PAGBABAGO 

At the launch of the video on the life of the late Supreme Court Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma last Nov. 22, SC Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide described her as “an exemplary woman, without whom the history of our country and our people would be incomplete.”

In his keynote speech before an audience of about 150  family members, colleagues from the  Supreme Court and other judicial courts, legislature, the 1986 Constitutional Commission, and leaders of government who gathered to celebrate Justice Palma’s 111th birthday, he noted that the late Justice was an exemplary wife of a model  husband who himself was a legal luminary. She was an exemplary mother, and an exemplary grandmother, an exemplary public servant who served with honor and distinction, integrity, and fidelity, the three branches of government. 

“She was destined to be great,” Davide said, noting that her Christian name, Cecilia, the patron saint of music, is composed of seven letters, and the most honored in the Bible. She was the first Filipina to be a Justice of the Supreme Court, the first Filipina Justice of the Supreme Court who reached the mandatory age of retirement, the first Filipina to be elected president of a Constitution-making body of the Philippines, the first Filipina to earn a Masteral degree in Law from the famous Yale Law School in the US; the first Filipina prosecutor of Quezon City; the first Filipina Judge of the Court of First Instance of the Philippine Judiciary;  and the first Filipina Justice whose name is enshrined at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani. 

She was conferred seven major awards – Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award given by Pope Paul VI; Catholic Mass Media Award, Ninoy Aquino Movement Award, Sagisag ng Kagitingan Award, most distinguished UP Alumna Award, the first National Award of Zonta International, and the Golden Achievement Award conferred by the Women Lawyers’ Association of the Philippines. She was also conferred academic awards by seven prestigious universities in the country plus one more honorary Doctorate degree – six of Doctors of Laws and two of Humane Letters. And, if I may add, the TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) Award from the JCI Senate and Ansa Foundation.  

Justice  Davide noted that through Justice Palma’s “moral and spiritual leadership, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, guidance and inspiration as president of the 1986 Constitutional Commission, the latter succeeded in framing  the best Constitution the Philippines ever had.”

Let me add to the above what I had written in my Memoirs – the  19 “firsts” enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. They are love; people power, creation of a Human Rights Commission; a Party-List system; Judicial Bar Council; provision of free elementary and high school education; equality of women and men; declaration against nuclear weapons; sovereignty with civilian supremacy over military; expanded Bill of Rights; abolition of death penalty; checks and balances among three branches of government; a bicameral legislature, pro-Filipino economic provisions; decentralization, accountability of public office, autonomous regions in Cordillera and Muslim Mindanao; abolition of foreign bases; right to life;  and state of martial law does not suspend operation of the Constitution. 

This was also what I noted when asked about what I thought were the outstanding features in Justice Palma’s leadership:  that she was a unifying figure and a skillful orchestrator of varying points of view. This was shown when she played an important role in uniting the democratic forces during pre- and post-EDSA. At the Constitutional Commission, she successfully coordinated varying perspectives. To sum up, these are the five words that best describe her:  vision, brilliance, humanity, compassion, and love of country.

The video documentary ably captures the persona of this exemplary model.  Her son Tady, board member of the Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Foundation (JCMPF), narrates details  of his mother’s personal and professional life, and how she navigated the challenges. “You have accomplished a miracle,” Justice Davide told the JCMPF board chaired by Dr. Mina Gabor; this author as vice-chair; Atty. Reena Yason, secretary; Corazon Alma de Leon, treasurer; Ballsy A. Cruz, Christopher Belmonte, Dr. Alicia Lim, Tadeo Palma, Dr. Carmencita Reodica, Dr. Sonia Roco, Com. Rene Sarmiento, and Reebo Saguisag, members; and Maribeth Baril, executive director.  It will soon be shown in various media channels and in schools all over the country. 

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