AFFIRMING THE PHILIPPINES’ sovereign right to “uphold national security and promoting awareness of its role in global affairs,” the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC) inaugurated its second Public International Law (PIL) Week that began on October 21 and concluded on November 21 at the Lydia Tan Sy Grounds.
On the opening day, students from the Department of Legal Management gathered at the Lydia Tan-Sy Grounds to officially launch the celebration, featuring a keynote address by Marc Byran Montero, Director General of the San Beda International Law Society (ILS) and a current third-year student from the San Beda University College of Law (SBU-COL).
Montero delivered a discourse on navigating global laws and their local impact, highlighting the “intricate relationship between international legal frameworks and their effect on domestic governance.”
Following this, Ramon Gabriel Ledesma, JBLC Treasurer, announced the official launch of the organization’s TikTok account, an initiative he described as “a way to engage more with the Bedan community.”
Furthermore, the first day of the event culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the JBLC Executive Board, officially opening the booths showcasing critical themes in contemporary international law prepared by junior Legal Management students taking the PIL course.
Group 1 of 3ALM presented “The Challenges of Defining National Territory under Existing Jurisprudence and the Constitution,” offering critical insights into legal ambiguities surrounding territorial claims. Group 2 of 3ALM, on the other hand, explored “Implications of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to Laudato Si,” examining the intersection of international maritime law and environmental stewardship.
Meanwhile, Group 1 of 3BLM focused on “The Concretization of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Enforcement Mechanisms in the Philippines,” analyzing the practical application of UNCLOS in domestic settings. Group 2 of 3BLM delved into “Exploring the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS),” shedding light on the tribunal’s role of resolving international maritime disputes.
The panel of judges for the competition included esteemed figures from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Among them was the Assistant Prefect of Student Activities, Asst. Prof. Sybil L. Agreda, M.Ed., along with notable CAS faculty members in the likes of Asst. Prof. Gerard Mark Santos and Prof. James Loreto C. Piscos, PhD. They were also joined by distinguished members of the San Beda International Law Society (ILS).
The booths, intended to remain open throughout the week as part of the Best Booth competition, also required the participating groups to create TikTok videos for JBLC’s official account. The video with the highest engagement would secure the People’s Choice Award.
Unfortunately, the event faced significant delays due to consecutive suspensions caused by inclement weather and the landfalls of several tropical cyclones. These included Tropical Storm Trami (Kristine), Typhoon Kong-rey (Leon), Typhoon Yinxing (Marce), and Super Typhoon Man-Yi (Pepito), which occurred between late October and early November, disrupting the planned schedule of activities.
JBLC Secretary-General and Activity Chairperson Denise Diaz emphasized their commitment to proceeding with the event despite multiple suspensions, highlighting the enthusiasm of the third-year Legal Management students.
“We really wanted to push through with this event because we believe that the third-year Legal Management students have the desire to share what they have learned,” Diaz stated, while also recognizing the collaborative efforts of her co-activity chairpersons, Ledesma and Third-Year Level Representative Nico Delfin, in ensuring the event’s success.
Consequently, despite the challenges, JBLC wrapped up the celebration with a symposium entitled “Sovereign Seas: National Security and Enforcement Mechanisms of Public International Law on the West Philippine Sea,” held at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium on November 21.
The event featured notable Bedan alum Atty. Jeremy “Jemy” B. Gatdula, Vice Chairman and Dean of the Institute of Law at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), as the resource speaker.
“Our country has a strategic role in global geopolitics,” shared Atty. Gatdula in discussing the importance of current diplomatic alliances in territorial disputes and outlining the legal remedies available to the Philippines to strengthen its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
An open forum followed, where students engaged with the speaker on foreign policy and international relations, specifically how the Philippines could balance its alliances with the United States and China amid rising geopolitical tensions. Atty. Gatdula emphasized the importance of “prioritizing the country’s interests” in navigating these challenges.
Thereafter, a spirited game of Family Feud was held among the Legal Management students, with the team composed of seniors Rutanya Bonayon and Marco Perez, junior Frank Anthony Magdame, and sophomore Maxinne Marie Lampa emerging as the winners.
The awarding ceremony then followed to recognize the outstanding participants from the booth exhibit. The People’s Choice Award was conferred to Group 2 of 3ALM while the Best Booth Award was presented to Group 2 of 3BLM.
In her closing remarks, Diaz expressed her “heartfelt appreciation and commendation” to all who persevered in making the event a success despite unforeseen challenges. She urged the Bedan community, particularly her fellow Legal Management students, to “remain steadfast” in their commitment to invoking the rule of law, stating, “I hope that we hold in our minds and our hearts the duty to be informed and to protect what is ours.”
(with Paris Isaac E. Falcone)