Palma, head of the commission that drafted the 1987 Philippine Constitution, died of acute respiratory failure at age 92 at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City last Jan. 2.

She was the first woman member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

Palma, who is survived by children Peal and Ric Cardema, Tady and Lita Palma, Gustav and Heidi Palma, and other relatives was a known defender of justice, freedom, truth, constitutional democracy, rule of law, and human rights.

The Judiciary and Executive branches of government, national and local government officials, and colleagues and friends have praised Palma as a defender truth, freedom, and democracy.

Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, said Palma was a "magisterial model of independence, integrity, industry and intelligence."

President Arroyo, referring to Palma’s open defiance of the strong-man rule of then President Marcos, said: "Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma’s memory will forever be enshrined in the annals of Filipino heroism and service.

"The courage she has shown in the country’s dark years will remain an inspiration to every Filipino woman who strives to make a difference and to prove that greatness can be achieved with unbending principle and wisdom."

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay described Palma as a "mirror of truth and voice of conscience" who deserved the respect of every freedom-loving Filipino.

Palma and her husband, the late Dean Rodolfo Palma of the College of Law of the University of the Philippines (UP) who died several years back, were highly respected in the legal profession.

Justice Palma was from Bauan, Batangas while Dean Palma was from Tagbilaran City.

Over the past eight days and nights of wake and vigil, necrological services were held for her by the Supreme Court, Constitutional Consultative Commission, Aurora Aragon Peace Foundation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Zonta Club of Manila, Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Concerned Women of the Philippines, and women lawyers’ associations, among other groups.

She was appointed as Supreme Court associate justice by the late President Ferdinand Marcos on Oct. 29, 1973. She was an associate justice of the Court of Appeals from Nov. 23 to Sept. 16, 1968 up to the time she was elevated to the highest tribunal.

She had also served as judge of the Court of First Instance (now the Regional Trial Court) of Negros Occidental and Dumaguete City, Laguna, San Pablo City and Rizal.

She was a recipient of various awards, including the Catholic Mass Media Award (CMMA), Pro Ecclesia et Pontifico from the late Pope Paul VI, Ninoy Aquino Movement Award, Kagitingan Award, and the Most Distinguished Alumnus Award from the UP Alumni Association.

She was the leader of various organizations, including the Civic Assembly of Women in the Philippines, and founded the Woman Lawyers’ Association of the Philippines (WLAP) Free Legal Aid Clinic.

Palma’s thoughts on truth, justice, freedom and the rule of law are recorded in her book, Mirror of My Soul, which is a compilation of her remarkable speeches about these concerns.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, paying tribute to the late Justice Cecilia Munoz-Palma, said yesterday that the one striking point that will forever stay in his memory was Palma’s advice in 1986 not to abolish the Batasang Pambansa to quickly restore political normalcy and establish a smooth transition of government.

Atienza said this was Palma’s advice to former President Corazon Aquino when she assumed the presidency in the aftermath of EDSA I.

"However, that advice so rich in political wisdom, got lost in the frenzied effort to clean up the government in 1986 and the result is that 20 years after, our country finds itself in the center of a storm of threats of military uprising. And worse, we are still adjusting to the shift back to the presidential system amidst so much political turbulence," Atienza said.

Both Atienza and Palma ran and won as members of the Batasang Pambansa as a constituent body to change the Constitution. They served under Prime Minister Cesar Virata.

Atienza recalled that the late lady justice, just retired from the Supreme Court, did not turn her back to the call of duty when she was asked to run for the post of assemblywoman in Quezon City.

"I should not refuse to participate in the elections even under repressive conditions because if is true that I am willing to lay down my life for the sake of the country, why should I not be brave enough to face the elections," Atienza quoted Palma.