IN CELEBRATION OF the United Nations Founding Day, the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC) launched the first “Legal Management Public International Law Week” to highlight and discuss relevant angles of International Law last October 24-27.
As a prologue to its celebration of Public International Law Week, JBLC held a candle-lighting ceremony to honor and pray for peace and for the victims of the Israel-Palestine conflict which was led by the organization’s Vice President for External Affairs, Ela Estrada.
Thereafter, the organization formally opened the celebration with welcome remarks delivered by the organization’s moderator, Atty. Luis Voltaire Formilleza, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony held together with Prof. Marvin Reyes Ph.D., the Prefect of Student Activities along with the JBLC moderator, and the rest of the organization’s Executive Board.
The second day of the celebration highlighted the junior Legal Management students’ international law exhibit with an in-depth presentation on contemporary international matters such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the issue on the West Philippine Sea. In addition, the organization, in partnership with the San Beda University (SBU) Library, opened a booth encapsulating the overall theme of public international law and presenting the resources of the library on the topic.
Hans Manaloto, activity chair and junior Legal Management student, shared that the presentations being made seek to “ignite a conversation on current and relevant topics that also delve into the field of Public International Law,” which said exhibits were judged by administrators, faculty, and partner organization International Law Society.
Accordingly, the organization held an “intimate quiz night” joined by the Department via Zoom to further “boost” the students’ awareness and knowledge of international law and to also close the second day of the celebration.
On the event’s third day, October 26, the JBLC presented the “Public International Law Symposium” through HyFlex mode at the Multimedia Room and live via Zoom and Facebook attended by resource speakers Dr. Alzad Sattar and Atty. Asmenah Barambangan on the topic of the stumbling blocks of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the reasons for the “hindered peace,” and how the conflict can be resolved in the eyes of humanitarian law. “Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere,” shared Atty. Barambangan encapsulating the state of International Law.
To cap off the week-long celebration, the JBLC, in partnership with The Repvblic, held a debate between Legal Management and Political Science students on the Israel-Palestine conflict at the Abbot Lopez Hall. At the conclusion of the debates, Sam Unabia was hailed as the best debater, Max Lampa as the best Speaker, and Lovable Princess Tomaquin as the best rebuttal speaker, ultimately bagging Team Legal Management the win against Political Science with a total of 92%.
Thereafter, the JBLC awarded the “Best Exhibit” award to Group 1 from 3ALM with the theme “Arab Israel Conflict through the Lens of International Human Rights Law,” while Group 2 from 3BLM was awarded with the “People’s Choice Award” with the theme “Understanding China’s Historical Claim and Basis for Dash line demarcation over the West Philippine Sea.”
Finally, the organization expressed its warmest appreciation to its partner organizations the Bedan Scholars’ Guild (BSG), San Beda-Electoral Board (ELBO), San Beda Debate Society (SBDS), The Bedan, The Spires, The Repvblic, Social Sciences and Humanities Association (SSHA), Human Resource Development Management Society (HRDMS), San Beda Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA), Junior Financial Management Association (JFINMA), Psychology Society of San Beda University (PSSBU), San Beda Economics Society (SBES), Society of Operations Management Students (SOMS), Kulturang Laya Bedista (KLBO, who all celebrated with them Public International Law week.
In his closing remarks, the JBLC Vice President for Internal Affairs, Paolo Ornos, implored the Bedan community to “echo justice in their actions,” stating that “just as one of our resource speakers shared, while international law conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestine conflict seem far off from us, injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Thus, let us be the pillar for peace and justice in every way we can, as Bedans.”