WITH FOND MEMORIES
We mourn the passing of Brod Manuel "Lolong" Lazaro '54, a distinguished lawyer, Government Corporate Counsel with the rank of presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals and Presidential Assistant for Legal Affairs with the rank of Minister between the years of 1976 to 1986, an astute corporate executive respected and admired by his colleagues and clients; beloved by his family and friends, and endeared by the many Aquilans whose law careers had their start at his various offices and whom he mentored and inspired; a true Aquilan who exemplified the precepts of the Aquila Legis Fraternity with selflessness and dedication.
We pray that God blesses you with eternal peace, Brod Lolong , and be with you always.
-Brother Aquilans
Aquila Legis, as we go through the years, we'll share with you . . . our joys and our tears."
-Aquila Legis Fraternity Anthem
OBITUARY
“A justice par excellence,” House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Representative Martin Romualdez led the solemn tributes for the late Justice Manuel “Lolong” Lazaro on Thursday morning, May 19, 2022, at the Sanctuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City.
At the time of his passing, Brod Lolong Lazaro was Chairman of the Aquila Legis Alumni Foundation, Inc. (ALAFI), Chairman and CEO of the Philippine Constitution Association, Chairman of Asiabest Group International, Inc., Chairman of the Board of the Tiger Resort, Leisure & Entertainment Inc. which owns and operates Okada Manila, Director in the boards of Philippine Airlines, Inc., Manila Hotel Corporation, Manila Golf and Country Club and Senior Partner in the law firm Manuel M. Lazaro and Associates which he founded 1987 after retiring from government service which began in 1976.
From 1976 to 1986, he was the Government Corporate Counsel (GCC) with the rank and privileges of Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, serving as Legal Counsel of at least seventy (70) government-owned and controlled corporations then, which included, among others, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Metropolitan Sewerage System (MWSS), National Power Corporation (NPC), Philippine Airlines (PAL), Manila International Airport (MIA), Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
Known popularly as Justice Lolong, he was one of the trusted men of former President Ferdinand Marcos (FM) who appointed him as the Presidential Assistant for Legal Affairs with the rank of Minister. In his published piece, “Ferdinand Marcos: The Great Ilocano, Unchallenged and Unsurpassed Achievement in Law” that appeared in BizNews Asia September 12-19, 2011 issue, Volume 9, No. 20, Justice Lolong wrote, “The vision and foresight of FM in lawmaking for governance are richly illustrated by the varied and numerous vital legal issuances. Notably, 7,816 FM issuances are still effective and enforced up to the present.”
Survived by his wife, Rose Marie, and children Menju, Chuck, Manjoy, Apple, and Michelle, Justice Lolong will be remembered as Representative Martin Romualdez eloquently put it, “He belonged to that rare breed of lawyers in the country who masterfully balanced his law practice and his devotion to family. Throughout his career in government and even in his private life, Justice Lolong served as an immovable defender of the Constitution, the likes of whom are few and far in between.”