BAR OPS 2010: LIONS ROAR TWENTY FOUR
A Lions’ Gathering: The 2010 Robing Ceremony and Send-Off for the Barristers By Rio Dizon
The banner in the chapel read, “San Beda College Alabang– School of Law, God Bless Our Barristers, Lion’s Roar Twenty Four!” SBCA-SOL held its second Robing Ceremony and Send-off for the Barristers in St. Benedict’s Chapel last August 27, 2010. The ceremony began when the Prefect asked the students to rise for the procession of the Professors and the Barristers. The beloved Dean, also donning the academic red robe, led the line of school professors and the Barristers, who were all wearing the same. ORA ET LABORA The Mass was celebrated by Abbot Chancellor Tarcisio Ma. H. Narciso, OSB. The First Reading was read by Atty. Emmanuel Palabrica, the Responsorial Psalm sung by the SBCA-SOL Chorale and the Prayers of the Faithful delivered by Judge Wilhelmina Jorge-Wagan. Father Abbot gave an inspiring homily that stressed the Bedan way of hardwork and prayer.“When you pray for someone, you put that someone in your heart.” Father Abbot gave this endearing message to our Barristers. He assured them that the professors and the entire Beda community are praying for them. THE DIAMOND AND THE COAL The solemn mood of the Mass was followed by a light-hearted comical vibe courtesy of none other than the “Perfect Prefect” himself, Atty. Bruce Rivera. Never failing to deliver a piece packed with meat and humor, Atty. Rivera’s introductory speech for the Robing Ceremony sent the whole community into laughing fits once again. But the change in the tone and tenor of the event was not just for the sake of a good laugh. In a true Bruce Rivera fashion, the Perfect Prefect shed light to the meaning of the ceremony by delivering substance wrapped in a sweet coat of banter and wit. Atty. Rivera explains how the ceremony was a double prong activity: The school is sending off their Barristers who are the diamonds while it ushers in the newbies who are the carbons or the coals. These unpolished and raw minerals will eventually become the hardest and most precious stone when the time comes. And it is the law school that is the pressure that will mold
these coals to become diamonds. But why the need for robing? Accordingly, the Robing Ceremony officially welcomes new students and clothes the same with wisdom. This practice can be traced from the oldest British and American Universities dating to Medieval times. Atty. Rivera also took the time to explain the concept of the Academic Regalia. The said ensemble is comprised of the gown, the hat and the hood. The academic gown is first worn during the beginning of the students’ journey in the academe. The hat is conferred to them as they progress in their field of study. And finally, the students receive the hood which is indicative of the completion of their degree. THE MYTH OF THE ROBE George Herbert once said that “One father is more than a hundred Schoolemasters.” And indeed, in SBCA-SOL, the student body does not need any other schoolmaster for aside from being a devoted Dean, Atty. Ulpiano Sarmiento has made it felt that he is the affectionate and doting father. And like a father talking to his child, Dean Ulan took to the stage and began his fatherly speech by mentioning the 1953 Biblical Epic Film, “The Robe.” He wanted to stress the symbol of the robe: humility, charity and service to others. He then called upon each Freshman section to rise to put on their robes and be officially welcomed as members of the San Beda family. It was a fulfilling moment for these cubs to be embraced in the proudest pride of lions. THE WISE OLD MAN AND THE NAUGHTY YOUNG KID Now that the coals have been ushered in, it was time for the school to send off their diamonds. Atty. Angelo Sanchez, a recent former student gave the introductory speech for the Send Off Ceremony. He gave tips for facing the challenge that is the Bar Exams. In essence, he advised the Barristers to just relax. To take the Bar in stride and to breathe easy are helpful pieces of advice for it qualms the disquieted hearts of the Barristers. But the Bedan family cannot make their beloved diamonds embark on a road where angels fear to tread without a word from one of their veterans. And so for the message to the Barristers, SBCA-SOL chose one of the top cats of their pride to inspire and fuel the hearts of their soldiers. Atty. Rivera introduced him as an epitome of a true Bedan, a friend, an Illuminary and “the best Supreme Court Justice we will never have.” This was none other than former Senator, Atty. Rene Saguisag.
In his sharp quipping address, Atty. Saguisag expressed his expectations from the second batch of Barristers of SBCA-SOL. He reminded the crowd that the last time San Beda snatched both 1st and 2nd place was way back in 1954 with Florenzo Regalado and Renato De la Fuente taking the crowns respectively. The drought ended only in last year’s Bar Exams when finally, two Bedans once again garnered the top spots. Atty. Saguisag expressed how he looks to this class to surpass Regalado and De la Fuente. Always abreast with current events, he also made reference to the recent bus hostage crisis. “We need to help the Government,” he urged the Barristers. True to the quixotic spirit he is known for, he rallied for a non-partisan politics: “We should speak with a single voice.” The Bar Exam overhaul that paved way for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ’s) did not escape Atty. Saguisag’s jibes. He teased the Barristers saying that they will belong to the class of “Multiple choice lawyers.” And he then restated what he tells his students, over and over again, what for him is a test of a good lawyer: a “grammatically correct, legally tenable, intellectually respectable and psychologically satisfying” answer. As for his words of wisdom for the Barristers, like a grandfather to a grandchild, he narrated one amusing story: That of a wise old man in the mountain and a naughty young kid. The naughty kid had a bird in his hand behind his back. Just to test the old man, the naughty kid asked if the bird is alive or not. The wise old man said, “The answer is in your hands.” And with that, Atty. Saguisag said, “Never cease to dream and pray.” “AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE GO BACK TO WHAT WE ARE” An audio-visual presentation featuring messages from family and friends who wish each barrister well for the Bar Exams was shown. And after such, the closing remarks were given by Vice-Dean, Atty. Marciano Delson. As a final message and to cap off the ceremony, the Vice-Dean aptly remarked: “At the end of the day, we go back to what we are.” And he reminded us who we are. “We are Bedans molded in the tradition of prayer and work.” A Turkish proverb says that a lion sleeps in the heart of every brave man. And bravery, can be forged by prayer and work. Perhaps as the ceremony ended far into the night, students, both old and new, went home with a lion sleeping in their hearts, ready to roar and hunt when their time comes to live up to the name of the proudest pride of lions one can ever belong to.