Value autonomy, seize opportunities, SC Justice Singh tells women in judiciary

“Let no one tell you what you can and cannot do.”

This is the advice Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh gave to women who are part of or aspiring to join the judiciary.

Singh was among the panelists for the SC’s first Distinguished Women’s Forum, along with retired Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro, retired Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales, and retired Associate Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez.

“You’re the only one who can say whether you will get it or not, no? We were given free autonomy, so use it wisely. Value what you have, stop looking at what others have, focus on what you have, and maximize it to the fullest,” she said.

The justice stressed that time should not be wasted.

“What you’re given, be thankful for it. Be grateful for it. For me, there’s a big difference between a heart that, you know, recognizes these blessings and one that just thinks of what they lack. And that spells all the difference,” Singh said.

“The world is full of opportunities; we just need to focus on what we really want for ourselves,” she later added.

She earlier opened up about her battle with cancer, saying it was a reminder to treasure each day and to do what she can, while she can.

Meanwhile, Carpio-Morales advised women to assert their rights.

“I ask women, assert your rights. Do not allow people to step on your rights. For ladies in the judiciary, it’s a given that you are qualified,” she said.

She also said that while women cannot control their destiny, they should prepare for what they think they should have achieved at the end of the day.

Sandoval-Gutierrez, meanwhile, tells women in the judiciary to be prayerful as well as to maintain their integrity, independence, and honesty.

“Being in the judiciary means hard work, dedication, and you must not be influenced by any person even if the one asking the favor is the President. What is important is integrity, honesty, and please, remain clean,” she said.

For her part, Leonardo-de Castro said that to succeed in the judiciary, women need a high IQ, a high EQ, as well as ethical intelligence.

“You need all three,” she said.

“High IQ will not ensure your success in whatever profession you are in. Ethical intelligence is not very familiar with a lot of people. It simply means that you know what is the right thing to do at a particular circumstance is,” she added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News