Born on November 6, 1939, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing hails from Masbate. He graduated valedictorian from Masbate High School in 1959 and continued to excel in his undergraduate and law courses. He obtained an AB Journalism degree from Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), magna cum laude, and proceeded to complete his law degree at the University of Philippines. As a student, the young Quisumbing was an active leader, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the MLQU paper, the Quezonian, and as President of the University Student Council, President of Student Councils Association of the Philippines, and editor of the Philippine Collegian at the University of the Philippines.

He placed 12th in the Bar Examinations of 1966 and pursued post-graduate studies at Cornell University, obtaining a Master of Laws. He was a member of the National Debating Team that won the Wilmot Cup in Australia.

He was also a recipient of the Fulbright Youth Leader grant, allowing him to visit Ivy League schools in the United States.

He started his public service career in 1965 as a Technical Assistant at the Office of Executive Secretary Rafael M. Salas. From this position, he moved on to serve as Assistant State Counsel at the Department of Justice from 1966 to 1968. In the next 18 years, he engaged in the private practice of law before joining the public sector anew as Senior Executive Assistant to the Defense Minister in 1986 and later as Undersecretary for National Defense from 1987 to 1992.

During the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, he served as Senior Deputy Executive Secretary from 1993 and subsequently Officer-In-Charge of the Office of the Executive Secretary until 1995. In 1995, he was appointed Secretary of Labor and Employment, a position he held until 1998.

In 1998, he was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Fidel V. Ramos. In his 11 years in the Supreme Court, he has penned many important decisions that secure the right to speedy trial, the admissibility of DNA evidence, and electoral protests.

Justice Quisumbing has also been an effective legal educator and researcher, having taught at the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines), the University of the Philippines College of Law, and the Northwestern University. He has published works on Constitutional Control of the Election Process, Compensation in Land Reform Cases, Comparative Public Law, Taxation Law, and Labor Law.

He is married to former Commission on Human Rights Chairperson Dr. Purificacion Valera Quisumbing. Their union has been blessed by two children, Josefa Lourdes and Cecilia Rachel.

We wish Senior Associate Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing all the best and success in all his endeavours as he retires from a distinguished career in the judiciary.