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A Message To The Freshmen From The Law Student Government DEAR UP LAW STUDENT, Let me call you a UP College of Law student to highlight your brand as someone belonging to the elite circle of law students in the country. You are not just any freshman of any institution, but one belonging to the primus inter pares among the law schools in the country. Own the brand and be responsible with it. Welcome and enjoy the moment. Initially you will be bombarded with praise and glory for being able to get in: you are entitled to that. Getting in is one thing, staying and thriving is another. So let’s cut to the chase, because the next couple of days, months or years even, will be the shock of your lifetime. You might have seen or heard of the good and the bad things about law school in general and UP Law in particular. Most of them are true; some are pure exaggerations. Just remember that it will be you who will de-
fine your experience in this college. Study hard like you never did before. If not, at least study smart. There is no substitute in devoting time and effort to your legal education. Every moment you give in studying the law will reap the rewards in the future. Surely there will be highs and lows during your stay. You will make difficult decisions. Learn from them and no matter what, keep moving forward. Be involved in and out of school and find relevance in what you learn. Along the way, may you find ways to give back to the people and assert your role in our society. Seek help when you need it. The UP Law Student Government will always be available to extend all the support. We have prepared projects and programs that will guide you in your initial year in the college. Keep in mind that the LSG will be your partner in your entire stay.
Every moment you give in studying the law will reap the rewards in the future.
Benedict G. Nisperos LSG President
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To Be A Great Lawyer BY EDWARD DAYOG SUMMER VACATION is finally here. After ten months of grueling studying, all-nighters in coffee shops, and nerve-racking recitations and examinations, I am finally done with my first year in the UP College of Law. The advent of the summer break has given me a window for introspective reflection. I now see that those ten months have done to me something more than teaching the knowledge that can be gathered from law books. Indeed, my stint in this academic institution has made me realize that I am not as mature as I thought I already was. After one academic year I feel as though I underwent another period of adolescence. The lessons that I have learned thus far have profoundly impacted the way that I view myself and my role. More than anything else, my first year has renewed my idealism and reoriented me towards a new purpose. Throughout the past two semesters I have been questioning myself, “Why am I here? Why do I have to read all these books and cases? What is the wherefore of my tribulations? Why do I desire to excel?” These can be answered with a simple “to be a great lawyer, of course.” As a student enters the main lobby of the college, he is greeted by a marble plaque that says, in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., that the business of a law school is to make great lawyers. Many professors have taken it upon themselves to put these words into action. And I have taken it upon myself to someday become a great lawyer. But this lofty-sounding epithet is quite vague. Is a great lawyer someone who has earned a stellar reputation for the number of cases he has won or his academic achievements? I have grown to realize that this is an inadequate definition. I now believe that a great lawyer is defined not only by his ability, but, more importantly, by his ambitions.
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Admittedly, I used to hold the ambition of becoming a lawyer for wealth, power and fame. I do not find it inaccurate to say that these three are also the culprits that have induced many to spend four or more years of their lives trying to attain the privilege of being called “Attorney”. But I decided to abandon this ambition for a new one. My introspections have led me toward a new purpose—one I believe defines a great lawyer—to serve the people and the society by upholding the rule of law. Although I have always acknowledged this as the raison d’être of a lawyer, my vision of the legal profession has been clouded both by its depiction in media and my own personal desires. I would like to credit my professors, especially Dean Marvic Leonen and Prof. Rosa Maria Bautista, for reinvigorating my once-waning motivation with a new sense of mission. I am only starting to fully comprehend their words of wisdom.
