Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid
Among the many tributes given to Joaquin Bernas were his invaluable contribution in building the country’s constitutional democracy by interpreting the intent of the 1987 Constitution during the many times it had been challenged. But he was a man of many virtues and talents, best remembered according to former fellow framers of the Constitution who joined Fr. Ruben Orbeta (who presided at a virtual wake), former students, professors, officials, and staff at the Ateneo Law School, as the most outstanding in constitutional law and jurisprudence, and “extraordinary” according to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide; the “encyclopedia” of the Constitutional Commission, says Chris Monsod, a “beautiful mind” according to Ed Garcia , and a “balancing force” who provided harmony during the deliberations, according to Wifrido Villacorta.