Arturo Tolentino

Arturo "Ka Turing" Modesto Tolentino (September 19, 1910 – August 2, 2004) was a Filipino politician and diplomat who served as the Senate president and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

He was valedictorian of Mabini Elementary School and the Manila East High School (now Victorino Mapa High School; 1928).

He successfully debated with American students from the University of Oregon in 1933 and from the University of Washington in 1934.

He held the title of “Inter-Collegiate Oratorical Champion of the Philippines” in 1934.

In 1934, Tolentino also was the consort to the Miss Manila winner at the Manila Carnival.

In UP, he was editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian and a fellow of the Upsilon Sigma Phi.

Tolentino engaged in the practice of law after passing the bar in 1934, and was a recognized legal luminary.

He was a law professor in the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomás, University of the East, University of Manila, Arellano University, Far Eastern University, Manila Law College, Philippine Law School, San Beda College and Quezon College.

A known Civil Law expert in his lifetime.

He topped the entrance exam at UP Manila, then obtained the degree of Associate in Arts as well as the Bachelor of Philosophy (cum laude) with a gold medal award as valedictorian at UP in 1938, and was valedictorian (cum laude) of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law (1934) and a bar topnotcher (1934).

He later continued his studies and received the degrees of Master of Law (meritissimus) and Doctor of Civil Law (meritissimus) from the University of Santo Tomás.

He was also a short story writer for the Philippines Free Press, and was an undefeated wrestler and bodybuilder.

As a debater and orator, he won seven gold medals (including the Quezon Medal) and two silver loving cups.

Tolentino was already a noted civilist scholar and trial lawyer when he was handpicked in 1948 by President Manuel Roxas to be the youngest member of the Code Committee that would draft the first and only Civil Code of the Philippines, which was completed in late 1949 and took effect in 1950.

He is considered the foremost expert on Civil Law, as he took part in creating the Civil Code of the Philippines as a young esteemed congressman from June 1949 to August 1950.

Tolentino was first elected as representative for Manila's 3rd district in 1949; he was the first representative of the district following its establishment that year through the revised Manila city charter.

He was re-elected in 1953.

Shortly after his re-election, Tolentino was given the position of majority floor leader, which he held until his entry to the Senate four years later and one which, though less glamorous than that of speaker, he preferred and enjoyed.

In addition he authored the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in 1960.

His book or volumes of his commentaries have become standard reading for lawyers.

He is also regarded as one of the Filipinos who are highly qualified publicists in International Law, being given the title as the father of the Philippine as well as international "archipelagic doctrine" for inserting the provisions into the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, particularly the rule on 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zones for archipelagos represented in the United Nations.

Arturo Modesto Tolentino was born in Manila of humble parentage.

As a student, Tolentino was noted for his scholarship.

The duties and responsibilities of majority floor leader and the reason for Tolentino's selection was explained in an article by Manuel Martinez in Tempo October 7, 1983.

In legislation, the majority floor leader, not the Speaker or the presiding officer, is the key man around whom the parliamentary process revolves.

He is the lightning rod, the clearing house, the yeoman and work-horse and spark-plug, the whipping boy if he does not watch out, the beast of burden, and center of attention.

Only the tough are chosen as floor leaders.

And so, Tolentino discharged his function with awesome skill.

It came to pass that there was born a saying, given as wise advice to newcomers to the House and later the Senate, where he was floor leader: ‘Neophytes should observe two things above all.

First they should learn parliamentary rules by heart.

Second, they should pray not to tangle with Tolentino in a floor debate!”

It was not Tolentino's intention to run for the Senate.

He was confident of re-election as congressman, having been nominated by his party and already started his campaign when he was nominated for the Senate.

He left the decision to his party leaders because he was unsure of which route to choose.

The leaders allowed him to accept the Senate nomination.

Many of the candidates were asked to make financial contributions for their campaign expense.

Tolentino did not have sufficient funds.

He remembered being asked him how he managed this financial difficulties.

The Nacionalista Party had a strong senatorial slate.

He ran as the vice-presidential running mate of Ferdinand Marcos for the 1986 Philippine snap election.