Filed under: Calleja
Ramon Calleja Fernandez was born on 16 February 1916 in Libon, Albay, Philippines to Bartolome Seda Fernandez and Pilar Maronilla Calleja.
An exceptional student, Ramon was the valedictorian of Sorsogon High School. He was cum laude of UP College of Law, was the valedictorian of Class 1939 and was a Second Placer of the 1939 Bar Exam (which was topped by ex-President Ferdinand E. Marcos). He was admitted to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on 16 February 1940.
Ramon founded the Libon Private High School. He was the first President (1948 – 1956) of the Legaspi Colleges — the forerunner of the Aquinas University in Legaspi, Albay. He was a professorial law lecturer at the UP Law Center, the Manuel L Quezon University and the Philippine Law School. He was awarded the Professor of the Year at the UP Law Center in 1978.
In government service, he was the Undersecretary of Justice from 1968 to 1971, an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals from 1971 to 1977. He was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Justice on 27 May 1977. He held this post until 11 May 1982. He “was forced to protect his name and honor when he resigned because of a bar examination scandal.”[7]
Ramon married Illuminada Mojica Tuazon (Manila Carnival Queen of 1939) in 1941 and they were blessed with three children: Erlinda, Ramon and Pilar. After Lumen’s untimely death, Ramon married Lydia Aguilar Seva — the half first cousin of his mother. Their children are Lydia, Raul, Benjamin and Cynthia. He is the grand uncle of Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.
Gallery
Hover over thumbnail to view description. Click to see the larger image.
