By Joy Louise T. Evidente
Photo Courtesy | Divina Law-UST Philippine Jessup Cup
Coming off a high from last year’s monumental achievements, the School of Law’s Council of Moot and Debate (SBCA-CMD) shook things up for the Academic Year 2024-2025 with a rule that allowed more faces a moment in the spotlight: Members cannot compete as a debater and mooter at the same time.
This change meant that members had to choose between Moot Court or Debate competitions, leaving both sides of the organization with smaller pools of speakers while also giving fresher names the opportunity to represent San Beda College Alabang in the national and international scene.
The first competition of the year was the Arellano-Cayco Debate Cup in September, where the newcomer team of Dianne Balagso, Pamela Therese Viloria, and Angelou Sta. Juana ranked 9th overall and were a Reserve Breaking Team, with Team Captain Balagso ranking as 12th Best Debater. They were joined by Paulene Abarca as Adjudicator and coached by student-coaches Joy Louise T. Evidente and Karl Emmanuel Divina.
This was followed by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines Debate competition in October with Ralph Renzo Tagabuhin as Team Captain, Corrie Elizabeth Endozo, and Nest Rostata representing SOL. They were also coached by Evidente and Divina.
During the Sto. Niño Festival in mid-January, the organization also competed in the 29th Southeast Asian Regional Rounds of the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, with Joy Louise T. Evidente as Team Captain and Switch Oralist, Aira Julie Gianan as Applicant 2 Oralist, Ronelie Smile Siervo as Respondent 1 Oralist, and Luis Marco Mendoza as Team Administrator and Researcher. Overall the team garnered 2 oral and 4 memorial wins at the competition. The team was coached by Dean Juan Ruffo Chong, Atty. Kevin Chris Sese, and Atty. Uella Vida Mancenido-Gayo.
In March, SOL sent debaters Dianne Balagso, Pamela Therese Viloria, and Team Captain Paulene Abarca, with Aira Julie Gianan and Joy Louise T. Evidente as adjudicators to the Conflicts of Law Debate Competition hosted by the Association of Law Schools in the Philippines, where the debaters won 1st Runner-Up and Evidente won as 5th Best Adjudicator. The team was coached by Evidente, Gianan, and CMD alumni Atty. Nico Solon and Atty. Dominic Marquez.
Also in March, CMD competed in the 5th Philippine Law Debate Championship with Team Captain Joy Louise T. Evidente, Luis Marco Mendoza, and Ralph Renzo Tagabuhin as debaters and Aira Julie Gianan as Adjudicator. The team ranked 11th overall with Evidente garnering 12th Best Debater and Mendoza garnering 18th.
CMD also competed in the national rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition with Oralists Ivan Paul Aborot (Team Captain), James Samuel Carreon, Sofia Regina Yasay and Zofia Lyne Agama, along with Team Administrator Judith Ruth Borela, and researchers Sten Azarraga and Bianca Bencio. The team bagged two Best Oralist Awards with James Samuel Carreon (6th) and Ivan Paul Aborot (20th) and had the 4th Best Overall Memorial Score. The team was coached by faculty coaches, Dean Juan Ruffo D. Chong and Atty Uella Vida Mancenido-Gayo, in addition to CMD Alumni Atty. Diana Jane Luib and Atty. Dave Christian Umeran.
To end the competition season, CMD flew to Hong Kong to compete in the 22nd Willem C. Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition, with oralists Isabela Sofia Eleazar (Team Captain), Amita Famel Avestruz, Martin Charlz Tanodra, Karl Emmanuel Divina; and Jan Cyryl De Guzman, Team Administrator and Head Researcher. The team was coached by faculty coach Atty. Uella Vida Mancenido-Gayo and CMD alumni Atty. Elaiza Marrise Usisa and Atty. Gian Lourdes Romano.
As the academic year comes to a close, the Council of Moot and Debate expresses its deep gratitude to Most Reverend Father Rector Gerardo Ma. DeVilla, OSB, and Dean Dr. Ulpiano Sarmiento III, all faculty and staff, and the student body of the School of Law for their constant support in every competition endeavor.