13 Facts About Joaquin Bernas

Joaquin Guevara Bernas SJ was a Jesuit priest, lawyer, college professor and writer who was Dean Emeritus of the Ateneo de Manila Law School in Makati, Philippines.

Joaquin Bernas was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Joaquin Bernas was born in Baao, Camarines Sur in 1932 and raised in Naga, and he graduated Ateneo de Naga University for his high school degree in 1950.

Joaquin Bernas moved to Cebu and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Latin, and Greek Classics, and right after a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy at the Berchmans College school for Theology in 1956 and 1957, respectively.

Joaquin Bernas arrived in Manila thereafter with dreams to become a lawyer as well.

Joaquin Bernas simultaneously applied to join the Society of Jesus in 1950 as the vocation was his primary goal and was eventually ordained to the priesthood in 1965.

Joaquin 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.

Joaquin Bernas began teaching at Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1966.

Joaquin Bernas served as dean twice during 1972 to 1976 and 2000 to 2004 and president of Ateneo de Manila University during 1984 to 1993.

Joaquin Bernas continued to teach Constitutional Law and Public International Law to law freshmen and sophomores.

Joaquin Bernas 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.

Joaquin Bernas was confined at The Medical City for six weeks due to an infection and was discharged from the hospital on March 4,2021.

Joaquin Bernas died at the Ateneo Jesuit Residence inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Quezon City on March 6,2021.