A graduate of Saint Joseph’s College and the University of the Philippines, Atty. Estelita Cordero began her legal career in Manila—where she ranked 11th in the 1971 Bar Exams with a score of 88.75%.
She later thrived in both corporate and public service law.
But retirement did not signal retreat. Returning to her roots in Ilocos Sur, she founded Cordero & Associates Law Office and began handling cases across the region—especially in Abra—fearlessly taking on issues others avoided.
“You don’t need to fear when you’re fighting for what’s right,” she said—words that continue to guide her in court and community work.
Known for her precise fact-checking, forthright demeanor, and tenacity in the face of power, Cordero has earned equal parts respect and pushback. While others whisper, she demands accountability.
One of the few openly speaking out about black sand mining in municipalities like Santa and Narvacan, she presents evidence and challenges local officials’ denials with documented damage and publicly accessible records.
Cordero’s commitment to justice goes back decades. In 1974, she served on a three-woman committee under the UP Law Center that helped draft the Family Code of the Philippines, a pivotal moment in advancing women’s rights in law.
By the late ’90s, she turned to grassroots work, helping launch sustainable livelihood programs in partnership with various community leaders. In 2001, her civic engagement became more pronounced when she helped organize a broad-based alliance of lawyers, church groups, and civil society advocates calling for greater transparency and good governance in Ilocos Sur. Even as political tides shifted and certain investigations were closed or redirected, Cordero remained consistent in her stance—believing that public service must always be held to account, regardless of circumstance.
“If we turn a blind eye now, our future generations will suffer the consequences,” she warned.
Today, Atty. Tillie Cordero remains a steadfast advocate, refusing the comforts of retirement for the causes she still believes in. In every battle she picks, she stands as proof that courage, integrity, and service do not retire.