Blas Ople was a politician who held several high-ranking positions including Senate President from 1999 to 2000, and as Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until his death.

BLAS OPLE

In 1967, Ople was appointed as Secretary (later renamed as Minister) of Labour and Employment during the administration of President Marcos. He retained this positions for 19 years during this period Philippine labour laws were overhauled through the enactment of the Labour Code of the Philippines that he had helped author.

In 1976, Ople initiated a program for the overseas employment of Filipino workers. It was during his tenure that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were created.

President Arroyo mourned Ople as "an architect of Philippine foreign policy in the finest tradition of enlightened and pragmatic diplomacy", while U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell hailed him as "one of the pivotal figures of the late Twentieth Century for Philippine history".

3 February 1927

to 14 December 2003