Hilario Gelbolingo Davide Jr. (born December 20, 1935) is a Filipino lawyer, professor, diplomat, constitutionalist and former politician, who served as the 20th chief justice of the Philippines and permanent representative of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations. As constitutionalist, Davide led the creation of the legislative branch, and also wrote the most resolutions and the bulk of the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, becoming its father and primary author.

Early life and career

The sixth of seven siblings, Davide was born in Barangay Colawin, in Argao, Cebu to Hilario Panerio Davide Sr. (1904–2006), a retired Schools Division Superintendent, and Josefa Lopez Gelbolingo, a former public school teacher. Davide Sr. though lacking in funds ensured all his children finished college. The children were disciplined from the beginning, and the boys had to learn how to gather tubo (sugarcane). The young dodong (boy) Jun enjoyed riding on a sledge harnessed by a carabao to gather tubo. No leisure was allowed until schoolwork and house chores were completed.

He completed his primary education at Argao Central Elementary School and secondary education at Abellana Vocational High School. In college, he went to the country's premier state university, the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City where he earned his Associate in Arts in 1955, his Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence in 1958, and his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1959. In his first year of law he joined the honor society, "Order of the Purple Feather", then in his last year was a member of two honor societies called Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Gamma Mu. In addition, Davide edited for the school journal, the Philippine Law Journal. He took and passed the bar examinations given that same year.

right|thumb|250px|Chief Justice Davide, presiding the 2004 oath taking of [[Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as President of the Philippines.]]

Post-judicial career

Davide retired as chief magistrate on December 20, 2005, after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70.

However, on January 24, 2006, President Arroyo appointed him as senior presidential adviser on electoral reforms during a Council of State meeting convened by the president. He recommended measures and policies to the president that would help reform the country's electoral system.

United Nations

Davide served as ambassador and permanent representative of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York City. He assumed this post in February 2007. Shortly after his assumption, he was elected vice chairman of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the main organs of the United Nations. He resigned his post on April 1, 2010.

Philippine Truth Commission

On June 30, 2010, President Noynoy Aquino announced that Davide will head a truth commission that will investigate important issues in the country.

However in December 7, 2010, the commission was struck down in Biraogo v. Philippine Truth Commission. The court stated that the president had the power to create the commission and that it would aid the ombudsman's power to investigate anomalies in the government. However, it violated the equal protection clause for allowing Davide to only lead in the investigation of the anomalies of the Arroyo administration, which just recently ended at that time.

Post-political career

Davide has been the independent director of the Manila Bulletin since March 31, 2011. He also serves as trustee at the University of San Carlos, and independent director of Megawide Corporation and Philtrust Bank.

Awards

In 2011 Davide was awarded one of the highest honor of the Holy See, the Knight Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester, by decree of Pope Benedict XVI.

Hilario Davide is the recipient of many awards. In 2002, he was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service—a singular honor that is the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. He was recognized for his life of principled citizenship and his profound service to democracy and the rule of law in the Philippines.

Apart from the Magsaysay Award, he is also the recipient of the 2005 Most Distinguished Alumnus Award given by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association; the 2003 Man of the Year Award by the Philippine Free Press; the 2000 Filipino of the Year Award by the Philippine Daily Inquirer; the 2001 Rule of Law Award; the 1999 The Outstanding Filipino Award in Environmental Law; the 2003 Chief Justice Roberto Concepcion Award for Legal Aid by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines; and 13 honorary degrees in doctoral in law and humanities.

In August 2006, he was conferred the ABA International Rule of Law Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in advancing the Rule of Law by the American Bar Association (ABA) Rule of Law Initiative on the occasion of the ABA's 2006 Annual Convention.

Hilario G. Davide Jr. was also the supreme commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal and was conferred the highest rank, Knight Grand Cross of Rizal.

World Justice Project

Hilario G. Davide Jr. serves as an honorary co-chair for the World Justice Project. The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the rule of law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.

Personal life

Davide's father and namesake Hilario Sr. built such a reputation in Argao that the whole immediate family was named the ABS-CBN Bayaning Pamilyang Pilipino of the Year in 1997. On August 8, 2024, Romulo was proclaimed as a National Scientist of the Philippines for his work in nematology and plant pathology.

Jun, as many call him, is married to Surigao native Virginia (Gigi) Jimenea Perez. They met while working for Governor Francisco Remotigue. They have five children, namely: Hilario III (a lawyer, former city councilor of Cebu City and Governor of Cebu); Joseph Bryan Hilary (a law graduate), Sheryl Ann (a doctor), Noreen (a Master in SPED graduate), and Delster Emmanuel (an architect) and fourteen grandchildren including namesake Hilario Jose IV, son of Joseph Bryan.

Davide maintains a gardening hobby. As he stated: <blockquote>Plants are better than people, they bloom for you, adorn your surroundings and give you peace and quiet. [Unlike plants,] people argue with you and sometimes make life miserable for you

.</blockquote>

See also

  • Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
  • Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Notes

References

  • Supreme Court of the Philippines Official Website
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20050326210603/http://www.managinggovernance.com/program/davide.htm
  • https://web.archive.org/web/20050326093136/http://www.ngkhai.com/pointcebu/profile/davide.htm
  • Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide gets ‘Spirit of UN’ Award
  • Supreme Court of the Philippines Official Website