Tradition Excellence: &BEDANS CONQUERING THE BAR
THE RED CHRONICLES
The official student publication of San Beda College Alabang - School of Law
63A, St. Maur Building, San Beda College Alabang - School of Law 8 Don Manolo Blvd., Alabang Hills Village, Muntinlupa City, Philippines Ceasar Entila | Editor-in-Chief Kaiza Jay Abaincia | Associate Editor Maria Isabella Katrina Arevalo | Managing Editor
Cover photo by Paul Nikko Degollado taken last November 4, 2018 -- The first of four Sundays of bar examinations.
Jenica E.S. Ti | Features Editor Kaitlin Keith Sierra | News Editor Meg Ariola | Literary Editor Reena Theresa Marquez | Layout Editor Paul Nikko Degollado | Photography Editor
Gabriel Lacson | Social Media Officer Alvin Patrick Relox | Circulations Manager Features Writers
News Writers
Literary Writers Layout Artist Photographers
Cartoonist Logistics
NiĂąo Arevalo Kara Lim Karl Michael Carvajal Chezka Celis Juan Miguel Lopez Dick Martinez Leiron Martija Leandro Nadal Robert Jian Melchor Tina Miranda Jolykha Toa Sanchez Edrese Aguirre Eunice Jumalon
Nikki Tuble
Lea Cerrudo Melissa Manansala Janna Santotome EJ ClemeĂąa Hera Ydulzura
Joe Martin Cabaral Justin Heinrich Salazar
Maris Gabornes and Hayde Talorong | Editor-in-Chief Emeriti Katrina Belarmino | Managing Editor Emeritus Pauline Ubaldo | News Editor Emeritus Stephanie Gener| Senior Layout Artist Emeritus Atty. Rafael Angelo Padilla Faculty Adviser
The Red Chronicles accepts original articles from students and faculty members. We also solicit comments regarding the articles featured in our issues. You may contact us at trc@sanbeda-alabang.edu.ph
EDITOR’S NOTE
Fear Neither Fire Nor Blood
The Bar examinations month is undoubtedly the most anticipated event not only for law graduates but also for their families, friends, and school community. It is claimed that the Philippine Bar Examination is one of the hardest in the world which is probably the reason why it is widely celebrated nationwide annually. In San Beda, preparations for the Bar month are highly regarded. Bedans keep a culture of excellence in Bar performance. This year, The Red Chronicles offers Tradition and Excellence, a special issue for the Bar Examinations 2018. It is a collection of stories of resilience, perseverance, and Bedan traditions. Aside from the invaluable programs in San Beda like the bar review lectures, review materials, mentorship programs, and the Centralized Bar Operations, every Bedan is imbued with the principle of ora et labora (prayer and work) which is a Benedictine teaching that aims to encourage that so much can be achieved through human perseverance with the guidance from the Lord. Perhaps, the most popular activity for Bedan law students is volunteering in bar operations during the bar exams month. It has been a tradition of serving fellow Bedans who made it to law school and are now taking the probably biggest examination of their lives. Paying it forward, as they say, a tribute to the Bedans who came out victorious after years of training in law school. It is also during this month of November where the Bedan camaraderie is indestructible. One whole community praying for the success of its candidates, serving tirelessly during the operations, all while simultaneously fulfilling their own duties as students. Moreover, the undying support of school administrators, faculty members, and professors, led by Dean Ulpiano P. Sarmiento III, is without a question, unwavering and highly admirable. In the words of our patron, St. Bede, “He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbour.” God speed, San Beda College Alabang – School of Law Batch 2018!
