Jose P. Laurel

I, Jose Paciano Laurel, do solemnly swear before the people that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as president of the Philippines, preserve and defend its constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man and consecrate myself to the service of the nation.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentle. My fellow countrymen, the person standing right before your very eyes is no other than the 3rd president of the Philippines, the 1st and only president of the 2nd republic of the Philippines and the alleged puppet president during the Japanese occupation. It is I, Dr. Jose Paciano Laurel.

I was born on MARCH 9, 1891 in TANAUAN, BATANGAS. SOTERO LAUREL SR., my father, was a lawyer and an official in the revolutionary government of the 1st president of the Philippines, Emilio Aguinaldo. My mother, JACOBA GARCIA, was a loving wife to my father and a caring mother to me. My mother and father did their best to let me finish my studies. I graduated elementary at San Juan de Letran. Finished my secondary education at Manila High School. Grabbed my degree in Law at University of the Philippines, College of Law in 1915. Finished my master’s degree at University of Santo Tomas in 1919. And finally, completed of doctorate of law at Yale Law University. As my life went on, I met this lady who captivated my heart. She is PACIENCIA HIDALGO, my ever beautiful wife. Paciencia and I were blessed with 6 lovely children.

Year 1943, I became the most powerful man in the country, I became the president of the Philippines. During my administration, our country was in the hands of the cruel Japanese. But I stood my ground as president of the Philippines, I did not succumb to the coercions and extortions of the heartless Japanese. Unfortunately, my administration met its end early in 1945. After which, there were numerous speculations that I became a puppet of the Japanese. I was even accused of treason. But I say this to you, I didn’t become a puppet but rather, a patriot.

I am being remembered by my fellow Filipinos as the 3rd president of the Philippines. Furthermore, I was a proponent of the Rizal Bill which mandates that all educational institutions in the Philippines should offer courses about Jose Rizal, especially Noli Me Tangere and El Felibusterismo.

Let me end my speech by a quote that I said during my court trial for treason.
“I am neither pro-American nor pro-Japanese. I am pro-Filipino”
Thank you, good afternoon and MABUHAY!