Three Thomasians

By James Jimenez

Three Thomasian lives have spanned the breadth of the judiciary, each bringing a unique perspective, yet all united by a common purpose: serving the Filipino people with integrity, perseverance, and dedication. And yet, how many people know about them?

From presiding in the courtroom to mentoring future generations of legal minds, these three Thomasians have pursued careers in the judiciary, each rooted in the conviction that justice is the foundation of a just society. It is high time, to my mind, to recognize and acknowledge how their values and principles have represented the ideals of justice and, in very tangible ways, impacted our society.

Justice Bernardo Pardo’s journey has been marked by a deep empathy and an unwavering belief in the judiciary’s role in safeguarding the rights of every citizen – it was his pen that ordered the distribution of land to the landless – demonstrating in the same stroke, the importance of compassion in the administration of justice. And as Chairman of the Commission on Elections Justice Pardo earned a well-deserved reputation for fairness and forthrightness that not only ensured clean and honest elections even in the hottest of hotspots, but more importantly brought respect to the Office he occupied.

Justice Alfredo L. Benipayo’s lifetime of service has been marked by a personal and steadfast commitment to the ethical and moral imperatives of justice – as Court Administrator and, later, as Chairman of the Commission on Elections and Solicitor General of the Philippines. In all these positions, he confronted misfeasance and malfeasance, stood up to the importunings of power, and rejected the popular in favor of what was right – with the desire only to ensure that the nation and the public would receive honest service, adhering to the highest standards of faithfulness and integrity.

It wasn’t an easy task, by any means, as vested interests sought to get their way at every turn – and some would say that he was made to pay for upholding his principles. But with perseverance, he managed to come out the other end, tired but unbowed

Former Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s career culminated in the high honor of leading the Supreme Court, where his natural resilience, instinct for reform, and progressive thinking left lasting imprints on the Philippine judiciary.

Holding the position of Chief Justice during the most trying time in our country’s recent history – the COVID-19 pandemic – CJ Peralta’s steady hand guided the Court’s successful pivot to the use of technology, ensuring that the Courts remained open and functional, while laying a strong foundation for the massive push towards digitalization and modernization the Court is currently pursuing.

More than just keeping the Courts open, CJ Peralta – a well-renowned criminal law expert who spent years teaching Criminal Law at the UST – helmed the drafting of the Court’s Revised Guidelines on Continuous Trial, protecting and advancing the Constitutional right to a speedy disposition of criminal cases, reinforcing and strengthening existing rules on criminal procedure, and introducing innovations and best practices for the benefit of the parties.

Worthwhile heroes

In today’s celebrity-obsessed world, we make heroes willy-nilly out of people who amuse us with a clever turn of phrase, who make us cheer at their games of one-upsmanship, or who enthrall us with the kind of physical beauty we wish for ourselves. But underneath all of that, do we ask how they have made our lives and our society better?

There is nothing wrong with applauding people whose great contribution is only to distract from misery; but there is something fundamentally shaky with a society that fails to celebrate those who, by their quiet hard work and un-flashy commitment to fundamental principles, have improved our lives systemically, even if at times, imperceptibly.

To my mind, these invisibles have done more to improve our lot, and it is they who are truly the worthwhile heroes.