Kaitlin Keith Sierra News Editor
NEWS
Setting Up the Bar: The First Sunday By KAITLIN KEITH SIERRA Photo by PAUL NIKKO DEGOLLADO
When the month of November sets in, the whole Bedan community prepares to send-off the bar candidates both from Alabang and Mendiola as they are about to take the most awaited part of their journey after law school graduation. Last Minute Lectures Review lectures are held at the Mendiola campus on all Saturdays of November. In anticipation of the first Sunday of the bar, Dean Ed Vincent Albano lectured for Political Law in the morning session, November 3, followed by the lecture of Atty. Marlon Manuel for Labor Law in the afternoon session. Send-off Mass A celebration of the holy mass followed after, to pray for the success of the bar candidates of San Beda. It was presided by Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, the president-rector of San Beda University (SBU). The Benedictine priest emphasized the 4 | The Red Chronicles
importance of prayer in this journey, “the reality is now in you, and you just have to pray that you have done well. Remember the promise of the Lord, that He is with us.” As final reminders, he said, “Let yourself be an instrument of the goodness of the Lord. You just have to claim it that you are a child of God.” Dom Clement Ma. Roque, OSB, rector of San Beda Collehe Alabang (SBCA), was also present and he presided the mass alongside Fr. Maranan. In attendance were bar candidates, families, friends, faculty members including Dean Virgilio Jara, Dean Ulpiano “Ulan” Sarmiento III, Atty. Gallant Soriano, Atty. Francesca Senga, Judge Selma Alaras, Atty. Risel Castillo-Taleon, Atty. Karla Denise Frias, among others. Dean Sarmiento, in his short but meaningful speech reminded the bar candidates to have faith and to believe that they are ready to take the exams because of the training they received in San Beda. The activities in the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat ended with the singing of the Bedan
Hymn led by Dean Sarmiento. After the holy mass, friends and families cheered the bar candidates as they walked along the hallways leading to the buses which transported them to their hotel accommodations in Makati Shangrila. The San Beda College Band and Red Corps of the SBU College of Arts and Sciences led the final send-off rites for the bar candidates creating the festive mood in the corridors. Bar Operations in Makati Shang In Makati Shangri-La, administrative officers headed by the Dean, SOL faculty members and Centralized Bar Operations (CBO) volunteers, are in full support of the bar candidates. The CBO stationed a headqu arters inside the hotel where the candidates and their families could visit for any concern. For academic-related requests, bar candidates may ask the CBO to research on matters that they think will be useful before they take the exam. Jerekko Cadorna, CBO vice chairperson
for academics, shared that the production of review materials in the hotel accommodation will be uniform throughout the bar month, “when it comes to academics, what varies is the request of the bar candidates. For example, if they have a particular question on a bar subject, we will ask our professors for the answers [and then relay the answers to them].â€? Also, according to CBO vice chairperson for academic operations Rodel Cadorniga Jr., last minute tips (LMTs) will be provided to the bar candidates. The LMTs are last minute review notes for the candidates before they take the exam. The materials are transported from Diamond Hotel, where the San Beda University bar candidates are accommodated, to Makati Shangri-La which are intended to serve as the last minute review notes for the candidates before they take the exams. SOL sends off 269 candidates to the Bar Examinations 2018. â–
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Hotel Ops remain in Makati Shang By JOLYKHA TOA LOPEZ SANCHEZ
For the two consecutive years, Makati ShangriLa has been chosen as the hotel accommodation for the bar examinations candidates of San Beda College Alabang – School of Law (SBCA-SOL). According to Catriona Janelle Gayatin, over-all chairperson of the Centralized Bar Operations (CBO), a survey was conducted regarding the hotel preference of the bar candidates. Out of the 269 bar candidates of SBCASOL, 180 availed the hotel accommodation arranged by the CBO for the four weekends of November. In running the hotel operations for this year, CBO vice chairperson for hotel operations, Emmanuel Josef Jovellanos shared, “We followed the template for hotel operations before then we improved it for this year.” The improvements include preparing in advance a room list plus the basic materials that the bar candidates may need and providing an initial room blocking for them. During the first week of the hotel operations, Jovellanos said that they also encountered challenges like overcrowding in the registration area but they addressed them accordingly. “We want to maintain order as much as possible. We ask our volunteers to be organized in the function room na hindi maka abala sa environment ng hotel.” Gayatin also added, “The main obstacle we had was the lack of manpower during the night shift which was quickly remedied by our officers and members.” For all the weekends of the bar month, the bar candidates enjoy the following services of the hotel operations: check-in and registration; filling out of blue forms with the bar candidates’ personal requests like wake-up call time, their preferred time when the last minute tips and materials shall be delivered to them, and the option of having their materials blessed by Fr. Rembert Tumbali, OSB; academic related requests; and dinner which will be co-sponsored by the School of Law Government and The Red Chronicles. “Our main goal is to help the bar candidates with their needs prior to taking the bar exams and most especially, to make them feel that they are being supported by the whole Bedan community,” Gayatin affirmed. ■ 6 | The Red Chronicles
The Bar examinations is nothing without its appointed Bar chairman. This time, Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo takes the lead in the 2018 Committee of Bar Examiners. Justice del Castillo is to administer a total of 8,701 candidates, a relatively higher number of takers compared to the 6, 748 takers of the 2017 examinations. “I foresee that, as chairperson of the 2018 Bar Examinations, my work will extend to the months just prior to my retirement. That will leave me not much time to embark on notable projects that a Chief Justice will normally want to have an imprint on,” del Castillo said in his letter to the Judicial and Bar Council when he declined an automatic nomination to the post of Chief Justice earlier this year. His years as an officer in court is expansive, from being Municipal Trial Court (MTC) and Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge, Court of Appeals Justice, and currently a member of the High Court, proved his unyielding dedication to the profession.
