Ateneo Law honors alumni sitting as members of the Supreme Court in portrait unveiling ceremony

Chief Justice Alexander G Gesmundo (center) and (from left) Associate Justices Jose Midas P Marquez, Rodil V Zalameda, Ricardo R Rosario, and Maria Filomena D Singh pose beside their respective portraits as Ateneo Law alumni Members of the Supreme Court at the Teehankee Hall of the Ateneo Rockwell Campus in Rockwell Center, Makati City on 17 May 2024. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)

Organized by the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law together with the Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. and the Ateneo Law Class of 1968, a portrait unveiling ceremony was held last 17 May 2024 at the Ateneo Law School campus, in honor of five eminent Ateneo Law alumni who currently sit as members of the Supreme Court of the Philippines: Chief Justice Alexander G Gesmundo (Class of 1984), Associate Justice Rodil V Zalameda (Class of 1987), Associate Justice Ricardo R Rosario (Class of 1983), Associate Justice Jose Midas P Marquez (Class of 1993), and Associate Justice Maria Filomena D Singh (Class of 1991).

Painted by Angono artist Geraldine Hernandez Martens, each of the portraits were presented to the honorees and the audience at the Ateneo Rockwell Campus Building’s Teehankee Hall, named after former Chief Justice Claudio Teehankee, himself an Ateneo Law alumnus of the Class of 1940.

There have been a total of 19 Ateneo Law alumni who have been appointed to the highest court of the land, three of whom, eventually, as the High Court’s Chief Justice. Portraits of each such Justice hang prominently on the walls of the courtly Justitia Hall of the Ateneo Law School. The portrait unveiling ceremony completed the gallery of such portraits in the Justitia Hall with the inclusion of the portraits of Associate Justices Zalameda, Rosario, Marquez, and Singh.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo’s portrait as an Associate Justice, unveiled and hung in a similar ceremony in 2019, simultaneous with those of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin S Caguioa (Class of 1985) and former Associate Justice Andres B Reyes, Jr. (Class of 1978), was replaced with a new one, now in his capacity as Chief Justice.

Apart from the honorees, a smattering of Ateneo Law alumni who are currently with the judiciary, academia, and professional practice attended the portrait unveiling ceremony.

Dean Joey Hofileña welcomed the gathering of blue legal eagles with a reminder that Ateneo Law alumni have a valuable role in education and formation given that Ateneo Law students do read their decisions, follow their advocacies, and do observe how they carry themselves out as Ateneo lawyers in the profession. And that the portraits of Ateneans who have been chosen to serve the public as Justices of the Supreme Court stand as inspiring reminders to our young legal aspirants of the possibility—the necessity—of a future in the profession that is similarly characterized by excellence, integrity and responsibility.

In brief remarks. Chief Justice Gesmundo expressed his gratitude and emphasized the importance of upholding the values, including Ignatian values, instilled during their education at Ateneo Law School.

Immediately following the unveiling of the five new portraits, the same were hung in prominent locations inside the Justitia Hall culminating with the spirited signing of the cherished Ateneo alma mater hymn, the Song for Mary.

The celebration was a proud moment for the Ateneo Law School, reinforcing its mission to shape leaders who uphold justice and integrity in the Philippines.