The hallmark of UP Law, as I would like to believe, has always been public service. I also credit Morgan Freeman for helping me rediscover the reason I am studying the Law. In the film “The Bonfire of the Vanities”, his character expounded, “The Law is man’s feeble attempt to set down the principles of decency… And decency is not a deal, it isn’t an angle or a contract or a hustle.” Such words have, in so short a scene, succinctly defined what the legal profession ought to be. I see my existential crisis as a reflection, and even a microcosm, of that facing the UP College of Law. As an institution that prides itself for teaching “law in the grand manner” and producing “great lawyers”, UP Law has been caught in a conundrum when bar results for the years of recent past seem to indicate a dwindling in the quality of education that it gives. Hence, UP Law has become conscious of how its graduates perform in the bar, be it the passing rate or whether any of them makes it to the top ten. In my opinion, these should neither be the primary foci nor top priorities of UP Law. Time and again I have heard that UP Law is not bar-oriented. I do not think that this is merely an excuse for supposedly not doing well in the bar exams. I think that people should start seeing the bar as what it really is—a qualifying exam, something that does not conclusively measure one’s ability to serve justice. The hallmark of TO BE A • PAGE 25
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May the odds be ever in your favor BY MAAN ESPINOSA WHEN I WAS about to walk in Malcolm Hall for the freshman orientation, it felt like I was going to be a tribute for the Hunger Games, a volunteer tribute to be exact. When upperclassmen told us how they experienced hell during their freshman year, I became more convinced that I am in the Hunger Games. I would be thrown in the arena, which was Malcolm Hall, and I’d have to do everything to be alive until the game ended. “Stay alive,” as Haymitch advised Katniss, and this would be the same mantra that I’d use in law school. I looked around the room and watched my blockmates’ tense faces. If it felt like the Hunger Games, then were they going to be the other tributes? Did it mean that they were out to kill me to last in the game? Would they do everything to be in law school even if it meant hurting me? So could I trust no one in law school? Was law school a lonely man’s game? A year has passed and I can say that the odds had been truly in my favour because I did not find fellow tributes but a family. My block has been my strongest support system in law school. I will bravely say that a big part why I am still in law school is because of my block. If I dare say that this is true for everyone in my batch. I believe that most of them, if not all of them, will agree. The efficient digest system lets us get through the recitation. My blockmates have mastered the “art of making digests” that I could rely on it if I did not finish all the cases. If somehow the answer is not in the digest, my blockmates will come up with the most creative and most discreet ways of helping me. The bond doesn’t end when we go outside Malcolm Hall—it continues and only becomes stronger. When I am too burned out from studying, I could call my blockmates for a round of Lazer Tag or hang out and talk about anything and everything. When I decided to run for the University Student Council, my blockmates did not hesitate to help me. It was touching to see them cutting my flower pins and wearing them all the time. They would go around UP campaigning for me instead of studying. I know I could never return the favor they gave me. I am forever thankful to them. My blockmates have seen me through my best and worst in law school and I am glad that I have them. Freshies, your block is your lifeline but you
can’t slack off because you have their back. You have to help your block as much as they are helping you. Do not abuse them. Here are a few things you can do to foster love and bonding within your block: Be responsible. When a task is assigned to you, do it well and on time. If you have to do a digest, submit it before or on time and make sure that the digest is well-written. If you are asked to photocopy the cases for the entire block, do it immediately. Imagine if you did not submit your digest and your blockmate was called on that case. He was not able to read it and got a 5. Would you like that to happen to you? What if you slacked off in photocopying your cases and your class did not get the cases on time and the professor becomes enraged that no one in the class has read the cases? You never want that to happen because all hell will break loose, trust me. Every act you do will affect your blockmates; you are responsible for each other. Do your part and you will all survive law school. If you have reviewers and tips, share it. Do not think that by sharing it, you are losing your edge. Law school is not a lonely man’s game. You need your blockmates to survive. Thus, you have to wholeheartedly help and encourage each other.
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Bond. As I mentioned, the bonding should not stop when you leave the classroom. It should continue. Do fun activities to relieve too much stress and pressure from law school. Be updated about each other. Do not only talk to your classmate when you need something from him. Get to know each other, that way, you will be aware who among your blockmates need help. Share how you really feel or what you need. Even if it seems that everyone is too busy, your blockmates will stop what they are doing to help you.
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Befriend other blocks. No matter how strong your block is, it doesn’t hurt to be friends with other blocks. Widening your networks will help especially during the most stressful days. Gather as many friends in law school as you can but never forget to be loyal to your block!
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Dear Evening-2017
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BY JELORIE GALLEGO
MORE THAN new members to the esteemed institution that is the UP College of Law, as part of the Evening Program, you are sui generis—a class of your own. You are to face unique challenges as working students. Imagine an 8am-5pm work schedule, running to reach school in time and burning the midnight oil thereafter in hopes it will pay off if you get called to recite the following evening. Now having qualms about surviving UP Law as an evening student? Fret not! Let me share to you tried and tested tips that have greatly helped us in law school: 1. Prioritize, organize and maximize. Our schedules are full and as much as we want to, we can no longer add hours to our day. But we can beat this by prioritizing our activities and studying smarter. Know which tasks are urgent. Assess which subjects need more time for reading or focus in understanding. In studying, create a system or routine that works for you. You may practice active reading by highlighting or flagging important points and writing notes on the margin. Maximize your memory by devising mnemonics or color-coding different chunks of information.
2. Play your strengths. Realize that while our work may handicap our schedule, it also could be used to our benefit. Our greatest advantage as evening students is that we have experiences in our respective fields and industries that will help us appreciate law as a practical discipline that can be applied in our work. Use your practical know-how and professional savvy to understand the law. Share your experiences in a recitation. Your classmates and professors will appreciate the input.
