Justices to honor Bar topnotchers

MANILA, Philippines — Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and Senior Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe will be the guests of honor and speakers in an online convocation to honor Bar topnotchers, scholars and dissertation writing contest winners of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) on June 12. (To join link: https://zoom.us/j/93894119268; Meeting ID: 938 9411 9268).

Retired chief justice Artemio Panganiban, FLP chairman, will deliver a message and hand cash awards and recognition plaques to 20 FLP scholars (P200,000 each), 13 dissertation winners (P320,000, 1st place; P220,000, 2nd place; P120,000 each for three 3rd placers; and P20,000 each for eight finalists) and bar topnotchers (P100,000 each in addition to their scholarship grants).

Of the 20 scholars, 10 are 3rd year law students. They are Patricia Anne Alarios (ADMU), William Christian dela Cruz (Father Saturnino Urios University), Ricka Abigael Dumelod (UST), Florida Fomaneg (UP), Rowell Nico Macalino (ADMU), Joy Francine Mappang (UCordilleras), Geremae Mata (USC), Carlo Angelo Negado (USC), Laurence Obaob (USC) and George Mariano Soriano (UP).

The 10 others are 4th year law students: Banoar Abratique (UCordilleras), Pamela Camille Barredo (FEU), Angelette Bulacan (FEU), Patricia Isabel Cornelio (FEU), Stephanie Mae Domingo (UCordilleras), Patrick Angelo Gutierrez (FEU), Mayumi Matsumura (ADMU), Juralyn Lilian Obra (UCordilleras), Carmella Gaye Perez (USC), and Edrea Jean Ramirez (UST).

The Board of Judges, which chose the scholars, was composed of Peralta, chairman; Elizabeth Alba, representing Tan Yan Kee Foundation which co-sponsored the scholarships; and dean Joan Largo, professor Tanya Lat and lawyer Joel Emerson Gregorio, members.

The dissertation writing winners are Angela Teresa Sebastian (UP) 1st place; Genica Therese Endaluz (ADMU), 2nd; Patrick Edward Balisong (ADMU), Angelette Bulacan (FEU) and Carlota Villaroman (SBU Manila), 3rd.

The finalists are Juan Paolo Artiaga (UP), Archiebald Capila (San Sebastian College), Patrick Angelo Gutierrez (FEU), Daphne Dianne Mendoza (DLSU), Ronald Kevin Laluz Montellano (FEU), Robie Quiño (Graduate School of Law, SSBC), Maria Luisa Sebastian (ADMU) and Vladimir Joy Tamargo (FEU).

The dissertation winners were chosen by a Board of Judges composed of Bernabe, chair; Dr. Edilberto de Jesus, attorney Solomon Hermosura, representing the Ayala Group which co-sponsored the contest; dean Soledad Mawis and attorney Joel Emerson Gregorio, members.

Two former FLP scholars, Kenneth Glenn Manuel (UST) and Jun Dexter Rojas (PUP) who placed 6th and 9th, respectively, in the 2019 bar exams will also be honored and awarded P100,000 each in addition to their scholarship grants.

Also to be feted are former FLP scholars who passed the 2019 Bar exams. They are Leo Francis Abot (valedictorian, ADMU), John Anthony Almerino (valedictorian; USC), Micah Celine Carpio (valedictorian, DLSU), Arvin Paolo Cortez (ADMU), Mikael Gabrielle Ilao (UCordilleras), Alimar Mohammad Malabad (SBU), Kenneth Glenn Manuel (cum laude, UST), Dion Ceazar Pascua (SBU), King Anthony Perez (valedictorian, UCebu), Jun Dexter Rojas (PUP), Julienne Therese Salvacion (SBU), Tess Marie Tan (USC) and Ma. Vida Malaya Villarico (class topnotcher, PUP).

The FLP Dissertation Writing Contest aims to augment existing literature on the Foundation’s core philosophy of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law.

The contest is open to third year and fourth year law students and those taking Master of Laws. The contest is sponsored by the FLP with a financial grant from the Ayala Corp. and co-sponsored by the Philippine Association of Law Schools.

On the other hand, the FLP Legal Scholarship Program is merit-based and aims to look for the best and the brightest third and fourth year law students in the schools that obtained a percentage of passing above the overall average of Bar passers based on statistical data from the Supreme Court.

It is sponsored by the FLP with a financial grant from the Tan Yan Kee Foundation and co-sponsored by PALS.

The FLP was founded in 2011 to perpetuate the core judicial philosophy of Panganiban — that jurists and lawyers should safeguard liberty and nurture prosperity under the rule of law. (For more information, visit www.libpros.com.)

Its Board of Trustees is composed of Panganiban, chairman, and Dr. Edilberto de Jesus, Joel Emerson Gregorio, Evelyn Dumdum, professors Tanya Lat and Elenita Panganiban, retired justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, former BSP governor Amando Tetangco Jr. and Maria Elena P.S. Yaptangco, members.

The Tan Yan Kee Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies. It approaches corporate social responsibility from a holistic commitment framework targeting education, culture and sports, health and social welfare such as environmental concerns, research and manpower development. (For details, visit www.tanyankee.org)

Ayala is the country’s longstanding partner in the pursuit for progress and nation building, developing businesses that transform industries, challenging the status quo and bringing innovations in the Philippines and abroad that contribute to Philippines’ social andeconomic agenda. (For details, visit www.ayala.com.ph)