Famous Filipino From Misamis Oriental Who Almost Became President in the Philippines
Yes, there is a Filipino came from Misamis Oriental who almost became the President of the Republic of the Philippines and he is Emmanuel Pelaez who was born in Medina, Misamis Oriental and the 7th Vice President of the Philippines.
President John F. Kennedy with Vice President of the Philippines, Emmanuel Peláez
Pelaez served as congressman and senator before being tapped by Diosdado Macapagal as his running-mate in 1961. Pelaez was elected Vice President in 1961, simultaneously performing the functions as foreign affairs secretary, a position he left in 1963. In the same year, he was chosen Man of the Year by the Examiner and the following year was adjudged the Most Outstanding Alumnus during the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the University of Manila.
He left the ruling Liberal Party for the Nacionalista Party a year later, with the hopes of being its standard bearer in the 1965 presidential contest against Macapagal. He, however, was defeated in the nomination process by Senate President Ferdinand Marcos.
Marcos, of course, would go on to unseat President Macapagal and cling to that position for over twenty years.