Bar candidates take a chance on chairman Del Castillo By TINA MIRANDA Photo by PAUL NIKKO DEGOLLADO
But before attaining these achievements, Justice del Castillo started from being a student and later a successful practicing lawyer. He was a student in San Beda College majoring in Political Science in 1971. Thereafter, he decided to enter the College of Law at the Ateneo de Manila University. He graduated in 1976 and passed the Bar in the same year. Del Castillo was appointed as judge in the MTC of San Mateo then promoted to the RTC of Angeles City, and later in Quezon City. His hard work as member of the Court of Appeals earned him a recognition as best performing justice by the Rotary Club of Manila. He was recognized for his outstanding performance for having zero backlogs of workload and cases in 2006. Alongside his court duties, del Castillo maintains an active participation in religious and civic organizations, and in non-govermental organizations (NGOs) where he likewise received recognitions. He then became part of the Philippine Judges Association and lectured for the Philippine Judicial Academy and for the mandatory continuing
legal education or mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE). In preparing for the bar examinations under the chairmanship of Justice del Castillo, the San Beda College Alabang - School of Law, through its Centralized Bar Operations (CBO), compiled decisions penned by del Castillo himself, cases which piled up to 100 cases per subject. CBO vice chairperson for academics Jerekko Cadorna, said that this year’s bar exams might be case heavy on Labor Law since there are 150 labor cases penned by Justice del Castillo. Academic committees were also designated by the CBO for each subject of the bar examinations which are tasked to create materials such as case digests and frequently asked questions (FAQs) notes. There were at least 100 cases assigned per each committee according to Cadorna and he added, “we are very enthusiastic and very pleased to serve our bar candidates because we know that they can make it. We believe that they will be lawyers next year.” ■
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SBCA eyes bar review in Alabang
By ROBERT JIAN MELCHOR Photo by PAUL NIKKO DEGOLLADO
The Bar Examinations, held on all four Sundays of November, will not only test every candidate of his or her knowledge of the eight major law subjects but will also determine whether or not he or she has done enough to carry the title “Attorney”. In San Beda College Alabang – School of Law (SBCA-SOL), our bar candidates prepare diligently by selecting from a multitude of ways and options on how to stock as much legal knowledge as possible, in the least amount of time, all while under pressure. In order to help lessen their load in this endeavour, the Centralized Bar Operations (CBO) assist the bar candidates and among the services it provides include last minute lectures and review programs. For the review program, the SBCA Bar candidates go to San Beda University in Manila every Saturday of the bar month to avail it, “It is offered in San Beda University - Mendiola, covering all the subjects in the bar exam,” said CBO over-all chairperson Catriona Janelle Gayatin.
