THE SUPREME COURT MAIN BUILDING. The Supreme Court main building is situated between the Department of Justice and the University of the Philippines Arts and Sciences buildings on Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila. The SC main buildings houses, among others, the offices of the Chief Justice and the associate justices, as well as of the clerks of court of the Banc and the three Divisions; the Supreme Court Session Hall; the Division Hearing Room; the En Banc and the Division Conference Room; the library; the Public Information Office; the Judicial Records Office; and various function rooms.

            OATH-TAKING.  Hon. Artemio V. Panganiban takes his oath as the 21st Chief Justice of the Philippines on December 21, 2005, before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.  Witnessing the oath-taking are (l-r) former Chief Justice Andres R. Narvasa, former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., Mrs. Elenita C. Panganiban, Jose Miguel P. Sandejas (grandson), Rafael P. Yaptangco (grandson), Maria Elena P. Sandejas (eldest daughter), Alex J. Yaptango (son-in-law), Jose and Elenita Sandejas, and Manuel and Erlinda Mañalac.

            THE PANGANIBAN COURT EN BANC.  Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (seated, center); with (seated, l-r) Justices Antonio T. Carpio, Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Reynato S. Puno, Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, and Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez; and (standing, l-r) Justices Cancio C. Garcia, Dante O. Tinga, Romeo J. Callejo Sr., Renato C. Corona, Conchita Carpio Morales, Adolfo S. Azcuna, Minita V. Chico-Nazario, and Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.

            FIRST DIVISION OF THE PANGANIBAN COURT.  Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (seated, center), the Division chairperson; with (l-r) Justices Romeo J. Callejo Sr., Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, and Minita V. Chico-Nazario.

            SECOND DIVISION OF THE PANGANIBAN COURT.  Justice Reynato S. Puno (seated, center), the Division chairperson; with (l-r) Justices Cancio C. Garcia, Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Renato C. Corona, and Adolfo S. Azcuna.

            THIRD DIVISION OF THE PANGANIBAN COURT.  Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing (seated, center), the Division chairperson; with Justices Dante O. Tinga, Antonio T. Carpio, Conchita Carpio Morales, and Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.

            THE PANGANIBAN COURT IN CONFERENCE. Aside from the Session Hall, the En Banc Conference Room is perhaps the most sacred spot in the Supreme Court building. It is where the members of the entire Court, behing closed doors, all by themselves - with no clerks, no secretaries, no assistants, no guards, absolutely no one else around -- deliberates on and decides en banc case.

            THE PANGANIBAN COURT IN SESSION.  Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (center); with (l-r) Justices Cancio C. Garcia, Dante O. Tinga, Romeo J. Callejo Sr., Renato C. Corona, Antonio T. Carpio, Consuelo Ynares Santiago, Reynato S. Puno, Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Conchita Carpio Morales, Adolfo S. Azcuna, Minita V. Chico-Nazario, and Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.

            ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NEW CJ’s APPOINTMENT.  Judicial Reform Administrator Evelyn Toledo-Dumdum interrupts then Justice Artemio V. Panganiban’s speech to announce that, according to media reports, the President has appointed him Chief Justice.  The announcement came during a dinner on December 20, 2005, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila, tendered in honor of various working committees behind the highly successful International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms.

            THE CJ MEETS THE MEDIA.  Chief Justice Panganiban meets the media after being sworn in.  In that meeting, he announced his judicial philosophy and program, which are explained in Part 1 of this book.

            JUDICIAL REFORMS CONFERENCE.  Justice (now Chief Justice) Artemio V. Panganiban bangs the gavel to signal the formal opening of the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms (ICSJR) held in Makati City on November 28-30, 2005.  Attended by over 300 delegates from 45 countries, the ICSJR was the first worldwide global meet dedicated to judicial reforms.

            JBC WEBSITE.  Chief Justice Panganiban is shown here giving a short talk during the formal launching of the website of the Judicial and Bar Council on April 21, 2006, at the Supreme Court Session Hall.  The website contains detailed information regarding the search, screening and selection of judges; as well as judicial openings, qualifications and application procedures.

            SANDIGANBAYAN COMPUTERIZATION.  Chief Justice Panganiban is flanked by Sandiganbayan (SBN) Presiding Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro and SBN Justice Edilberto Sandoval during the inauguration of the full computerization of the anti-graft court on March 14, 2006.  The project was made possible by a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

             E-LIBRARY CONNECTED TO LAW SCHOOLS.  Chief Justice Panganiban, Justice Antonio T. Carpio, and Dean Mariano Magsalin (president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools) launch the expansion of the Supreme Court e-library and its connection to all law schools in the country.  The event was held at the Arellano University College of Law on February 20, 2006.

            EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  Chief Justice Panganiban spells out his policy of “Maximum Benefits for All Judicial Employees (see Chapter 17).  He delivered his address during a luncheon he hosted for the officials of major employee associations in the judiciary on June 21, 2006, in celebration of his six months as head of the judiciary.

            NEW LAWYERS.  Chief Justice Panganiban addresses the 1,526 new lawyers, who passed the 2005 bar examinations, during their oath-taking on May 9, 2006, at the Philippine International Convention Center.  He urged them to lead lives of “Excellence, Ethics and Eternity,” a speech that has been reproduced as Chapter 8 of this book.

            SUMMER SESSION.  The Supreme Court, shown here during an Oral Argument on April 17, 2006, holds its summer sessions annually in Baguio City.  This year, in April-May 2006 in that city, it promulgated its landmark Decisions involving Executive Order 464 (see Chapter 19), the Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR) policy (Chapter 20), and Executive Order 1017 (Chapter 21).

            JAPANESE GRANT.  Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki is handed a Judicial Reform Statuette by Chief Justice Panganiban, in appreciation of the P300 million grant given by the Japanese government on that day, January 26, 2006, for the construction of the Philippine Judicial Academy Development Center in Tagaytay.

            WITH THE SPANISH CHIEF JUSTICE.  Spanish Chief Justice Francisco Jose Hernando Santiago and Chief Justice Panganiban sign a cooperation agreement in Madrid on June 29, 2006, Fil-Hispano Friendship Day.  The agreement established a framework for collaboration on judicial nomination and appointment, judicial education, and judicial documentation.

            WITH THE FRENCH CHIEF JUSTICE.  Chief Justice Panganiban hands a souvenir gift to French Chief Justice Guy Canivet during a Knowledge Sharing/Lecture Circuit on Liberty and Prosperity (see Chapter 4 for a summation of the lectures).  Chief Justice Panganiban was accompanied by Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, Judicial Reform Administrator Evelyn Toledo-Dumdum, and Court Attorney Jennifer J. Manalili.

            WITH THE ENGLISH CHIEF JUSTICE.  Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers (center), Chief Justice of England, poses with Chief Justice Panganiban; and (l-r) Judicial Reform Program Administrator Evelyn Toledo-Dumdum, Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban, Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr. of the Philippine Embassy in London, and Atty. Jennifer J. Manalili.

            U.S. SUPREME COURT VISIT.  Chief Justice Panganiban takes time out to visit his friend, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, in Washington, DC, during a Knowledge-Sharing/Lecture Circuit, which also covered New York City, Madrid, Paris, and London from May 10 to 28, 2006.

            WITH THE ICJ PRESIDENT.  Chief Justice Panganiban hands a souvenir gift to President Rosalyn Higgins of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 3, 2006, at the Hague, Netherlands.  He was accompanied by Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez and Ambassador Romeo Arguelles, who are also in the photo.

            PEACE PALACE.  The Peace Palace in the Hague, the headquarters of the International Court of Justice, is the backdrop of this photo taken on July 3, 2006, showing Chief Justice Panganiban with (l-r) Judicial Reform Program Administrator Evelyn Toledo-Dumdum, Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban, and Ambassador Romeo Arguelles.

            KILOSBAYAN FORUM.  Chief Justice Panganiban is shown here with former Secretary Rafael Alunan, Kilosbayan president; and Dr. Lydia B. Echauz, FEU president, during the monthly forum of Kilosbayan, held on February 23, 2006, at the Far Eastern University.  As the guest speaker, the Chief Justice spoke on “Nominating the Best and the Brightest,” which has been reproduced as Chapter 5 of this book.

            PWJA SEMINAR.  Chief Justice Panganiban is given a Plaque of Appreciation by Supreme Court Justice Minita V. Chico-Nazario, president of the Philippine Women Judges Association (PWJA), together with PWJA directors and other officials.  He was the guest of honor during the association’s Seminar/Workshop and Annual Meeting, held at the Manila Hotel on March 15-16, 2006.

            WPO MEETING.  Chief Justice Panganiban delivers his keynote speech entitled “An Enduring Egalitarian Society,” during the annual meeting of the World Presidents Organization (WPO), held on March 18, 2006, at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

            ALA GOVERNING COUNCIL.  The photo shows Chief Justice Panganiban during the meeting of the governing council of the ASEAN Law Association on June 3, 2006, in Hanoi, Vietnam.  He headed the Philippine delegation that included Justices Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Antonio T. Carpio, and Presbitero J. Velasco Jr.; as well as ALA Philippine Chairperson Avelino V. Cruz.

