Republic of the Philippines lS REC EWVED,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES el 3.12018
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no 32 43

Introduced by JANICE Z. SALIMBANGO!

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The late Chief Justice of the Philippines and President of the Senate of the
Philippines MARCELO BRIONES FERNAN who hails from Bogo City, Cebu was
born on October 24, 1926 of spouses Judge Wenceslao and Mrs. Margarita Briones-
Fernan.

Marcelo Briones Fernan's father in 1920 founded the Bogo Redeemers Society
(BRS). It is a social institution aimed to recognize the achievements of young
Bogohanons and transform their potentials into productive individuals. Marcelo
Briones Fernan took over the task of running the BRS when his father died. To date the
BRS organization continue transforming and molding the character of thousands of
Bogohanons youth and make it relevant for almost a hundred years. It is now run and
managed by Marcelo Briones Fernan's son Michael N. Fernan when he died on July 11,
1999. The BRS of Bogo had celebrated its centenary (100 years) of guiding and
transforming lives of our youths into responsible citizens.

Marcelo Briones Fernan rose to become a lawyer after graduating from the
University of the Philippines. When his father died, he took over the latter's law office
in Cebu City. Following his father's practice, Marcelo Briones Fernan charged mostly
pro bono on cases involving farmers who came for legal assistance, which policy
endeared him to most Cebuanos. In so short a period, Marcelo Briones Fernan became
famous and outstanding law practitioner admired by other law practitioners who voted
him as National President of the IBP where then President Aquino picked him to
become a member of the Constitutional Commission to craft the 1988 constitution.
Prior to that, Marcelo Briones Fernan was elected constitutional convention delegate
from Provincial Board Member and Batasang Pambansa member.

President Corazon Aquino later appointed Marcelo Briones Fernan as Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice thereof not long after.

His incumbency as Chief Justice marked massive reforms of the judiciary
starting with the transfer of the court itself from the old decrepit building in Taft
Avenue, Manila to a large newly refurbished expansive more dignified building we now
see at Padre Faura, Manila


Forced to retire early as Chief Justice due to the demands from constituents,
Marcelo Briones Fernan trained his sights in politics where he was elected senator in
1995. He became the President of the Senate of the Philippines on July 27, 1998 and
thus becoming the only Filipino gifted with heading two of the three great branches of
government, the Judiciary and the Legislative branches. He died in office

Marcelo Briones Fernan is considered as one of the country's most outstanding
and illustrious Filipino, He has brought extreme honor to the place where he fails from,
Bogo City. By declaring October 24 as "Marcelo Briones Fernan Day" and a special
non-working holiday in the City of Bogo, Cebu, it would be an honorable tribute to
commemorate his contributions to the society.

a °
JANICE Z. SALIMBANGON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3243

Introduced by JANICE Z. SALIMBANGON

AN ACT DECLARING OCTOBER 24 OF EVERY YEAR AS A SPECIAL
NON-WORKING HOLIDAY KNOWN AS 'MARCELO BRIONES FERNAN
DAY" IN THE CITY OF BOGO IN HONOR OF THE LATE MARCELO
BRIONES FERNAN, AN OUTSTANDING STATESMAN AND LEGAL
LUMINARY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section I. Short Title — October 24 of every year is hereby declared as a special
nonworking holiday known as "Marcelo Briones Fernan Day" in the City of Bogo, Cebu
to commemorate one of the greatest and outstanding Bogohanon, Marcelo Briones
Fernan, a statesman and an illustrious Filipino.

Section 2. Effectivity — This act shall take effect 15 days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in 2 newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,