote, gave him a standing ovation. Tañada forced himself to stand, to say, "Mabuhay!"
Photos:
- L. Tañada in his office in the Senate, Old Legislative Bldg., Manila (undated), Presidential Museum & Library
- Franciscan church at Gumaca, via Lakbay Aral Espesyal blogspot
-Tañada as Solicitor General, & as Senator (2 undated photos), PML
- Senate 1991, Liberal PH.
A historian friend from Gumaca corrected me.
*Erratum: He was the 3rd of 6 children. :)
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