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CBO vice chairperson for academics, Jerekko Cadorna, claimed that so far, they have not yet received any request to have special lectures or separate review program in the Alabang. In explaining the advantages of having a single place for review program and last minute lectures, Cadorna said that as they observed, the lecturers preferred by the Bedans of Alabang and Mendiola, are the same, probably also because the two campuses share almost the same roster of faculty. Having them in the same location will be more advantageous considering the time and other schedules of the lecturers. Gayatin added that SBCA-SOL is still studying the feasibility of having our own review program in Alabang, She said “the institution is taking into consideration the location, the bar lecturers, and the facilities we can offer to our bar candidates, such as dormitories and other places to stay at while reviewing for the Bar.” While there are other bar review programs in
SOL orgs unite in supporting bar candidates By KAITLIN KEITH SIERRA
the south of Metro Manila, most of the review centers are in the north area of the metro. “No special lectures were offered this year [in Alabang] since most of the bar candidates are enrolled in the north-area review centers, and it will be time consuming for them to travel south to north, and back, ” Gayatin further stated. Bedan bar candidates are also entitled to receive last minute tips (LMTs) and notes few hours before taking the exams. The materials are delivered to them personally in their hotel accommodations in Makati Shangri-La. “Ang purpose din ng LMTs ay mabasa agad ng bar candidates natin before taking the exams para fresh pa yung information.” said CBO vice chairperson for academic operations, Rodel Cadorniga, Jr. Ultimately, CBO vice chairpeson Rodel Cadorniga Jr. assured that the materials and LMTs will be delivered on time as per the requests of the bar candidates. ■
The different academic organizations of San Beda College Alabang – School of Law (SBCA-SOL) put collective efforts to conduct fundraising activities to help and support the 2018 bar candidates. Last September 29, the Centralized Bar Operations (CBO) successfully spearheaded the Mr. and Ms. SOL pageant whereby a total of P185,179 was raised while recognizing the beauty and brains in SOL. Another fund raising activity was subsequently organized by the CBO with the Environmental Law Society (ELS) where the SOL community can wear their support to the barristers by buying SBCA jackets exclusively produced for the event. The jackets were sold at P1250 per piece with two designs to choose from. As of the first week of November, 218 jackets were sold according to ELS president Micah Alvin Gimelo. He adds that the motivation for coming up with this project is to create more funds to help out in the bar operations and for him, doing so is a contribution to the Bedan community. The Red Chronicles (TRC) also didn’t miss the chance to walk an extra mile for the bar takers. On October 27, TRC, organized the Sleepless Nights: A Fund Raising Event for the Barristers in line with the Halloween weekend in collaboration with the CBO, School of Law Government (SLG), and SLG-Volcorps in raising funds for the bar month. The entire Bedan Community was invited to attend the party and to support the bar candidates of the SBCA-SOL. Tickets were sold at P300 to 350 and they were successfully sold out to the SOL community. TRC also launched an art, photo, and literary contest, Stories from the Grave, to showcase artists in SOL. TRC editor-in-chief Ceasar Entila shared, “We (TRC) wanted to continue with the tradition of sponsoring a dinner event during the bar month and at the same time, to show our support to our Bedan bar candidates.” ■
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Faculty closely mentors bar candidates By ALVIN PATRICK RELOX
Esteemed faculty of the San Beda College Alabang School of Law (SBCA-SOL) were handson in mentoring the bar candidates for the 2018 bar examinations in its ‘Bar Mentor and Angels’ program. A program pioneered in SBCA-SOL and supervised by the Centralized Bar Operations (CBO), it gives the bar candidates a chance to choose their mentors with whom they can have their one-on-one consultation and confidencebuilding. The bar candidates will also be assisted by their preferred ‘angel’ from among the studentvolunteers. In the program, the professor-mentor will give various preparatory activities to condition their wards for the upcoming bar month. The ‘angels’ will serve as the bridge between the professors and the bar candidates especially in arranging the schedules and disseminating the materials. “The activities include mock bar examinations [conducted] either in person or via e-mail and providing for general advice,” shared by program director, Fiona Federico. The program was first introduced by Dean Ulpiano “Ulan” Sarmiento III in 2015 to increase the passing rate of the school. One of its highlights is the mock bar exam and online materials personally made and outlined by the mentor-faculty. Former project director of the mentoring program, Andrea Patrisha Rosales shared that, “Back in 2015, the program was quite different from today. For instance, mentors were only allowed to have a maximum of 5 wards before. Now, there is no such
