Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado
HONORING NIGHT OF THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES-BOHOL CHAPTER
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Bohol Chapter, led by its dynamic President, Atty. Licelle D. Zamora, held its Honoring Night last night at the Fortridge Pavilion in Songculan, Dauis, Bohol. The Honoring Night, which was ably hosted by Atty. Handel Lagunay, was the first since COVID-19 pandemic struck the country. There were close to a hundred new lawyers as well as newly-appointed and retired members of the bench, prosecution offices and Public Attorney’s Office who were given tribute and honor by IBP-Bohol Chapter. Also honored were Atty. Roland Inting, former IBP National Secretary and Governor for Eastern Visayas, and Atty. Lord “Popot” Marapao IV, IBP Commissioner on Bar Discipline, for giving honor and pride to the Chapter.
After President Zamora delivered her welcome remarks, Atty. Inting delivered an Inspirational Speech. Atty. Lagunay, assisted by IBP Officers Attys. John Jeric Lim, Adeline Glovasa and Joyce Marie Marapao, called the honorees on stage to receive their Certificates of Recognition. After the honorees received their certificates, Holy Name University College of Law Dean, Atty. John Titus Vistal, introduced the Guest of Honor, former Court of Appeals Justice, Hon. Dorothy Penales Montejo-Gonzaga of Dauis, Bohol, who recently won and proclaimed Governor-elect of the Province of Davao de Oro. Retired Court of Appeals Justice, Hon. Gabriel Ingles, delivered a response on behalf of the honorees. Attys. Katherine Sarte and Lady Dejaño entertained the audience with their intermission numbers. The Honoring Night ended with the Closing Remarks of this representation with the following excerpts below.
“Bishop Ambo David of the Diocese of Caloocan discussed where our fraternal salutation ‘compañero’ and ‘compañera’ originated. It is the Spanish term for ‘companion’ which can be traced further from the Latin root word, ‘panis’ or bread. Bishop David said that a ‘compañero’ or ‘compañera’ is someone you share the bread with. Although we are adversaries in court advocating our clients’ causes, we are first and foremost, brothers and sisters in this noble profession. While we share the lawyer’s gallery as legal gladiators representing our clients, we should keep in mind that we are all officers of the court with a common goal of ensuring the efficient and effective administration of justice.
But what is justice? In the words of the late Justice Pompeyo Diaz in his famous Commencement Speech entitled ‘Passion for Justice’ delivered during the 1981 Commencement Exercises of the Ateneo Law School, he said and I quote, ‘What is justice? It is to render to each man what is his due. What is the truth? It is that which you seek, and keep on seeking, so that you may render to each man what is his due. What is the law? It is the instrument by which you discover that which you have been seeking so that you may render each man what is his due.’
Aside from our duties to our clients and the courts, we have an obligation to society as guardians of democracy and vanguards of civil liberties. We are also expected to protect the weak, the oppressed and marginalized. When all these gargantuan tasks in front of you appear to be too daunting, be unafraid and persevere. In the words of the late Justice Diaz in that same speech I earlier quoted, ‘doubt is the beginning of wisdom, humility is the grace of the wise, compassion is the virtue of the strong, reason is the life of the law, and service of justice, which is nothing more than the search for the truth, is one man’s noblest achievements.’”