QC high school renamed in late Justice Palma’s honor

Payatas High School in Quezon City has been renamed Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma High School in recognition of the valuable contribution of the first woman justice of the Supreme Court to the country’s judiciary and public service.

Former President Corazon Aquino joined Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. at the renaming ceremony held at the school grounds last week which was highlighted by the unveiling of a marker.

The late Justice Palma chaired the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution during the Aquino administration.

Justice Palma’s son, Tadeo Palma, QC’s secretary to the mayor and head of the Novaliches District Center, was present during the occasion.

Also there were Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, Rep. Mary Ann Susano and members of the city council. Belmonte, who initiated the move to rename the school, noted that Justice Palma’s scholastic record is worthy of emulating, as evident by the numerous awards and distinctions that she received here and abroad.

Justice Palma was the second woman to top the Philippine Bar examinations in 1937.

She broke all traditions in the field of law when she became the first woman prosecutor (1947-1954), the first woman judge of the Court of First Instance (now known as the Regional Trial Court, 1954-1968) the second woman associate justice of the Court of Appeals (1968-1973) and the first woman justice of the Supreme Court (1973-1978).

"Justice Palma was a model of public service to the country and to the people, having served to a heroic degree for much of her life," Belmonte said in his speech at the ceremony held Nov. 22, which coincided with the birthday of the late Justice Palma, who passed away on Jan. 2, 2006 at the age of 92.

A copy of an ordinance renaming the school will be sent to the Office of the President, Department of Education and the division of city schools for action.— Perseus Echeminada