Arturo Brion
Encyclopedia
Arturo D. Brion is an incumbent Associate Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
. He took his oath as a member of the Supreme Court on March 17, 2008 after having been appointed by President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. From 2006 until his appointment to the Supreme Court, Brion had served as in the Cabinet of President Macapagal-Arroyo as the Secretary of Labor and Employment
.
, Philippines. He is the son of Edon B. Brion (a retired trial court judge) and Laura S. Dizon. He grew up and undertook his primary, secondary and part of his tertiary studies in San Pablo City
, Laguna.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
, major in Mathematics, from San Pablo Colleges in San Pablo City
, Laguna, in 1970. He earned his Bachelor of Laws
from Ateneo de Manila University Law School
in 1974, graduating as cum laude and class valedictorian
. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Ateneo Law Journal. He took the Philippine Bar Examination
s and placed first with a bar general average of 91.65%. Brion thereafter practiced law at the Siguon Reyna, Montecillo, and Ongsiako Law Offices.
He also earned a Master of Laws
, with concentration in Labor and Employment Law, from Osgoode Hall Law School
of York University
in Toronto
, Canada
, in 1994. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws Equivalency Programme from the same law school. He was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada
and to the practice of law in the province of Ontario
in 1992.
In Canada
, he served as Counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General in Ontario
, Canada, from 1992 to 1995. Later, he was appointed as Associated Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals
. In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him as Secretary of Labor and Employment, a cabinet position vacated by Patricia Santo Tomas
who was made Chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines
.
Brion was among the nominees of the Judicial and Bar Council
to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court left by the successive retirements of Associate Justices Romeo Callejo, Sr.
, Cancio Garcia
, and Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez
. On March 17, 2008, he was named to the Supreme Court by President Macapagal-Arroyo to succeed Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez.
from 1976 to 1982; from 1986 to 1987; and from 1995 to 1997. He has authored an article entitled The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work in Ontario, which is archived in the libraries of York University
.
His specializations lie in the following fields--Labor Laws, Public Law, Occupational Health and Safety.
(IBP). He served as President of the IBP Laguna Chapter from 1981 to 1983. He was a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada
from 1992 to 1995.
He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Utopia.
His wife, Antonietta, is a chemist-lawyer (B.S. Chem, College of the Holy Spirit, and LL.B., Ateneo Law School
, Class '82), while his son, Arturo, Jr., is a computer engineer-lawyer (Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Ontario; LL.B., University of New Brunswick School of Law) engaged in Intellectual Property Law practice in Ottawa
. His other child, Antonella, is a B.S. History graduate at York University (Toronto), an interior designer (International Academy of Design and Technology) and also a published poet and Toronto-based book designer.
's July 1 "Forum on Increasing Access to Justice: Bridging Gaps and Removing Roadblocks."
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines is one of 15 members of the Philippine Supreme Court, the highest court in the Philippines. The Chief Justice presides over the High Court, but carries only 1 of the 15 votes in the court...
of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
Supreme Court of the Philippines
The Supreme Court of the Philippines is the Philippines' highest judicial court, as well as the court of last resort. The court consists of 14 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice...
. He took his oath as a member of the Supreme Court on March 17, 2008 after having been appointed by President
President of the Philippines
The President of the Philippines is the head of state and head of government of the Philippines. The president leads the executive branch of the Philippine government and is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines...
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. From 2006 until his appointment to the Supreme Court, Brion had served as in the Cabinet of President Macapagal-Arroyo as the Secretary of Labor and Employment
Department of Labor and Employment (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment is the executive department of the Philippine Government mandated to formulate policies, implement programs and services, and serve as the policy-coordinating arm of the Executive Branch in the field of labor and employment...
.
Early life and education
Brion was born on December 29, 1946 in the city of ManilaManila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines. He is the son of Edon B. Brion (a retired trial court judge) and Laura S. Dizon. He grew up and undertook his primary, secondary and part of his tertiary studies in San Pablo City
San Pablo City
The City of San Pablo , a first class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines, is one of the country's oldest cities. The City of San Pablo lies in the southern portion of Laguna province...
, Laguna.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, major in Mathematics, from San Pablo Colleges in San Pablo City
San Pablo City
The City of San Pablo , a first class city in the province of Laguna, Philippines, is one of the country's oldest cities. The City of San Pablo lies in the southern portion of Laguna province...
, Laguna, in 1970. He earned his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Ateneo de Manila University Law School
Ateneo Law School
The Ateneo de Manila Law School is the law school of the Ateneo de Manila University, a private Jesuit university in the Philippines. It was founded in 1936, in the Padre Faura, Manila campus of the Ateneo, where it remained even after the college, graduate school, and basic education units moved...
in 1974, graduating as cum laude and class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Ateneo Law Journal. He took the Philippine Bar Examination
Philippine Bar Examination
The Philippine Bar Examination is the professional licensure examination for lawyers in the Philippines.It is the only professional licensure exam in the country that is not supervised by the Professional Regulation Commission...
s and placed first with a bar general average of 91.65%. Brion thereafter practiced law at the Siguon Reyna, Montecillo, and Ongsiako Law Offices.
