Enrique Fernando
A judicial scholar who shaped Philippine constitutional law during a turbulent era, steering the nation's highest court with intellectual rigor.
1915–2004 (age 89)·Chief Justice of the Philippines from 1979 to 1985·Birthday: July 24·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Enrique Fernando's path to the Supreme Court was paved in the classroom. Before donning judicial robes, he was a formidable law professor, instilling in a generation of lawyers a deep respect for constitutional principles. Appointed to the bench in 1966, his 18-year tenure spanned the Marcos dictatorship, a period that tested the judiciary's independence. When he ascended to Chief Justice in 1979, he brought a professor's meticulousness to the role, authoring opinions that were dense with legal scholarship. His leadership, often described as cerebral rather than flamboyant, provided a steadying presence. While critics noted the court's general acquiescence to martial law, Fernando's legacy is largely framed by his academic contributions to Philippine jurisprudence, a body of work that continued to influence long after his retirement in 1985.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Enrique was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Enrique Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Enrique's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 60
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 70
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 80
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Died at 89
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
Key Achievements
- Served as the 13th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 1979 until 1985.
- Authored numerous influential Supreme Court decisions and legal texts on Philippine constitutional law.
- Served on the nation's highest court for a total of 18 years, beginning with his appointment as an Associate Justice in 1966.
Did You Know?
He was a dedicated educator who taught law at the University of the Philippines and other institutions.
He earned his Master of Laws degree from Harvard Law School.
His son, Enrique Fernando Jr., also served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
“The Constitution is a framework for ordered liberty, not a suicide pact.”
