Written by Contessa Almeyda/THE RED CHRONICLES
Layout by Joanne Dy Bunteng/THE RED CHRONICLES
Men historically dominated the upper echelons of the judiciary until 1934. Notwithstanding the historical dominance of the patriarchs in the seats of power, Justice Alaras, in the contemporary world, is a woman who defied the normative standards and she never stifled in serving the Filipino people.
In an exclusive interview with The Red Chronicles, she gave us a hint on how to traverse the legal profession with ease and confidence.
Justice Selma Palacio Alaras’ beginnings started at the Centro Escolar University where she graduated as Valedictorian and Salutatorian in her secondary and tertiary education, respectively. She would later finish her bachelor’s degree at the University of Philippines Diliman in three and a half years, a program usually finished in four years or more. Her law school journey then ensued at the San Beda University, formerly known as the San Beda College – Manila. In December 2022, she obtained her Master of Laws Degree from the same Bedan campus.
Justice Alaras narrated, “You might not believe this, but I never thought of being a judge when I was a student. I never thought of entering the judiciary even when I was already a lawyer. My intention was to become a rich litigator.”
“So my training was towards litigation, my first job was at a small law firm that dealt with maritime, and when they hired me, all the other junior and senior associates resigned leaving me as the only lawyer in the office for about a month or two,” she continued.
Three years of being a lawyer, Justice Alaras was hired as a Prosecuting Attorney at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila, making her the youngest in her batch to have been given such a post.
Justice Alaras recalled the acclaimed expert training and discipline under the tutelage of Judge Ramon Makasiar. She referred to him as the strictest Judge of Manila. “Siya yung tipong kung kumpleto na kayo ng witnesses mo ng 7:00 a.m., he would start right away, and he would finish every single witness usually ending at 2:00 p.m.” (When the witnesses were complete by 7:00 a.m., he was that type [of a Judge] that would start right away, and he would finish every single witness usually ending at 2:00 p.m.)
She added, “Pagod na pagod ako palagi after ng hearing. I would experience hot flashes all while wearing Barong dresses, stockings, and high heels.” (I was always very tired after the hearing. I would experience hot flashes all while wearing Barong dresses, stockings, and high heels.)
She further recounted how she fought tooth and nail against Justice Serafin Cuevas, who just finished his stint as Supreme Court Justice and was defending a murder case.
She fondly recalled, “Si Justice [Cuevas], ‘pag nag ma-manifest ‘yon, he [would] cite the law or the provision, the elements of that particular crime verbatim. Then, he [would] cite the landmark case, and the latest case.” (When Justice [Cuevas] manifests, he [would] cite the law or the provision, the elements of that particular crime verbatim. Then, he [would] cite the landmark case, and the latest case.)
She added, “Sabi ko sa Judge ko, Sir, pwede po bang maghire na lang kayo ng mas matanda and mas experienced? Para naman akong nasa klase araw-araw.” (I told the Judge, Sir, may you hire someone older and more experienced? It seems like I was in class every day.)
The aforementioned Judge advised her to hit the books, research the case diligently, and not be intimidated by anyone whom she battles with in court. “Justice Cuevas would come to court with two or three lawyer assistants while I came in with two or three books,” she quipped.
Eventually, Justice Alaras served as a Regional Trial Court Judge of Makati, a post she held for nineteen years. In October 2022, she was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals.
The Woman in Judiciary
Justice Alaras was queried about the contrast between her life in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) as her former workstead, and that of the Court of Appeals. When the Honorable Justice was further asked whether she missed the RTC, she replied in jest:
“At the RTC, every day, I would meet different lawyers, and different people, [I] hear different cases on whatever they wanted to persuade me with. There are also those who regularly hang out to observe the proceedings. What I miss the most are those whom we call foundations, as in charitable foundations. They are micro-entrepreneurs who sell food packs and snacks at the courthouse, and whose livelihood depends on us for support,” she said in jest.
“As a trial court judge, we get the case fresh, you hear how they lay the foundations and build up the case. Before every start of the hearing, I always go to the beginning and review,” Justice Alaras shared, as she further stressed that she kept her pile of nineteen calendars filled with her notes on court cases to this day.
“While you’re deciding on the case, you see witnesses and the accused up-close in person, you see the evidence in front of you, how they lied, or how they testified,” Justice Alaras added.
“Here at the Court of Appeals, the space we have is already for decisions, so we see them on paper,” Justice Alaras claimed.
“Most of the time, the cases are presented better by those who write better. If you have a lawyer who does [not] know how to write, explain, or research, you’ll have a hard time. So, what you need to have is a justice and a team of lawyers who write and research well,” she added.
Deriving from the foregoing unparalleled experience in the lower court and the appellate court, Justice Alaras noted that a good lawyer is someone who can “retain the facts, knows how to write a story, and weaves the facts chronologically to the events.”
Teaching Career
A great professor was once a normal student. When asked who inspired Justice Alaras to take on this role, and how she used her experiences to motivate her students and inspire legal minds, she blissfully answered, “One of the teachers that motivated me was the late Atty. Benjamin Aban, our Taxation [Law] Professor at San Beda.”
Justice Alaras expressed how she was intimidated by the Taxation Law subject, but overcame the same because of Atty. Aban, whom she described as extremely patient and kind when mentoring the students.
She also accords recognition to the kindness of Atty. Carlo Cruz, whom she painted as someone who inspired her to study hard as she did not want to disappoint the latter.
Thereafter, she started teaching at the San Beda University Mendiola, formerly known as the San Beda College – Manila, in 1991.
The Honorable Justice shared how she teaches her students in the School of Law. “I will teach [them] what I know to the best of my ability and [their] responsibility is to follow my instructions. If there’s a landmark decision or principle, I will use two or three cases to explain how it was used or abused,” she uttered.
“I taught law because I want to share my knowledge, especially to those who need correcting,” she uttered.
As a professor, Justice Alaras understood that there is often a tendency for other students to be complacent and not to study and listen during lectures. She further emphasized that such a practice will be to the disadvantage of the students. She then underscored that, if the students listen to her lectures, the latter can easily draw answers therefrom.
When asked about her words of wisdom in terms of navigating law school or how to excel in studies, Justice Alaras gladly stated:
“Do something that you like. Try to study [or] learn a job that would support your painting. I did that because when I was young, I wanted to be a theater actor.”
Justice Alaras shared, as she contrastingly reminisced, that she was advised by her mother to get a job that would set an example for her younger siblings and cousins. Thus, prompting her to unravel a different career path. Justice Alaras may have not pursued the dream of her young self. Lest she metaphorically described teaching as a profession entwined with art. She finally illustrates:
“Teaching is like acting. [I] should be able to convince [my] students of the best way to understand the law, making the classroom my stage.“