Artemio Panganiban

Artemio Villaseñor Panganiban Jr. (born December 7, 1937) is a Filipino jurist. He served as the 21st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 2005 to 2007.

Early life and education Panganiban was born on December 7, 1937, in Sampaloc,Manila in a poor family. His parents were ethnic Pampanga natives Artemio Panganiban Sr. and Patricia Villaseñor. He graduated with "Honorable Mention" from the Juan Luna Elementary School in 1950. He also finished with "Honorable Mention" from the Victorino Mapa High School in 1954.

Panganiban was granted a University of the Philippines scholarship, but could not enroll because his impoverished parents could not afford the then 15-centavo bus ride between Diliman and the family's small rented apartment in Cataluna Street, Sampaloc, Manila, which caused him to enroll as a scholar at the prestigious Far Eastern University (FEU). He took up a scholarship and earned a degree of Associate in Arts summa cum laude at the Far Eastern University in 1956. He also earned a degree of Bachelor of Laws, and graduated cum laude also at the Far Eastern University in 1960. Prior to his graduation, he was named as the 1959 "Most Outstanding Student" of Far Eastern University. Nonetheless he was bestowed in 1998 with a membership in the UP Chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Bar topnotcher In the 1960 Philippine Bar Examination, he was under the weather and hospitalized at FEU Hospital before taking the bar exam at the University of the East (UE). The dean Jovito R. Salonga convinced him to not quit and he finished the four week-bar exams, and even placed sixth, with a rating of 89.55%. In 1997, he was given an honorary doctorate degree in law by the University of Iloilo. He was a founder and former president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines from 1958 to 1959 and legal consultant to the Education Secretary and to the National Board of Education from 1963 to 1965. Panganiban was also conferred a Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) degree by the Far Eastern University in 2002, by the University of Cebu in 2006, by Angeles University, in 2006, and by the Bulacan State University, in 2006.

Professional career Panganiban started as an associate lawyer and apprentice of Jovito Salonga at the Salonga, Ordoñez and Associates Law Office from 1961 to 1963. According to Panganiban, his biggest heroes were Jose W. Diokno, the father of human rights, Salonga his mentor, and future Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee; Panganiban could not find sufficient funds to continue his scholarship offer in Yale, so Salonga, a Yale alumnus, brought him under his wing to teach him all he learned from Yale and all he knew of the law. In 1963, the young Panganiban formed his own law firm PABLAW (Panganiban, Benitez, Parlade, Africa and Barinaga Law Offices), which he headed until he joined the Supreme Court in 1995. He also became the vice president of the Legal Management Council of the Philippines from 1976 to 1977. He was the Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), 1991–1995. He was Chief Legal Counsel of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), 1991–1995, and the only Filipino appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Council for the Laity. He was Legal Counsel of the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA) from May 7, 1993, to October 9, 1995. He was chair of Workshop on Administration of Justice, Multi-Sectoral Conference convened to discuss the first 100-day and first 1,000-day programs of President Fidel Ramos, held on June 13, 1992, and on October 17, 1992, respectively.

He taught law and political science at the Far Eastern University, Assumption Convent, and San Sebastian College from 1961 to 1970. He became a bank director of the International Corporate Bank (which is now owned by the Union Bank of the Philippines) from 1972 to 1974.

From 1978 to 1981, he was a consultant of the World Tourism Organization and was an honorary consul of the Republic of Honduras from 1981 to 1983. He was the president of Arpan Tourism Industries Corp. from 1974 to 1993 and Baron Travel Corporation from 1967 to 1993.

Panganiban was the chief legal counsel of the Liberal Party from 1987 to 1991 and was president of the Philippine Daily Inquirer from 1991 to 1992.

He was also the governor of the Management Association of the Philippines and president of the Rotary Club of Manila. He was also the former president of Philippine-Finland Association and RCM Eyebank Foundation Inc.

Panganiban also writes columns for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and has worked as a consultant and director of various businesses and organizations. Death-penalty advocates criticized Panganiban's remarks, which he gave after Congress passed a law abolishing the death penalty. Senator Edgardo Angara and anti-death penalty advocate Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. suggested that the government indemnify the family of Echegaray. Panganiban subsequently clarified that his remarks on the Echegaray decision were his own personal views and not that of the Supreme Court.

Books As his way of reporting on his magistracy, Justice Panganiban writes one book a year. He has authored the following: 1994 – Love God, Serve Man 1997 – Justice and Faith 1998 – Battles in the Supreme Court 1999 – Leadership by Example 2000 – Transparency, Unanimity & Diversity 2001 – A Centenary of Justice 2002 – Reforming the Judiciary 2003 – The Bio Age Dawns on the Judiciary 2004 – Leveling the Playing Field 2005 – Judicial Renaissance 2006 – Liberty and Prosperity (two volumes) Panganiban continues to discuss on the state of Philippine politics and the acts of the government in terms of justice and fairness.

Personal life

Panganiban was married to Elenita Alcazar Carpio, a former associate dean and professor of the Asian Institute of Management. Panganiban and Carpio were wed at the Immaculate Conception Church in Rosario Heights, Quezon City, on April 8, 1961. They had five children. Panganiban also has 10 grandchildren.

Panganiban is also an independent director at GMA Network, Manila Electric Company, Robinsons Land Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., Petron Corporation, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Asian Terminals, and Jollibee Foods Corporation.

Awards On April 16, 2007, the Philippine Bar Association, on its 116th Foundation Day Celebration, conferred upon Panganiban the "Award of Honor", citing him as On April 9, 2024, Day of Valor, the Bantayog ng mga Bayani foundation awarded 13 honorees led by Panganiban and Rene Saguisag with the "Haligi ng Bantayog" title at the University of the Philippines Hotel. In July 2024, Panganiban received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award for his conservation activities, as the president of the Manila Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica Foundation.