The eldest of the eight children of the late spouses, Merchant Marine Captain Sisenando A. Galvez and Estrella Patiño, MW Ricardo P. Galvez was born in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras (then part of Iloilo Province) on July 31, 1933. Due to his father’s commission with the US Navy during the prewar years as a Chief Petty Officer, MW Galvez early schooling started in the Legarda Elementary School in Cavite, he completed his intermediate grades at the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Dapitan, Sampaloc in 1946. For his high school education, the young Ricardo was enrolled at the San Beda College in Mendiola, Manila, where he consistently made the honors list. In 1949, Capt. Sisenando Galvez relocated his family to Iloilo City, where MW Ricardo P. Galvez finished his high school at U.P. Iloilo, in 1950. In the same school, he graduated with the degree Associate in Arts in 1952. It was while in U.P. Iloilo that MW Galvez first became fascinated with Freemasonry, that is after reading U.P. Professor Ricardo R. Pascual’s “Rizal Beyond the Grave.” A consistent medalist in inter-school oratorical contests in Iloilo where he represented U.P. Iloilo, he was also elected as President of the U.P. Iloilo Oratorical-Debating Club. MW Ricardo P. Galvez then pursued his studies in the College of Law of the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, where he graduated in 1956 and passed the Bar Examinations given in the same year a grade of 83.95%. He then practiced law as an associate of the Manuel O. Soriano Law Offices, then one of the more prestigious in Western Visayas. In 1960, he was appointed Special Counsel, Office of the City Fiscal, Iloilo City, which position he held until 1963, when he rejoined the M.O. Soriano Law Offices. In 1967, he was appointed Assistant City Fiscal, Iloilo City, then in 1969. Third Assistant City Fiscal, Iloilo City, and in 1970. First Assistant Provincial Fiscal, Iloilo in Province. In 1971, he was appointed City Fiscal of Iloilo City, which position he held until January, 1983, when he was appointed Regional Trial Judge, Cagayan de Oro City. He was chosen as one of the ten most outstanding city fiscals in the Philippines in 1973 by the Biographical Researchers Society, and in January, 1983, he received an award from the PC-CIS for his competent and speedy handling of criminal investigations as City Fiscal of Iloilo City, where he awards was given to him in Camp Crame, Quezon City, by then PC Chief, Gen. Fidel V. Ramos. In January, 1989, he was appointed Regional Trial Court Judge, Roxas City, where he stayed until July, 1989, when he was appointed Regional Trial Judge, Iloilo City. He was the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Iloilo Province in 1991 and 1992. He became the first president of the Regional Trial Judges Association of Panay Island, comprising the Provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Aklan and Guimaras. In 1991, he was chosen as one of the three most outstanding regional trial judges in the Philippines by the Foundation for Judicial Excellence. The other two awardees were Judge Angelina Gutierrez (now Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) and Judge Godardo A. Jacinto (now Associate of the Court of Appeals). On February 27, 1992, he was appointed to the Court of Appeals by then President Corazon C. Aquino. On July 1, 1998, MW Ricardo P. Galvez was appointed Solicitor General of the Philippines by President Joseph E. Estrada. At the time of this appointment, MW Galvez was then Chairman of the 14th Division of the Court of Appeals. As Solicitor General, MW Galvez argued successfully before the Supreme Court several leading cases, such as the Oil Deregulation Law, the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States. MW Galvez also filed the petition for the unauthorized rate hike against Meralco, which the Supreme Court has just recently decided with finality in favor of the power utility firm’s consumers. MW Galvez was a dedicated member of the academe since 1968, having taught law at the University of Iloilo and Central Philippine University in Iloilo, in Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro, and in MLQU, Far Eastern University, San Sebastian University, and the University of Perpetual Help, in Metro Manila. He has been lecturing for the UP Law Center, Institute of Judicial Administration for eight years, and a permanent lecturer of the Philippines Judicial Academy (PHILJA), being its Vice-Chairman of its Remedial Law Department. MW Galvez is bar Reviewer in Criminal Procedure in various law schools, not only in Metro Manila, but also in law schools located in Cebu, Tacloban, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro and Iloilo. He is the U.P. Bar Reviewer in Remedial Law in the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. MW Galvez is also the lecturer in the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Programs before the various chapters of the IBP throughout the Philippines. He was a Bar Examiner in Criminal Law in 1996. MW Galvez ranked No. 3 among the five candidates to the Supreme Court nominated by the Judicial and Bar Council in 1999. He was a member of the Committee in 1999. He was a member of the Committee that drafted the 2000 Rules of Criminal Procedure. In February of 2001, after EDSA 2, he submitted his courtesy resignation as Solicitor General of the Philippines, and thereafter became Counsel of the Tan, Acut, and Lopez Law Offices, with offices at the Philippine Stock Exchange Centre, 23rd Floor, East Tower, Ortigas Center. MW Ricardo P. Galvez was subtly encouraged by both VW Severio Aguilar and the late VW Valerio Rovira to enter the fold of Masonry who continuously invited him to attend Masonic functions. On June 21, 1974, MW Galvez was initiated as an Entered Apprentice of Kalantiao Lodge No. 187 in Iloilo City. On February 1, 1975, the officers and members of Maranaw Lodge No. 111 from Iligan City traveled to Iloilo City and assisted in the raising of MW Bro. Galvez as Master Mason and member of Kalantiao Lodge No. 187. Indeed, a propitious start for one who has proven to be a dedicated Masonic votary and destined to serve this Honorable Institution. MASONIC ACTIVITIES Grand Master – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, 2003. Deputy Grand Master – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, 2002 Senior Grand Warden – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, 2001 Junior Grand Warden – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, 2000 Grand Orator – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines, 1994 Chairman, Committee on Resolution – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines Chairman, Committee on Jurisprudence – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines Member, Committee on Constitutional Amendments – Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines District Grand Lecturer, (then) District 20, 1981-1983 Worshipful Master, Kalantiao Lodge No. 187, 1980 Adjudged Most Proficient Junior Deacon, District No. 20, 1977; Most Proficient Junior Warden, District No. 20, 1978; Most Proficient Senior Warden, 1979. MW Ricardo P. Galvez dropped his working tools last November 2, 2005 in Iloilo City.