At the outset, I must confess that paying a tribute to Chief Justice Davide is a very difficult task.

First, words will always be exceedingly inadequate to capture his real worth, considering the magnitude of his contributions to public service, especially to the judiciary.

Second, considering that we are co-workers in the Supreme Court, and he being my chief, my testimony might be perceived as one coming from an interested and bias witness.

And third, given his manifold accomplishments and credentials, there is always the risk of my speech sounding like his Curriculum Vitae.

Friends, when I first met the Chief Justice, my first impression was that he is a man of wisdom, an honorable man – one who inspires admiration and confidence. The first impression has become lasting. It began to deepen and mature with the years as I come to absorb new depths and new riches in his character. Eventually, when I sat with him in the highest tribunal, I realized that my first assessment of him.

Inside the conference room, one can feel his exuding presence. He radiates to all of us the strength of his character and the integrity of his convictions. He is a leader, a chief, in the truest sense of the word. He directs our deliberations with calm and authority, never tolerates discourtesy among his colleagues, even at times when emotions run high. Perhaps, it is his example of civility and sobriety that earn for him our respect and dignified obedience. Added to these is the excellent quality of his mind. Behind his amiable and unassuming exterior is a mind of enormous force and brilliance – a mind which we all know has been at the forefront of molding the Philippine legal and judicial systems over the last three decades, starting from the time he took the post of a legislator up to the present as chief justice. No wonder, he is most successful in providing persuasive directions to the court through his clear and logical opinions. His genius and vision and as one of the framers of our constitution have enhanced his judicial eloquence. His opinions and ponencias will remain as his intellectual legacies to the judicial and legal community.

Certainly, that is not all. Last October, when he invited me and the other justices to his hometown in Argao, Cebu, I got a glimpse of the man behind the judicial robe. There he was, in the company of his townmates, poor and rich alike, interacting with warmth and sincere affection and with no regard for his security. For a man who is hailed as the chief of the third branch of government, whose presence inspires awe and admiration, and who has constantly hobnobbed with the societies’ creme de la creme, I must say that Chief Justice Davide’s regard for his townmates has surpassed expectation. He never lost the common touch. Truly, greatness and humility can reside in one soul, his soul.

And speaking of humility, may I relate to you that sometime ago, I stood as one of the wedding sponsors of his nephew, Joey, now a law student at UP, whose bride is the sister of my son-in-law. During the reception, I could discern the closeness between the chief justice and his siblings and the other members of the Davide family. But what impressed me most was his act of kissing the hand (or making "Mano Po") of his eldest brother. I could not imagine why a younger brother like him, a chief justice at that, would show that kind of respect for an elder. Indeed, such gesture manifested his humility and the affection and respect that bind him with his siblings.

It was also in Argao, where I learned of Chief Justice Davide’s virtue of charity. He has not only devoted himself to public service, he also donated some of his properties for public use. The clinic, the school, the chapel, these, among others, are concrete testimonies of his concern for the welfare of his townmates. Incidentally, most of you may not be aware that much of the monetary reward that Chief Justice Davide received from the Ramon Magsaysay award was donated for the scholarship of deserving poor children and as cash awards for outstanding court employees. Surely, only a man of extraordinary virtue can give so much of his wordly possessions and expect nothing in return. It is therefore not a surprise that accounts of his benevolence, humanity and simplicity continually echo in Argao.

Our nation, like Argao, has so much to thank God for. What Chief Justice Davide gives to Argao he gives hundredfold to the judiciary. Chief Justice Davide ushered the judiciary to its renaissance period. Under his leadership, the court has undertaken impressive strides in laying down the groundwork for a reformed judicial system. His brainchild, the Action Program for Judicial Reform (APJR), is now reaping copious results, among them, the e-library, the mobile court, the pilot model halls of justice, the satellite Court of Appeals in Cebu and Cagayan de Oro, the computerization of the judiciary, and others. We and the entire citizenry are the ones reaping the benefits of all these. Without doubt, the judiciary is a better institution because of his tenure as chief justice.

But above everything else, Chief Justice Davide’s greatest legacy is his integrity. If we believe in the Bible’s teaching that there is a reason for everything, then I can say that it is not a coincidence that the complete name of our chief justice, i.e., "Hilario Gelbolingo Davide, Junior" has five "Is." These "Is" signify his abundant supply of integrity. That integrity was put to the most stringent test during the impeachment proceedings against him. A man of less sterner fiber might have pulled strings to influence his colleagues in the disposition of the case Francisco vs. House of Representatives, penned by Justice Conchita Carpio Morales. But Chief Justice Davide is different. He kept his silence. He detached himself from the issue, giving each of us the chance to decide with an independent mind. It is the same integrity that continues to lend much credibility to an institution that suffered from a tainted image.

To be sure, because of his leadership with integrity, he has also gained the respect and admiration of leading jurists throughout the world. I have repeatedly told him that he has reached the level of being an international figure. Three weeks ago, I attended the American Bar Association Conference on the rule of law in Washington, D.C. Chief Justice Davide was one of the main speakers. In fact, he was the first speaker on the first day. After his speech, the audience gave him a standing ovation. During the open forum, his answers to the questions were direct to the point and well understood. When he came down from the stage, many participants, not only from America, but also from various nations, congratulated him. At that moment, I realized he is well known to most of the delegates.

During the closing ceremony, there was supposed to be a launching of the International Rule of Law Movement. Eagerly, I was waiting for it. But what happened was that the three speakers, including US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, merely delivered their respective speeches. That was all. Suddenly, the Chief Justice stood and manifested that there should be a formal launching of the International Rule of Law Movement. Thereupon, the master of ceremonies called him to the stage. To the applause of the audience, he moved that a resolution be passed by the body launching the International Rule of Law Movement, calling it the Washington Declaration. The audience, in standing ovation, was awed once more and their "I second the motion" in unison was loud and reverberating. Ladies and gentlemen, with the accomplishments of our Chief Justice in that conference, I can truly say those were among his finest moments and that I am proud to be a Filipino.

During the tele-conference held in the course of the recent international conference and showcase on judicial reforms, US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said, "Retread him and put more rubber on the tire so he can run longer." While Judge Clifford Wallace of the US Circuit Court of Appeals stated, "Chief Justice Davide is one of the greatest justice reformists in our time."

Chief Justice Davide has indeed lived the full spectrum of a diverse life and career as a scholar, lawyer, legislator, magistrate, husband, and father. He has done more than what is expected of him, with humility, optimism, moral courage and a limitless capacity for intellectual excellence.

I pay the same tribute to Mrs. Davide, we fondly call Gigi, and to their outstanding children. Their love for him and quiet courage have provided our chief justice with strength and hope in the tribulations and victories of his life and career. Chief Justice Davide and Gigi embody the ultimate partnership nurtured by oneness in faith and goal. The respect and admiration we now offer to the chief justice are a tribute too to his family.

We, who have the privilege of serving with him in the Supreme Court will sadly miss him. I bid him, not "goodbye" but "Au revoir," knowing that he leaves only our presence, but not our hearts. May the future be exceedingly joyous, serene and fulfilling. From all of us and a greatful nation, Godspeed!