            THE PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION.  The head delegates attending the International Conference and Showcase on Judicial Reforms (ICSJR) pose with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (center), who is flanked by the conference chairperson, Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (left); and former Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr. (right).  President Arroyo hosted a reception and dinner at Malacañang in honor of the delegates on November 29, 2006.

DIPLOMATIC RECEPTION.  Chief Justice and Mrs. Panganiban host a diplomatic reception at their home on April 5, 2006.  The photo shows him and Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban greeting Russian Ambassador Anatoly Nebogatov and Mrs. Valentina Nebogatov.  Also in the photo is Judicial Reform Administrator Evelyn T. Dumdum.

            STATE DINNER.  The photo shows Chief Justice Panganiban with His Excellency, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, President of Spain, during a state dinner hosted by the latter on June 29, 2006, at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid.  Seated between them is a Spanish-English interpreter.  The following day, Chief Justice Panganiban signed a Judicial Cooperation Agreement with Spanish Chief Justice Francisco Jose Hernando Santiago.

            COURTESY CALL.  U.S. Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney pays a courtesy call on Chief Justice Panganiban in his chambers on April 11, 2006, shortly after her arrival in the country.  Looking on is Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez.

ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR.  Chief Panganiban is the first recipient of the green ribbon symbolizing the rare Order of the Eastern Star, conferred on him by the Far Eastern University (FEU) during a testimonial held at the FEU Auditorium on January 23, 2006.  Also in the photo are (l-r) FEU Board Chairperson Lourdes R. Montinola, Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban, and FEU President Lydia B. Echauz.

            DOCTOR OF LAWS.  The photo shows University of Cebu Chairperson Augusto W. Go and Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban placing an academic cap on Chief Justice Panganiban, on whom was conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).  The event took place on April 1, 2006, during the graduation ceremonies of this largest private university in the country with a student population of 42,000.

            LAWYERS’ TESTIMONIAL.  Chief Justice Panganiban poses with officers of 11 national law organizations, led by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, on March 20, 2006, at the IBP Building in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.  During the testimonial dinner tendered by these organizations in his honor, he outlined his vision of a “Revitalized Legal Profession,” now reproduced as Chapter 6 of this book.  The 11 organizations were the Alumni Association of the Academy of American and International Law (AAAAIL), the Harvard Law Association of the Philippines, the Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP), LawAsia Philippines, the Legal Management Council of the Philippines (LMCP), the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (Marlaw), the Philippine Bar Association (PBA), the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. (PDRCI), the Philippine Institute of Construction Arbitrators (PICA), the Union Internationale des Avocates (UIA), and the U.P. Women Lawyers’ Circle (Wiloci).

            ALA TESTIMONIAL.  ASEAN Law Assocation (ALA) President Chao Hick Tin, attorney-general of Singapore, hands over ALA’s Grand Award to Chief Justice Panganiban during a testimonial dinner held in his honor on April 22, 2006.  The dinner was attended by jurists and prominent lawyers from the 10 ASEAN countries.

            SC ANNIVERSARY.  Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban greets Justice Leonardo A. Quisumbing during the “Employees Grand Parade” marking the 105^th Anniversary of the Supreme Court (SC) on June 11, 2006.  The parade was followed by a Mass and a cultural program for Supreme Court employees.

           WITH RETIRED JUSTICES.  Between former Chief Justices Andres R. Narvasa (left) and Hilario G. Davide Jr. (right) stands Chief Justice Panganiban, who hosted a luncheon in honor of retired Supreme Court justices on June 8, 2006, at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. 

            INDEPENDENCE DAY.  Chief Justice Panganiban delivers his address as guest speaker during the Independence Day celebration at the Andres Bonifacio monument in Caloocan City on June 12, 2006.  Paraphrasing Andres Bonifacio’s famous “KKK,” he called for Kagalingan, Katapatan, and Kawalang-hanggan, the Filipino equivalents of his three Es:  Excellence, Ethics, and Eternity.

            SON OF CANDABA.  The residents of the small town of Candaba, Pampanga, turn on a festive mood as they formally welcome their “son,” Chief Justice Panganiban.  He is shown here with his wife, Prof. Elenita C. Panganiban; and Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, who led the welcomers on April 22, 2006, during a grand march around the town culminating in the inauguration of the new Candaba Municipal Hall.

            WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.  Chief Justice and Mrs. Artemio V. Panganiban greet their guests at the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati, after a Eucharistic celebration on the occasion of their 45th wedding anniversary on April 8, 2006.  They have five children: Maria Elena P. Yaptangco, Jose Artemio C. Panganiban III, Maria Jocelyn P. Hannett, Maria Theresa P. Manalac, and Maria Evelyn P. Reagan.