THE LAW FORUM THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF SAN SEBASTIAN COLLEGE OF LAW 2019 NO. 002 || OCTOBER 2019 ISSUE FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE NEW POLICIES FOR NEW MEMBERS OF SSC-R LAW ALUMNI TED PASTRANA: THE COLLEGE OF THE FACULTY EXUDE EXCELLENCE THE NEW DEAN OF LAW IN DIFFERENT FIELDS THE COLLEGE OF LAW Members of the Editorial Board Krizza Lei Amoyan Imelda Banaag Catherine Joy Esteves Hannah Suzanne Gil Layout Editor Mark Adrian Arellano Faculty Adviser Atty. Rolly Francis Peoro Contributors J.U.R.I.S. Law Executive Council Leviathan Sororitas Lex Augustiniana Sororitas Lex Cervus The F.L.O.C.K. The Fraternal Order of Leviathan SSC-R Law Moot and Academic Debate Society Sui Generis 2018 Sebastinian Bar Message from the Dean 6 24 Passers 8 High and Above 26 Law Executive Council New Members of the J.U.R.I.S. 9 Faculty 28 TED PASTRANA: The New Dean of the College Of Leviathan Sororitas 16 Law 29 SSC-R Alumni exude Lex Augustiniana Excellence in Different Sororitas 18 Fields 30 SSC-R Working Student Lex Cervus 21 Program 31 New Policies for the The F.L.O.C.K 22 College Of law 32 TABLE OF TABLE CONTENTS The Fraternal Order Of 33 Leviathan SSC-R Law Moot and 34 Debate Society 35 Sui Generis Kind Heart, Fierce Mind, 36 Brave Spirit New Entrance Scholars 38 for A.Y. ‘19 - ‘20 39 Golden Stags ‘18 - ‘19 MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN We hope everyone had a fantastic summer break, and is raring to go back to law school. We share your excitement to start a new academic year. To the freshmen and transferees, welcome to San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) College of Law, and to our continuing and returning students, we are happy to have you back to pursue your Juris Doctor degree with us. We set out to reach our goals this school year. We aim to improve our performance in the Bar examination and to produce Bar topnotchers — a feat that is not alien to SSC-R College of Law. We shall only be limited by the handicap we put on ourselves. “ With the objective of further improving the performance of our law graduates in the Bar examinations, we have crafted new policies that we will implement in the College of Law beginning First Semester of Academic Year 2019-2020 such as Advanced Bar Preparation Course, Retention Policy to be applied to fourth year students, scholarship grants, among others. We expect that the Advanced Bar Preparation Course shall likewise complement the review subjects, and make it easier for students to pass review subjects. While we are committed to support all of you, not only in your goal to obtain your Juris Doctor degrees, but to pass the Bar as well, it is imperative that you provide your indispensable cooperation. Regrettably, we cannot allow a student to take the Bar unless he or she has demonstrated that he/she possesses the level of preparation that would allow him or her to pass, hence, the retention policy. To reiterate, it is not our objective to simply deny our students the opportunity to get a shot at the Bar. Our mission is simple - to support each one of you, to provide an atmosphere of learning, and to instill in you the Sebastinian passion for excellence. Again, welcome to the wonderful world of SSC-R College of Law! Dean Ted Pastrana Our mission is simple - to support each one of you, “to provide an atmosphere of learning, and to instill in you the „ Sebastinian passion for excellence H I G H A N D A B O V E Hannah Suzanne Gil To aim without stretching the bow will only then would it understand why the mother never hit a target. removed the things which lures it to stay on the nest. By then and only then would it grasp that Life’s reality will always be its ups and it has wings to enjoy the wind and explore the downs. There will always be bumps and rough skies. roads even if we only prefer the smooth, easy- going ones. What will be constant are the lessons So many times that our unwillingness to we learn from these struggles and how we ought sail beyond our comfort zones dims the rationale to be better or bitter because of such. of how life is supposed to be lived and dreams are supposed to be fought for. The horizon brings There is no growth unless there is hope and a calling—the limitless possibilities change and change itself can be a painful process. that our comfort zone hinders us from seizing. We yearn for outcome but despise struggles. We want results but hate the long and complicted The Bible says in Isaiah 40:31: “But