A Filipino at the ICC

“There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts.” — Mahatma Gandhi

For the first time in recent memory, the justices of our highest courts and the diplomatic corps mixed freely during a cocktail reception in honor of Judge Raul Pangalangan,   the newly-elected judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Judge Pangalangan is one of 18 judges that comprise the Judicial Divisions of the ICC, an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Based in The Hague, The Netherlands, the ICC is a court of last resort.

Special guests for the evening at the posh Manila Golf Club were incumbent Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. On this very rare occasion, more than 30 ambassadors mingled with justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals and Sandiganbayan.

The consular corps and selected captains of industry and finance and VIPs from the world of education were also present.

Congratulations to Judge Raul Pangalangan!

Greetings

Advance birthday greetings to Rocky Teodoro, Sept. 7; The Bellevue Hotels and Resorts’ Debbie Chan, Maur Lichauco and Mary de Leon Rufino, Sept. 8; Fritzi Pilar, Sept. 9; Bergamo’s dapper Mel Meer, Robinsons Land Corp.’s Jeng dela Torre and Sandie Poblador, Sept. 10; Philippine Hotel Owners Association Inc. president Arthur Lopez, Teresita Briones, Marixi Prieto and Isabela’s Sid del Rosario; Sept. 11; George Yang, Ding Marcelo and Marge Francia, Sept. 12.

Happy wedding anniversary to Joe and Roselle Rebano today. May you both have many, many blissful years together.

So, how was your week?

(For comments or inquiries, please e-mail me at jjlitton@indanet.com.)