Honorable Debuts

They traded in their black robes for period costumes, and left the bench in their respective chambers to take centerstage at the CCP Little Theater for a grand theatrical debut.

In honor of the delegates to the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms hosted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines last week, the honorable justices, judges and court employees staged a musical tableau that took the audience on a journey through the different eras in Philippine history. Narrators in period costume–including Justices Adolf Azcuna, Conchita Morales, Ameurfina Melencio Herrera, Antonio Carpio, Reynato Puno, Consuelo Ynares Santiago, Carolina Griño Aquino and Sandigan Presiding Justice Tessie de Castro–ushered in each segment, from pre-Hispanic times to the Spanish colonial period to the Revolution, the American period, World War II, then post-war independence and the Republic. Some of them must have thought that writing dissenting opinions was a lot easier than doing a spiel on stage.

While the cast did include some professional artists and arts groups, the spotlight was surely on the "honorables", especially those who sang–baritone Justice Magdangal de Leon (son of National Artist Felipe de Leon) and soprano Judge Jenny Lind Delorino–and played the piano–Justice Angelina Gutierrez and DCA Zenaida Elepaño, as well as the new "recruits" of the famed Banda Kawayan who have day jobs at the Court of Appeals, Sandigang Bayan and Court of Tax Appeals. Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. had his turn on stage too at the finale, a fine debut before his retirement later this month.

Supreme Court Senior Deputy Court Administrator Zeny Elepaño cooked up the novel idea for a cultural presentation and penned the opinion...rather, the script of the show. It was certainly a delightful break for the delegates–representing 45 countries–from the serious business of judicial reform. It was certainly no easy task scheduling all of these distinguished personas for rehearsals. Fortunately, with their heretofore hidden talents brought to the fore, they got by with very little rehearsal time. I wonder if "talent" will figure among the criteria for choosing the next Chief Justice.

At the dinner before the show, I told my tablemates who included legal personalities from Australia, Canada, Vietnam and Africa that at the end of their three-day conference, they would be asked to perform as well. Their Honors almost choked on their salpicao; fortunately for me, they didn’t cite me for contempt when they eventually found out I was kidding.