AMICUS, Latin for “friend” or “comrade”, is the faculty bulletin of the Ateneo School of Law. It seeks to build a community of law school faculty members who inspire each other and the studentry to be skilled in the science and art of the law, to be imbued with a burning passion for justice, and to lead in serving the nation for Vol. 6, Issue 2 • December 2018 the greater glory of God. Ateneo launches LL.M. partnership with Ateneo de Naga By RYAN JEREMIAH D. QUAN Ateneo Law School (ALS) and Ateneo de Naga University College of Law (ADNU Law) launched the Naga offering of the ALS Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Human Rights Law on December 13, 2018. The launch coincided with the week-long celebration of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Beginning January 2019, the LL.M. in International Human Rights Law will be offered at (L-R) Atty. Amparita Sta. Maria, ALS-GLSI Director; ALS Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña; Fr. Robert Exeqiel Rivera, the Ateneo de Naga campus. Ateneo de Naga University President; Ateneo de Naga College of Law Dean Domnina T. Rances (ALS J.D. ’08); and With this pilot offsite offering, Atty. Ryan Jeremiah D. Quan, ALS-GLSI Coordinator, at the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on the LL.M. offering in Naga. ALS and ADNU Law envision to enhance legal education, develop The International Human on the application of laws and skills and substantive knowledge research and scholarship, and Rights Law Track is one of the four conventions to human rights needed to become professionals enhance human rights advocacy specialist tracks of the ALS LL.M. situations of marginalized and and scholars in the field of human by tackling contemporary issues Program. Apart from studying vulnerable sectors. Employing a rights. in the domestic and international human rights principles, norms, multidisciplinary approach and The LL.M. Program provides realms. The LL.M. Program may conventions, and mechanisms, dynamic teaching methods in an avenue for quality continuing be completed in three semesters the International Human Rights its various course offerings, the education in law following the spread over one year. Law Track also gives emphasis track seeks to develop practical continued on page 12 IAteneansNSIDE top 2018 National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law 2 Dean’s Corner By JOSE MARIA G. HOFILEÑA ALS partners with Facebook to discuss the Future Value of Data 2 Bernas Center now officially an Institute 3 Teehankee Center launches Centenary Lecture Series 3 More Than Just a Law School SEAHRN holds human rights conference in Manila 4 Based on collected Decades upon decades, the Ateneo Law School AHRC Taps Children to Conduct statistics over the past has been deeply committed to this business and Training on Child Rights 4 few years, the Ateneo that it has sustained its publicly acknowledged AHRC, CHR, UNICEF launch toolkit on Law School annually admits over 300 first year preeminence through all that time speaks volumes monitoring children’s rights 5 students, each of whom are eager yet anxious to of how successful we have been in this important AHRC ED addresses the 17th Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute 5 commence and pursue what promises to be an endeavor. ALS and AHRC host the Carnegie Council’s arduous path in obtaining a top-notch education But the articulated vision of the Ateneo Law Asia Dialogue Program on Climate Change in law. School sets out our responsibilities as an institution and Related Issues 6 Throughout their next four years, it is and as individual participants in the realization of Conversations with an icon 7 our voluntarily assumed duty as faculty and this vision, as calling for more: Paying it forward through the Bar Operations 8 Breaking the mold: Alternative teaching administrators to teach them what the law is and “We envision graduates who are not only tools and techniques for law school 10 why it is so, and to enlighten each one of these our skilled in the science and art of the law but also Five things I learned from the students about the “science and art” of the law. leaders imbued with a burning passion for justice Asia Pro Bono Conference 12 continued on page 12 NEWS Volume 6, Issue 2 • December 2018 2 Ateneans top 2018 National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law On 26 October 2018, the The 2018 National Rounds Ateneo Law School (ALS) won was organized by the Philippine the championship in the 2018 Red Cross and the International National Moot Court Competition Committee of the Red Cross, in on International Humanitarian partnership with the Court of Law beating sixteen other Appeals. It was hosted by the competing universities from all University of Makati. The moot over the Philippines. problem touched on varying This year’s Ateneo Team was crimes, specifically the crime of composed of Ms. Regina Isabel extermination and the existence Ongsiako (3D), Ms. Tiffany So (3D), of armed conflict in relation to the Mr. Matthew Kelby Uy (3D) as the war crime of torture and attack registered research assistant, and (L-R) Matthew Kelby Uy (3D), Regina Isabel Ongsiako (3D), Tiffany So (3D), against religious. Mr. Alijah Pandapatan (2C), as the and Alija Pandapatan (2C) with the following awards: Best Memorial The National Moot Court unregistered research assistant. (Prosecution), 1st Place Trophy, 2nd Runner-Up Best Oralist in the Competition started in 2005. It is They were coached by Atty. Jose Qualifying Rounds, and Best Memorial (Defense). an international law moot court Herminio Taylo (ALS J.D. ’15) and 17th Red Cross International the Ateneo Team also won Best competition that provides law Atty. Jeunesse Dagdag (ALS J.D. Humanitarian Law Moot Court Memorial for both the Prosecution students a training ground where ’17). Competition, which will be held and Defense. Ms. Tiffany So was they can deepen their knowledge The Ateneo-Philippine Team in Hongkong in March 2019. Aside also awarded 3rd Best Oralist in of International Humanitarian will represent the country at the from winning the championship, the Preliminary Rounds. Law. ALS partners with Facebook to discuss the Future Value of Data By UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE Facebook, in collaboration with data, there is no doubt that data possibility of discovering that in change is occurring. With the use UK-based think tank, Future permeates (and will continue to the field of legal education and of data accelerating in and around Agenda, has been sponsoring do so) all aspects of our lives— practice, the community greatly many sectors, there will be an Future Value of Data workshops and that the interdisciplinary prefers, or will prefer, artificial exploration of emerging legal, globally—including in Singapore, character of the workshop’s over natural intelligence.” technological, social, business Bangkok, and Jakarta in Asia participants testifies to that.” Launched in Bangalore, model, and regulatory shifts and Pacific. In the Philippines, “Facing the future value this major new project on the how and where they may most Facebook partnered with the of data, while necessary,” he Future Value of Data engages impact over the next decade. Ateneo Law School (ALS)— added “might also potentially with experts in 30 other cities Moreover, there will also be an through the Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, be terrifying for us who teach around the world to build a rich, inquiry into the emerging role of S.J. Institute for Continuing Legal and practice law because of the informed view of how and why data in society. Education—for a workshop on the Future Value of Data in Manila last September 24, 2018. Building on insights from the global Future Agenda program and adding new research, this workshop brought together leaders and experts to explore and share views of the key regional and global changes on the horizon in the important and fast-evolving area of data. ALS Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña emphasized the importance of this conversation, saying that it is “essential since, even as we might not even have fully grasped the present value of Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña addresses the workshop attendees. (Photo courtesy of Atty. Brady de Castro) NEWS Volume 6, Issue 2 • December 2018 3 Bernas Center now officially an Institute By UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE On 12 September 2018, the Fr. professional development for Bernas Center for Continuing lawyers.” Legal Education was formally The Bernas Institute, she said, launched into the restructured Fr. carries a heavy burden because it Bernas Institute. has great potential. Gracing the event was the “But I am confident that it Institute’s very namesake—Fr. will rise to the challenge,” she Joaquin G. Bernas SJ, whose remarked, “because we have a presence was acknowledged and dynamic team which will surely greeted by rapturous applause grow in strength, a supportive from lawyers, politicians, and law school community, and academics in the Justitia Hall of great partners like the Energy the Ateneo Professional Schools Regulatory Commission. The campus in Rockwell, Makati City. burden can be the start of the ALS Associate Dean for most exciting opportunities for Academic Affairs Ma. Ngina ALS and the Institute.” Teresa Chan-Gonzaga welcomed In between messages played the attendees of the landmark a tribute to Fr. Bernas, with his event. “The transformation and colleagues, friends, and former the reboot of the one-time center students talking about his legacy into an institute, is, I believe, a as well as the mark he made on commitment of the Law School The legendary professor, lawyer, and Jesuit received multiple standing their lives, Philippine law, and to its thrust towards legal and ovations, with the community showing him just how well-loved he really is.