EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
5704

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Vice President Emmanuel N. Pelaez was bom in Medina, Misamis Oriental on
November 30, 1915. He studied in Cagayan de Misamis (former name of Cagayan de Oro)
Elementary School where he got the highest honors. He then went to the Ateneo de Manila
High School and got his Associate in Arts at the Cebu UP Junior College. He received his
law degree from the University of Manila in 1938, and in the same year topped the Bar
examinations.

Vice-President Pelaez lived a life dedicated to hard-work as evidenced by his being a
‘Senate Clerk at the Journal Division from 1934 to 1935, Debate Reporter from 1935 to 1937,
and court translator from 1937-1938. He was employed as assistant court reporter at the
Court of Appeals from 1939 to 1940, then later Special Prosecutor of the People's Court
from 1945 up to 1946. He also practiced law and at the same time was a professor of law at
the University of Manila from 1946 up to 1963.

In 1949, he was elected as Congressman of Misamis Oriental and was adjudged one
of the Ten Outstanding Congressmen by the Congressional Press Club, one of the Ten Most
Useful Congressmen by the Philippine Free Press, and one of the two Most Outstanding
Congressmen by the League of Women Voters of the Philippines.

He also was elected as Senator from 1953-60 where he was also chosen as Most
Outstanding Senator by two organizations, the League of Women Voters of the Philippines
and the Senate Press Club.

Emmanuel N. Pelaez was elected Vice President in 1961, simultaneously performing
the functions of Foreign Affairs Secretary. He holds the distinction of being the first
Mindanaonon to be elected to the Vice-Presidency of the land, the highest elective position
ever held by a Mindanaonon up to the present. He was again elected as Congressman in
1965. And in 1978, he was elected Assemblyman in the Interim Batasang Pambansa and
served as Minister of State.

Vice-President Pelaez was Chairman and/or ranking member of Philippine
delegations to various international conferences among which were: the UN 10th
Commemorative Conference at San Francisco in 1955; the UN General Assembly meeting
in 1957 and 1962; Interparliamentary Union Conference at London in 1957; in Peru and the
Cameroon in 1972. He had been a member, consultant body of the Philippine Delegation to
the SEATO in 1963. In 1973, President Marcos designated him as a member of the
Philippine panel in the military bases negotiations with the United States. The RP-US Military
Bases Negotiation was held in Washington, D.C. in 1975. This was his second time to serve
the panel, the first time being in 1956 when he was the spokesman of the panel in the RP-
US military bases negotiations then. Peléez served as Philippine ambassador to the United
States of America during the Aquino administration. Pelaez served on the Committee of
Honor of the Agri-Energy Roundtable (AER)- a United Nations accredited non-governmental


organization and participated in the AER's ASEAN agro-industrial regional conference in
May 1987 at the Manila Hotel

Vice-President Pelaez’ contributions to the country as Vice-President, Senator,
Congressman, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador and his contributions to the
Province of Misamis Oriental and Mindanao should never be forgotten. He served with the
highest degree of integrity and dedication to his people. As such, his name and legacy
should continue to live-on. It is for these reasons that the Laguindingan Intemational Airport
located in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental should be renamed to the Emmanuel N. Pelaez
Intemational Airport.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

RUFUS B. RO! jUEZ


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES H

First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
House Bill No, 2704
AN ACT

RENAMING THE LAGUINDINGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOCATED IN
LAGUINDINGAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL INTO THE EMMANUEL N. PELAEZ
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAGUINDINGAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. The Laguindingan International Airport located in Laguindingan, Misamis
Oriental is hereby renamed into the Emmanuel N. Pelaez Intemational Airport
(Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental) in honor of one of the most distinguished sons of Misamis
Oriental.

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of
general circulation

Approved,