Andres dela Rosa Narvasa (November 30, 1928 – October 31, 2013) was the

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines The chief justice of the Philippines () presides over the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Supreme Court and is the highest judicial officer of the government of the Philippines. As of April 5, 2021, the position is currently held by Alexander ...

from December 1, 1991, to November 30, 1998. He served as chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Constitutional Reform, a special agency tasked to look into potentially positive amendments to the Philippine Constitution, from 1999 to 2000.

Education

During his youth, Narvasa managed to excel in both academics and athletics. He was the captain of the University of Santo Tomas Intramural Basketball Team, as well as the top student of his class at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Narvasa graduated elementary at

Colegio de San Juan de Letran The Colegio de San Juan de Letran (), also referred to by its acronym CSJL, is a private Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution owned and run by the friars of the Order of Preachers in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. I ...

, 1938 (

salutatorian Salutatorian is an academic title given in Armenia, the Philippines, Canada, Afghanistan and the United States to the second-highest-ranked graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. ...

), and secondary school at the Arellano High School, 1945 (valedictorian). He obtained his Bachelor of Laws,

University of Santo Tomas The University of Santo Tomas (UST; ), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as ''Ustê'' (), is a Private university, private Catholic school, Catholic researc ...

in 1951 (magna cum laude), and received his Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila on April 15, 1992, Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), University of Santo Tomas on November 21, 1992, and Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), Angeles University Foundation on April 1, 1993. Narvasa graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sout ...

from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, and placed second in the 1951 Philippine Bar Examinations, with a bar rating of 91.6%Supreme Court, Bar Topnotchers

Career

Narvasa taught at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. Soon, he became a full professor of law, and eventually Dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, Faculty of Civil Law. Narvasa started as Law Practitioner in 1952, as head, Andres R. Narvasa & Associates. He then became professor of law, 1952, bar reviewer, 1959, legal counsel, University of Santo Tomas, 1973, dean, Faculty of Civil Law, University of Santo Tomas, 1967–1973, vice-rector for student affairs, University of Santo Tomas, 1969–1972, member of the board of trustees, University of Santo Tomas, 1974 and president of the Faculty Club, University of Santo Tomas, 1969. Narvasa was appointed as the general counsel for the Agrava Fact-finding Commission, formed by then President

Ferdinand Marcos Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralin Marcos Sr. (September 11, 1917 – September 28, 1989) was a Filipino lawyer, politician, dictator, and Kleptocracy, kleptocrat who served as the tenth president of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986. He ruled the c ...

and tasked to investigate the death of former senator and staunch Marcos critic Benigno Aquino Jr. The commission was chaired by former Philippine Court of Appeals Associate Justice Corazon Juliano-Agrava. As general counsel, Narvasa meticulously pieced together evidence to point out the military in the Aquino-Galman murders. CJAndresNarvasaEulogiesjf0128 13

President

Corazon Aquino María Corazón "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines and the first woman president in the country, from Presidency of Corazon ...

appointed Narvasa as associate justice of the Philippine Supreme Court on April 10, 1986. Narvasa served as associate justice until his appointment as chief justice on December 1, 1991, also by Aquino. Narvasa administered the oath of office during the inaugurations of Philippine presidents

Fidel V. Ramos Fidel Valdez Ramos (; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military officer to reached ...

and

Joseph Estrada Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...

. After his retirement in 1998, he was appointed by President Estrada to serve as chairman of the Preparatory Commission for Constitutional Reform, an independent commission formed to study the basic charter and suggest potentially positive modifications. He served in this capacity from 1999 to 2000. In November 2000, Narvasa became counsel for Estrada in his impeachment proceedings before the

Philippine Senate The Senate of the Philippines () is the upper house of Congress, the bicameral legislature of the Philippines, with the House of Representatives as the lower house. The Senate is composed of 24 senators who are elected at-large (the country f ...

Private life

Married to Janina Yuseco, Narvasa has six children: Andres, Jr., Raymundo, Gregorio II, Socorro, Martin, and Regina. Narvasa's son, Andres, Jr., was Commissioner of the

Philippine Basketball Association The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines, composed of twelve company-branded Franchising, franchise teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia ...

. Another son, Gregorio II, served as commissioner for both Philippine Basketball League and the

Metropolitan Basketball Association The Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), also shortened as Metroball, was a professional basketball league in the Philippines that ran for five seasons from 1998 until 2002. The MBA was established to rival the Philippine Basketball Asso ...

, but now concentrates on practicing law. Narvasa and son, Gregorio, run th
Fortun Narvasa & Salazar Law Office
in partnership with Sigfrid A. Fortun and Roderick R.C. Salazar III.

Awards

Narvasa received the following awards: * Award of Distinction, University of Santo Tomas, February 28. 1972 * Award for Outstanding Achievements in Legal Education, Faculty of Civil Law, University of Santo Tomas, September 2, 1981 * Appreciation Certificate, UST College of Nursing, 1970 * Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition, 1st Summer Seminar on Educational Management, University of Santo Tomas, May 1972 * Appreciation Certificate, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Santo Tomas, August 11, 1973, Plaque of Appreciation, Faculty Association of UST, October 18, 1978 * Award for Meritorious Service, Faculty of Civil Law, September 2, 1981 & September 4, 1982 * Plaque of Appreciation, 1953 Law Class of UST, March 26, 1983 * Award as Most Outstanding Honor Graduate for 1983–1984 for exemplary public service, July 28, 1984 * Plaque of Merit as Most Outstanding Alumnus of Faculty of Civil Law, UST Alumni Foundation, Inc., September 1, 1984 * Papal Award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, May 1977 * Human Rights Award, Concerned Women of the Philippines, December 9, 1984 * Ninoy Aquino Movement for Freedom, Justice, Peace and Democracy of the United States of America, August 1985 * Knight Grand Cross of Rizal, June 19, 1992 * Outstanding Manilan '93, 422nd Araw ng Maynila Executive Committee, June 24, 1993

References

Sources