3. Reach out. Know that you are not alone. You have your blockmates and peers, who are also adjusting to the law student lifestyle. You may form study groups and digest pools to help maximize your study time. Beyond your block, you have block handlers and upperclassmen who are more than willing to share their resources and experiences about your current subject or professor. You have your Evening Representatives, Diega Villanueva and yours truly, Jel Gallego, in the Law Student Government, to help you address your concerns. There is also Schola Juris Vespertina (SJV), an organization of evening students, that can serve as your support group in meeting rigorous demands of our being working students. So go out there and expand your network. Law school may be tough but it will be one great adventure for you especially with fun people to share the journey with.
When the going gets tough, know that it will all be worth it in the end. Just take a look at all the legal luminaries and prominent leaders of this nation. You too will soon be part of that. Fix your eyes on the prize. So take out those planners, ready your highlighters and codals—welcome to the beginning of your training to become a great lawyer!
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Recitations BY KENNETH PETER MOLAVE IF YOU’VE decided to read this, continue until the end. If you do finish, I’m happy to let you know you have that one quality that will help you survive through any fire: persistence. I know you’ve heard many things about recitations (“recit” for short) and I bet most of you freshmen are now anxiously curious of how a day of recits would go because of the “terrifying” stories your upperclassmen had told you. Fear not my young siblings for they are, mostly, a storm in a teacup. They are told primarily to make you fear those dreaded recits in the belief that this very fear will keep you on your toes. The general rule is that each of us will have that bad recit day and what you have to do is to make preparations and be open to advice if you want to be the exception. Here are a few ways to get you through a recit while not sucking at it. Pay close attention. Information is what we breathe. Our professors bombard our senses with questions magically pulled out the air which incidentally thins and suffocates us from the time they step in until the time they step out of our classroom doors. Processing this much would really rev up our brain processors and sometimes would sadly overheat and slow down to a Pentium III. Keeping all your senses open in that crucial moment the professor shoots you with his question is essential because this is what will enable you to shoot back and hope to disarm and subdue him before he pulls out his whole arsenal. This would also mean you focus on the professor and your own notes—not on your cute seatmate. Use your TV and Radio skills sparingly. Not everybody is able to prepare for a recit and even if one is able to, there comes those questions one is never prepared for. Coincidentally, your seatmate or one of your classmates in proximity is such a poor soul and naturally, you’d want to help. This is where your TV and Radio coaching skills will come in handy. However, remember that you are not required to manifest your most altruistic character and serve as the guy’s alter ego. Never do it in so obvious and careless a manner that it might lead the professor to think you know better than the one on the spotlight and in doing so might serve as an insult to your classmate’s analytical and critical thinking skills. Doing it discreetly and sparingly shows your sincerity in helping out a classmate in need.
Do not focus on reviewing during class. Reviewing notes and digests during a recit is not advisable because as almost all recits are done with a random selection of students; you never know if you’re next. You might just miss the question because you are into reviewing too much and professors do not appreciate repeating themselves. This will also make you sure you’re in the same page with your professor. You really want to prevent reciting a case different from the one the professor asked of you. It happened to me once and never will I forget all the wondering eyes directed towards my person. Not being called doesn’t mean you don’t have to listen. Note that if you’re luckily not picked because another classmate of yours was, it does not follow you can relax and wait until his turn finishes. Some professors are kind enough to throw random questions to anyone in the classroom and these usually relate to what your classmate (the one standing) said or did not say. Bring out the minimalist in you. See how you get to the end of a short yet purposeful sentence without getting bored? Do it more often. Recite literature. You may find recits to be boring (setting aside the suspense of anxious anticipation of you being drawn from the shuffle of class cards) because of all the jargon usage. Putting a bit of color and creativity into your words help better retain such information because of the word association it builds. It also keeps things inter-
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Project your voice. One cannot emphasis enough how important a clear and precise voice is in any kind of discussion. Tone your voice in such a way that it exudes confidence and in a persuasive manner. It doesn’t have to be loud and powerful for there are different ways to convey your thoughts and ideas. Different manners may include choosing the simple or complicated precise words that directly express thoughts and ideas, appropriate pausing, tone and intonation to portray the importance of such terms. Giving the right answers sans the confidence casts doubt on the credibility of such answers and might just expose you to more grilling or follow-up questions.
