Cornelio T. Villareal (September 11, 1904 – December 22, 1992) was a
Filipino politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, ...
who served as
Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
The speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines ( fil, Ispiker ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ng Pilipinas), more popularly known as the House speaker, is the presiding officer and the highest-ranking official of the lower house ...
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/ Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; tl, Lalawigan ng Capiz), is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Roxas. It ...
spanned six decades.
Early life
Villareal was born in
Mambusao, Capiz
Mambusao, officially the Municipality of Mambusao (Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Mambusao''; tl, Bayan ng Mambusao), is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Capiz, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
. He finished his intermediate and secondary education in
Capiz
Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon/ Hiligaynon: ''Kapuoran sang Capiz''; tl, Lalawigan ng Capiz), is a province in the Philippines located in the central section of Western Visayas region. Its capital is the city of Roxas. It ...
, and enrolled at the
Silliman University
Silliman University (also referred to as Silliman or SU) is a private research university in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, the Philippines. Established in 1901 as Silliman Institute by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, it is ...
for his pre-law course.
In 1929, he received his law degree from the
Philippine Law School and passed the
bar exams
A bar examination is an examination administered by the bar association of a jurisdiction that a lawyer must pass in order to be admitted to the bar of that jurisdiction.
Australia
Administering bar exams is the responsibility of the bar associat ...
on December 07, 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 Capiz. His term was interrupted by the Japanese invasion in late 1941, but he reassumed his seat in 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.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
, and served continuously until 1972. In 1951, Villareal unsuccessfully sought election to the
Philippine Senate
The Senate of the Philippines ( Filipino: ''Senado ng Pilipinas'', also ''Mataas na Kapulungan ng Pilipinas'' or "upper chamber") is the upper house of Congress of the bicameral legislature of the Philippines with the House of Representatives a ...
, for the seat vacated by
Fernando Lopez
Fernando Hofileña Lopez Sr. (April 13, 1904May 26, 1993) was a Filipino statesman. A member of the influential Lopez family of Iloilo, he served as vice president of the Philippines for three terms – under Elpidio Quirino (1949– ...
upon the latter's election as
Vice-President
A 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 vice president is on ...
.
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 and Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; ) is the oldest political party in both the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in general. It is responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th ...
. 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 by
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:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
then dictator
Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 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
He died six months later, aged 88.
During his congressional career, Villareal advocated liberal economic and trade policies such as decontrol and decentralization.
[Paras & La Vina, p. 116-117]
References
*
, -
, -
, -
, -
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Villareal, Cornelio T.
1904 births
1992 deaths
People 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