Manuel Collantes

Manuel G. Collantes (August 20, 1917[1] – May 28, 2009) was a Filipino diplomat who served as the country's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1984.[2]

Manuel G. Collantes
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office January 1984 – June 1984
President	Ferdinand Marcos
Preceded by	Carlos P. Romulo
Succeeded by	Arturo Tolentino
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblyman) from Batangas
In office June 5, 1984 – March 25, 1986 Serving with Jose Laurel Jr., Hernando Perez, and Rafael Recto
Personal details
Born	(1917-08-20)August 20, 1917 Tanauan, Batangas, Philippine Islands
Died	May 28, 2009(2009-05-28) (aged 91) Philippines
Spouse	Consuelo Madrigal

Collantes was raised in Tanauan, Batangas.[2] He received his law degree from Far Eastern University in 1940, and passed the bar exam later that same year.[2] He began his career by working as an assistant attorney at the Claro M. Recto law office for a short period.[2] He also taught diplomacy and international law, as well as parliamentary practice at Far Eastern University.[2]

He met his wife, Consuelo Madrigal, in Washington, D.C. in 1949 while Collantes was working as the second secretary and consul at the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C.[2] The couple married during the 1970s.[2] Former Senator Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal is Collantes' niece.[2]

Collantes held a variety of positions with the Department of Foreign Affairs during his career as a diplomat. These included Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and legal assistant secretary.[2]

He is the father of Noli Collantes, a ranking member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ Central Committee. When Noli was captured in 1972 he pointed his former comrades as the perpetrators of Plaza Miranda bombing a year prior. Collantes used his influence to save his son from jail and made him promise Marcos that he will leave the rebel movement. Noli resumed his studies at the University of Santo Tomas and, shortly after, he was assassinated by the NPA in January 1973 near the campus gates to silence him.³

Collantes was appointed acting Minister for Foreign Affairs for a short period in 1984 during the government of President Ferdinand Marcos.[2]

In 1984, he was elected as an assemblyman for Batangas province.[2] He also served as the director of United Pulp and Paper Company, Inc. until his death in 2009.[2]

Manuel Collantes died of cardiopulmonary arrest on May 28, 2009, at the age of 91.[2] His body was laid in state at their family home in Forbes Park, Makati.[2] He was buried at the Madrigal Mausoleum in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, following a funeral mass.[2]