January to Volume VI June 2017 Issue no. 1 The Official Publication of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity 2016-2017 Scholarship CONTENTS Program Awardees, Profiles of the FLP Scholars . B for the Academic Year 2016-2017 ...................... 2 FLP’s “Batch One” Featured Executive Summaries . (of 2016-2017 Scholarship Awardees’ Essays ...... 4 unique, merit-based scholarship program, Open Call for 2017-2018: . A the 2016-2017 FLP Scholarship Program is (FLP Dissertation Writing Contest ...................... 10 a four-year program co-sponsored by the Tan Yan (“Ageless Passion” the Musical Premiere ............ 11 Kee Foundation and supported by the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS). The awarding ceremony of its first batch was held at the University of the Philippines Bonifacio Global City Campus in Taguig on December 1, 2016. Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno chaired the board of judges which selected the scholars; the members were Dr. Edilberto de Jesus (former Education Secretary and FLP Trustee), Dean Ma. Soledad D. Mawis (PALS President), Atty. Ma. Cecilia Pesayco (representing the Tan Yan Kee Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes P.A. Sereno (seated 3rd from right), chairperson of the FLP Scholarship Program Board of Judges, Foundation), and Evelyn T. Dumdum (FLP President is joined by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban (seated and Trustee). 3rd from left) together with the members of the panel, namely: The judges considered each candidate’s (seated from left to right) Atty. Ma. Cecilia Pesayco, Dr. Edilberto de Jesus, Evelyn T. Dumdum and Dean Ma. Soledad D. Mawis. ability to demonstrate clearly, logically and Standing at the back are the 2016-2017 FLP Scholarship Program concisely what he/she has done and intends to do Awardees with Atty. Martin Esguerra. to propagate and espouse the philosophy of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law. All awardees must agree to the terms and students, subject to institutional arrangements with conditions of the FLP Scholarship Program, including partner law schools. but not limited to, the requirement to provide The first batch of FLP scholars, consisting volunteer services for the Foundation as well as of eleven third year law students were chosen for giving back to the FLP Scholarship Program to ensure the school year 2016-2017. Each student received its sustainability such as teaching law subjects that a monetary scholarship award of PhP 200,000, of espouse the philosophy of liberty and prosperity, which a maximum of PhP 100,000 shall be for tuition developing a concept/program along the philosophy fee and PhP 20,000 for book allowance. Each scholar of the FLP and commitment to mentoring other law is eligible to apply again next year. • Subscribe to our Online Newsletter : Libertywww.libpros.com & Prosperity Journal • 1 Sean James B. Borja Rexlyn Anne M. Evora (Ateneo Law School) (Polytechnic University of the Philippines College Sean is currently a junior student of Law) at the Ateneo Law School and a consistent Dean’s Lister. He Rexlyn is an alumna of the received his Bachelor of Science University of the Philippines - degree in Management, major Los Baños obtaning a Bachelor’s in Legal Management from the degree in Biology, Major in Ateneo de Manila University in Zoology. She is a faculty member 2014, where he graduated magna cum laude. Sean also had of the Department of Biology, College of Science at PUP- the privilege of being bestowed Program Awardee for Legal Manila, teaching Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Animal Management in the same year. He received a full scholarship at Histology. This lady, who hails from Oriental Mindoro, is not only École Supérieure de Commerce in Dijon, France in 2012, under fond of the science field but also the field of law. She is also the Ateneo’s Junior Term Abroad Program. Sean joined the affiliated with various academic organizations such as the PUP 2016 Asia Cup Moot Court Competition hosted by the Japan’s Moot Court Society, Office of the Legal Aid, and Bar Operations Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where his team prevailed as the 1st Committee 2016, which allows her to further enhance her runner-up. Sean was then awarded by the Ministry as 3rd Best academic and service profile. She maintains strong connection Speaker in Asia. with organizations such as UPLB Zoological Society, UP Mindorenos, and UP Ecosystems. Her advocacy is to promote intellectual environmentalism and the rule of law. Kaycelle Anne M. Castillo (Far Eastern University Institute of Law) Kevin Ken S. Ganchero (Far Eastern University Kaycelle Anne is a junior student Institute of Law) at the the FEU - Institute of Law. She is a member of the pioneer Kevin received his AB Political batch of the Juris Doctor program Science degree from