Salvador H. Laurel (born 1928) was a leading member of the Philippine Congress, where he championed legal aid assistance for the poor for many years. He led the opposition to President Marcos during the years of martial law and served as vice-president of the Philippines under Corazon Aquino. However, he later broke with Aquino and lost a bid to replace her as president.

Salvador H. Laurel was born in Paco, Manila, the Philippines, on November 18, 1928. His parents were Jose P. Laurel, former president of the Philippines, and Paciencia Hidalgo. Both his parents came from Tanauan, Batangas, south of Manila.

Laurel went to the best schools in the Philippines and in the United States. In grade school he attended Ateneo de Manila, a Jesuit-run institution; for high school he went to De La Salle College, another well-known Catholic school. He then proceeded to the University of the Philippines for pre-medicine...