Valuable tradition

This coming Friday, October 18, 2013, starting at 5 p.m., generations of legal eagles will gather once again and relive the times they have spent in the eagles’ nest where they developed their sturdy wings that enabled them to soar high in the legal firmament. The day will mark the Grand Alumni Homecoming of graduates and lawyers who finished their Law course at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), School of Law. The affair will be held at the Grand Ball Room of the New World Hotel in Makati Avenue corner Esperanza Street, Makati City.

Alumni homecoming is indeed one of the most cherished school traditions as it gives the alumni a chance to pause and look back so that they can regain their bearings as they continue their fleeting sojourn in this world until they reach their final and permanent destination. It is a practice that aptly adheres to the Filipino saying, “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa paroroonan”.

Undoubtedly, the Ateneo Law graduates’ alma mater is one of the leading law schools in the country that has produced outstanding lawyers who have excelled in the legal profession as members of the Bench and the Bar. They can really be said to have acquired a well rounded education not only because of their in-depth academic instructions in the rudiments and complexities of the existing laws and established jurisprudence of the country, but also and more importantly because they have been ingrained with the Christian values and principles that enable them to maintain high ethical standards for the profession, adhering to the Jesuit ideals of being “men for others” and doing “all for the glory of God” (AMDG, Ad majorem Dei Gloriam).

After leaving the portals of the school however in pursuit of a career in the outside world, certain occasions arise in the life of the Ateneo alumni where they are liable to overlook or completely forget the principles and values learned in the classroom and the campus. This is a reality occurring then and now that somehow affects not only the reputation of the alumni but also of the school. Hence the alumni homecoming becomes more relevant and important especially for those who are now in government.

As usual, in this year’s homecoming, as the Ateneo Law School once again gathers its products in celebration of one community of Atenean lawyers, the alumni will be able to enjoy the company and fellowship of their fellow alumni, their professors and administrators. They will once more have the time to share their stories and happy experiences, their joys and laughter and even their sorrows and disappointments. They will also have the opportunity for the first time perhaps to meet the families of two or more generations of Atenean lawyers, as the Host Class gathers and proudly presents them to all those who will attend the event.

But more importantly, the gathering on October 18, 2013, like all other alumni homecomings will also be a golden opportunity for all alumni especially those who may have strayed from the straight path, to recoup their sense of direction, review the numerous errors and missteps they have taken and try to absorb once more the ideals, principles, and values they embraced during their school days.

Indeed this year’s Ateneo Law Alumni homecoming acquires more significance because there are many Atenean lawyers who are now in government that has been wracked by scandals and anomalies involving the use of the taxpayers’ money in the form of the now infamous “pork barrel. In fact this is the first time perhaps that we have an Atenean President who was catapulted into power because of his avowed resolve to rid our government of numerous graft and corrupt practices occurring in the past. Ironically however corruption still persists up to now precisely because he refuses to heed the call for the abolition of the pork barrel system, the major source of corruption in government.

The Atenean lawyers now in various government positions will surely find the homecoming as the most opportune time to revive and instill within them again the many cherished ideals and principles they were able to absorb and observe during their student days. By attending the homecoming they may regain their bearings and return to the matuwid na daan so they can be instrumental in convincing P-Noy to change his mind about retaining this biggest source of corruption in government.

This year’s homecoming has for its theme, “Generations of Atenean Lawyers” focusing on the growing number of generations of lawyers Ateneo has produced through the years starting way back in the late 1930s. It will be hosted by the Ateneo Law Class of 1989 honoring the Jubilarians belonging to batches 1988, 1973 and 1963.

The affair will be ushered in by a Holy Mass at 5 p.m. followed by a program at 6 p.m. which will be capped by a raffle of a high end “Volvo XC60” European car that will be awarded to holder of the winning raffle ticket priced at P5,000 per ticket. The host class of 1989 has earmarked the proceeds of their hosting for certain projects more specifically the digitization of all alumni records for the purpose of creating the Ateneo Law School Records Archive. Proceeds of the affair will also be used for the scholarship program of the Ateneo Law Alumni Association Inc.

So to all fellow alumni of the Ateneo Law School, see you on Friday October 18, 2013 at the New World Hotel.

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