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ATTY. EUGENE A. TAN

Atty. Eugene Alvarez Tan (1943–1994) was a prominent Filipino human rights lawyer, author, and law professor, recognized for his unwavering commitment to justice and significant contributions to the Philippine legal landscape.

Abandoning promising careers in their respective law firms, Atty. Tan, together with Atty. Sapalo, formed the Tan & Sapalo Law Offices. In line with their expertise, they specialized in intellectual property and admiralty/maritime practice.

Throughout his career, Tan was a staunched advocate for human rights and social justice. He played pivotal roles in landmark cases, including the Abolition of Boarding Fees (1989) where he successfully advocated for the removal of boarding fees levied on air and sea passengers. He was also Instrumental in raising death benefits for Filipino seamen in 1989 as well as in advocating for a hike in the basic stipend of policemen in 1970. Atty. Tan also challenged the authority of the 1971 Constitutional Convention to adopt a parliamentary form of government and questioned the legality of President Marcos’ Presidential Commitment Order in 1983.

His leadership extended to several esteemed legal organizations as a former national president of the Integrated Bar of the Phillippines, Deputy Secretary-General for Asia for the International Bar Association, President and Chairman of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines to name a few. He was also a notable member of the Advisory Board of the International & Comparative Law Center of the Southwestern Legal Foundation of the University of Texas, Dallas from 1987 – 1991.

He was also a doting educator, serving as a professor of law in the Ateneo de Manila University College of Law where he also established a professorial chair for constitutional law and rule of law in 1993. Atty. Tan also authored a book entitled “The Philippine Law on Agency”

Awards & Recognitions

  • Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) Meritorious Award in Law (1983)
  • The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) 1983
  • Appointed by the Philippine government as member of the ESCALANTE FACT-FINDING COMMITTEE (EFFC) to investigate the civilians by the military (1984)
  • PAUL HARRIS FELLOW of the Rotary Club
  • Founder & First President, Fraternal Order of Utopia (Ateneo Law School)