Law school deans take oath before Chief Justice Sereno

MANILA, Philippines - The newly elected board of directors of the Philippine Association of Law Schools (PALS), led by their president Dean Nilo Divina of the University of Santo Tomas (12th from right)), took their oath of office before Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (center) last Jan. 22, at the Main Session Hall of the Supreme Court.

Also present at the oath-taking rites were Associate Justices Arturo Brion Roberto Abad, PHILJA Chancellor Adolfo Azcuna, and Legal Education Board Chairman Hilarion Aquino. The PALS officers marked their oath-taking rites with an organizational board meeting and inaugural dinner held at Solaire Resort and Casino, Paranaque City.

PALS, which was founded in 1967, is the association of schools, colleges, and universities that provide legal education in the Philippines. Its mission is to uplift the standards of Philippine legal education to meet global standards of excellence and serve as a catalyst for economic and human development in Philippine society.

Making legal educationresponsive to current needs

The new PALS officers, led by president Dean Nilo Divina, have set their sights on bringing Philippine legal education at par with global standards, elevating the discourse on legal education and bar examination reform, and making legal education more responsive to the current needs of Philippine society. This year, PALS will constitute a Task Force on Legal Education and Bar Exam Reforms that will conduct a comprehensive study and submit recommendations to the Supreme Court. PALS will also hold a series of conferences consisting of an ASEAN Conference of Law Deans, a mid-year Legal Education Conference, and the year-end PALS annual convention in Hong Kong. PALS will also be launching, among others, a Deans’ Executive Development Program, the PALS Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, and the PALS Commemorative Coffee Table Book. PALS will also embark on a faculty development program for law professors, facilitate the development of model syllabi and sharing and exchange of teaching materials, and explore expanded legal aid and international linkaging programs.

PALS 2014-2015 officers

The PALS officers for 2014-2015 are University of Santo Tomas Dean Nilo Divina, president; University of the East Dean Amado Valdez, chairman emeritus; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Dean Ernesto Maceda Jr., chairman; Aquinas University Dean Emerson Aquende, executive vice president; Lyceum of the Philippines University Dean Ma. Soledad Deriquito-Mawis, secretary-general; University of the Philippines Dean Danilo Concepcion, deputy secretary-general; University of Iloilo Dean Pauline Bunol-Alfuente, treasurer; San Sebastian College Dean Ferdinand Tan, assistant treasurer; Ateneo Law School Dean Sedfrey Candelaria, vice-president for Metro Manila; St. Mary’s University Dean Joy Payumo-Salgado, vice-president for Luzon; Central Philippine University Dean Zacarias Bedona Jr. – vice-president for Visayas; Fr. Saturnino Urios University, Dean Josefe Sorrera-Ty, vice-president for Mindanao.

The PALS trustees are Dean Perry Pe, Palawan State University; Dean Joan Largo, University of San Carlos; Dean Jonathan Capanas, University of San Jose-Recoletos; Dean Macacuna Moslem, Mindanao State University; Dean Manuel Quibod, Ateneo de Davao University; Dean Baldomero Estenzo, University of Cebu; and Dean Raul Villanueva, Xavier University.

The PALS committee chairs include Dean Manuel Diokno and Associate Dean Jocelyn Cruz, De La Salle University; Dean Emerito Enginco, De La Salle Lipa; Dean Mikhail Maxino, Siliman University; and Dean Peachy Moraleda, University of Northeastern Philippines.