Chief Justice Gesmundo Reassures Support for Court Stenographers
February 23, 2024
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo tells court stenographers that the Supreme Court appreciates their work and reaffirms the Court’s commitment that it will remain attentive and responsive to their needs at the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL) held at Punta Villa Resort, Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City on February 22, 2024. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo extolled the court stenographers for their work to keep the wheels of justice turning especially during the height of the pandemic and assured them of the Supreme Court’s full support.
“[W]e truly appreciate the work that you do, and that we, in turn, will strive to remain attentive and responsive to the needs of our court stenographers,” stressed the Chief Justice who keynoted the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL) held at Punta Villa Resort, Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City on February 22, 2024.
Citing COSTRAPHIL’s theme of Pagkatapos ng Pandemya, Magsinadya Kita! Tayo ay magpakasaya, Chief Justice Gesmundo underscored the need to celebrate the resilience that all court employees had displayed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said: “To celebrate the fact that against immense odds, we made sure that the wheels of justice will not grind to a halt—which is something that was only made possible by the dedication of our court stenographers, who I remember quickly adapted to our use of new technologies and platforms like videoconference hearings at the height of the pandemic.”
The Chief Justice further said that it “is a call to celebrate how the judiciary did not just weather the crisis, but instead met it with grit and grace, using it as an opportunity to learn and improve its work, and as impetus to overcome the longstanding problems that have plagued our justice system.”
The Chief Justice lauded the work that court stenographers do which he said, “requires rare skills and incredible resourcefulness.” He said that that court stenographers “are the court’s multi-taskers,” as he noted that they tirelessly listen with intense focus for long hours, take down notes, and meticulously prepare transcripts with the help of tape recorders—and soon, with more sophisticated voice-to-text technologies, and organize the records for quick and easy reference by judges and counsels.
He stressed that the court stenographers play a crucial role in the justice system, saying “the faithful recording of court proceedings is such an important phase in the administration of justice. With accurate stenographic notes delivered efficiently, trial judges are able to reach fair and correct conclusions without undue delay.”
The Chief Justice expressed his gratitude to COSTRAPHIL for its active support and participation in the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), which is Court’s blueprint of action for judicial reform with target outcomes of Efficiency, Access, and Innovation.
He was optimistic that COSTRAPHIL will continue to support SPJI’s program of reform, including, up ahead, the development of Network Infrastructure for the Judiciary, which will ensure network interoperability to enhance data-sharing, drive productivity, and foster better communication for organizational excellence, under the outcome of Innovation; a Judiciary-wide Organizational Review and Restructuring to streamline our administrative and adjudicative functions, towards our target outcome of Efficiency; and the Launch of Social Media Info Sites employing user-friendly language in English, Filipino, and the most commonly used dialects to provide easily digestible information on court services and how to access them, under the outcome of Access.
Joining the Chief Justice were Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino, Assistant Court Administrator (ACA) Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena M. Ignacio, ACA Lilian C. Barribal-Co, and Executive Judge Yolanda M. Panaguiton-Gavino.
Court Administrator Villanueva, DCA Delorino, and Executive Judge Panaguiton-Gavino gave inspirational messages. COSTRAPHIL National President Cesar C. Saloma delivered the opening remarks.
Also present was Governor Arthur R. Defensor, Jr. who also gave a message. Representative Juliene L. Baronda sent a video greeting, while City Mayor Geronimo P. Treñas sent a representative who read his message.
More than a thousand participants joined the event of the COSTRAPHIL, which has over 8,000 members nationwide.
After his speech at the COSTRAPHIL event, Chief Justice Gesmundo, together with Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, 2024 Bar Chairperson, visited the Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice along Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City where they were welcomed by the lower court judges and employees.
During the HOJ visit, the Chief Justice briefly discussed the SPJI and expressed his gratitude to all as he reiterated the Court’s call for everyone to continue supporting the SPJI.
On February 21, 2024, a day before the COSTRAPHIL event, the Chief Justice had a dialogue with the Iloilo first- and second-level court judges who discussed their concerns on adjudicative and administrative work. The Chief Justice was joined by Court Administrator Villanueva, DCA Delorino, and Atty. Antonio Ceasar R. Manila from the Office of the Chief Justice. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers his message to the more than 1,000 attendees to the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL) held at Punta Villa Resort, Sto. Niño Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City on February 22, 2024. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, 2024 Bar Chairperson, visit the Ramon Q. Avanceña Hall of Justice along Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City on February 22, 2024. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo meets with Iloilo judges to hear their concerns during a dialogue held at Seda Atria in Iloilo City on February 21, 2024. Joining the Chief Justice are Court Administrator Raul B. Villanueva, Deputy Court Administrator Jenny Lind R. Aldecoa-Delorino, and Atty. Antonio Ceasar R. Manila from the Office of the Chief Justice. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)