Manuel Collantes

Manuel G. Collantes (August 20, 1917 – May 28, 2009) was a Filipino diplomat who served as the country's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1984.

Collantes was raised in Tanauan, Batangas. He received his law degree from Far Eastern University in 1940, and passed the bar exam later that same year. He began his career by working as an assistant attorney at the Claro M. Recto law office for a short period. He also taught diplomacy and international law, as well as parliamentary practice at Far Eastern University.

Collantes met his wife, Consuelo Madrigal, in Washington, D.C. in 1949 while he was working as the second secretary and consul at the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. The couple married in the 1970s. Former Senator Jamby Madrigal is his niece through his wife.

Collantes held a variety of positions with the Department of Foreign Affairs during his career as a diplomat. These included Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and legal assistant secretary.

Collantes was appointed acting Minister for Foreign Affairs for a short period in 1984 during the government of President Ferdinand Marcos.

In 1984, he was elected as an assemblyman for the province of Batangas. He also served as the director of United Pulp and Paper Company, Inc. until his death in 2009.

Manuel Collantes died of cardiopulmonary arrest on May 28, 2009, at the age of 91. His body was laid in state at their family home in Forbes Park, Makati. He was buried at the Madrigal Mausoleum in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, following a funeral mass.