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News #253 – Philippines
July 31, 2003
President’s vision became Society’s guiding principle
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| Emmanuel Pelaez, Honorary President of the Philippine Bible Society, who died in July 2003 at the age of 87. Manila, Philippines. Photo: Philippine Bible Society (PHI03DJ-19.JPG) |
Ambassador Pelaez, as he was known, was a leading figure within Filipino politics, serving as Vice-President between 1961 and 1965. He was also ambassador to the US. Both nationally and internationally, he was greatly admired as “a pillar of strength and decency”, according to the Bible Society. In particular, he was a prominent campaigner on behalf of coconut farmers at a time when tensions between coconut farmers and copra traders were running very high. His involvement in this controversy almost cost him his life in an assassination attempt in 1982.
The failed assassination attempt prompted Mr Pelaez to end his political career and devote his life to sharing God’s Word. He served twice as President of the Bible Society and Chairman of its Board of Directors, and was later made Honorary President for life. He was greatly committed to making a Bible available to every home, a vision which has now become the guiding principle of the Society’s Light to the Home program. (202 words - PHILIPPINES.31.07.03).For further information please contact Andrew Mathewson, UBS Editor.
Alternatively, write to:
Andrew Mathewson
UBS Editor,
UBS World Service Center
Reading Bridge House, 7th Floor
Reading
RG1 8PJ
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