Ateneo de Manila University School of Law’s Aquila Legis Fraternity (ALF) -- a group that has reared as members cabinet secretaries, legislators, judges and justices, ambassadors, and business tycoons -- celebrates its 75th anniversary on June 29.
The celebration starts at 5 p.m. at Okada Manila in Paranaque City, organizers of the diamond anniversary event Miguel Ludovice, Jerald Ruaro, Bobby Lazarito and Gian Asuncion said.
Among those expected to attend the event are Sen. Francis Tolentino; Supreme Court Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario; Reps. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II, Loreto Acharon, Florencio Gabriel “Bem” Noel, Dino Tanjuatco, Patrick Michael Vargas, Fidel Nograles and Rodge Gutierrez; Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi; Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Nograles; Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo Lumagui; Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma; IBC President Jose Policarpio; Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna; Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court Judge Gian Enrico Navarro; and Consul to the United States Francis Maynard Maleon.
ALF’s website says it was founded in 1949 by Joaquin Lorenzo E. Misa, “the first bossman or ‘Honorable Praeses.’” Aquila legis is a Latin phrase which means “eagle of the law” or “legal eagle.”
It also says that for more than seven decades, the group has inducted over 2,000 members.
Among the prominent ALF members were former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda; former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, former Supreme Court Justice Mariano del Castillo, former Solicitor General Jose Calida, former Camarines Sur Congressman and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, former presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye, former Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, former Press Secretary Ricardo Puno Jr., former Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya, former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Congressman Sergio Apostol, and former Land Transportation Office Chief Roberto Cabrera.
ALF’s George Hofer, Home Arellano, Luigi Dela Paz, Hywel Vergara, and Ludovice said the fraternity’s celebration will coincide with the release to two special editions of Johnnie Walker Blue Label -- the Aquila Legis 75th Anniversary Limited Edition and Praeses Edition.
“It is very fitting that Aquila Legis Fraternity will celebrate its diamond anniversary with the release of the Limited and Praeses editions of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label. We are very honored to have partnered with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, which is at the forefront of luxury whiskies in the world,” they said.
The Limited Edition is a four-bottle set with a special design highlighting the success and resilience of the fraternity, while the Praeses Edition pays tribute to current and past leaders of the fraternity, they also said.