Joaquin Bernas

Joaquin G. Bernas
SJ
28th President of the
Ateneo de Manila University
In office
April 1, 1984 – April 1, 1993
Preceded byJose A. Cruz
Succeeded byBienvenido Nebres
Member of the Philippine Constitutional Commission
In office
June 2, 1986 – October 15, 1986
PresidentCorazon Aquino
Personal details
Born(1932-07-07)July 7, 1932
Baao, Camarines Sur, Philippine Islands
DiedMarch 6, 2021(2021-03-06) (aged 88)
Quezon City, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Residence(s)Quezon City, Philippines
Alma materBerchmans College
Ateneo de Manila University
Woodstock College
New York University
ProfessionLawyer
Professor
Jesuit Priest
Ecclesiastical career
ReligionRoman Catholic
Ordained1965

Joaquin G. Bernas SJ (July 7, 1932 – March 6, 2021) was a Jesuit priest, lawyer, college professor and writer who was Dean Emeritus of the Ateneo de Manila Law School in Makati, Philippines. He was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution.[1][2]

Bernas specialized in the Philippine Constitution and was an author of law books and articles.

Education

Bernas earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Latin, and Greek Classics and Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Berchmans College in 1956 and 1957 respectively. In 1962, he received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo de Manila Law School and placed 9th in the bar examinations given that year.[3] He also entered the Society of Jesus in 1950 and ordained as a priest in 1965.[4]

Bernas had a Licentiate of Sacred Theology from Woodstock College in 1966, Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science from New York University in 1965 and 1968, respectively.

Career

Bernas began teaching at Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1966.[5] He served as dean twice during 1972 to 1976 and 2000 to 2004 and president of Ateneo de Manila University during 1984 to 1993.[6] Upon his retirement as Law Dean in 2004, Bernas was conferred the position of Dean Emeritus at Ateneo School of Law. He continued to teach Constitutional Law and Public International Law to law freshmen and sophomores.[7]

He was a member of the Constitutional Commission formed by President Corazon Aquino in 1986, a Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines during 1976 to 1982, rector of the Jesuit Residence during 1994 to 2000 and a director of the Philippine Stock Exchange.[8][9][10][11]

Later life and death

Bernas was confined at The Medical City for six weeks due to an infection and was discharged from the hospital on March 4, 2021.[12] Bernas died at the Ateneo Jesuit Residence inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City on March 6, 2021. He died at the age of 88.[12][13]

Publications

  • The Intent of the 1986 Constitution Writers (1995)[14]
  • The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines: A Commentary (1996)[15]
  • Constitutional Structure and Powers of Government: Notes and Cases (1997)[16]
  • A Living Constitution: The Ramos Presidency (1999) (ISBN 971-27-0787-3)
  • A Living Constitution: The Cory Aquino Presidency (2000) (ISBN 971-27-0915-9)
  • "From One-Man Rule to People Power" (2001)[17]
  • An Introduction to Public International Law (2002)[18]
  • A Living Constitution: The Abbreviated Estrada Presidency (2003) (ISBN 971-550-433-7)
  • Constitutional Rights and Social Demands: Notes and Cases (2004)[19]
  • The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines: A Comprehensive Reviewer (2006)[20]
  • A Living Constitution: The Troubled Arroyo Presidency (2007) (ISBN 978-971-550-520-8)
  • A Living Constitution: Constitutional Issues Arising During the Troubled Gloria Arroyo Presidency Part II (2010)[21] (ISBN 978-971-030-564-3)

References

  1. ^ Torres, Tetch (June 27, 2012). "What ails Philippine economy? 2 Constitution framers take differing views". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  2. ^ "A defective Constitution". Manila Standard. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "People's priest still strong at 75". philstar.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "Fr. Joaquin Bernas, one of framers of 1987 Constitution, dies". GMA News. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  5. ^ School, The Palladium - Ateneo Law. "SIDE B: The Other Side of Father B – The Palladium Online". The Palladium Online. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "Four decades of 'magis' | Ateneo de Manila University". www.ateneo.edu. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "TRIBUTE TO DEAN EMERITUS, FR. JOAQUIN G. BERNAS, SJ BY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MARIANO C. DEL". Ateneo de Manila University. 2015-09-08. Archived from the original on 2019-09-24. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "MIRIAM BOWS TO BERNAS ON PRESIDENCY". Senate of the Philippines. August 27, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  9. ^ "Holy Angel University – Laus Deo Semper". www.hau.edu.ph. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  10. ^ "Four decades of 'magis'". Ateneo de Manila University. 2015-02-03. Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  11. ^ "Bernas declines new term as PSE director". philstar.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas dies". CNN Philippines. 6 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  13. ^ Hallare, Katrina (6 March 2021). "Jesuit lawyer, constitutionalist Fr. Joaquin Bernas dies at 88". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  14. ^ Bernas, Joaquin G (1995). The intent of the 1986 Constitution writers. Manila, Philippines: Published & distributed by Rex Book Store. OCLC 39089767.
  15. ^ Bernas, Joaquin G; Philippines (2009). The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines: a commentary. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store. ISBN 9789712353260. OCLC 428437047.
  16. ^ Bernas, Joaquin G (2010). Constitutional structure and powers of government: notes and cases. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store. ISBN 9789712356629. OCLC 653490365.
  17. ^ "Ateneo Law Journal". ateneolawjournal.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  18. ^ Bernas, Joaquin G (2009). Introduction to public international law. Manila: Rex Book Store. ISBN 9789712353512. OCLC 891839186.
  19. ^ Bernas#S. J.#, Joaquin G (2010). Constitutional rights and social demands. OCLC 918922982.
  20. ^ Bernas, Joaquin G (2011). The 1987 Philippine Constitution: a comprehensive reviewer. Manila, Philippines: Published & distributed by Rex Book Store. ISBN 9789712359064. OCLC 733938808.
  21. ^ "A Living Constitution". JesCom Philippines. Retrieved May 27, 2020.