FEU of the Institute under the deanship graduating magna cum laude in of Atty. Mel Sta. Maria. Kaycelle 2014. He is an active member of is a hardworking student, Dean’s lister, passionate advocate their school’s moot court council and an empathic person who sometimes prioritize the concerns while maintaining his academic of others over her own. Professionally, she is an independent standing as one of the top 10 students of his batch and a worker but also works well with a team. She is currently fulfilling consistent dean’s lister. In college, he was awarded as one her dream job – to be a teacher – as she teaches part-time to of the best speakers in two national collegiate parliamentary college students. On top of her school and teaching load, she debating tourneys. After graduation, Kevin dedicated his time does not forget to have fun and enjoy the company of her family to teaching debate by lecturing in workshops here and abroad. and friends. She is currently the President of the FEU Insititue of He occasionally judges major debating tournaments. Recently, Law Student Council. he was one of the chief judges of the Davao Red Cross Humanitarian Law Debates and the Falcon Law Debates. Ervin Fredrick H. Dy (University of the Jose Noel B. Hilario Philippines College (University of Santo Tomas of Law) Faculty of Civil Law) A member of the Order of the Noel finished his undergraduate Purple Feather, UP Law’s honor course of AB in Political Science society, Ervin is ranked 5th in at FEU with honors (cum laude). his class. He is a decorated A consistent Saint Thomas of debater, having won the 29th Aquinas scholar and Dean’s lister Annual Pi Sigma Open Debate held September of this year. and understudy of the UST Law He graduated magna cum laude in BS Geodetic Engineering. Review, he is also a contributor in the UST law Dean’s Circle Ervin was inspired to take up law from the video game series of Dean Nilo T. Divina fostering excellence in law as well as a “Ace Attorney.” From the game he found that in the practice of member of the UST Law Debate and Moot Society. He believes law he could be challenged to think critically, finding ingenious that education, aside from being one of the greatest gifts that and innovative ways of solving problems, at the same time he you could have, is also life’s greatest equalizer. Noel offers all could help those people who can’t help themselves. Quoting his achievements and lifts them up to God. As a Christian law Tiffanny Madison, Ervin believes that “[w]hen the Rule of Law student he believes that with everything one does, one must do disappears, we are ruled by the whims of men.” it for His glory. 2 • Liberty & Prosperity Journal Violeta M. Najarro, Jr. Profiles of the (San Beda College Alabang School of Law) FLP SCHOLARS Violet has dreamed of becoming a lawyer since she was 7 years old. She sees herself as an ordinary student who draws A.Y. 2016-2017 confidence from good recitations and motivation from the bad The first batch of FLP scholars is a diverse mix ones. She offers her everyday struggles to the Lord and draws inspiration from her supportive parents. Violet believes that of top students (several of whom have already she has found a purpose when the Foundation of Liberty and been awarded Latin honors) coming from various Prosperity granted her the scholarship. She hopes to become backgrounds—such as accountancy, engineering, a lawyer who upholds justice and the rule of law and become and zoology, among others. They now come an instrument in helping the people in need. She is a consistent dean’s lister and is one of the top ten students in her law school. together to champion the philosophy of liberty and prosperity, albeit through different lens. Dion Ceazar M. Pascua (San Beda College of Law Manila) Tess Marie P. Tan (University of San Carlos Dion is a fourth year Law Student School of Law and of San Beda College – Manila. Governance) A working student since his first year in Law School, he is a Tess is an incoming senior at Certified Public Accountant and is the University of San Carlos presently working at the House of School of Law and Governance, Representatives Electoral Tribunal as a Legislative Staff Officer where she is part of the debating III. He is currently a detailed employee at the Supreme Court of and mooting team. She is also the Philippines under the Office of Associate Justice Presbitero a contributor of The Podium, the official student publication of J. Velasco, Jr. He finished his undergraduate degree of Bachelor the USC - College of Law. She represented Southeast Asia in of Science in Accountancy at Far Eastern University – Manila, the 20th Stetson International Environmental Law Moot Court graduating magna cum laude, as an academic scholar of the Competition in Florida, USA, and won as World Champion and University and at the same time, as a Punongbayan & Araullo Best Overall Oralist.