He also earned a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
, with concentration in Labor and Employment Law, from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, in 1994. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws Equivalency Programme from the same law school. He was admitted to the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
and to the practice of law in the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1992.
Career
Brion has worked from associate attorney to senior partner levels in various law offices. He was the Director of the Institute of Labor and Manpower Studies from 1982 to 1984. He served as an Assemblyman in the Philippine National Assembly from 1984 to 1986. He was appointed as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Labor and Employment during the same period.In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he served as Counsel in the Ministry of the Attorney General in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada, from 1992 to 1995. Later, he was appointed as Associated Justice of the Philippine Court of Appeals
Philippine Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of the Philippines is the Philippines' second highest judicial court, just after the Supreme Court. The court consists of 68 Associate Justices and 1 Presiding Justice...
. In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him as Secretary of Labor and Employment, a cabinet position vacated by Patricia Santo Tomas
Patricia Santo Tomas
Patricia Aragon Santo Tomas is the Chairman of the Board of Development Bank of the Philippines since 2006.She has been a Secretary of Labor and Employment and Chairwoman of the Philippine Civil Service Commission for several years.-Education:...
who was made Chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines
Development Bank of the Philippines
The Development Bank of the Philippines , commonly known by its initials, DBP, is a state-owned development bank in Makati, Philippines.It is the seventh-largest bank in the Philippines in terms of assets, and is the second-largest...
.
Brion was among the nominees of the Judicial and Bar Council
Judicial and Bar Council
The Judicial and Bar Council of the Philippines is a constitutionally-created body that recommends appointees for vacancies that may arise in the composition of the Supreme Court and other lower courts.-Composition:...
to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court left by the successive retirements of Associate Justices Romeo Callejo, Sr.
Romeo Callejo, Sr.
Romeo J. Callejo, Sr. is a retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the Court on September 3, 2002 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and served until his mandatory retirement on April 27, 2007.- Profile :After earning his law degree from the San...
, Cancio Garcia
Cancio Garcia
Cancio C. Garcia is a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was appointed to the Court on October 6, 2004 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and retired on October 19, 2007.- Profile :...
, and Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez
Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez
Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez is a Filipino jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 2000 to 2008. She was the last appointment to the Court made by President Joseph Estrada.-Profile:...
. On March 17, 2008, he was named to the Supreme Court by President Macapagal-Arroyo to succeed Justice Sandoval-Gutierrez.
Academe
Brion has taught law at the Ateneo Law SchoolAteneo Law School
The Ateneo de Manila Law School is the law school of the Ateneo de Manila University, a private Jesuit university in the Philippines. It was founded in 1936, in the Padre Faura, Manila campus of the Ateneo, where it remained even after the college, graduate school, and basic education units moved...
from 1976 to 1982; from 1986 to 1987; and from 1995 to 1997. He has authored an article entitled The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work in Ontario, which is archived in the libraries of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
His specializations lie in the following fields--Labor Laws, Public Law, Occupational Health and Safety.
Organizations
Brion is an active member of the Integrated Bar of the PhilippinesIntegrated Bar of the Philippines
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines is the national organization of lawyers in the Philippines. It is the mandatory bar association for Filipino lawyers.-History:...
(IBP). He served as President of the IBP Laguna Chapter from 1981 to 1983. He was a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
from 1992 to 1995.
He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Utopia.
Private life
Brion is married to Antonietta C. Articona. The couple has two children.His wife, Antonietta, is a chemist-lawyer (B.S. Chem, College of the Holy Spirit, and LL.B., Ateneo Law School
Ateneo Law School
The Ateneo de Manila Law School is the law school of the Ateneo de Manila University, a private Jesuit university in the Philippines. It was founded in 1936, in the Padre Faura, Manila campus of the Ateneo, where it remained even after the college, graduate school, and basic education units moved...
, Class '82), while his son, Arturo, Jr., is a computer engineer-lawyer (Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Ontario; LL.B., University of New Brunswick School of Law) engaged in Intellectual Property Law practice in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. His other child, Antonella, is a B.S. History graduate at York University (Toronto), an interior designer (International Academy of Design and Technology) and also a published poet and Toronto-based book designer.
Awards
In the Araw ng Maynila's 437th founding anniversary on June 29, 2008, Brion was named "Outstanding Manilan" in law. He was the master of ceremonies of Reynato PunoReynato Puno
Reynato Puno y Serrano was the 22nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed on December 8, 2006 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he was the 22nd person to serve as Chief Justice...
's July 1 "Forum on Increasing Access to Justice: Bridging Gaps and Removing Roadblocks."