Hardy B. Aquende

Atty. Hardy B. Aquende, CPA, Esq. was the youngest Chief Legislation Officer in the Senate of the Philippines, working directly under Senator Sonny Angara, while he concurrently served as the Acting Executive Director of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Education

He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Juris Doctor degree and was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2009. In 2012, he obtained his Master of Laws in International Taxation from the New York University School of Law as a US Department Of State Scholar (Fulbright), and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2013. In 2014, he was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He is also a Certified Public Accountant admitted to practice in 2004, after finishing his Bachelors degree, with honors, at the De La Salle University.

Professional life

Hardy is also an educator. He was the Vice President/Executive Director for Student Affairs of Forbes College and was a professor at the Aquinas University College of Law. Currently, he serves as a consultant to the President of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, as the President of a foundation, an adviser to a Bicolano youth group – Kabataan Para sa Bayan, and as the Vice President and Trustee of Forbes Academy. Pursuing his belief that education is an important tool to help Filipino families rise from poverty, he founded the Aquende Scholarship Foundation in 2013. Prior to joining the government service, he was a Corporate and Tax Law Associate at the Angara, Abello, Concepcion, Regala and Cruz Law Offices– a top tier and the largest law firm in the country. He also served as a Special Prosecutor for the Intensified Run-After Tax Evaders Program of President Aquino under the DOF-BIR.

Acknowledging his advocacy for the Filipino youth, he was nominated in 2013 by Senate President Franklin Drilon to Chair the National Youth Commission.

Personal life

Married to Atty. Carmela Dela Paz-Aquende, who is an Associate General Counsel of San Miguel Corporation. He and his wife are ardent advocates of the youth, education and community development. He is the 4th son to Eumeriano A. Aquende and Pilar Belleza Aquende, both proud Albayanos, who are engaged in the real estate and retail trade business in Legazpi City.