FOR retiring Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, hard work and discipline increase the probability of success.
“My whole path as a lawyer and as a public servant has taught me one thing: one’s success in life is directly proportional to one’s industry and dedication to his or her work. I have said before that one may be the most naturally talented individual, or the most mentally gifted person in his or her class, but without persistent hard work and discipline, that person will never realize true success in life. For there is no other alternative to hard work, ” Peralta said.
Peralta pointed this out in his speech during the conferment on him of the Doctor of Laws honoris causa degree by the Tarlac State University on Friday, February 19, in Tarlac City.
Peralta was joined in the conferment program by his wife, Court of Appeals Senior Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas Peralta, their children — lawyer Dorothy, a lawyer; John Christopher, Timothy John and John Isaac – his sister Vissia Marie Peralta-Aldon, and husband-lawyer Cornelio Aldon.
Also present, among others, were Zenaida N. Elepaño, chairperson of the Legal Education Board; Myrna Q. Mallari, president of the Tarlac State University; Erwin P. Lacanlale, vice president for academic affairs, university dean Jose I. Dela Rama, Jr.; Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez and his deputy Raul B. Villanueva; Tarlac provincial officials and mayors of several Tarlac towns, trial courts judges, and members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
Peralta disclosed that his experience as a professor of law, a public prosecutor, a trial court judge, and a magistrate of the Sandiganbayan and of SC taught him that the key to success was exerting one’s best effort in whatever undertaking.
“The truth of the matter is—and people who know me can attest to this—once I commit myself to a certain undertaking, I find myself compelled to exert whatever effort is necessary to learn, to improve, and to be good at my work. But I strive to do so not just for my own benefit, but also for the welfare of others,” he said.
At the same time, Peralta, who will retire this March, said “justice is not just some intangible concept, the realization of which is left to the discernment of the members of the Bench; justice is something that must be felt and experienced firsthand by the people.”
“Genuine access to that kind of justice is a public service that only we in the government can provide to the people, especially to those in the disadvantaged sectors. And we need to provide it to them swiftly and sensibly, as the strength of the justice system can only be gauged in terms of the trust we earn from the public.”
“And how do we earn that trust? By utilizing the Supreme Court’s constitutionally enshrined rule-making power to promulgate rules of procedure that are intended to allow more meaningful access to justice, ” he continued.
Last January, the Supreme Court en banc approved Peralta’s request for early retirement effective March 27, 2021, or during his 69th birthday.
Peralta was supposed to retire on 2022, or upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70 years old.
The Judicial and Bar Council, meanwhile, came up with a notice, announcing the opening for application or recommendation for the post to be vacated by Peralta.
Last November, the high court accepted the application for early retirement filed by Associate Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla due to health reasons.
