Cornelio T. Villareal (September 11, 1904 – December 22, 1992) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

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 40 ...

. He finished his intermediate and secondary education in

, 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 The Philippine Law School (PLS), founded in 1915, is a law school in the Philippines. It formerly served as the college of law of National University. It has produced lawyers such as Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia, a member of the c ...

and passed the bar exams 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 1945Paras & 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 (1949–1 ...

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. 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

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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