Calixto O. Zaldivar.. Was Born in Pandan, Antique

Pandan, Antique

Pandan is one of the 18 towns making up the Philippine province of Antique. With an estimated 2010 population of nearly 34,000 , Pandan consists of 34 barangays , of which 15 lie along the coast, 12 are inland, and 7 are upland, as follows:-Barangays:Coastal Barangays * Bagumbayan *...

, Philippines. He graduated his law at the University of the Philippines and a third placer in the Bar Exam. He uniquely held positions in all branches of the government. In Legislative he served as a Representative of Antique from 1934–1935; in the Executive branch

Executive (government)

Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...

, as Governor of Antique, 1951–1955 and Executive Secretary of the President of the Philippines

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...

; and in judiciary, as Associate Justice

Associate Justice

Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...

 of the Supreme Court

Supreme court

A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...

 from 1964-1974.

He distinguished himself of having wrote some of the “most timeless opinions and equally the most penetrating dissents in the history of the Bill of Rights” during the tumultuous decade in the Philippine History

History of the Philippines

The history of the Philippines is believed to have begun with the arrival of the first humans via land bridges at least 30,000 years ago. The first recorded visit from the West is the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan, who sighted Samar on March 16, 1521 and landed on Homonhon Island southeast of Samar...

.

He acquired the reputation of being an independent-minded member of the court especially during the deliberations on the issues arising out of the declaration of the Martial Law

Martial law

Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...

 and the validity of the 1973 Constitution. When many bent to the rule of the dictator, Zaldivar was never cowed but continued to dissent when he should.
He was a defender of civil and political liberties, who also promoted social sciences

Social sciences

Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...

in addition to his work in religion (being a stalwart Aglipayan), law, government and statesmanship areas which his children are now heavily involved.

• Spouse: Elena Ang
• Children: Lorna, Nona, Enrique, Salvacion and Calixto, Jr.
• Religion: Iglesia Filipina Independiente (also Aglipayan Church)