Fernandez was born in Liliw, Laguna to Estanislao Fernández Sr. and Silveria Arceta. He studied law at the University of the Philippines College of Law and graduated in 1933, where he was a member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He passed the bar examinations in 1935.
Political career
In the 1946, Fernandez ran for representative of the Laguna's 2nd district under the banner of the Liberal Party and won. He initially lost his re-election bid in 1949 to Juan Baes but his victory was affirmed in 1951 after winning his electoral protest.[3] He ran for senator in 1957 but lost. He was elected senator in 1959. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines on October 19, 1973, as Associate Justice and served until retirement age.
In the Batasan, he was a member of the following committees: Foreign Affairs, Justice Human Rights and Good Government, Public Highways, Revision of laws, and Codes and Constitutional Amendments.
Fernandez was married to Soledad Camello-Fernandez. He is of relation to Danilo Fernandez, who is the grandson of his first cousin and incumbent representative of Santa Rosa, Laguna.[4]