esting not only for you and your classmates but also for the professor and might ultimately get you in his or her favor. For example, instead of saying, “Mrs. X sought for declaration void ab initio of her marriage with her husband Mr. Y alleging him to be psychologically incapacitated by reason of his alcoholic sprees and failure to provide support for their children”, you could say, “For years, the couple in this case had gone through a rollercoaster marriage and finally, after Mrs. X had had enough, she finally decided to clip the knot that bound their marriage. She filed for annulment before the court in the hope of ridding the vices that corrupted her marriage with her husband Mr. Y.” But of course making the case interesting does not procure license to change the facts. Also, keep technical and legal words at bay for an effective discussion with the professor. Hunt for the gist and side gists. I’m not advising anyone to become a “gister” or one who relies primarily on digests to prepare for class. Trust me, becoming one will do you no good in the long run. What I’m trying to say is that after reading a case, look first at the core issue and from there look at the minor issues. Some professors will focus only at the core but others want to include the side issues (yes, they are detail-hungry) and it makes your life a little bit harder. Learn how to outline your case and when pointing out the issues in a case (assuming you’ve already know how to digest one), do not limit yourself to one or two issues. This will prevent unexpected questions that woill definitely ruin your day if you haven’t put in the extra ones.
Breathe and pace yourself. When you finally hear your name travel through the flat and silent air the moment you were reading the professor’s lips, you do not simply stand up and blurt out a stream of words. Take a moment to breathe and because, more often than not, you are allowed to skim your notes and case before actually reciting. Take that time to do such skimming and organize your thoughts in order to form a logical and coherent line of ideas. Rushing your way through a recit neither helps your discussion nor your recit grade. Do not compete but be a sport. As I always remind myself: do not compete yet be a sport. Do not compete with your blockmates in recits but do compete with yourself because remember that our pursued profession is primarily contextualized in an adversarial setting. The professor is the only adversary in this setting (I’m not saying he’s an enemy but I think you get the point) and your cooperation and compassion as a group will get you a higher chances of surviving and hopefully with your numbers intact. Competing with yourself is also essential. I remember this professor quoting from some book that like a teacup, one must first empty oneself in order to be filled with more of anything. Cast aside arrogance and pride and humble yourselves so that you may learn and remember what it is that what you are being taught and not how harsh or hard it is being taught. Challenge yourself to empty your cup. One simply cannot, in a brief period of time, grasp and master completely the game of recits and there is no other tool more appropriate other than for you to go through with it so expect the worst and brace yourselves for the long, hard struggle. It is a battlefield you, with your block siblings, are to inevitably face if you have already set the honorable profession of law practice on your list of goals.
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The Look of Law BY PIP CHUNGALAO
LAW IS A performative act (See Judith Butler, Performative Acts), and that means that one of the basics of being a law student (and eventually, a lawyer) is looking the part. Yes, it sounds shallow and looking fantastic will not help you if you don’t know your stuff in the classroom or courtroom. However, not looking the part will only make things worse for you—it sends the wrong message. Whether you like it or not, your appearance is the first thing that people will judge about you and you’re not helping anyone—not your client and certainly not yourself—by looking like you couldn’t be bothered to look presentable. One of the basic questions that law students learn to ask professors at the start of the semester is, “Ma’am/Sir, is there a dress code?” Although a few professors will give you specific instructions (e.g. “corporate” or “business casual”), most will give you vague standards along the lines of “Just don’t look like trash” or “Dress like you’re going on a date.” On one hand, this sort of guideline allows you a lot of flexibility and you’re not forced to wear things that you look hideous in or simply don’t like. On the other hand, it can be confusing—if you usually go on dates wearing board shorts or mini-skirts, let me tell you now: that will not fly in law school. So here are a few tips on dressing in law school. Some of them you’ll figure out on your own, but that’s usually after your professor takes notice of your toes and decides that you’re going to recite for the entire session.
Do not wear slippers/flip-flops to law school. Just. DON’T. This is perhaps the hardest rule for UP undergrads to wrap their heads around. It is also the common pet peeve for 99.9% of UP Law professors. As the earlier paragraph may have hinted, one professor had a very harsh policy on this: “If I see your toes, you will recite for the entire class!” Even if those toes are freshly-pedicured. Even if your slippers are Crocs or whatever expensive brand you can think of. Save yourself the agony. Some might argue that since they sit in the back the professor won’t see what they’re wearing. OK, fine. Taking the risk is up to you. That being said, some ladies do manage to sidestep this rule by wearing sandals that are just dressier versions of flip-flops. If you really can’t live in constrictive footwear, go for it. Unfortunately, there is no similar remedy for guys. Sorry.
