Words by Jaira Lou V. Batangan, Joshua Emil B. Lizardo, Milliene Ianah R. Rocas, and Janine Marie D. Soliman
The legal profession is a continuous journey of learning. For the newly appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Justices Selma Palacio Alaras and Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan, their ascent to the appellate court is both a challenge and a reward.
It is a challenge as it calls for a higher level of responsibility. It is, simultaneously, a reward, for their hard-earned skills and dedication are duly recognized.
Justice Alaras and Justice Wagan were appointed as an Associate Justice at the CA by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in October 2022.
Justice Alaras’ destiny as a fighter for justice
Born to lawyer parents, Justice Alaras seemed to be destined to become a fighter for justice.
Justice Alaras earned her undergraduate degree, which was a pre-med course, at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. But, fate seemed to call her the other way as she entered the halls of San Beda University (then-San Beda College) in 1986 to study law. She was under the tutelage of esteemed professors such as Atty. Carlo Cruz, son of famed constitutionalist and Supreme Court Associate Justice Isagani Cruz, Atty. Benjamin Aban, a known taxation lawyer, and Tanod bayan Manuel Herrera.
She certainly marked her name in the august institution when she became the first female president of the Law Student Government before graduating in 1990. Years later, particularly in December 2022, she would graduate as cum laude and batch valedictorian of the Graduate School of Law in the University.
She started her legal career in a small law firm, then made her transition to public service to be a litigator. The distinguished Batangueña began her stint in the government as a clerk in the Supreme Court. She continued her career in the government as a city prosecutor in Manila, where, in 1998, she was elected as the youngest and first female president of the City of Prosecutors League of Manila.
Her prowess in the law would show early in her career when one day, in her “intimidating-yet-sobering experience,” she went against the late Serafin Cuevas, Sr., who was eventually appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Justice Cuevas would praise her skills and say, “Ito lang ang fiscal na nakatalo sa akin.” (“This is the only prosecutor who beat me.”)
After serving as a prosecutor, Justice Alaras was appointed as a first-level court judge in 1999 and then as a Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge in 2003. She told thebarrister that her life from 2004 to today have numerous life-altering changes. Yet, despite the changes, she remains positive and always looks for the silver lining. “It is not over ‘til it’s over,” she fondly remarked.
Her years of government service were full of timeless lessons for it has no place for selfishness. She also emphasized that appreciation and contentment with the things you have now will go a long way so one can stay focused on the task at hand and suppress the temptation to do acts contrary to public service.
Justice Alaras is also a teacher and student at the same time. While she teaches Remedial Law subjects mostly, such as Alternate Dispute Resolution, Evidence, Special Proceedings and Civil Procedure, at San Beda University, she continues to learn how the law works, enriching her knowledge and experiences therein.
“There are those who teach who have no intention to learn. I teach so that I can learn that. I take it another step. I try to use my experience. We have to enrich the law. When you teach, you try to learn more,” she said.
Despite the theoretical nature of instruction in the study of law, Justice Alaras learned by watching. The entirety of law school instruction does not fully prepare a newly admitted lawyer. The remedy, as Justice Alaras experienced, was to watch how the system works. Issuances such as motions, decisions, and other pleadings were learned by watching the clerks of courts, the researchers, and the sheriffs.
Her ascent to the judiciary was a journey. When asked if she will do it again, she answered, “I’ll do it all again for the challenge.” Her nugget of advice when writing decisions or writing in general is to always know who the audience is. “I need to make sure what I write is understood by a layman because these decisions affect them directly,” she commented.
But Justice Alaras is more than books and law. Displayed in her chambers are collections of vinyl records, ranging from 50s music to 80s and so on. When she is not busy with her duties, Justice Alaras avidly listens to music.
Aside from music, she also likes watching documentaries, reading books, and gardening. Her hobbies are not only relaxing and enriching, but they allow her to appreciate the diversity and beauty of the world. They enable her to feel awe, fear, desire, and delight. After all, Justice Alaras is also human in the grand scheme of things.
From ‘quiet’ to ‘confident’: Justice Wagan’s ascent to CA
Outside her chambers, Justice Wagan is what you least expect her to be. “Elma,” known by her family and friends, is described to be simple and “mahiyain” (shy).
Born in Naval, Biliran province, Justice Wagan grew up in a community of engineers and medical professionals, where she attributed her first aspiration to becoming an engineer.
What truly shifted her dreams and inspired her to pursue the legal profession was her mother who also pursued law.
Justice Wagan graduated magna cum laude at the Divine Word University, where she majored in Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda University (then San Beda College) in 1993 and passed the bar exam in the same year.
While waiting for the bar results, Justice Wagan was offered a job as a litigator in a law firm. This opportunity, however, came as a surprise to her friends. “From my batch, the least that they expected was for me to become a litigator because I was known to be a quiet person. They did not expect that I would be into litigation,” she recalled.
Yet her grit, perseverance, and dedication fueled her. “Nawala pagiging mahiyain ko no’ng nag-practice na ako. Litigation became my turning point because I had to be brave, confident, and determined as I was defending the rights of my clients,” she added.
While working as a litigator and shuttling between court branches, she was invited by the then-CA Justice Romeo Callejo, Sr. to become a Court Attorney at the appellate court. She took the opportunity and worked as a Court Attorney V for six years.
During her stint as a court attorney, she was persuaded by Justice Callejo to apply as a judge. She shared that Justice Callejo would even tell her, “Before I retire, you will be a Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge.”
True enough, she became an RTC Judge before Justice Callejo retired. She was promoted to RTC Judge of Pasay where she served for 16 years (as RTC Judge of Pasay). She presided over the commercial and cybercrime court. Before her promotion to CA, she was designated as Executive Judge of RTC Pasay.
She noted that being an RTC Judge for 16 years was fulfilling. “It was a fulfilling task because you’re on the frontline. You get to directly dispense justice and resolve cases. Unplanned, but meant to be, I think,” she added.
Prior to her career in RTC, Justice Wagan served as Municipal Trial Court Judge in Calamba, Laguna (because Calamba was just a town that time) for three months and subsequently as Municipal Trial Court in Cities Judge of Calamba City (when Calamba, Laguna became a city) for five years.
Upon her assumption to the position of CA Justice, she felt like she is “at home.”
For her, it was no easy feat. She went through a rigorous process so taxing that she almost gave up. Nonetheless, she still pushed through and submitted her application.
Her ascent to the upper echelons of the legal profession, for Justice Wagan, might be deemed unplanned and unexpected. Yet, without a doubt, her legal journey is truly inspiring and a reminder not just to students, but to lawyers as well, to trust the process.
“What I’ve reached now is beyond my expectations,” she expressed.
Justice Alaras and Justice Wagan’s years of public service in the trial courts proved them to be seasoned administrators of justice. Their triumph over the appellate court is nothing but a new chapter in their lives to conquer. No matter where their journeys are headed, their determination and perseverance will surely take them to places beyond the lion’s den.
THE BARRISTER 