Edcarl Realiza Cagandahan,
Bachelor of Laws-II
Philippine Legal Education Board Chairman Emerson B. Aquende was the first among the previous chairmen of the said board to apply the entrance examination called the Philippine Standard Admissions Test (PHILSAT) to persons interested in taking up Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) for S.Y. 2017-2018. To give more insight about the PHILSAT and the legal education in the Philippines, Chairman Aquende visited Dumaguete City upon the invitation of the Dr. Jovito Salonga Center for Law and Development on February 28, 2018 and gave a talk which he entitled “The Current and Future Directions of Legal Education in the Philippines.” The said event was held at the Justice Venancio D. Aldecoa Moot Court of the College of Law of Silliman University.
The program was started off with an opening prayer led by Salonga Volunteer and sophomore law student Edcarl Realiza Cagandahan, and was followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem. When everybody was settled, Atty. Sheila Lynn M. Catacutan-Besario, Dean of the College of Law of Silliman University, gave her opening remarks and officially opened the said talk. Atty. Manuel R. Arbon, Dean of the College of Law of Negros Oriental State University and a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, welcomed Chairman Aquende to the City of Gentle People and the renowned University Town of the country, Dumaguete City. Thereafter, Atty. M. Mikhail Lee L. Maxino, Director of the Salonga Center, proudly introduced Chairman Aquende to the audience composed of law students from the three (3) law schools in Dumaguete: the College of Law of Silliman University, the College of Law and Jurisprudence of Foundation University, and the College of Law of Negros Oriental State University. Mr. Jose Jello Cubello, an active Salonga Center volunteer and senior law student, served as the emcee/moderator of the said talk.
Chairman Aquende talked about the memoranda that he planned to implement as soon as possible. One of these is the requirement of College of Law deans to have a Masters of Law degree for the said position. Chairman Aquende rationalized that a person who bestows a degree towards someone must be one who has a higher degree of education, except for the Doctorate Program where a doctorate degree holder gives the same title to an accomplished student of the said program. He also talked about the development of non-bar masteral law program as an alternate for basic law degree. “[This is] to address the need for post-graduate studies in law by individuals requiring legal knowledge or skills in particular fields of law related to their profession, employment or business,” said Chairman Aquende, pointing out the fact that not everyone in law school aspires to be a lawyer: some may take it for the interest of a promotion, knowledge against fraudulent transactions over business dealings, and more.
Before the floor was opened for some questions from the audience, Miss Josiebeth Azuelo rendered her own version of Moira dela Torre’s “Titibo-tibo” to which she was dubbed by Mr. Cubelo as the Songbird of the College of Law of Silliman University. During the open forum, Mr. James Corro, Mr. Josef James Gara, Ms. Monique Recto, and Mr. Gerard Teves raised a few points of concerns towards Chairman Aquende, who readily responded to them. To close the pogram, Atty. Jesus Ramon M. Quevenco, Dean of the College of Law and Jurisprudence of Foundation University expressed his utmost gratitude for Chairman Aquende’s visit in Dumaguete City and for sharing with everybody important points regarding the legal education in the Philippines.
After the talk, refreshments were served. The Salonga Center also took the initiative to give Chairman Aquende a tour around the campus, together with Campus Ambassador Rhyn Esolana and Salonga Volunteer Edcarl Realiza Cagandahan, to cap his visit in the Campus by the Sea.
