CJ Gesmundo Hails CA PJ Salazar-Fernando's 50 Years of Public Service at Retirement Rites
September 3, 2023
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo delivers his tribute to Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando in the Special En Banc Session on the occasion of her retirement from the judiciary. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo lauded Court of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando for her exemplary work in the various institutions she had served in her long and storied career in government during the Special En Banc Session of the CA honoring and celebrating the 70th birthday of PJ Salazar- Fernando as she retires from the judiciary held at the Session Hall of said Court on September 1, 2023.
The Chief Justice was joined by Supreme Court Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando, Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Samuel H. Gaerlan, Jhosep Y. Lopez, Japar B. Dimaampao, Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Antonio T. Kho, Jr.
CJ Gesmundo reminded those in government that “[P]ublic service is demanding but it is rewarding when done with utmost dedication and integrity. It is only through this that we will realize that all the long hours we put in, all the sacrifices that we and our family have endured, have all been for a higher meaning and purpose. No matter what our position, when we do our work well, we do something good for the public”.
PJ Salazar-Fernando, or “PJ Mids” as she is fondly called, began her 50-year service to the public as a law clerk in the Supreme Court. She then went on to serve as a supervising presidential staff in the Presidential Management Staff of the Office of the President. She then returned to the Judiciary with her appointment as Municipal Trial Court Judge (MTC) of Sta. Rita, Pampanga in 1983 and served as Acting MTC Judge of Lubao the following year.
President Corazon C. Aquino appointed her Chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in 1987 and she served as an Assistant Secretary of the Land Transportation Office in a concurrent capacity in 1991. PJ Mids was appointed Commissioner of the Commission on Elections in 1992. She returned to the Judiciary again with her appointment as an Associate Justice of the CA on May 25, 1999.
On November 25, 2020, she was appointed Presiding Justice by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
Among PJ Salazar-Fernando’s distinctions include being one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award of the Gerry Roxas Foundation, the Justice George A. Malcolm Award, Commitment to Justice Annual Awards by the Rotary Club of Manila, Outstanding Performance Award by the Senate of the Philippines, and the 2008 Ulirang Ina Award for Law and Judiciary from the National Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Foundation, Inc.
PJ Mids was married to the late Judge Jose Ener S. Fernando. They have two children: Atty. Janina Marie S. Fernando-Lagman married to Dr. Benedict P. Lagman and Atty. John Daniel S. Fernando married to Gem L. Cabangon-Fernando. She is blessed with three grandchildren: Jio, Jax, and Jordana Isabel.
The esteemed guests at the retirement ceremony included Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, retired Chief Justices Diosdado M. Peralta, Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, and Artemio V. Panganiban; retired SC Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr., Jose C. Reyes, Jr., and Bienvenido L. Reyes; Senator Francis N. Tolentino, Cong. Rodante D. Marcoleta, Cong. Gina de Venecia, Cong. Aurelio D. Gonzales, Labor Sec Bienvenido Laguesma, COMELEC Chairperson George M. Garcia, former Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, former COMELEC Commissioners Lucenito N. Tagle and Luie Tito F. Guia, former Civil Service Comm Ramon P. Ereñeta, Jr., Presiding Justice of the CTA Roman G. Del Rosario and CTA Justices Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores and Belen M. Ringpis-Liban; Presiding Justice of the Sandiganbayan Amparo M. Cabotaje-Tang and Sandiganbayan Justices Maria Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega, Karl B. Miranda, and Lorifel L. Pahimna; retired CA Justices, incumbent and retired RTC and MTC Judges, and other members of the bench and the bar.
Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando addresses the members of the Court and guests at her retirement ceremony. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
The portrait of PJ Remedios Salazar-Fernando is unveiled by her family. With her are her daughter-in-law Gem L. Cabangon-Fernando, grandsons Jio and Jax, son Atty. John Daniel S. Fernando, daughter Atty. Janina Marie S. Fernando-Lagman, Dr. Benedict P. Lagman, and grand-daughter Jordana Isabel. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo is flanked by CA Presiding Justice Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Acting Presiding Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta at the Court of Appeals Session Hall. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
