Ramón Avanceña

Ramón Avanceña y Quiosay (April 13, 1872 – June 12, 1957) was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He served from 1925 to 1941, when he resigned at the beginning of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. He was from Arevalo, Iloilo City.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Avanceña and the second or maternal family name is Quiosay.

The Honorable Ramón Avanceña
Official portrait
4th Chief Justice of the Philippines
In office April 1, 1925 – December 5, 1941
Appointed by	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	Manuel Araullo
Succeeded by	José Abad Santos
Attorney General of the Philippines
In office July 1, 1914 – March 1, 1917
Preceded by	Ignacio Villamor
Succeeded by	Quintín Paredes
18th Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court
In office October 31, 1917 – March 31, 1925
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Carlos Imperial
Vice President of the Philippines
De facto
In office October 14, 1943 – January 15, 1944
President	Jose P. Laurel
Succeeded by	Benigno Aquino Sr. (de facto)
In office November 30, 1948 – December 30, 1949
President	Elpidio Quirino
Preceded by	Elpidio Quirino
Succeeded by	Fernando Lopez
Personal details
Born	Ramón Avanceña y Quiosay (1872-04-13)April 13, 1872 Molo, Iloilo, Captaincy General of the Philippines, Spanish East Indies
Died	June 12, 1957(1957-06-12) (aged 85) Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
Spouse	Maria Flocerfina Abad
Relations	Amando Avanceña (brother)
Children	6
Education	Colegio de San Juan de Letran (BA) University of Santo Tomas (LLB)
Occupation	Lawyer

Early life and education

Avanceña was born on April 13, 1872 to Lucas Avanceña and Petra Quiosay in Molo, Iloilo City, but grew up in Arevalo, Iloilo City.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts at Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Bachelor of Laws at University of Santo Tomas.

Legal career

Ramón Avanceña served as a legal adviser to the Federal State of the Visayas, the revolutionary government of provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Antique, and was chosen to negotiate with the American forces on Panay during the Philippine–American War.

During the American Colonial Era, he was appointed as assistant attorney in the Bureau of Justice. In 1905, he was appointed auxiliary judge. He was Attorney General of the Philippines from 1914 until 1917, when he was appointed to the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. Upon the death of Manuel Araullo in 1924, he succeeded as Chief Justice, but he had to wait until 1925 to be formally appointed.

He was supposed to join Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon in exile during the onset of the Japanese Occupation, but worried that he would not be together with his family, so he decided to stay put.

Personal life

His sons José, Alberto, and Jesús became practicing attorneys.

The Ramon Avanceña National High School in Arevalo, Iloilo City and Ramon Avanceña High School in Quiapo, Manila are named after him.

References

• Cruz, Isagani A. (2000). Res Gestae: A Brief History of the Supreme Court. Rex Book Store, Manila

Legal offices
Preceded by Ignacio Villamor	Attorney General of the Philippines 1914–1917	Succeeded by Quintín Paredes
New seat	Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines 1917–1925	Succeeded by Carlos Imperial
Preceded by Manuel Araullo	Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines 1924–1941	Succeeded by José Abad Santos