The verdict on shorts. This is the second-hardest thing for most law students to let go of, UP undergrad or otherwise, male or female. Even if you’ve got fantastic legs, most professors don’t want to see them. It doesn’t really look lawyer-y and for some it’s even more objectionable than cleavage (See page 9). If you really can’t bear not to wear shorts, wear them on days that you have to go to school but don’t have class (e.g. research days, study groups in the student lounge, etc.). Professors will judge you (usually silently) if they encounter you, but if you can live with that, fine. Yes, you can wear jeans and t-shirts. Most professors have no problem with this look, and on days that you have no time to bathe, brush your teeth, or shave (and there will be a number of these on your horizon), most of you will probably opt for it. That being said, don’t wear ratty, distressed jeans to law school. Don’t wear anything sleeveless unless you intend to cover it up (See page 9). Don’t wear weird (or God help you, offensive) statement shirts unless you want your professors to com-
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ment on them (which can go either way). The LSG offers some good options. (Yes, that was a shameless plug.) A word on colors and prints. Generally, you don’t want to wear anything eye-catching in law school. If you wear red or neon yellow in a sea of people in black or gray, your professor is bound to notice you. If you actually want to get called that day, go for it. Otherwise, stick to solids and neutrals. One benefit from favoring solids and neutrals is that you don’t have to worry about them clashing with anything else you might have on.
The failsafe pieces.
If you’ve got these items in your wardrobe already, good for you. If you haven’t, maybe it’s time to invest.
Skirts and dresses. Just to be clear (if it isn’t already): no minis. Skirts and dresses that graze the knee or fall below it are the norm. Solid, muted colors are best although pretty prints will usually pass. Opt for cuts that suit your body but no cut-outs (on the back, along the midsection, or wherever)—save those pieces for the parties. Slacks. A piece that you can build numerous outfits on, particularly if your professor requires corporate attire. Although you have options as to what you’ll wear on top, wearing slacks requires formal footwear, i.e. leather shoes or pumps. Slacks and sneakers? No.
Polo shirts, button-downs, and barongs. Generally, you can’t go wrong with anything that has a collar, unless your role model is Lito Atienza—his style is something only he can pull off. Anything that has functional buttons is a good way to dress up jeans and will go well with more formal pieces like slacks or pencil skirts.
Blazers, jackets, and cardigans. These three kinds of outerwear are a godsend for when you haven’t done laundry in months and all you have left is a tank top you usually wear to the beach. They’re also good for making any outfit (e.g. a slutty dress) look formal enough for law school and you can take them off when you need to go somewhere else. Their third—arguably most important—function is preventing hypothermia inside the classroom. (We are still unsure about whether professors just like the rooms to be freezing or if we only feel like we’re freezing when the professors are in the rooms.) Get them in solid, neutral colors that can blend with most of what you have. If you’re wondering why I haven’t included hoodies, sweaters, and coats in this list it’s because they don’t usually come in light materials. If you’re like me and you sweat profusely under stress, you’re not helping yourself by wearing something better-suited to a ski trip. Makeup, cleavage, and other things women have to think about. Perhaps it’s sexist, but I’ve gotten the impression that women generally enjoy dressing up more than men. Unfortunately, that can work against us in law school, where there is such a thing as being too dressed up. There is nothing wrong with being bare-faced in law school. In fact, by the time midterms roll around even the most kikay of you will have no time to pluck your brows, moreover use brow pencil. Some professors might even take it against you if they feel you’re wearing too much makeup. They’ll give you the old, “May oras ka mag-makeup pero wala para mag-aral!” line. If you really can’t go without it, keep it light. No smoky eyes, no glitter, no disco-era blush. A strong lip (red, berry) usually does well if it’s the only thing you have on and it will help you look more polished. If there’s such a thing as being too-dressed up, there’s also such a thing as being too sexy. Most of us know that being too sexy, i.e. slutty, is bad, even outside of law school. In law school the stigma doubles. While cleavage may be acceptable to some professors, make sure your breasts are just making a suggestion—not a statement. THE LOOK • PAGE 25
