Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo rallied the educators in 129 law schools in the county “to revolutionize legal education” to “develop a generation of highly competent and proficient – and even more important – ethical and service-oriented lawyers.”
He told the trustees and officers for 2022-2024 of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS) during their online oath taking on Thursday, Feb. 10:
“While results may take some time to take root, we have at least begun that long process towards achieving this goal.
“With the Supreme Court, the Philippine Association of Law Schools, and the Legal Education Board working hand in hand, I do not see any reason why this revolution will not succeed.”
Gesmundo then challenged PALS to “strive to make legal education more attuned to the times and the needs of society.”
He pointed out that the secret to revolutionizing the law profession starts with legal education, and that the mission of correcting an aspiring lawyer’s false impression or expectation of what being a lawyer is all about rests with legal educators.
“If we want lawyers imbued with a sense of service and social responsibility, not motivated by remuneration or financial gains, if we want lawyers who would put justice above professional success, without regard to glamor or recognition, and if we want competent and proficient lawyers, we initially look to legal education to inculcate the correct values and give the proper and adequate training and preparation,” he stressed.
On the part of the SC, the Chief Justice said the High Tribunal is committed to reforms “to transform the practice of law.”
He cited the developments in legal education and the innovations in the recently concluded digitalized and regionalized Bar Examinations.
“We are relying on you, our legal educators, to support and give impetus to our reforms in the other areas of law practice and in the judicial system as a whole,” he added.
He then paid tribute to the trustees and officers of PALS, to all deans of law schools, and to SC Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leon, chairperson of 2020-2021 bar examinations committee.
Justice Leonen delivered a congratulatory message along with Legal Education Board (LEB) Chairperson Anna Marie Melanie B. Trinidad, LEB Commissioner Josefe Sorera-Ty, former PALS Chairperson Atty. Joan S. Largo, and former PALS Chairperson and President Atty. Marisol DL Anenias.
PALS was founded in 1967 “to uplift the standards of legal education in the Philippines to meet global standards of excellence.”
A press statement issued by the SC’s public information office (PIO) stated that PALS Board of Trustees and Officers for 2022-2024 are Dean Ma. Soledad Deriquito-Mawis of the Lyceum of the Philippines University, Chairperson and Trustee-At-Large; Dean Gemy Lito L. Festin of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, President and Trustee for the National Capital Region (NCR);
Dean Anna Maria D. Abad of Adamson University, Executive Vice President; Dean Viviana M. Paguirigan of the University of the East, Secretary General; Dean Al-Shwaid L. Ismael of the University of Cebu, Assistant Secretary General and Trustee for Visayas; Dean Domnina T. Rances of the Ateneo De Naga University, Treasurer; Dean Teodoro A. Pastrana of San Sebastian College- Recoletos, Assistant Treasurer and Trustee for NCR;
Dean Pauline Grace T. Buñol-Alfuente of West Visayas State University, Auditor; Dean Hardy B. Aquende of the Bicol University, Assistant Auditor; Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña of the Ateneo de Manila University, Vice President for NCR and Trustee for NCR; Dean Hernando S. Perez, Jr. of the University of Batangas, Vice President for Luzon and Trustee for Luzon;
Dean Rosanne Juliana R. Gonzaga of the University of St. La Salle, Vice President for Visayas and Trustee for Visayas; Dean Manuel P. Quibod of the Ateneo de Davao University, Vice President for Mindanao and Trustee-At-Large; Dean Christine Angelica B. Elveña of Saint Louis University, Trustee for Luzon; Dean Leandro M. Millano of the University of Santo Tomas–Legazpi, Trustee for Luzon;
Dean Aila Rae B. Endonila of Central Philippine University, Trustee for Visayas; Dean Arlene L. Cosape of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Trustee for Mindanao; Dean Lynnart Walford A. Tan of St. Thomas More School of Law and Business, Trustee for Mindanao; Dean Manuel O. Cabrera of Liceo De Cagayan University, Trustee for Mindanao; and Dean Virgilio R. De Los Reyes of the De La Salle University, Trustee-at-Large.