Biodata

of Chief Justice ARTEMIO V. PANGANIBAN (Ret.)

1. PRESENT OCCUPATION — As of January 1, 2026

  • COLUMN WRITER, Philippine Daily Inquirer
  • SENIOR LEGAL ADVISOR, Department of Energy (Law and Energy Advisory Panel)
  • PUBLICLY LISTED Enterprises
  • ASIAN TERMINALS, INC. (ATI) – Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Corporate Governance Committee; Member, Nominations Committee
  • DOUBLE DRAGON PROPERTIES CORPORATION (DD) – Adviser, Board of Directors; Member, Corporate Governance Committee
  • GMA HOLDINGS, INC. – Independent Director, Board of Directors
  • GMA NETWORK, INC. – Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Risk Committee; Vice Chairman, Audit Committee; Compensation and Remuneration Committee and Nominations Committee
  • JG SUMMIT HOLDINGS, INC. – Independent Director, Board of Directors; Member, Corporate Governance Committee; Audit, Related Party Transaction and Risk Oversight Committee
  • JOLLIBEE FOODS CORPORATION (JFC) – Non-Executive Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Nominations Committee; Member, Executive Committee; Compensation Committee
  • MERALCO – Lead Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Audit Committee;   Member, Executive Committee; Related Party Transactions Committee; Risk Management Committee
  • MERRY MART CONSUMER CORPORATION (MM) – Adviser, Board of Directors
  • PETRON CORPORATION – Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Related Party Transaction Committee; Member, Audit Committee; Corporate Governance Committee
  • METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (Metrobank) – Senior Adviser, Board of Directors
  • PLDT, Inc. – Lead Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Risk Management Committee; Member, Audit Committee; Executive Compensation Committee; Governance, Nominations and Sustainability Committee
  • RL COMMERCIAL REIT, INC. – Independent Director, Board of Directors; Chairman, Audit Committee
  • Large NON-PUBLICLY LISTED Enterprises
  • ASIAN HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER – Independent Director, Board of Directors
  • STATE INVESTMENT HOUSE, INC. – Independent Director, Board of Directors
  • STATE PROPERTIES CORPORATION – Independent Director, Board of Director
  • METRO PACIFIC INVESTMENTS CORP. (MPIC) – Independent Advisor; Member, Audit Committee, Finance Committee, Risk, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Committee
  • Medium Enterprises
  • ARPAN INVESTMENT AND MANAGEMENT, INC. – Founder and Chairman, Board of Directors
  • ARPAN AIR, INC. – Founder and Chairman Emeritus
  • THE BARON TRAVEL CORPORATION – Founder and Chairman Emeritus
  • PAN PHILIPPINE RESOURCES CORPORATION – Chairman, Board of Directors
  • Local Foundations and Non-Profit Association
  • FOUNDATION FOR LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY – Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees; Chairman, Executive Committee; Member, Corporate Governance Committee, Finance Committee
  • CLAUDIO TEEHANKEE FOUNDATION – Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees
  • MANILA METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL-BASILICA FOUNDATION, INC. – President and Member, Board of Trustees
  • PHILIPPINE JUDGES FOUNDATION – Chairman, Board of Trustees
  • TAN YAN KEE FOUNDATION, INC. – Member, Board of Trustees; Vice Chairman, Executive Committee
  • METROBANK FOUNDATION, INC. – Chairman, Board of Advisers
  • ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES – President
  • PHILIPPINE CENTER FOR DIABETES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. – Chairman
  • International and Regional Organizations
  • ASEAN LAW ASSOCIATION or ALA (Singapore) – Vice President, 2018-2023
  • PERMANENT COURT OF ARBITRATION (The Hague, The Netherlands) – Member (Chairman, Philippine National Group), 2017-2023
  • Local Associations and Non-Profit Organizations
  • ASEAN LAW ASSOCIATION PHILIPPINES – Chairman Emeritus, Philippine National Committee
  • AIM-RVR CENTER – President
  • MAPA BLUE FALCON HONOR SOCIETY – Adviser
  • PHILIPPINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER, INC. – Chairman Emeritus
  • WORLD BANK (Phils.) ADVISORY GROUP – Member


2. LAST CONCURRENT POSITIONS IN THE GOVERNMENT (2005-2006)

  • CHIEF JUSTICE of the Philippines
  • CHAIRPERSON, Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET)
  • CHAIRPERSON, Judicial and Bar Council
  • CHAIRPERSON, Philippine Judicial Academy