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Fraternities, Sororities and Organizations Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity Haunted by the looming threat of a dictatorship (so soon after the nation won its independence) when President Manuel L. Quezon bared plans to institute one-party rule, a handful of political leaders and campus intellectuals unencumbered by familial connections to the ruling elite were moved to marshal unaffiliated scholars and student leaders of the College of Law into an organization that would be held together by close fraternal bonds. Now, 73 years after, the ardent flame of nationalism continues to burn in the hearts of the members of the Alpha Phi Beta (Association of Philippine Barristers / Abogado Para sa Bayan), as their leaders in the national scene like Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno stand testament to. The residents of the Alpha Phi Beta remain steadfastly committed to activities and campaigns for the cause of meaningful social change in the framework of nationalism. Bar Operations Commission (BOC) The Bar Operations Commission (BOC) heads the student body’s centralized operations for providing holistic support to UP Law’s bar candidates. BOC Volunteer-members organize bar review lectures, prepare/edit review materials and attend to other reasonable requirements of bar exam preparations in the aim of ensuring a successful examination for every graduate-reviewee. To know more about BOC or any of its committees, students can visit us at Room 321 or call us at 920.5514 loc. 315 or 0917.982.3901 Charivari The UP Law Charivari is the official student choir of the UP College of Law. Established in the 1980s, it has since graced the College’s official events, functions and numerous other occasions. It also represents the College in the annual University Karolfest, where it has consistently placed among the top three in recent years. The UP Law Charivari and its members serve the College through the gift of song and function as true exemplars of the well-rounded law student who, aside from devoting himself/herself to the rigorous study of the law, also finds the time to express his/her passion for the musical arts. Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority The UP Delta Lambda Sigma Sorority is the only university-wide sorority recognized by the UP College of Law. It was formally founded in April 1946, when the country was coming out of war, through the vision shared by 33 pioneering women scholars of the University of the Philippines, who felt the need to recognize and enhance the vast potentials of the Filipina. At present, the Sorority maintains an active and highly commendable presence within and beyond the campus.
Law Debate and Moot Court Union (LDMU) The UP Law Debate and Moot Court Union is at the forefront of establishing the position of UP LAW as the premier institution in mooting and debating. It has produced numerous highly-esteemed mooters over the years and have garnered awards and international acclaim.
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Movement of Youth Legal Education (MYLE) MYLE is an organization geared towards providing legal education for children. We are law students who aim to teach and popularize the law to empower Filipino children. We envision a community where children know their basic rights and recognize their duty to teach those rights to their fellow children as well. UP National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) The University of the Philippines-National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (UP-NUPL), established in June 2009, is an organization based in the UP College of Law and a Chapter of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers. It is an organization committed to the defense, protection, and promotion of human rights, especially of the poor and the oppressed. One of the organization’s aims is to be a mechanism for collaboration, coordination, and facilitation of legal services in the local and national levels. It is also a venue for advocacy on national and other important issues affecting the rights of the people. Organization of Human Rights Advocates (OHRA) Launched in time with the Centennial Celebration of the UP College of Law on January 2011, the UP Organization of Human Rights Advocates (UP OHRA) is the youngest student-led organization based in the College. Guided by the Roman Law concepts of “Humanitas” (humanity) and “Aequitas” (equity), UP OHRA is guided with a lofty passion for human rights in daily practice. OHRA seeks to integrate career-oriented experiences with the goal of producing lawyers and human rights practitioners. Paralegal Volunteers Organization (PVO) “The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience.” Members of PVO live by this truth. We view the law in light of the realities faced by marginalized sectors - the law beyond books and lectures. And we aim to change the injustices caused by a legal system that’s blind to these realities by providing legal education that empowers the marginalized. Philippine Law Journal (PLJ) The Philippine Law Journal (PLJ) is the official law review of the University of the Philippines College of Law. It was organized in 1914 as a non-stock corporation by George A. Malcolm (the U.P. College of Law’s founder and first Dean), by the law faculty, and by the student body. Modeled after the student-edited law reviews of American law schools, such as the Harvard Law Review (first published, 1887), it is primarily devoted to promote legal scholarship through research and writing. UP Portia Sorority “All excellent things are as difficult as they are rare.” The UP Portia Sorority is the only college-based sorority in the University of the Philippines College of Law. Since its establishment in 1933, it has been dedicated to furthering social consciousness and academic excellence inside and outside the legal arena. As testimony to this dedication, the Portia Sorority has bred legal luminaries such as Justice Ameurfina MelencioHerrera, Justice Irene Cortes, Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma, Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and Sis Haydee Bofil Yorac to name a few.
