Justice Vasquez is the New PJ
by J. Jose C. Reyes, Jr.

Seniority is one thing and real qualification is another. In the case of Justice Conrado M. Vasquez, Jr., he has both. He became the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals because of seniority and at the same time he has all the qualifications.

Justice Vasquez excelled both as a private law practitioner and as a public servant. He was elected municipal councilor in his hometown in Biñan, Laguna in 1963 and vice-mayor in 1968. In 1987 he was appointed Judge of Branch 118 of the Regional Trial Court of Pasay City. He was awarded “Most Outstanding Judge of Pasay City” before he was appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals on March 22, 1994. He has received several awards and citations but he has remained humble and approachable.

The position he now holds as Presiding Justice rightfully belongs to him. Yet, Justice Vasquez acknowledges that his promotion is an answered prayer to God. A devoted Cursillista, Justice Vasquez is undoubtedly a man of God. That is why many people were so happy when they learned that Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed him Presiding Justice last November 28, 2007. He took his oath of office before Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno on December 4, 2007. On December 20, 2007, he took his ceremonial oath with Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. And I was a happy witness to these special occasions of triumph. I can only say with a smile that “God has truly blessed the man who is faithful to Him in prayer and in action.”

Next to God, Justice Vasquez is a devoted husband to the former Emily A. Gonzalez. They are blessed with four (4) loving children, namely, Conrado III, Jeannette, Jinky and Joy. His parents, the eminent jurist, the late Conrado M. Vasquez, Sr. and Leonor R. Arcega, must have felt so blessed from the time Justice Vasquez was born on January 6, 1940 in Paco, Manila.

His Alma Mater, the Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law, must be very proud of him, too. With all his accomplishments in life, we, in the Court of Appeals, feel so honored to have him as our Presiding Justice. I am sure that we will continue to be witnesses of many more of his good works in the years to come.

Cheers to PJ Conrado M. Vasquez, Jr.!