In necrological services last 1 August, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople led the officers and staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs in honoring former Vice President and Foreign Affairs Secretary Emmanuel Pelaez, who passed away on 27 July 2003.

In his eulogy, the Secretary recognized former Vice President as someone who “put a premium on service, integrity, and probity, who served his country and his countrymen with competence and dedication.”
“Inspired by the spirit of ad maiorem Dei gloriam-- for the greater glory of God--he put his entire self into every endeavor, for the good of our people and the prestige of our country,” the Secretary said.
The Secretary, who had worked with Vice President Pelaez in the Philippine National Assembly in the early 1980s, also described his former colleague as incorruptible.  “With sterling fortitude, he bravely and consistently lived up to his principles and convictions, even in the face of opposition and adversity.”
Secretary Ople said that Vice President Pelaez’s demise came at a time when the Philippines was going through a difficult time.  He candidly said that “He must have left in order to intercede with God for our country and our people.”
Vice President Pelaez served the government in various capacities.  He held the positions of Representative for Misamis Oriental, Senator, Vice President, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Assemblyman and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Philippine Ambassador to the United States and Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
As a diplomat, he participated in numerous conferences, including the United Nations 10th Commemorative Conference in San Francisco, in 1955; UN General Assembly meetings; Interparliamentary Union meetings in London, Peru, and the Cameroon; meetings of the South East Asian Treaty Organization (SEATO), precursor of ASEAN; and, in 1975, the Philippines-US Military Bases Negotiations in Washington, D.C. END.