3. PAST MAJOR POSITIONS IN THE JUDICIARY (prior to becoming Chief Justice)

  • JUSTICE, Supreme Court of the Philippines, 1995-2005
  • CHAIRPERSON, Third Division, Supreme Court, 2004-2005
  • CHAIRPERSON, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, 2004-2005
  • MEMBER, Senate Electoral Tribunal, 2002-2004
  • CHAIRPERSON, International Forum on Liberty and Prosperity, October 18-20, 2006
  • CONFERENCE CHAIRPERSON, International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms, November 28-30, 2005
  • CONSULTANT, Judicial and Bar Council, 2004-2005
  • CHAIRPERSON of eight Supreme Court Committees, 1998-2005

4. AUTHOR of the following books:

Love God, Serve Man (1994)

Justice and Faith (1997)

Battles in the Supreme Court (1998)

Leadership by Example (1999)

Transparency, Unanimity and Diversity (2000)

A Centenary of Justice (2001)

Reforming the Judiciary (2002)

The Bio-Age Dawns on the Judiciary (2003)

Leveling the Playing Field (2004)

Judicial Renaissance (2005)

Liberty and Prosperity(2006, two volumes)

With Due Respect (2012)

With Due Respect 2 (2017)

With Due Respect 3 (2021)

BOOKS ABOUT CJ PANGANIBAN

Primus Inter Pares (2006, two volumes)

Summa (2006)

In Defense of Liberty (2006)

In Defense of the Rule of Law (2006)

A Test of Courage (2007)

5. CURRENT MEMBERSHIPS

  • Manila Golf Club, Manila Polo Club, Tagaytay Highlands Golf Club
  • Honorary Member, Consular Corps of the Philippines
  • Honorary Member, Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society, UP Chapter
  • Honorary Member, San Beda Law Alumni Association
  • “Adopted Son of Cebu” by the Cebu Provincial Government
  • “Adopted Son of San Fernando” by the City Government of San Fernando (Pampanga)

6. EDUCATION

  • Elementary, Honorable Mention, Juan Luna Elementary School, 1950
  • Secondary, Honorable Mention, Mapa High School, 1954
  • Associate in Arts, “With Highest Honors,” Far Eastern University, 1956
  • “Most Outstanding Student,” Far Eastern University, 1959
  • Bachelor of Laws, Cum Laude, Far Eastern University, 1960
  • Bar Examinations, 1960, 6th place with a grade of 89.55 percent
  • Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), University of Iloilo, 1997
  • Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), Far Eastern University, 2002
  • Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), University of Cebu, 2006
  • Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), Angeles University, 2006
  • Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), Bulacan State University, 2006

7. PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Date of Birth: December 7, 1936 Place of Birth: Manila, Philippines

  • Wife:

ELENITA C. PANGANIBAN + (February 29, 1940 – April 9, 2023)

AB-Math, St. Scholastica’s College

BSE, St. Scholastica’s College

MA-Statistics, University of the Philippine

MBM, Asian Institute of Management

Retired professor and former Associate Dean, Asian Institute of Management

  • Children:

MARIA ELENA PANGANIBAN-YAPTANGCO

BSM-Honors Course, Ateneo de Manila University

MBA, University of California

President and Chief Executive, The Baron Travel Corporation and related companies

JOSE ARTEMIO C. PANGANIBAN III

BSME, Honorable Mention, Ateneo de Manila University

Bachelor of Music, Summa Cum Laude, University of the Philippines

Advance Course in Piano, Fortbildungsklasse, Hochschule Fuer Musik, Munich, Germany, 1991

M.S. in Operations Research, “With Distinction,” Stanford University, 1993

M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems, Stanford University, 1994

Ph.D in Engineering Economic Systems and Operations Research, Stanford University, 1999 (Stanford Centennial Awardee)

Executive Director, J.P. Morgan, NYC, USA

MARIA JOCELYN PANGANIBAN-HANNETT

BSME, Cum Laude, Ateneo de Manila University

MBA, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA

Chief Financial Officer, White Oak Global Advisors LLC, NYC, USA

MARIA THERESA PANGANIBAN-MANALAC

BSME, Ateneo de Manila University

MBA, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Professor, Asian Institute of Management

MARIA EVELYN PANGANIBAN-REAGAN

John Kennedy High School, Waterbury, Connecticut, USA (top graduate)

