Chief Justice Gesmundo Re-opens Judiciary Memorabilia Hall with Retired Chief Justice Peralta Exhibit
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, together with retired Chief Justices Diosdado M. Peralta and Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro look at a framed photograph of the three of them together as then Justices of the Sandiganbayan during the launching of the Judiciary Memorabilia exhibit on the life and works of retired Chief Justice Peralta. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo led the re-opening of the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall with the launch of a six-month exhibition on the life and works of retired Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta on March 27, 2023, the latter’s 71st birthday.
Located at the third floor of the Old Building of the Supreme Court in Ermita, Manila, the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall houses keepsakes and collections of bodies of work of former magistrates of the High Court.
“The Judiciary Memorabilia Hall was created to honor and keep alive the memories of our past honorable magistrates as well as to commemorate and preserve the rich history of the Philippine Judiciary”, remarked Atty. Joyce Jazmin G. Dimaisip-Cunanan, Acting SC Senior Chief Staff Officer of the Supreme Court Library Services and curator of the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall.
“The Hall was closed during the pandemic. However, due to the continuous improvement of the public health situation in the country, the Court, led by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has decided to open [it] to the public,” Atty. Dimaisip-Cunanan added.
Speaking before Court officials and guests as honoree, retired Chief Justice Peralta recalled his early beginnings as a fledging lawyer, then as a prosecutor in his hometown of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, before making the tough decision of taking a step down in his career to move to Manila. He shared that he was soon appointed Regional Trial Court Judge in Quezon City where he led one of the special courts handling cases involving heinous crimes.
The retired Chief Justice referred to his subsequent appointment as an Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan “providential” as it was in the Sandiganbahyan where he first met Chief Justice Gesmundo and retired Chief Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-de Castro, who was also present at the event, and whose own exhibit concluded during the pandemic.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez recounted that “when he (Peralta) became Chief Justice, he chose to ‘lead by example’ with his own prudent ways and worked in coordination (with various offices), motivating the Court with his highly interactive leadership and his vision for judicial excellence.”
Retired Chief Justice Peralta was joined by his wife, Court of Appeals (CA) Justice Fernanda Lampas-Peralta; daughter Atty. Dorothy L. Peralta-De Guzman and her husband, Dr. Jeremie De Guzman; sons John Christopher Peralta, Timothy John Peralta, and John Isaac Peralta; sister Vissia P. Aldon, and brother-in-law Atty. Cornelio P. Aldon.
Also present were Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, and Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez; CA Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando; Court of Tax Appeals Justice Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores; Judicial Integrity Board (JIB) Vice Chairperson Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez; JIB Members Justice Sesinando E. Villon, Justice Rodolfo A. Ponferrada, and Justice Cielito N. Mindaro-Grulla; and Philippine Judicial Academy Vice Chancellor Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo.
Joining them were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva; Clerk of Court En Banc Marife M. Lomibao-Cueva; Assistant Court Administrator and Public Information Office Chief Brian Keith F. Hosaka; Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Administrative Officer Maria Carina A. Matammu-Cunanan; Deputy Clerk of Court and Judicial Reform Program Administrator Laura C.H. del Rosario; and Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief Technology Officer Jed Sherwin G. Uy. Former members of the staff of retired Chief Justice Peralta from the trial court, the Sandiganbayan, and the Supreme Court also attended the re-opening.
The Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta exhibit will run until September 30, 2023. Interested parties may set an appointment to view the exhibit at the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall by calling +63 2 8524-2706, or by sending an email to asklibraryservices@gmail.com.
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo cuts the ceremonial ribbon to officially launch the Judiciary Memorabilia Hall’s exhibit featuring retired Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta, as CA Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta, SC Associate Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, retired Chief Justice Peralta himself, Justice Henri John Paul B. Inting, Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando, and retired Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro assist. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Retired Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta waxes nostalgic as he recalls his career path to the head of the Philippine Judiciary as the 26th Chief Justice of the Republic of the Philippines at the re-opening of the Supreme Court’s Judiciary Memorabilia Hall on March 27, 2023, his 71st birthday. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