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Schola Juris Vespertina (SJV) The Schola Juris Vespertina (SJV) is a non-partisan, non-political, nonprofit organization composed of students of the evening sections of the University of the Philippines, College of Law. The SJV aims to support its members in meeting the rigorous demands of law school and in facing the exacting professional requirements in the members’ workplace. The SJV prepares activities, projects, and other similar undertakings which serve as venues for building camaraderie and stronger ties among the students enrolled in and the alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Law – Evening Program, for the purpose of working together towards the common objective of improving our country. Sigma Rho Fraternity The Sigma Rho Fraternity is by far the oldest and largest law fraternity in the country. Since its formal foundation in 1938 in the UP College of Law, its members have continued to make the fraternity a national force by occupying significant positions in the government, private sector and international organizations. Presently, its resident members continue to keep the fraternity a campus force through excellence in academics, school politics and athletics. UP Law Christian Fellowship (LCF) UP Law Christian Fellowship is a law based organization which aims to witness about Jesus Christ, and to establish fellowship and ministries in the UP College of Law. Initiated in 1977, it continues to provide a helpful support group amidst the rigors of law school life. Weekly discussion groups, prayer times, and Bible studies are held and are open to all interested law students, especially to those who desire to discover how to use the practice of law in service to God and our country. Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity Nebulously formed in 1918, the Upsilon Sigma Phi is the oldest Greek-lettered fraternity in Asia. Through its tradition of resilient and deep-rooted brotherhood which transcends beliefs and ideologies, the Upsilon Sigma Phi strives to create a climate conducive to learning and progress and promotes the economic development and political maturity of the country. Women In Law (WINLAW) For the past thirty-four years, the U.P. Women In Law (WINLAW) has provided proactive solutions to current legal and social issues through paralegal work, socio-civic activities and educational seminars. WINLAW is the largest women’s organization in the University of the Philippines College of Law and for decades, the organization has also provided extensive support systems for members facing the hurdle of Bar Examinations. . Guided by the saying “For there must be courage in wisdom, grace in strength”, the organization is composed of outstanding resident members and an even more remarkable roster of alumni. Environmental Law Society (ELS) UP Environmental Law Society is a non-profit organization composed of UP Law students dedicated to the advocacy of environmental awareness and the promotion of an environmentally sustainable way of living. We aspire for a UP Law community that is cognizant of their role as students of the law in environmental protection and conservation and will help build a society that is able to preserve and nurture our natural resources for generations to come.
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ADAPT 2012 Dear Freshie, I almost did not go to law school. I had doubts—maybe similar to some of your own doubts—about my ability to survive the law school experience; to bear the late-night studying, to memorize countless provisions, to handwrite case notes and digests, to keep still while a professor shouts, “you are nothing” to me and my blockmates’ faces. I almost did not go to law school because I thought, “what if it’s not worth it?” What if I’m just wasting four or five valuable years when I am at the prime of my youth for something that I’m not even sure I may actually be practicing as a career in the future? What if there are more valuable opportunities that I won’t get to experience because I’ve locked myself to the commitment that is being a student of the law? What if this, and what if that? Yes, I almost did not go to law school. But honestly, a month and two into it, all of the regrets I expected would appear eventually…just didn’t. And today, I stand proud to say that I’m happy I went into the study of law. I’m even happier
that I’ve become part of a law community that is sui generis in its worth and reputation: the UP College of Law. Because while I was told that I was nothing, UP Law has taught me that it only means I have the capacity and the agency to BE something. And while I do sometimes only have 2-3 hours of sleep, I earn a lifetime’s worth of valuable knowledge. I have learned to read faster, understand better, analyze and not just memorize. But most of all, the study of law (especially within UP LAW) equips me with the armor of precedence and the weapon of questioning; because how can one question when one does not have a basis? It is too easy to be vocal about any conviction, but it is harder to have a conviction that has both logic and hardened foundation. Kei Garcia, Batch 2015 2nd year Batch Representative, LSG Central Board
PS. Freshies, it’s damn worth it. Trust me. Sanayan lang din yan. ;)
Messages From Your Batch Reps Summer’s over, the dreamland of undergrad is done, and now what you’ve long dreaded has come – law student ka na! Like the Hunger Games, institutions such as ours are precisely structured to stretch your physical, mental and emotional faculties to the limits. Now you are here, and there is no turning back (unless of course you’re okay with forfeiting the tuition you’ve paid, which is totally sayang). You’re in for quite the ride. As you now stand in front on the veritable doorways to Malcolm Hall, one thing felt may be fear—the dread which comes when facing a strange world and an uncertain life. Who wouldn’t? Mahirap naman talaga e. As with any rollercoaster ride, anxiety comes at the beginning and that at times you’d want to puke from the rigors, but trust that strangely, happiness will come. Just wait. :) And of course, know that we in UNIQLAW 2015 and the rest of the Law Student Government are here to strap you in tight, and are ever ready to lend you a helping hand as you make your way. Welcome to UP LAW, and may the odds be ever in your favor! Oyie Javelosa, Batch 2015
2nd year Batch Representative, LSG Central Board
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first floor
LEGEND
A Guide To Malcolm Hall
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Note: Maps are not to scale. Information taken from Adapt 2011 booklet, updated as of June 3, 2012.
