By Tom Louis Herrera
San Beda College Alabang – School of Law (SBCA-SOL) conducted the 2021 Robing Ceremony and Academic Recognition last December 10, 2021 at St. Benedict Chapel, SBCA to officially welcome freshmen and transferees to the Bedan community. The event was simultaneously streamed online via Zoom and Facebook live through the SBCA-SOL official Facebook page.
“Today marks an unprecedented time where tradition has to remodel itself to the times. For a second time, the Robing Ceremony which is usually held on-site is held by an alternative livestream platform. This online Robing Ceremony and Recognition of Awardees seeks to create an avenue for all Bedans around the Philippines to come together, be it digitally, and relive the Bedan traditions that make us the happiest law school,” School of Law Government (SLG)President Juan Carlo Santos said in his welcome remarks.
As in the previous robing ceremonies, the event started with the celebration of the Holy Mass presided by SBCA Rector-President Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB. The celebration also included the blessing of the academic robes to be donned by the new members of the community. Thereafter, a video presentation tribute of the messages from friends and families of those who will be taking the Bar Examinations on January 2022 followed, courtesy of the SBCA Centralized Bar Operations.
Atty. Jun Cadugo then presented the awardees for A.Y. 2020-2021 Dean’s List and Annual Honor Roll. This year’s Dean’s List awardees for the 1st Year Level, from Rank 1 to Rank 4, respectively, are Razel Joy Cabigting, Gian Lourdes Romano, Quennie Razelle Sereño, and Alfonso Mathew Medrano. Sereño is also a features writer of The Red Chronicles.
For the 2nd Year Level, the awardees are Gielene Rivera, Marielle Ricohermoso, Charles Frederick Virtudazo, Gonzalo Ramon Jesus Garcia, Russel Binagatan, Miguel Carlos Pangilinan, and Justinn Antonio Alon.
Dean Ulpiano “Ulan” Sarmiento III also announced and awarded the Domitius Ulpianus Award, which was established this year to be awarded to the students with the best appeal to the Supreme Court among all the first year Legal Research and Legal Writing classes in SBCA as well as in San Beda University. This year’s topic is the 2018 film Trial by Fire, based on the true story of Cameron Todd Willingham’s conviction and execution.
During the robing proper, Vice Dean Carlo Busmente and Dean Ulan Sarmiento spoke about the significance of the academic regalia. Vice Dean Busmente reminded that San Beda’s color is red, signifying that a Bedan lawyer is expected to be prestigious, passionate, and protective. He added that at present, we are the only institution of higher learning which holds an annual robing ceremony.
Dean Ulan Sarmiento led the donning of the robes to all freshmen and transferees. He also gave an inspirational message and prayer not only to them, but to the entire SBCA-SOL community.
An alumna of SBCA-SOL, former SLG President, a lawyer, professor, proprietress, Atty. Noelle Gavino-Duñgo, was the guest speaker during the ceremony. Her motivating advice to the students was “to find your own set of lifelong friends to get through the hurdles and celebrate wins both in law and in life.” Finally, Atty. Eliza Yamamoto-Santos, SBCA-SOL Prefect of Student Affairs, gave her heartwarming message and closing remarks.
SBCA-SOL continues the tradition of promising beginnings. “It was a great feeling and a very fulfilling experience for me as a transferee as I felt the care and acceptance of the SBCA-SOL,” Janrell Maestre, a 2nd year transferee, said when asked how he felt with the whole experience during the robing ceremony. “SOL is my second chance to start anew, so I’m more fired up than ever to continue my study of law here in SBCA,” Claudine Joyce Gabur, another transferee student added.
Kimi Bautista, the representative of Block 1S who attended the event on-site said, “The robing ceremony was surreal. The feeling was overwhelming especially when you are surrounded with people you look up to. Also, I was in high spirits because of the opportunity to mingle with personalities I have only seen online.”
The 2021 Robing Ceremony and Academic Recognition was made possible with the efforts of the SLG officers and the Robing Ceremony organizing committee, in partnership with the SBCA-SOL, and the entire SBCA community who have actively participated during the meaningful event. ∎
Great content! Keep up the good work!