BS-Biology, University of the Philippines

Courses in International Economics, University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

MA (Economics) ’94, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Master in Public Policy ’96, Harvard University

Managing Director, New York Life Investors, LLC, a subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Co., NYC, USA

8. CHAIRPERSON, Final Board of Judges of the following:

  • 1998 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (Philippine National Round)
  • 1998 Metrobank Search for Outstanding Teachers
  • 1998 TOYM sponsored by the Philippine Jaycees, Gerry Roxas Foundation, TOYM Foundation and Equitable Bank
  • 1998 Youth for Democracy Oratorical Contest sponsored by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and Rotary International
  • 2000 Rotary Club of Manila Journalism Awards
  • 2001 Anvil Awards, sponsored by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines
  • 2001 Search for Outstanding Journalists, sponsored by the Asian Institute of Journalism and the Metrobank Foundation
  • 2004 and 2005 Search for Outstanding Judges, Clerks of Court and other judicial officers, sponsored by the Supreme Court
  • 2008 Search for The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) sponsored by the Jaycees Philippines Senate and the Insular Life Assurance Corp.
  • 2009 Binibining Pilipinas Beauty Pageant.
  • 2009 TOYM Sponsored by the Philippine Jaycees, Gerry Roxas Foundation and the TOYM Foundation
  • 2011 Philip Jessup International Moot Court (Phil. Championship Round)
  • 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024 Ramon V. Del Rosario Awards for Nation-Building

9. PRESIDING OFFICER

  • 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Awards
  • 2007 The Outstanding Filipinos (TOFIL) Awards

10. SPORTS

  • Golf and tennis

11. PAST ACTIVITIES (prior to government service)

As a Practising Lawyer

  • SECRETARY GENERAL, Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) 5th Global Conference, PICC, January 30, 2013 to February 1, 2013
  • SENIOR PARTNER, Panganiban Parlade Benitez Africa & Barinaga Law Office (PABLAW), 1963-1995
  • SENIOR PARTNER, Panganiban Abad and Associates, 1965-1969
  • PERSONAL LEGAL COUNSEL to Senate President Jovito R. Salonga, 1987-1991
  • VICE PRESIDENT for Legal Affairs and GENERAL COUNSEL, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), 1991-1995
  • CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) 1991-1995
  • LEGAL COUNSEL, Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association – MAPSA May 7, 1993 – October 9, 1995
  • CHAIRPERSON, Workshop on Administration of Justice, Multi-Sectoral Conference convened to discuss the first 100-day and first 1,000-day programs of President Fidel V. Ramos, held on June 13, 1992 and on October 17, 1992 respectively
  • SPEAKER, 16th Conference on the Law of the World sponsored by the World Jurist Association, October 24 to 29, 1993
  • PROFESSOR of law and political science, Far Eastern University, Assumption Convent and San Sebastian College (1961-1970)
  • PRESIDENT, FEU Law Faculty Club (1966-1967)
  • PRESIDENT, FEU Law Alumni Association (1986-1987)
  • CHAIRMAN, National Legal Committee, Boy Scouts of the Phils.(BSP) (1991-1992)
  • VICE-PRESIDENT, Legal Management Council of the Philippines (1976-1977)
  • CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL, Liberal Party (1987-1991)
  • LEGAL COUNSEL AND CONSULTANT to the Secretary of Education and to the National Board of Education of the Republic of the Philippines (1962-1965)
  • ASSOCIATE, Salonga Ordonez and Associates Law Office (1961-1963)

As a Catholic Lay Leader:

  • MEMBER, PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAITY, appointed by Pope John Paul II for a five-year term. During the 1996-2001 term, he was the only Filipino in this Council which was composed of 30 Catholic leaders, chosen by the Pope from various countries to advise him on “all matters involving the Christian life of the faithful.”
  • NATIONAL VICE CHAIRMAN (and CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), 1993-1995
  • SECRETARY, Council of the Laity of the Philippines (CLP), 1991-93
  • SERVANT LEADER, Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant Community and Chairman, BLD Foundation Inc., 1994-1995
  • LAY DELEGATE, Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II), January-February 1991
  • MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ACN (Aid to the Church in Need) Philippines, 2019-2021
  • MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, Philippine Bible Society, 2008-2012
  • TRUSTEE, Alumni of Student Catholic Action (1989-90)
  • RETIRED SPECIAL MINISTER of Holy Communion, Santuario de San Antonio Parish, Makati City

