Senior Associate Justice Leonen Advocates for Excellence and Social Responsibility in Public Service
September 20, 2023
Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen delivered his five points on Excellence as the guest speaker at the flag-raising ceremony at the Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson in Pasig City on September 18, 2023, upon the invitation of Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta. (Photo Courtesy of SC Public Information Office)
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen spoke on the virtue of excellence in public service as the guest speaker at the flag-raising ceremony at the Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson in Pasig City on September 18, 2023.
“Being a lawyer or public servant in this country means that we are conscious of the social context we presently live in. It requires that we serve to reduce the suffering of our people,” SAJ Leonen declared.
However, he warned that “while there is a need for consistency in the invocation and application of our laws, and our regulations, it cannot come at the cost of more inequality, more poverty, more disempowerment of any community or identity or gender.”
SAJ Leonen went on to outline several reasons why excellence must be pursued. “We should strive for excellence because our lives should matter, and we do not want to live a life of regret.” SAJ Leonen said that he often reminds his staff that every moment that they are in the Court is an opportunity to do their best.
In overcoming challenges, Justice Leonen also added, “We cannot change the situation of our energy, what we can change is our attitude towards our work and install the kinds of reforms that we need. We should strive for excellence because our people need us to be their ideal government. They need our help.”
He reminded that excellence does not happen in an instant and one must build on it incrementally, daily, moment to moment, and that it can only happen if we have the patience and the resilience for it.
In closing, SAJ Leonen said that “Sometimes, to be as excellent as another, some people have a steeper climb. That is our society. There is inequality. There is poverty. There is disempowerment.” He hopes that those in the public service who may have risen above it pay it forward so others may also be helped. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)
Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen is welcomed at the Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson in Pasig City by the officials and personnel led by Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta. (Photo Courtesy of SC Public Information Office)