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third floor
LEGEND
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To Be A Great...
FROM PAGE 2
UP Law, as I would like to believe, has always been public service. The spirit of UP Law is that of excellence, but not the mundane kind. It pushes its students to exceed their limits not for the sake of recognition, but to turn them into lawyers who use their abilities to fight for justice. I do not claim that UP Law has lost its spirit, but I think that if it wants to improve its quality of education, it must remain true to its avowed purpose. Of course, what is applicable to UP Law in this regard, is also applicable to any law school. It is my opinion that anyone who wishes to practice law someday, whether from UP or not, should learn to forego the desire to attain wealth, power, or fame for the desire to rectify injustices. I recall Anthony Pangilinan in a lecture saying that doing one’s best is not enough. One must also work towards a legitimate purpose—one that is fueled not by the desire of personal gain, but by the desire to improve the lives of others. Only then can one truly maximize one’s potential. Now that I have found a legitimate purpose, I hope to be able to maximize my potential as a lawyer-in-training. I do not find it pretentious to believe that I am studying not merely for my own or my family’s sake, but for the sake of the people, especially those who find it so hard to attain justice in this country. This idea puts a tremendous weight upon my shoulders but it also suffuses me with the energy to carry on. Whereas before, the difficulties and disappointments have pushed me
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FROM PAGE 9
Otherwise, you risk being called out the way one professor did a female student: “Please cover your blouse, Miss X—I can already see your intestines!” Finally, a word on footwear. Flats and wedges are your friends. Go for those that are closetoed or peep-toed and again, in solid and neutral colors. If you’re like me and can’t live outside of heels, make sure that you walk well in them. There’s no point in wearing heels if you only look good standing still. And bear in mind that if you get called and end up standing for two, three, or four hours, your calves, knees, and ankles will not thank you. You don’t have to throw out all your old clothes—just don’t wear them to law school. If you’re worried about the expense, just invest in pieces that will work well with the rest of what
The Freshie Survival Booklet Hanna Keila H. Garcia Ranulfo J. Javelosa III Second Year Batch Representatives UP Law Student Government Central Board 2012-2013
Pip Chungalao Edward Dayog Maan Espinosa Jelorie Gallego Kenneth Peter Molave Contributors
Rachel B. Miranda Layout Artist/Illustrator/Proofreader Special Thanks To
UNIQLAW 2015 (The Batch 2015 Core Group) Flickr Commons + Creative Commons • Carro/lessrest • exljbris Font Foundry
to the point of considering quitting law school, now I can say with conviction that nothing can make me quit.
you have. For example, my key piece is a black dress. I have twelve of them and when I slip one on I don’t have to think about what shoes or blazer I’ll wear because I know it will go with everything. Don’t I get tired of wearing the same color all the time? Yes—so I got other dresses in gray, brown, and navy blue. Isn’t that boring? Yes, but law school isn’t a fashion institute. Indeed, law school is essentially conservative (if you haven’t picked up on that yet), so you’re expected to be well-dressed but not avant-garde or too trendy. A good rule of thumb is to dress like you’re going to a job interview or meeting someone important. Would you meet your future spouse’s parents in pek-pek shorts and a tube top? Perhaps some of you are still wondering why all of this is relevant. Just think of it as one less thing that your professor will be able to criticize about you. A number of them will never miss the opportunity to say, “Where are you going? You look like you’re going to the mall!”
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AY 2012-2013 Directory Aict Nisperos President 09178360242 Louie Camino Internal Vice President 09174590066 Yen Morada External Vice President 09178117342 Ja Sacramento Secretary 09175552425 Bam Santos Treasurer 09178050318 Pats Carbonell Public Relations Officer 09178363101 Tina Reyes College Representative to the USC 09052936182
Diega Villanueva Evening Representative 09175834342 Jel Gallego Evening Representative 09178544109 Jian Boller 4th Year Representative 09273999722 Paolo Celeridad 4th Year Representative 09178009334 Gerard Tayao 3rd Year Representative 09175115445 JP Rotap 3rd Year Representative 09192164746 Kei Garcia 2nd Year Representative 09152215180 Oyie Javelosa 2nd Year Representative 09178136943
UP College of Law Hotlines Trunkline: 920-5514 Office of the Dean Local: 101-102 Direct: 927-0518 • Office of the College Secretary Local: 103 Direct: 927-7180 • UP Law Library Local: 300 • UP Law Center Tel. No.: 920-5514 • Office of Legal Aid Local: 120-121 Direct: 927-6260
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