Katangi-tangi
Katangi-tangi is a Filipino word that means “extraordinary, unique, distinctive, exceptional, remarkable, or incomparable.”
Katangi-tangi is also a word that, modesty aside, best describes the alumni of the University of the Philippines College of Law, or UP Law.
Allow me to wax nostalgic then, as a throwback Thursday of sorts, as I pay homage to my alma mater.
The recent plethora of legal issues, mostly on the constitutional, that have come to fore are what made me think of how the practice of law is nowadays. In our show Abogado, which airs every Thursday on the Bilyonaryo News Channel, both on television and social media, my esteemed co-host (also a UP Law alumna), Atty. Karen Jimeno, and I will never run out of relevant topics to discuss.
Coming home to UP Law in November last year, albeit not at Malcolm Hall but at the Shangri-La at the Fort, and seeing my batchmates and fellow alumini, felt like stepping into a living archive of ideals that shaped who we are as lawyers and as Filipinos.
The words of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes that greet you as you step into Malcolm Hall have never been clearer and more true: “The business of a law school is not sufficiently described when you merely say that it is to teach law or make lawyers. It is to teach law in a grand manner, and to make great lawyers.”
The UP College of Law Homecoming was not just a reunion — it was a reaffirmation of the values that bound generations of Iskolar ng Bayan, Abogado ng Bayan.
This year’s homecoming was graciously hosted by the UP Law Class of 2000, under the leadership of lawyer Dan Calica, which marked its silver jubilee with warmth, humor, and unmistakable pride. Twenty-five years on, their stewardship of the evening reflected the same leadership and commitment to service that defined their years in Malcolm.
And the guest of honor and speaker was none other than a distinguished member of Class 2000, my dear friend, Education Secretary and former senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.
The ballroom was filled with familiar faces and respected names from the legal profession, government service, the judiciary, the academe, and public life. Deans past and present, justices, senior counsels, legislators, and public servants mingled freely with younger alumni — proof that UP Law remains a shared space where hierarchy yields to collegiality and common purpose.
One of the evening’s more personal moments for me came when I sang a duet with accomplished lawyer and top performer, Dot Balasbas-Gancayco. Our song number brought back memories of several performances we had in the College of Law, including being part of the UP Law Charivari, a choral group composed of then law students.
Music has always been a quiet companion in my life, and performing before fellow alumni—friends, mentors, and classmates — was both humbling and deeply affirming. It reminded me that beyond briefs, pleadings, and policy debates, we remain human, connected by stories, laughter, and shared memories of late nights and hard lessons in law school.
More than nostalgia, however, the homecoming underscored the continuing relevance of UP Law in today’s national discourse. Conversations inevitably turned to governance, the rule of law, access to justice, and the responsibility of lawyers in a time of rapid change and persistent inequality. These discussions — serious yet hopeful — are the real tradition of UP Law, carried forward year after year.
As the night drew to a close, UP Law stood as it always has: solid, enduring, and alive with purpose. And, yes, katangi-tangi.
Special shout-out to Atty. Trina Proligalidad, ACCRA LAW managing partner and Atty. Chryssie Bautista, head of litigation of Ayala Corp. and UP Law Batch 2000 vice president, for the success of this reunion.
The November homecoming was a reminder that while we may walk different paths after graduation, we are forever linked by a shared duty — to serve the people, to defend the Constitution, and to uphold the honor of the legal profession.
Coming home to UP Law was always a privilege. Leaving the homecoming, I carried with me renewed resolve — and gratitude — for the institution and the community that continue to shape our nation’s lawyers, one generation at a time.
Always, and forever, in the grand manner. *
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