Executive Judge Genie G. Gapas-Agbada of the Regional Trial Court of Virac, Catanduanes was hailed as the 2nd place winner of the “Herstory Gender Award of Distinction: 2022-2023 Search for Inspirational Women in the Judiciary” conducted by a Supreme Court committee.
Judge Agbada received a plaque of recognition with cash incentive during the awarding ceremony held in conjunction with the Fellowship Dinner of the Philippine Women Judges’ Association (PWJA) last March 20, 2023 at the Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
She and the 1st and 3rd place winners were selected from more than 20 finalists nationwide by the Committee on Gender Responsiveness in the Judiciary (CGRJ).
A project of the CGRJ that was launched during the Women’s Month Celebration in 2022, the Search is intended to identify “stories of female Judges who have faced challenges in their professional and/or personal lives and surpassed them, using these very difficulties as their motivation to continue and fight on.”
Aside from recognizing these female Judges who have shown exceptional courage to overcome their obstacles and succeed, the Search also aims to provide inspiration and motivation to others.
Cognizant of Judge Agbada’s excellent track record and personal milestones, Hon. Lilibeth Ranara-Danglosi, the Presiding Judge of the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Viga-Panganiban-Bagamanoc, nominated her for the Search.
Judge Agbada, whose father is from Sorsogon and whose mother is a native of Virac, rose from the ranks to become a highly dedicated trial judge with more than three decades of legal experience.
She is renowned for her persistence, impeccable work ethics and speedy resolution of cases, which earned her a prior distinction from the Asia Foundation as one of the judges in the Philippines for Best Court Practices.
Aside from being the Executive Judge in Catanduanes overseeing the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Virac, MTC-San Andres, 1st MCTC-Bato-San Miguel, 2nd MCTC Baras-Gigmoto, 3rd MCTC Viga-Panganiban-Bagamanoc, and 4th MCTC Pandan-Caramoran, Judge Agbada is the current Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 42 and current Acting Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 43, both in Virac, Catanduanes.