Cayetano Arellano

The Honorable Cayetano Arellano
Arellano in 1908
1st Chief Justice of the Philippines
In office 29 January 1899 – 12 April 1920
Appointed by	William McKinley
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Victorino Mapa
Personal details
Born	Cayetano Simplicio Arellano y Lonzón (1847-03-02)2 March 1847 Udyong, Bataan, Captaincy General of the Philippines
Died	23 December 1920(1920-12-23) (aged 73) Manila, Philippine Islands
Resting place	La Loma Cemetery
Spouse	Rosa Bernas
Children	Asunción Arellano y Bernas
Education	Colegio de San Juan de Letran University of Santo Tomas (PhB, BTheol, LLB)

Cayetano Simplicio Arellano y Lonzón (2 March 1847 – 23 December 1920) was a Filipino jurist who served as the 1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Early life

Cayetano Arellano was born to Servando Arellano and Cristy Lonzon. His father was a Spanish peninsular who came to the Philippines. He was educated at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the University of Santo Tomas, where he studied to become a priest. His studies for priesthood included philology, philosophy, theology, and civil and canon law.^[1]

At the age of 15 Arellano graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1862, and then with a Bachelor of Theology in 1867. However, he did not become a priest and instead entered the field of law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1876.^[1]

Career

Arellano worked as a lawyer and taught law at the University of Santo Tomas until 1898. From 1887 to 1889, he was a member of the Manila City Council. He was offered the position of Civil Governor of Manila, but declined the offer.^[1]

After the outbreak of the Philippine Revolution Arellano was appointed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. However, he joined the United States' government after the rebellion was defeated.^[1]

Governor-General William Howard Taft and Arellano worked to create a judicial system for the Philippines.^[2] The Real Audiencia was reorganised into the Supreme Court of the Philippines.^[3] On 29 January 1899, Arellano was appointed as Chief Justice of the court.^[1][4][3] The court had seven members, four Americans and three Filipinos, who were all paid $7,000 per year, with Arellano receiving $7,500.^[5] He served as chief justice until 1920.^[6]

Arellano was one of the founding members of the Federalista Party.^[7]

Arellano University was founded by Arellano.^[1] The University of the Philippines bestowed its first honorary degree to Arellano.^[8]

Images

• 
  Arellano depicted in a 1910 publication of The Filipino Teacher
• 
  Portrait as Chief Justice
• 
  Monument of Cayetano Arellano in his hometown (Orion, Bataan)
• 
  Side view
• 
  Marker
• 
  Historical marker installed in 1970 at the site of his birthplace.
• 
  Mausoleum (La Loma Cemetery)
• 
  Tombs of Arellano's siblings
• 
  Tomb of Arellano
• 
  Tomb of wife Rosa Bernart
• 
  Tomb of Asuncion

See also

• Arellano (Manila North) High School
• Arellano University

References

1. Arellano University.
2. Hurd & Sullivan 2021, p. 51.
3. Arcilla 1999, p. 542.
4. Hurd & Sullivan 2021, p. 65.
5. Wilfley 1904, pp. 735–736.
6. Winkelmann 2022, p. 29.
7. May 1991, p. 183.
8. Schumacher 1965, p. 273.

Works cited

Books

• Hurd, Elizabeth; Sullivan, Winnifred, eds. (2021). At Home and Abroad: The Politics of American Religion. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231198981.
• May, Glenn (1991). Battle for Batangas: A Philippine Province at War. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300242102.
• Winkelmann, Tessa (2022). Dangerous Intercourse: Gender and Interracial Relations in the American Colonial Philippines, 1898–1946. Cornell University Press. ISBN 9781501767074.

Journals

• Arcilla, Jose (1999). "Spanish Hostility to Friendship". Philippine Studies. 47 (4). Ateneo de Manila University: 532–549. doi:10.2307/42634341. JSTOR 42634341.
• Schumacher, John (1965). "258-286". Philippine Studies. 13 (2). Ateneo de Manila University: 258–286. doi:10.2307/42720595. JSTOR 42720595.
• Wilfley, Lebbeus (1904). "The New Philippine Judiciary". North American Review. 178 (570). University of Northern Iowa: 730–741. doi:10.2307/25119567. JSTOR 25119567.

Web

• "Cayetano Arellano". Arellano University. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025.

Further reading

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

External links

• Media related to Cayetano Arellano at Wikimedia Commons
• Supreme Court of the Philippines - Cayetano Arellano biodata
• Arellano University

Legal offices
New office	Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines 1901–1920	Succeeded by Victorino Mapa