1. Marcelo "Celing" Briones Fernan was a Filipino lawyer and political figure.
18 Facts About Marcelo Fernan
1. 2.
Marcelo Fernan is the only Filipino to have served as both Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and as Senate President.
3.
Marcelo Fernan is the third Filipino to have headed both the judicial and legislative branches of government, after Querube Makalintal who served as Chief Justice and Speaker of the Batasang Pambansa in the 1970s, and Jose Yulo, who served as Chief Justice and Speaker of the House of Representatives before 1946.
4.
Marcelo Fernan went to Harvard University in United States to obtain his master's degree.
5.
Marcelo Fernan returned to the Philippines soon after to finally serve his profession as a lawyer, particularly in his home province.
6.
Marcelo Fernan was then promoted in 1988 as Chief Justice, the highest position of leadership in the Supreme Court and the judiciary and was Chairman of the Judicial and Bar Council, the country's screening body of the potential judges and justices and the Judiciary Planning and Implementation Office.
7.
Marcelo Fernan resigned as Chief Justice in 1991 to run as president of the country.
8.
Marcelo Fernan later accepted the offer of House Speaker Ramon Mitra as his vice presidential candidate of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.
9.
Marcelo Fernan was the first former Chief Justice to run for vice president.
10.
Marcelo Fernan sponsored RA 8247 or the Alien Social Integration Act of 1995.
11.
Marcelo Fernan was elected Senate President, the top post of leadership in the Senate, and concurrently, the Chairman of the Commission on Appointments, a congressional body tasked to scrutinize and confirm presidential appointments at the opening of the 11th Congress in 1998.
12.
Marcelo Fernan resigned the Senate presidency on June 28,1999, due to failing health.
13.
Marcelo Fernan was succeeded in his position by Senate President pro tempore, Blas Ople.
14.
Marcelo Fernan was married to Eloisa Nolasco in 1955, having 9 children and 18 grandchildren.
15.
One daughter, Milagros Marcelo Fernan-Cayosa became a member of the Judicial and Bar Council from 2011 to 2019.
16.
Marcelo Fernan is a grand-uncle to TV and movie personality Matteo Guidicelli.
17.
Marcelo Fernan is the only Filipino who has headed both the Judiciary as Chief Justice and Legislative Branch as Senate President.
18.
Marcelo Fernan loved to sing and among his favourite songs were "Feelings" and "Matud Nila".