Melencio Santa Maria
| Mel Sta. Maria | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Melencio Santos Sta. Maria, Jr. February 23, 1957 |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Other names |
Atty. Mel Dean Mel |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University (BS Biology, 1978), (Bachelor of Law, 1982) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Professor, Broadcaster |
| Known for |
Relasyon host Dean Far Eastern University Institute of Law |
| Spouse(s) | Amaparita De los Santos |
| Children |
Joseph Patricia Therese |
Melencio Santos Sta. Maria, Jr. known as Atty. Mel Sta. Maria is a Filipino lawyer, broadcaster, professor in Ateneo Law School[1] and dean of Far Eastern University Institute of Law since November 2013 replacing Andres D. Bautista.[2] He is also a legal expert for Relasyon along with News5 head Luchi Cruz-Valdes on DWFM and AksyonTV, as well in Solved na Solved with Gelli de Belen and Arnell Ignacio on TV5.[3]
Education and career
He had graduated in BS Biology in Ateneo de Manila University in 1978, and four years later he obtained his Bachelor of Laws with Honors at the same school same as classmate Ray Espinosa (current director at MVP group and 1982 bar topnotcher). After joining the Philippine Bar he became partner at the Tanjuatco Sta. Maria Tanjuatco Law Firm. He obtained his Master of Law in Banking in Boston University in 1986. Also in that year, he started to teach at the Ateneo Law School, as the professor in Persons and Family Relations Law, Obligations and Contracts, as well as the Civil Law Review and a reviewer for Civil law. Atty Mel, as he is fondly called, is also a lecturer for Philippine Judicial Academy. In 2013, he was appointed Dean of Far Eastern University Institute of Law replacing Atty. Andres D. Bautista.
Broadcast career
He joined News5 in 2010 as a legal adviser, he also joins Relasyon along with News5 head Luchi Cruz-Valdes on DWFM and AksyonTV, in 2015 he joins the new legal advice show Solved na Solved with Gelli de Belen (she also spoofed Cruz-Valdes on Tropa Mo Ko Unli on Walang Relasyon parody) and Arnell Ignacio on TV5.
In August 2014, Sta. Maria interviewed President Benigno Aquino III in Malacañan Palace, about his possible re-election in 2016 despite a constitutional ban (on re-election). Expressing a bit of constitutional reform, [4] Sta Maria's interview with Aquino was praised by netizens.
Books authored
- Read My Mind (2013)
- What's the Point (2015)
Other
- FHM Philippines XV Special, FHM Heroes article (March 2015)
Personal life
Atty. Mel is the eldest son of late Dr. Melencio Sta. Maria, a medical doctor, and Florencia Santos, and the younger brother to Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, current Philippine Ambassador to Germany in Berlin. He is married to Amparita de los Santos, also a lawyer and ALS classmate, he is blessed with 3 children.