YR 47 Issue 1 2011
Faces
Oscar Herrera, Jr.
The justice made in Arts and Letters
The justice made in Arts and Letters
By TRINA MAE R. MENDIOLA
FOLLOWING his father’s footsteps, the younger Oscar Herrera entered the portals of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) with the vision of being a
person of justice and integrity.
With the right mix of persistence and determination fueling his way, this newly appointed Sandiganbayan justice diligently worked his way to become who he is now.
With his father as his primary inspiration, he considered the judiciary as his second home that nurtured and turned his youthful dreams into reality.
Herrera, who is the second child of retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Oscar M. Herrera, Sr. and Rosario Calalang-Herrera, spent his youthful days at the University while enjoying the carefree moments of college.
As he carries the Artlets identity that has been instilled in him, Herrera keeps his feet on the ground and remains to be one of the most notable alumni the Faculty has produced.
Paternal influence
Even during his youthful days, Herrera has always been filled with too
person of justice and integrity.
With the right mix of persistence and determination fueling his way, this newly appointed Sandiganbayan justice diligently worked his way to become who he is now.
With his father as his primary inspiration, he considered the judiciary as his second home that nurtured and turned his youthful dreams into reality.
Herrera, who is the second child of retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Oscar M. Herrera, Sr. and Rosario Calalang-Herrera, spent his youthful days at the University while enjoying the carefree moments of college.
As he carries the Artlets identity that has been instilled in him, Herrera keeps his feet on the ground and remains to be one of the most notable alumni the Faculty has produced.
Paternal influence
Even during his youthful days, Herrera has always been filled with too
much idealism as he was inspired by his father’s achievements in the judiciary. This pushed him to become better and wiser in everything he does.
The 57-year-old magistrate of the country’s anti-graft and corruption court further noted that being a lawyer was originally not in his plans, but fate decided otherwise as he chose to follow the footsteps of his father.
Not knowing what was ahead of him, Herrera decided to pursue law after gaining a degree in Political Science back in 1975. After graduation, he worked and found himself on the track that brought him to where he is right now.
“After I graduated, I proceeded to law school. But I also worked at the Department of Trade as a commercial researcher,” Herrera told the Flame.
In 1979, he became a full-fledged lawyer after passing the bar examinations. Several decades after his sweet success, he married Julieta Herrera and formed his own family. At present, they already have two children.
Called to serve
Before gaining his degree in law, Herrera did not fail to serve his new Faculty when he became the editor of the UST Law Review in 1978. As he finished law school, various opportunities came his way and one of them was to serve his country.
He was appointed presiding judge of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) in 1994 under the administration of former president Fidel Ramos. From 1995 to 1996, he was assigned as an acting presiding judge and assisting judge in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. He then returned to Bulacan RTC as its first Vice Executive Judge from 1999 to 2001.
According to Herrera, he never thought of quitting despite the many tempting instances that came his way. It was determination and prayers that helped him in his endeavor, and from then on, several titles of service were appended before his name.
With great effort, Herrera was hailed as the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Awardee for Judicial Excellence in 2003 and a year after, he was given the Dangal ng Bayan Award for the same category.
Giving back
Despite his busy schedule, Herrera finds time to serve the University as a form of giving back something to the place he once called home. He served as the vice president of the UST Law Alumni Association and was later on elected as its president.
“When I became president of the alumni association, our members urged me and my co-officers to make it more active,” Herrera said, who then shared that the association was at the brink of dying before he assumed the post.
Aside from doing his primary work as a judge, Herrera alsoteaches at various universities to share the things he learned over the many years of practicing his profession.
He taught law subjects at San Beda College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and Far Eastern University. At present, he is a professor at the Faculty of Civil Law teaching subjects like Civil Law and Remedial, Trial Practice Court and Law, and Values.
Herrera added that working as the new Sandiganbayan justice is not like a simple walk in the park because of the daily burden placed upon his shoulders. Despite all the hardships in his work, he noted that his Artlets rearing never failed to help him in the path he chose to venture.
“I have always been proud to be a Thomasian,” he said, adding that his success was purely brought by hard work and determination that truly paid off.
“My motivation has always been a deep faith in God. Siyempre, Thomasian eh,” the proud alumnus said.
The 57-year-old magistrate of the country’s anti-graft and corruption court further noted that being a lawyer was originally not in his plans, but fate decided otherwise as he chose to follow the footsteps of his father.
Not knowing what was ahead of him, Herrera decided to pursue law after gaining a degree in Political Science back in 1975. After graduation, he worked and found himself on the track that brought him to where he is right now.
“After I graduated, I proceeded to law school. But I also worked at the Department of Trade as a commercial researcher,” Herrera told the Flame.
In 1979, he became a full-fledged lawyer after passing the bar examinations. Several decades after his sweet success, he married Julieta Herrera and formed his own family. At present, they already have two children.
Called to serve
Before gaining his degree in law, Herrera did not fail to serve his new Faculty when he became the editor of the UST Law Review in 1978. As he finished law school, various opportunities came his way and one of them was to serve his country.
He was appointed presiding judge of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court (RTC) in 1994 under the administration of former president Fidel Ramos. From 1995 to 1996, he was assigned as an acting presiding judge and assisting judge in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. He then returned to Bulacan RTC as its first Vice Executive Judge from 1999 to 2001.
According to Herrera, he never thought of quitting despite the many tempting instances that came his way. It was determination and prayers that helped him in his endeavor, and from then on, several titles of service were appended before his name.
With great effort, Herrera was hailed as the Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña Awardee for Judicial Excellence in 2003 and a year after, he was given the Dangal ng Bayan Award for the same category.
Giving back
Despite his busy schedule, Herrera finds time to serve the University as a form of giving back something to the place he once called home. He served as the vice president of the UST Law Alumni Association and was later on elected as its president.
“When I became president of the alumni association, our members urged me and my co-officers to make it more active,” Herrera said, who then shared that the association was at the brink of dying before he assumed the post.
Aside from doing his primary work as a judge, Herrera alsoteaches at various universities to share the things he learned over the many years of practicing his profession.
He taught law subjects at San Beda College, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, and Far Eastern University. At present, he is a professor at the Faculty of Civil Law teaching subjects like Civil Law and Remedial, Trial Practice Court and Law, and Values.
Herrera added that working as the new Sandiganbayan justice is not like a simple walk in the park because of the daily burden placed upon his shoulders. Despite all the hardships in his work, he noted that his Artlets rearing never failed to help him in the path he chose to venture.
“I have always been proud to be a Thomasian,” he said, adding that his success was purely brought by hard work and determination that truly paid off.
“My motivation has always been a deep faith in God. Siyempre, Thomasian eh,” the proud alumnus said.
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Year 47 | Issue 1 | 2011
