José Laurel, Jr.

José Bayani "Pepito" Laurel Jr. y Hidalgo (August 27, 1912 – March 11, 1998), also known as José B. Laurel Jr., was a Filipino politician who was elected twice as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines. A stalwart of the Nacionalista Party, he was the party's candidate for Vice President of the Philippines in the 1957 elections.

He was born on August 27, 1912 in Tanauan, Batangas, the eldest son of José P. Laurel, who would serve as President of the Philippines from 1943 to 1945. His brother, Salvador, would become Vice-President of the Philippines in 1986, Sotero would be elected Senator in 1987.Another brother, Jose S. Laurel III served as Ambassador to Japan.His youngest brother, Arsenio was the first two-time winner of the Macau Grand Prix

Laurel finished his intermediate and secondary education in Manila, and enrolled at the University of the Philippines. In 1936, he received his law degree from the U.P. College of Law and passed the bar exams the following year.

In 1941, Laurel won his first election, as a Member of the House of Representatives from Batangas. However, his term was interrupted by the Japanese invasion in late 1941. For the duration of the war, Laurel assisted his father, who was designated as President of the Philippines under the 2nd Philippine Republic.

When the Philippine Congress was restored upon independence in 1946, Laurel again sought election to the House of Representatives representing the Third District of Batangas. He was successful in his bid, and would be re-elected to the Second and Third Congresses. In 1954, he was elected to his first term as Speaker of the House. He gave up his Speakership, as well as his seat in the House in 1957 when he was drafted instead to run as Vice-President under the Nacionalista ticket spearheaded by Carlos P. Garcia. He was defeated by Diosdado Macapagal of the Liberal Party even as Garcia went on to victory.

In 1961, Laurel regained his seat in the House of Representatives, and would serve in that capacity until martial law was declared in 1972.He was again elected Speaker in February 1967 and remained in that position until 1971, when Cornelio Villareal of the Liberal Party regained the Speakership. Laurel retired from politics after Congress was closed in 1972. He reemerged in the public eye as a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission that drafted the present Philippine Constitution.

During his congressional career, Laurel focused on economic issues. He was an advocate of a planned economy and protectionism. Laurel was among those who, in 1965, recruited Senate President Ferdinand Marcos to join the Nacionalista Party as its presidential candidate against Diosdado Macapagal.

Laurel died of pneumonia at the age of 85 in March 11, 1998.

Two of his children, Jose Macario IV and Lally also became Members of the House of Representatives, representing the same seat their father had held. The actor Noel Trinidad was his son-in-law. Godson of Jose Laurel Jr : Douglas Jose Anthony Cruzado 1965 (Parents: Pete Cruzado, Noeline Race-Cruzado).