process. And in so wanting instant success, we they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their fail to recognize the essence of why our faith strength; they shall mount up with wings as is supposed to be tried and tested. Thus, when eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they feelings of pity and discouragement flood our shall walk, and not faint.” We are called to act thoughts, we succumb to the temptation of and press toward our destinies. The hurdles are pressing the eject button and just accept the fall. as inevitable as the victories. One can never be without the other. Just always remember that Take a look at the eagles. When a mother the Lord said that we have to wait on Him. He eagle is about to lay her egg, she builds nest out doesn’t want us to give up. He simply wants us of twigs, broken branches, sharp rocks and other to surrender and trust Him. After all, He didn’t pointy materials to support the main structure. give us wings for no reason. So each time we feel Afterwards, she will cover the base with a layer of the twinges and thorns in our purported home soft materials such as feathers, leaves and wool. sweet home, think about the eagles. Sometimes, When the egg hatches, the baby eagle lays on a a little push is all we need to leave the ground cozy, comfy bed with free meals being served— and soar high and above. nothing but a suite life in a fancy hotel until it reaches the so-called “flying age.” When this time comes, the mother will now start to remove the mattress and the eaglet would be pierced by the sharp objects giving it discomfort and pain. This would in turn urge the eaglet to get out of its comfort zone and live its destiny. By then and 8 THE LAW FORUM || OCTOBER 2019 N E W M E M B E R S O F T H E F A C U L T Y MA. ROWENA V. ALEJANDRIA also the Class Salutatorian when he completed his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda Judge Alejandria is an alumna of San University in 2016. Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) College of Law. Atty. Alfonso is currently teaching Criminal Law. He is also a Bar Review Coach in She was appointed as Regional Trial San Beda University Review Center. Court Judge of Branch 121, Caloocan City in 2018. Prior to joining the Judiciary, she served as a Prosecutor in Caloocan City from 2008 to 2018, ADRIAN A. ARPON and a Public Attorney in the same city from 2003 to 2008. Atty. Arpon is currently the Head of the Anti-Fraud Staff of the Anti-Money Laundering Aside from teaching Evidence in SSC-R Council Secretariat in Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas College of Law, she is also a professor in other (BSP). Prior to being part of the BSP, he was a law schools such as Polytechnic University of trial lawyer and Supervising Legislative Staff at the Philippines and University of Caloocan the Office of the Senate Legal Counsel. City. Judge Alejandria is also a Bar Lecturer in Criminal Law at Albano Bar Review Center. Atty. Arpon finished his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy degree and Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the East. JUAN PAOLO G. ALFONSO He obtained his Master of Laws and completed as Cum Laude his Doctor of Laws degree at the Atty. Alfonso is an Associate at Angara University of Santo Tomas Graduate School of Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz Law Offices. Law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to becoming an Associate in one of the top law firms in the country, he worked as a He is teaching Credit Transactions Technical Consultant in the office of Senator in SSC-R College of Law and Anti-Money Jinggoy Estrada. Laundering and Banking Laws in the SSC-R Graduate School of Law. He also teaches He graduated Cum Laude from the Civil, Commercial and Taxation Laws in City University of the Philippines Diliman with a University of Pasay, Bulacan State University and degree of Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He was Unibersidad de Manila. OCTOBER 2019 || THE LAW FORUM 9 HERMILIA C. BANAYAT Nation Regional Law and Cross-Border Practice. Atty. Banayat is a Senior Associate at She is teaching Persons and Family Belmonte Sison and Associates. She is also the Relations. Legal and Advocacy Specialist of the Institute of Politics & Governance, Inc. She used to be the Chief Legislative Officer of the Office of Akbayan MARY CLAIRE A. DEMAISIP Rep. Gutierrez III and the Board Secretary of the Philippine Sugar Administration of the National Atty.