The Supreme Court (SC) paid tribute to the country’s women “who are present in every sector, every space, and every field – building businesses, leading institutions, shaping policies, and strengthening families and communities.”
During the kickoff ceremony of Women’s Month this March at the SC, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo stressed that “’women are indispensable to the progress of our nation.”
Chief Justice Gesmundo pointed out: “A nation that truly values and supports women’s contributions is a nation that prospers.”
The judiciary’s celebration of women’s month has the theme “Babae: Sapat ka! Higit pa!” It pays tribute to women as “Pillars of the Rule of Law and a Just and Humane Society.”
The country's woman judges -- grouped into the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA) -- are now having a three-day convention at the Manila Hotel to assess the gains so far achieved in the five-year judicial reform program that was launched in 2022.
Chief Justice Gesmundo will deliver his keynote address on Thursday, March 6. Guest of honor in the convention is the Chief Justice of Malaysia, the Right Honorable Tun Tengku Maimunbinti Tuan Mat.
Fifty-six percent of all trial court judges in the Philippines are women.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, there are 1,260 women and 985 men judges in the regional trial courts, metropolitan trial courts, municipal trial courts in cities, municipal trial courts, municipal circuit trial courts, and shari’a courts.
At the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), 77 percent of the incumbent justices are women; 45 percent at the Court of Appeals (CA); and 35 percent at the Sandiganbayan.
There are two lady magistrates in the 15-member Supreme Court (SC) – Associate Justices Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and Maria Filomena D. Singh.
The CA is led by Presiding Justice Fernando C. Lampas-Peralta, while the Sandiganbayan is headed by Presiding Justice Geraldine Faith A. Econg.
Gesmundo said that “across the Judiciary, women also serve as attorneys, judicial officers, and administrative personnel who uphold the integrity and efficiency of our justice system.”
He noted that “their growing presence in all levels and aspects of the Judiciary shows the ongoing transformation of our legal institutions, ensuring that women’s voices and perspectives are represented and heard at every level.”
He cautioned that true empowerment is not simply about increasing representation but also about “fostering a system where women’s leadership, insights, and expertise are valued and fully integrated into shaping the nation’s institutional and cultural fabric.”
Associate Justice Lazaro-Javier stressed the need to redefine women empowerment.
She said: “It should not be defined as a ‘process’ of ‘becoming stronger’ -- because we already are…. Women are no longer just striving to gain power; they have become the very source of power itself.”
She also said: “Women have now become the symbol of strength, courage, and resilience. Women are no longer fighting for empowerment; they are embodying it.”
At the same time, Justice Lazaro-Javier highlighted how women today are no longer mere participants in the narrative of some man’s success.
She proposed a new definition of women empowerment as “the endless possibilities women create when they embrace their innate abilities to lead and change the world.”
“And as women continue to rise, it becomes clear: power is no longer something women should ‘attain’-- it is something that flows from within and radiates outward,” she added.
Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting honored how “women’s contributions in the fields of law, governance, education, commerce, science, and beyond have broken barriers, challenged limitations, and paved the way to a more just and equitable society.”
He reminded that “empowering women requires more than providing opportunity; it means ensuring that they, too, have the voice, resources, and support they need to succeed.”
Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario said that this year’s theme on the celebration of Women’s Month “is more than just a statement but a powerful affirmation of the excellence, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women across all sectors -- whether in government service, private institutions, at home, or other facets of society.”
He emphasized how “women’s achievements, dedication, and leadership stand as undeniable proof of their worth.”
For his part, Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez said that women are now dominating the legal profession, with more women than men passing the Bar Exams since 2013.
In the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Exams, where 62.3 percent of the passers were female, nine of the 11 topnotchers were women, Justice Lopez said.
“Our courts, once dominated by men, are now shaped by women’s leadership, wisdom, and strength,” he also said.
There is a photo exhibit by the SC’s Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ) showcasing the SC’s recognition of women’s leadership in the judiciary. The exhibit is on display at the SC’s main lobby until March 31.