As a Civic Leader:

  • PRESIDENT, Rotary Club of Manila (First and largest Rotary Club in Asia) 1990-1991
  • PRESIDENT, Philippine-Finland Association (1991-1995)
  • PRESIDENT, RCM Eyebank Foundation, Inc. (1990-1995)
  • CHAIRMAN, National Union of Students Alumni Association (1991-1995)
  • CHAIRMAN, District Conference of Rotary District 3810 (Feb.28 – Mar. 1991)
  • TREASURER, 5th Philippine Rotary Presidents’ Meet, December 14-15, 1990

As a Business Leader:

  • PRESIDENT, Baron Travel Corporation (1967-1993), Arpan Tourism Industries Corporation (1974-1993), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. (1991-1992)
  • PRESIDENT, Tourism Organization of the Philippines (1977-1986) (Now called the Tourism Congress of the Philippines)
  • INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN, American Society of Travel Agents (first Asian to head ASTA International, the largest travel association in the world), 1985-1986
  • PRESIDENT, Philippine Society of Travel Agents (1974-1976) and Philippine Association of Tourist Transport Operators (1979-1987)
  • GOVERNOR, Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), 1990-1994 and Chairman, MAP Management Man of the Year 1994 Award
  • VICE-PRESIDENT, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1993-1995
  • MEMBER of the following organizations: Bishop-Businessmen’s Conference (BBC), Young Presidents’ Organizations (YPO) and SKAL Club of Manila
  • INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR, Bank of PI (2010-2016)
  • INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR, Robinsons Land Corp. (2008-2021)
  • INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR, First Philippine Holdings Corp. (2007-2021)
  • INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR, TeaM Energy Corp. (2015-2025)
  • DIRECTOR, International Corporate Bank (then known as Continental Bank which later merged with the Union Bank), 1972-1974
  • HONORARY CONSUL, Republic of Honduras (1981-1983)
  • CONSULTANT, World Tourism Organization (WTO), (1978-1981)
  • DIRECTOR and SECRETARY, Manila Polo Club (1990-1991)
  • EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, World University Service (1962-1965), also called Institute of Student Affairs

As a Youth Leader:

  • PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER, National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), (1958-1959)
  • PRESIDENT, FEU Central Student Organization (1957-1958)
  • PRESIDENT, FEU Student Catholic Action, 1960
  • MOST ILLUSTRIOUS KNIGHT, Kappa Gamma Phi Fraternity of University Scholars (1956-1957)
  • STAFF MEMBER, FEU Advocate (1955-1956) and FEU Green & Gold (1959-1960)

12. MAJOR AWARDS

  • PRO ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE PAPAL AWARD, granted by Pope Francis and handed to him by Jose F. Cardinal Advincula on September 18, 2024 at the Manila Cathedral
  • JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – LAW, given by the Manila Overseas Press Club on October 25, 2023, the first award given by the MOPC in its 78-year history
  • THE RENAISSANCE JURIST OF THE 21st CENTURY given by the Supreme Court of the Philippines during his retirement ceremonies on December 6, 2006
  • SILVER JUBILEE AWARDEE, Legal Management Council of the Philippines, 1990
  • OUTSTANDING MANILAN FOR 1991 given by the City of Manila
  • MOST OUTSTANDING LAW ALUMNUS FOR 1988 (sole awardee) given by the Far Eastern University Law Alumni Association on December 16, 1988
  • MOST OUTSTANDING PRACTISING LAWYER given by the Consumers’ Union of the Philippines on March 16, 1994
  • MOST DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS in the field of LAW given by the FEU ADVOCATE, official student newspaper of Far Eastern University, 1990
  • MOST OUTSTANDING SILVER JUBILARIAN, Mapa High School, 1979
  • BLUE FALCON Awardee, Mapa High School Alumni Association, 1993
  • GOLDEN HELM AWARD from the Senate of West Berlin and the Int’l. Association of Helmsmen, Berlin (1984)
  • MOST OUTSTANDING TOURISM PERSONALITY AWARD given by the Skal Club of Makati (1986); FOUNDER’S AWARD, Philippine Travel Agencies Association (1990)
  • PRESIDENTIAL GAWAD AWARD given by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (City University of Manila), 1995
  • DR.NICANOR REYES, SR. MEDAL OF MERIT given by Far Eastern University, May 1, 1998
  • MEDAL OF HONOR, Angeles University Foundation, 1999
  • EMINENT AND DISTINGUISHED JURIST AWARD given by the Consumers’ Union of the Philippines, 2002
  • DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, Far Eastern University, 1998
  • DIAMOND JUBILEE AWARD, Far Eastern University, 2003
  • ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, Far Eastern University, 2006
  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, FEU Law Alumni Association, 2006
  • NOBLESSE OBLIGE AWARD, Pasig Catholic College, 2007
  • AWARD OF HONOR, Philippine Bar Association, 2007
  • MOST OUTSTANDING KAPAMPANGAN given by the Province of Pampanga, 2010
  • RULE OF LAW AWARD given by the Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee Foundation on April 18, 2013
  • CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, Supreme Court of the Phil and Society for Judicial Excellence, October 20, 2016
  • DIAMOND JUBILEE AWARD, as the most outstanding alumnus during the last 60 years given by the Far Eastern University Law Alumni Association, at Conrad Hotel, Pasay City, November 24, 2018
  • ROTARY CLUB INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD, for being the only RCM President to become Chief Justice, given at Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, June 21, 2019
  • ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA GRAND AWARD for being “The Only Philippine Rotary President To Become Chief Justice,” given by the Rotary Club of Manila at the Manila Polo Club on November 16, 2023

13. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS ROLE AS A JURIST, LAWYER, CIVIC LEADER, CATHOLIC LAY WORKER, BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR AND YOUTH LEADER, he has also been the recipient of over 250 other awards from various governments, civic clubs, consumer associations, bar groups, religious movements and other non-government organizations, both local and international.

Recognitions

In recognition of his many roles as a jurist, lawyer, civic leader, catholic lay worker, business entrepreneur, and youth leader, Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban has received more than 250 awards and citations. These honors came from governments, civic clubs, consumer associations, bar groups, religious movements, and other non-government organizations, both local and international. Several honorary doctoral degrees have also been conferred upon him.

He holds honorary memberships in the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society (University of the Philippines Chapter), the Consular Corps of the Philippines, the San Beda College of Law Alumni Association, and the Johann Strauss Society of the Philippines.

The Provincial Government of Cebu named him an Adopted Son of Cebu,” while the City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga likewise adopted him as one of its own.On December 6, 2006, the Supreme Court of the Philippines awarded Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban a Plaque of Acclamation. It was given in recognition of his outstanding service to the judiciary and to the nation.

The Court honored him for his devotion to duty, commitment to excellence, and integrity in public service. His inspiring journey — from humble beginnings to becoming Chief Justice — was celebrated as a model of perseverance and dedication.

He was hailed as the “21st Century’s Renaissance Jurist.” The award recognized not only his intellect and leadership, but also his compassion and humanity on the bench.The Plaque of Acclamation stands as a lasting tribute to his vision of safeguarding liberty and nurturing prosperity under the rule of law.

On September 18, 2024, at a Eucharistic celebration in the Manila Cathedral, he was formally conferred the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” medal by Pope Francis, represented by Jose F. Cardinal Advincula, Archbishop of Manila.

    This honor—Latin for “For Church and Pope”—is the highest distinction the Holy See awards to lay persons who have rendered exemplary service to the Catholic Church and its mission.

After his retirement from the judiciary, he received the Award of Honor from the Philippine Bar Association during its 116th Foundation Day Celebration on April 26, 2007.

    The award recognized him as “a principled and visionary leader by example, a prolific writer of the Supreme Court, bar none, a renaissance man, and a nobly-souled and gifted jurist.” 

    He was further honored as “an eminent lawyer, law professor, Catholic lay worker, civic leader, and businessman; a scholar imbued with mental dexterity; and an exemplary family man.”

On June 19, 2024, during its 39th Founding AnniversaryBukás Loób sa Diyós (BLD) — a Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community that pioneered the lay renewal movement in the Philippines — conferred the Joy of the Master Recognition upon him and his wife, Mrs. Elenita “Leni” C. Panganiban, MBM.

   The award honored their passionate and wholehearted commitment to using their God-given resources in service of others. It recognized their efforts to enrich and nurture the BLD community and its members, faithfully responding to the mission entrusted to them by the Lord.