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limit.” She said that this allows the bar candidates to really have the mentor of their choice. This year, 27 professors were chosen to be mentors including Judge Wilhelmina B. JorgeWagan, Dean Ed Vincent S. Albano, Judge Gina Bibat-Palamos, Dean Rico Paolo Quicho, Judge Nerina Casandra Mendinueto, Atty. Risel G. Castillo-Taleon, Atty. Adonis V. Gabriel, Dean Virgilo B. Jara, Vice Dean Anna Marie Melanie Trinidad, and Atty. Eliza Yamamoto-Santos, among others. “The favorite mentor this year would be Judge Wagan with 20 wards, followed by Dean Albano with 11,” Federico noted. The mentorship program started as early as July this year, right after the graduation rites of SOL batch 2018 in order to plan ahead the activities and accommodate the 269 bar candidates of SBCASOL. Federico expresses gratitude to the mentorprofessors, “the project has been successful, thanks to the full support given by our respective professors who always answer the call of becoming mentors when chosen.” “My bar mentor was Judge Palamos and I can say that she greatly helped me during my journey to the bar month. From the time Judge Palamos asked that I make a review schedule up to the time the exams were done, she and Judge Wagan kept on giving confidence and guidance. I will always be indebted to them,” says Atty. Lorenzo Delgado of SOL batch 2017. ■
Panata ng Barista By JENICA E.S. TI
Over the years, San Beda takes pride in producing fearless alumni of prayer, work, and peace. So while San Beda College Alabang’s (SBCA) barristers spent countless hours in a day wrapping their brains around their bar materials, most would also engage in religious traditions or faith rituals to ease any form of tension. Some recent bar passers, now full-fledged lawyers, shared with The Red Chronicles their leap of faith, even the churches they visited, if any. Atty. Nastasia Anne Padilla, 2015 Bar Passer I only went to Our Lady of Manaoag a month before my bar exam but made sure I heard mass every Sunday especially during the Saturdays of NovemBAR. It helped a lot because I know I had been preparing through studying and keeping myself healthy but I needed that extra spiritual guidance to calm me whenever I doubt myself. Atty. Howard Santos, 2017 Bar Passer I prayed not to pass. Not to know the answers. But to have the courage to face the bar. To be calm when I am faced with a question I know not the answer to. To have the patience to read through the questions carefully and endurance to see it through. To be even-keeled no matter the result. The bar exam itself is easy. The difficult part is the preparation, the anxiety, the waiting, [and] the uncertainty. Kaya yun yung pinagdasal kong kakayanin ko. Atty. Angela Mendoza, 2016 Bar Passer Just a church near my house -- PCJ. [It] helped me because I would drop by everytime I felt like stressing out, and it gave me peace of mind. Atty. John Malinao, 2017 Bar passer (1) Manaoag; (2) Padre Pio, Eastwood; (3) St Joseph, Aurora Cubao; (4) Black Nazarene, Quiapo; (5) Perpetual Help, Baclaran; (6) St Jude, Mendiola. Intercession of all these patrons are being sought for because they grant special requests.
Atty. Earl Allen Rodriguez, 2017 Bar passer Manaoag church in Pangasinan, and Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Palawan. Manaoag church is known for its miracles, and I needed one. I also need[ed] the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mother. I felt enlightened and confident while taking the bar exam. It also strengthened my faith that I would pass the bar. Atty. Jiandra Panganiban, 2016 Bar passer I devoted 9 weeks to praying the novena to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran. I also made sure to visit the National Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of desperate cases, as well as Padre Pio Chapel in Libis. I have adored Padre Pio ever since and his words of pray, hope and don’t worry are the words I lived by and it never failed me. Of course, I did not dare miss praying and lighting a candle at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag where I also had my bar exam pens blessed. Atty. Eureka D. Candari, 2017 Bar passer Greenhills Christian Fellowship South Metro (GCF), and Davao Chinese Baptist Church. My church leaders prayed for me personally. The prayers helped me because only God can give me peace beyond human understanding, that no matter my circumstances, my heart was at peace and relatively relaxed, which is very important especially during the bar month. Atty. Karl Corpus, 2017 Bar passer My father also instructed me to prioritize the most important book of all, the Bible. He then quoted Matthew 6:33. I took my father’s advice seriously. Thus, during the bar review, the first thing I do everyday, after waking up, is to read and study 2 chapters from the Bible, one in Old Testament and one in New. Lifting their worries and tribulations to their faith, SBCA barristers are not just mentally and physically prepared to endure the challenge of earning that ‘dot’ in their ‘ATTY.’, but also spiritually assured. ■ The Red Chronicles | 11
NOVEMBER 2018