Joaquin Bernas


Joaquin G. Bernas is a Jesuit lawyer, professor and writer who is Dean Emeritus of the Ateneo Law School in Makati City, Philippines. He was a member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission which drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Bernas specializes in the Philippine Constitution and is 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 acquired his Bachelor of Laws degree from Ateneo Law School and placed 9th in the bar examinations during the same year.
Bernas earned degrees in 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. He served as Dean twice during 1972 to 1976 and 2000 to 2004 and President of Ateneo de Manila University during 1984 to 1993. Upon his retirement as Law Dean in 2004, Bernas was conferred the position of Dean Emeritus at Ateneo School of Law. He continues to teach Constitutional Law and Public International Law to law freshmen and sophomores.
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.

Publications