  The Rotary Club of Manila honors today, as its guest speaker, the former jurist and Chief Justice Art Panganiban. In the course of my 53 years of journalism, I have been acquainted with and befriended a number of iconic individuals because of their singular background, remarkable achievements, and their impact and influence on society and the nation in general. Such people are what I call tycoons. Tycoon means a powerful person in business or industry or the professions. In Japan, shoguns were those in power between 1857 and 1868.Among the tycoons I have met, befriended and closely monitored as a journalist are: the late Henry Sy Sr., the late John Gokongwei Jr., the late Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., Ramon S. Ang, Manny Pangilinan, Lucio Tan, Tessie Sy Coson, Manny Villar, Enrique Razon, to name a few.I put Art Panganiban in that rarified league of tycoons....

On October 25, 2023, he was once again recognized for his contributions to public discourse when the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) acclaimed him as the “Journalist of the Year – Law.” It was a historic honor — the first time in MOPC’s 78-year history that the award was ever given.

   On November 16, 2023, the Rotary Club of Manila honored him as “The Only Philippine Rotary President to Become Chief Justice of the Philippines.” He was also the only Filipino appointed by the late Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Council for the Laity for the 1996–2001 term.

“With an optimistic outlook in life, he has not aged a bit in his devotion to safeguard liberty and nurture prosperity under the rule of law.”

- CJ Alexander G. Gesmundo

“With an optimistic outlook in life, he has not aged a bit in his devotion to safeguard liberty and nurture prosperity under the rule of law.”

- CJ Alexander G. Gesmundo

“He leapfrogged the social and economic barriers of Philippine society…[and] in the Supreme Court, best blossomed for God and country.”

- CJ Reynato S. Puno

“ A “renaissance man…a nobly-souled and gifted jurist.”

- CJ Renato C. Corona

“The life story of Chief Justice Panganiban is as improbable as it is inspiring; a poor but bright boy who shined shoes and hawked newspapers in the streets of Manila rose through merit and sheer hard work to become a successful entrepreneur and, later, Chief Justice of the land.”

- CJ Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno

“He extricates the possible from the hypothetical, the emerging from the established, the literature in science and the law in art.”

- CJ Hilario G. Davide Jr.

“He extricates the possible from the hypothetical, the emerging from the established, the literature in science and the law in art.”

- CJ Hilario G. Davide Jr.

“While we may have had our differences regarding some of the cases decided by the Court, he remains a titan in the legal profession. Within it, his legacy will be secure.”

- Senior Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen

“Undoubtedly the most prolific writer of the Court, bar none.”

- Senior Justice Antonio T. Carpio

“Perhaps more compelling than his scholarly brilliance, Chief Justice Panganiban possesses this unique quality to resonate with all kinds of people, may it be in his personal, professional, or philanthropic endeavors; he also has this galvanizing desire to see liberty and prosperity abound through legal excellence, which makes him a beacon of justice on his own.”

- Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe

lauded his “preeminent judicial craftsmanship, social philosophies and literary style…”

- Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez

“An avatar of Themis herself, CJ Art’s judicial legacy will surely live on through the ages.”

- Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando

“An avatar of Themis herself, CJ Art’s judicial legacy will surely live on through the ages.”

- Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando

“The way CJ Panganiban writes is a reflection of what he is – brilliant without being flashy, authoritative without being pompous, straightforward without being drab,”

- Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra

“The way CJ Panganiban writes is a reflection of what he is – brilliant without being flashy, authoritative without being pompous, straightforward without being drab,”

- Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra

“He perfected preserving the independence of the Supreme Court, having a working coequal relationship with the Chief Executive, and getting his own Supreme Court justices to work as a team.”

- Aurelio Montinola III, Chairman, Far Eastern University

“You are neither retired nor ancient. I have always looked up to you! One of the best UP law alumni we almost had!.”

- Dean Danilo L. Concepcion, President, University of the Philippines

“As Chief Justice, he distinguished himself in that he strove to have as much unanimity as possible when the Court faced historic cases, painfully conscious that ‘the least dangerous branch’ speaks loudest when it judges wisely and in once voice.”

- Dr. Raul C. Pangalangan, retired Judge, International Criminal Court, The Hague

“One book a year and no cases left undecided. This is Mr. [Chief] Justice Artemio V. Panganiban’s unsurpassed record. It is also the best summation of judicial reform”

- Justice Romeo J. Callejo Sr.

“One book a year and no cases left undecided. This is Mr. [Chief] Justice Artemio V. Panganiban’s unsurpassed record. It is also the best summation of judicial reform”

- Justice Romeo J. Callejo Sr.

Website Revised on April 1,2026