Marcelo Briones Fernan
Marcelo Briones Fernan was born in Cebu City on October 24, 1927. He is married to Eloisa Nolasco with whom he had nine children.
As a student, Fernan gained distinction as an outstanding youth leader and scholar. He served as President of the Student Council Association of the Philippines, and was elected Member of the International Honor Societies of Phi Kappa and Pi Gamma MuHe graduated among the top ten of his class from the College of Law of the University of the Philippines in 1952. The following year, he obtained his Master of Law from the Harvard University in the United States.
He likewise led an active civic and social life as President of the Cebu Jaycees Role Club of Cebu West, Cebu Country Club, chairman and President of the Cebu Newspaper Workers Foundation, Inc.
He was an Associate and later Professorial Lecturer at the University of the Philippines in Cebu, Dean of the College of Law of the University of San Jose – Recoletos now Dean Emeritus, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of San Carlos, Secretary General of the Academy of American and International Law Alumni Association and Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyer Associations for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) Human Rights Standing Committee, Chairman of the LAWASIA Judicial Section, President of the Fulbright Scholars Association, President of the Philippine Society of International Law, Chairman of the Philippine National Committee of the Asean Law Association and member of the Governing Council, President of the ASEAN Law Association, President of the Fellows on Asia Foundation and Trustee of the Southwestern Legal Foundation in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
He received awards in civic, legal and educational fields among which are Most Outstanding Law Practitioner in Cebu City; Most Outstanding UP Alumnus in Civic Affair in Cebu City; Most Outstanding JCI Senator in the Philippines in the Field of Education; The Outstanding Filipino TOFIL) Awardee, Most Outstanding Alumnus of Abellana National School, U.P. Professional Achievement Awardee in the Field of Law, U.P. Cebu Achievement Awardee as Legal Teacher and Practitioner, Most Distinguished Alumnus from the College of Law, University of the Philippines, 1999 Most Distinguished Alumnus from the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, First Recipient of the Southwest Legal Foundation’s Robert G. Storey International Award for Leadership and First Recipient at the “ Public Award “ of the President Sergio Omeña Memorial Foundation.
He was conferred the titles General Brother of the Agustinian Recollect Order on Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
He was the Most Outstanding Cebuano awardee. Next to the late President Sergio Osmeña, he was the second Cebuano in history to be given such highly exclusive and revered recognition.
He received Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the University of San Carlos Cebu City, University of San Jose Recoletos, Cebu City; Centro Escolar University, Member of Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City; De La Salle University, Manila and University of the Philippines-Visayas.