Cecilia Muñoz-Palma
The Honorable Cecilia Muñoz-Palma | |
---|---|
Chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office | |
In office 1998 – January 31, 2000 | |
Appointed by | Joseph Estrada |
Chairwoman of the 1986 Constitutional Commission | |
In office June 2, 1986 – October 15, 1986 | |
Appointed by | Corazon Aquino |
89th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
In office October 29, 1973 – November 22, 1978 | |
Appointed by | Ferdinand Marcos |
Preceded by | Newly created seat |
Succeeded by | Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera |
Mambabatas Pambansa (Assemblywoman) from Quezon City | |
In office June 30, 1984 – March 25, 1986 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Cecilia Arreglado Muñoz November 22, 1913 UNIDO (1984–1986) |
Spouse | Rodolfo Palma |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of the Philippines Manila (LL.B.) Yale University (LL.M.) |
Cecilia Arreglado Muñoz-Palma (November 22, 1913 – January 2, 2006) was a Filipino jurist and the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines.[1] She was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Ferdinand Marcos on October 29, 1973, and served until she reached the then-mandatory retirement age of 65.
While on the Court, Muñoz-Palma penned several opinions adverse to the
Background
The daughter of Pedro P. Muñoz, who would serve as representative from Batangas's 2nd district, Muñoz-Palma enrolled at St. Scholastica’s College in Manila and was the valedictorian of high school class of 1931. She earned her law degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law, and a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School. She was the first woman to be elected as president of the College of Law student council (1936-37), president of the Portia Club, first place in the first oratorical contest held by the U.P. Debating Club (1934), and recipient of the Dr. Mendoza-Guanzon medal for excellence in oratory and the Justice Abad Santos medal for excellence in debating.[2][3]
She topped the 1937
Dissenter from martial rule
By the time she retired from the Court in 1978, Muñoz-Palma had become identified, along with
Opposition against Marcos
After her retirement from the Court, Muñoz-Palma emerged as a prominent figure in the anti-Marcos political opposition. In 1984, she was elected under the
1986 Constitutional Commission and later life
After Aquino assumed the presidency in 1986, Muñoz-Palma called in vain for the retention of the unicameral Batasang Pambansa as the country's legislative body but such plea was not heeded by the new President. Instead, the President dissolved it by means of a proclamation, which formed a provisional constitution that declares her government to be revolutionary and assumed legislative powers the now former Batasan held. When Aquino created the 1986 Constitutional Commission to draft the new Constitution, she appointed Muñoz-Palma as one of its members. The Commission would later elect her as its Chairwoman.
Following the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, Muñoz-Palma faded from the public eye. However, in 1992, President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Muñoz-Palma as a member of the Council of Advisers of the Moral Recovery Program, where she was elected as vice chairman in recognition of her non-political leadership.[2] In 1998, she supported Vice-President Joseph Estrada for the presidency. After his election, Estrada appointed the 85-year-old Muñoz-Palma as Chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. She served in this capacity until her resignation on January 31, 2000.[7] Muñoz-Palma strongly denounced the circumstances that led to Estrada's vacation of the presidency and the assumption into office of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Muñoz-Palma died on January 2, 2006, at the age of 92.
Legacy
On November 30, 2006, several months after her death, Muñoz-Palma's name was enshrined at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a monument dedicated to individuals who opposed the Marcos dictatorship and fought for the restoration of Philippine democracy.
Three years later, the International Women’s Forum inducted her into its International Hall of Fame. Her family and friends formed the Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Foundation to “continue what she started,” and was released in February 2009.[8]
A street between the Bonifacio Shrine and Mehan Garden in Ermita, Manila was named in her memory.
Personal life
Muñoz-Palma was married to Rodolfo C. Palma, a native of
Some notable opinions
- Sanidad v. COMELEC (1976) – Dissenting
- People v. Mariano (1976)
- De la Llana v. COMELEC (1977) – Dissenting
- Peralta v. COMELEC (1978) – Dissenting
- Pamil v. Teleron (1978) – Dissenting
- People v. Purisima (1978)
References
- Sevilla, Victor J. (1985). Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. III. Quezon City, Philippines: New Day Publishers. pp. 93–95. ISBN 971-10-0139-X.
External links
Notes
- ^ Sun.Star. 2012-12-24. Archived from the originalon 2013-04-16. Retrieved January 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Siytangco, Deedee (November 29, 2020). "Cecilia Muñoz Palma's legacy lives on". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "About Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma". Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Foundation Inc. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Vol. III, p. 94
- ^ G.R. No. L-47771 (11 March 1978), PEDRO G. PERALTA, petitioner, vs. HON. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, HON. NATIONAL TREASURER, and KILUSANG BAGONG LIPUNAN, respondents., retrieved May 3, 2022
- ^ G.R. No. L-47245 (9 December 1977), GUALBERTO J. DELA LLANA, petitioner, vs. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT, THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE and THE BUDGET COMMISSIONER, respondents., retrieved May 3, 2022
- ^ Palma, Cecilia Muñoz (February 12, 2000). "Delayed notice of acceptance". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. p. 10. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Romero, Purple (November 21, 2008). "Cecilia Munoz-Palma, the pioneer". ABS-CBN News.