Enrique Belo Explained

Honorific Prefix:The Honourable
Enrique M. Belo
Office:Member of the Batasang Pambansa from Capiz
Term Start:June 30, 1984
Term End:March 25, 1986
Alongside:Charles Escolin
Alma Mater:University of the Philippines, Harvard Law School
Occupation:Lawyer, Politician, Diplomat
Nationality:Filipino
Birth Name:Enrique Malaya Fernando
Birth Date:8 September 1922
Birth Place:Roxas City, Capiz
Children:Dr. Vicki Belo

Enrique M. Belo (September 8, 1922 – December 23, 2004) was a Filipino lawyer, educator, diplomat, and politician. He was a delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention.[1] He served to the Batasang Pambansa from 1984 to 1986, as representative for Capiz.[2]

Early life and education

Belo was born to Antonio Belo and Candida Malaya on September 8, 1922, at Roxas City, Capiz.

He graduated with an Associate of Arts degree in 1946 and a Bachelor of Laws (cum laude and class valedictorian) in 1949, both from the University of the Philippines. There, he joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi and served as chairman of the Philippine Law Journal Student Editorial Board.[3] He placed 6th in the 1949 Philippine Bar Examinations.[1]

He received his Master of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1951. He was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Legal career

From 1953 to 1963, Belo taught as a professor of law at the Lyceum of the Philippines.

Belo was a senior partner at the Belo, Gozon, Elma, Parel, Asuncion, & Lucilo Law Firm. (BGEPAL Law) together with Felipe Gozon. He was Senior Partner at Ponce, Enrile, Siguion Reyna, Montecillo & Belo from 1956 to 1972.

He was a member of the Philippine Bar Association where he served as director from 1962 to 1967 and 1973–1986, and President from 1974 to 1975.

Political career

Belo served as Vice Consul for Thailand in the Philippines from 1956 to 1992. He was granted Knight of the Order, While Elephant by the King of Thailand.

In 1970, Belo was elected as a Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention representing the First District of Capiz. He was elected as a Member of Parliament as Representative for Capiz at the Batasang Pambansa and served from 1984 to 1986.

Personal life

Belo married Florencia "Nena" Singson Gonzales.[4] He is the adoptive father of Filipino celebrity and dermatologist Vicki Belo.[5] [6] In 2018, the National Museum of the Philippines officially identified Fernando Amorsolo's last known painting of an unfinished creative work of the late Florencia "Nena" Singson Gonzalez-Belo (September 29, 1927-May 11, 2016), mother of Vicki Belo. It was donated by Amorsolo's widow, Maria del Carmen Amorsolo as confirmed in 2016 by Judy Araneta Roxas. Vicki Bello further affirmed that her mother's 5 sisters had Amorsolo paintings. The painting stood at the National Museum of the Philippines' Gallery VI since 2015.[7]

Death

Belo died on December 23, 2004.

References

  1. Web site: BELO, GOZON, ELMA, PAREL, ASUNCION & LUCILA Law Offices . 2023-07-10 . www.bgepal.com.
  2. Web site: 2020-10-21 . House of Representatives . 2023-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201021224322/http://www.congress.gov.ph/legislators/?v=members . October 21, 2020 .
  3. Web site: Redirecting... . 2023-07-10 . heinonline.org.
  4. Web site: Vicki Belo gets emotional as she recalls why she became a beauty doctor . 2023-07-10 . PEP.ph . en.
  5. Web site: Mariano . Dianne . Vicki Belo remembers her late dad on his birthday . 2023-07-10 . www.gmanetwork.com . en.
  6. Web site: 2014-06-14 . In dad's image . 2023-07-10 . Lifestyle.INQ . en-US.
  7. News: Tunac. Hermes Joy . Did you know that Fernando Amorsolo's last painting is an unfinished portrait of Vicki Belo's mom?. July 12, 2024 . . July 10, 2024.