Jardeleza grew up in
Jaro, Iloilo City, where he finished his elementary and secondary education. He earned his
Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the
University of the Philippines Visayas in 1970. He earned his law degree at the
University of the Philippines College of Law at
UP Diliman, where he graduated as salutatorian in 1974. As a student at UP Law, Jardeleza was Vice-Chairperson of the
Philippine Law Journal. He was admitted to the bar in 1974, having placed third in the
bar examinations held that year. In 1977, Jardeleza obtained a Masters of Law degree from
Harvard Law School. ==Professional career==