Rage against the dying of the light!

: A Memoriam for CJ Andres Narvasa

by Lamberto L. Santos III

Apparent as it seems, there is yet no remedy for the ineptitude of words if it fails to encapsulate the greatness of a man whose legacy will forever live beyond him. CJ Narvasa is undeniably one of the pillars of the legal profession. His life has been a stone that has become a worthy part of a magnificent edifice; a monument that embodies strength, fortitude, and excellence; and a memoire that leaves an indelible imprint in the repertoire of legal scholarship. A ac! of all trades who never compromised perfection in his art, CJ NA"#A$A, has become a part not ust of the legal profession, but also of the academe as well as the government. %n each of these roles he played, he did it not only with excellence but with passion and indomitable love. He is foremost a Chief Justice, a law professor, a bar topnotcher, and a public servant. Chief Justice Narvasa have envisioned reforms in the legal profession most have been transformed into the realm of the real while some remains to see the light of the day. His penchant for academic excellence coupled with his passion for ustice, impelled him to sow seeds of change in the Judiciary. &nder his stint, the longstanding dream for the establishment of the 'hilippine Judicial Academy has been a reality. %ts mission is to upgrade and improve the education of Judges to ensure not ust speedy but (uality dispensation of ustice. )or this, CJ Narvasa should and appropriately be called the father of the 'hilippine Judicial Academy. &ndeterred to improve the administration of Justice, CJ Narvasa also passionately advocated for the passage of $peedy *rial Act of +,,- and the +,,. "evised "ules of Civil 'rocedure. CJ Naravasa is not ust a lawyer, he is foremost, a law professor / a vocation that is so closely attached to his heart even if he is already with the Judiciary. %ndeed so, before assuming post in the Judicial branch of the 0overnment during the time of the late 'resident A(uino, CJ Narvasa has long been a part of the Academe. He was the 1ean of the &$* )aculty of Civil 2aw, a professor and lecturer at the &niversity of the 'hilippines 2aw Center, the $an 3eda College of 2aw and the 4anuel 2. 5ue6on &niversity. %n the Judiciary, never has he been indifferent to the

calls for reforms in 2egal 7ducation. %n fact, he was the one who advocated for them. He viewed the 3ar exams as a tool for evaluating the fitness of would8be lawyers and not lawyers per se. He once said, that the 3ar exams is not a memory test. %ts end is not to produce parrots oblivious to the idiosyncrasy of the law as a social science not to be ta!en in a vacuum and a practical art that is forever changing and fre(uently evolving so as to be responsive to the needs of times. %n its extreme, CJ Narvasa even advocated for the abolishment of the 3ar exams or if not, allow open notes. 9n the study of law, he puts emphasis on legal internship vis8a8vis formal classroom education as a tool for law students to understand and appreciate the law and the rigors of the legal profession. CJ Narvasa will also be remembered for the decisions he penned some of the legal principles of which remained relevant up to this time. As deference and reverence to his brilliance and prolific writing, many of the decisions he penned have not only been fre(uently (uoted by the magistrates of the High Court in their own decisions but have also found its way as urisprudential precedents through stare de isis. :ho would have not fallen in love with his way for words couched as it is in prose but sounded li!e the rhythm of poetry. %n one case he said,
!f all so alled heino"s rimes# none perhaps more deeply provo$es feelings of o"trage# detestation and disg"st than in est"o"s rape.

His life as a 2aw student is e(ually inspiring as it is astounding. )or many who !new him, CJ Narvasa was simply a $uperman of his time. Not only was he academically excellent having graduated as #aledictorian and 4agna Cum 2aude of his class, he was also proficient be it in sports or in any extra8curricular involvement. *o name a few, CJ Narvasa was the first 7ditor8in8 Chief of the &$* 2aw "eview, he founded the oldest law fraternity in the )aculty of Civil 2aw and to wrap it all, he is the team captain of the &niversity of $anto *omas %ntramural 3as!etball *eam / predecessor of what came to be !nown as the &$* 0rowling *igers. 2ast year, in honor of a great man who once wal!ed within the hallowed walls of this esteemed )aculty, the &$* 2aw "eview established the CJ Naravasa %onorary Le t"re aimed at recogni6ing individuals in the legal profession, who li!e CJ Narvasa has contributed significantly in society, in government or in the academe. *hrough this lecture, the &2" hopes to continue the mission and vision of CJ Narvasa in bringing the seemingly illusive ustice closer to our people and in influencing new generations, touch their sensibilities, to the end that they may participate or lead in advocating and instituting reforms.

And as we bereave the loss of a great man, let not his death be the end of his noble mission to which he has consecrated his life;s purpose. 2ord Alfred *ennyson said<
I &age not any fe"d &ith 'eath

(or hanges &ro"ght on form and fa e) No lo&er life that earth*s embra e May breed &ith him# an fright my faith.

)or as long as legal education remains a breeding ground for parrots and orators, = CJ Narvasa# Rage against the dying of the light!+ )or so long as Justice remains illusionary to those who badly needed it, we say, = CJ Narvasa# Rage against the dying of the light!+ )or so long as the law remains to be an abstraction in the minds of an ordinary )ilipino, we say, =CJ Narvasa# Rage against the dying of the light!+ )or as long as reforms remain to see the light of the day and our hopes; death be near, we say, =CJ Narvasa# Rage against the dying of the light!+