The Chief Justice made the call as he reaffirmed the commitment of the entire Judiciary to do its part in nation-building at the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) Awards Ceremony for Academic Year 2022-2023 held at the Stephen Fuller Hall, Asian Institute of Management, Makati City on July 28, 2023, where he was the guest of honor and speaker.
“By striking a consistent balance between individual rights and freedoms and legitimate government interests, we create a stable environment for economic growth. And when we nurture sustainable and inclusive growth, we widen the realization of rights and strengthen their protection. The Supreme Court and the entire Judiciary remain steadfast in our commitment to perform this task as best we can, in accord with our constitutional mandate and our laws,” said Chief Justice Gesmundo.
Founded in 2011 by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, the FLP awarded 21 scholars under its Legal Scholarship Program, five winners of its Dissertation Writing Contest, and five new fellows of its Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Management, Economics, and Business Law (ESMEL) Program.
“Tonight is more than a reminder that hard work is rewarded; it is a call to work even harder in service of something larger than yourselves. It is an affirmation of your commitment to put our country’s welfare over your own personal interests; and, in accepting this honor, a commitment to continue affirming and advancing our intertwined aspirations of liberty and prosperity for all, wherever you are and however you can—whether as budding legal scholars, aspiring entrepreneurs, or exemplary law students and future lawyers,” Chief Justice Gesmundo said.
Chief Justice Gesmundo, who chaired the Board of Judges who chose the 21 recipients of the FLP’s Legal Scholarship Program, shared that the selection process had been difficult but it was clear to the Board that they were looking for “students who understood what it means and had what it takes to safeguard our rights and liberties to guarantee our country’s prosperity.”
The Chief Justice added: “We looked for more than intelligence and academic excellence; while important on their own, these, to be meaningful, must also come with an ability to see far beyond the particulars of any given case and understand how decisions impact not just the parties involved, but our country and its trajectory as well. We looked for character and integrity. For courage, rectitude, and fortitude. For honesty, incorruptibility, and fidelity to the highest standards of ethics and morality.”
The Chief Justice challenged the awardees to contribute and do their own share in ensuring the progress of the nation. “When we talk of liberty and prosperity, we talk of food on the table. Of children being able to go to school. Of enterprise being allowed to flourish, and uplift others with it. Of Filipinos from all walks of life being able to live in security and with dignity,” he stressed.
“I hope you support and amplify each other’s work to help bring us closer to the nation we envision: a nation that safeguards the liberty to prosper and guarantees a prosperity of rights and freedoms for all,” Chief Justice Gesmundo concluded.
FLP President and retired Supreme Court Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, who is also the Vice Chairperson of the Judicial Integrity Board, gave the welcome remarks.
In his closing remarks, retired Chief Justice Panganiban, who is also Chairperson of FLP Board of Trustees, shared two upcoming FLP projects: the Center for Liberty and Prosperity and Museum, and a multi-billion Prosperity Fund to nurture, grow, and help make profitable and bankable micro, small and medium enterprises.
Also present at the Awards Ceremony were Supreme Court Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Chairperson of Dissertation Writing Contest; retired Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe, FLP Board of Trustees Member; and Governance Commission for GOCCs Chairperson retired Sandiganbayan Justice Alex L. Quiroz.
The 21 scholars under the FLP’s Legal Scholarship Program are Betlee-kyle Barraquias (Ateneo de Manila University [AdMU]), Gerifel Cerillo (Ateneo de Davao University), Joanna Rizza David (Bulacan State University), Susanna Ruth Gruyal (University of the Philippines [UP]), Mia Jasmin Laza (St. Louis University), Alma Angela Patricio (University of Santo Tomas [UST]), Aimiel Marian Reyes (AdMU), Allan Cairo Reyes (UP), Marisse Shaine Salazar (De La Salle University [DLSU]), Azelea Coleen Salcedo (Jose Rizal University), Shergina Grace Alicando (University of Cebu [UCebu]), Laine Marie J. Bringuelo (DLSU), Frances Mickaella Noreen Chavez (UST), Ian Christian Cosido (UCebu), Almira Bianca De Guzman (DLSU), Patrizia Anne Garcia (De La Salle Lipa [DLSLipa]), Shandrei Allen Guevarra (DLSU), Blessie Ngeteg (University of the Cordilleras), Maria Lovelyn Joyce Quebrar (UP), Dana Mae Tadea (Far Eastern University), and Kyle Christian Tutor (UP). Each will receive PhP200,000 (PhP100,000 for tuition, PhP20,000 for books, and PhP80,000 for monthly stipends).
In partnership with the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, the Legal Scholarship Program is for 3rd and 4th-year law students from various law schools in the country, chosen based on their academic achievements and their understanding of and dedication to FLP’s philosophy of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law.
The scholars were chosen by the board of judges chaired by Chief Justice Gesmundo, with former Education Secretary Edilberto C. De Jesus; Evelyn Doris Abao of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation; Dean Soledad Deriquito-Mawis, and FLP Corporate Secretary Joel J. Gregorio as members.
The FLP also awarded the winners in the Dissertation Writing Contest. In partnership with the Ayala Corporation, this program is for third and fourth-year law students and those pursuing Master’s, Doctor of Laws, and PhD degrees, as well as to MBA students.
The five Dissertation Writing Contest winners are Clarisse Mae Zaplan (AdMU), first prize (PhP320,000); Patrizia Anne Garcia (DLSLipa), second prize (PhP220,000); and Anton Gabriel Leron (UP), Michelle Anne Mendoza (AdMU), and Erielle Robyn Ongchan (AdMU), third prizes (PhP120,000 each).
The winners were chosen by the board of Judges chaired by Justice Lazaro-Javier with Ayala Corporation General Counsel Solomon M. Hermosura, Dean Anna Maria D. Abad, and FLP Corporate Secretary Joel J. Gregorio as members.
The FLP, in partnership with the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) through the Metro Pacific Investments Foundation, also awarded the recipients of the ESMEL Fellowship Program.
The recipients, graduate students pursuing ESMEL, are Ma. Andrea Ali (UP), Mark Anthony Angeles (UP), Dave Angelo Calutan (Asian Institute of Management [AIM]), Margaret Stefanie Arielle Gecana (UP), and Hannah Jara (AIM). They were awarded a fellowship amounting to a maximum of PhP450,000 each (PhP350,000 for tuition and PhP100,000 for stipend).
The recipients were chosen by the board of judges chaired by former BSP governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. with former Education Secretary Edilberto C. De Jesus; Mr. Cezar Juan Consing, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ayala Corporation; Ms. June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla, Executive Director, Chief Finance, Sustainability and Risk Officer of MPIC; Ms. Maria Elena P. Yaptangco, President and CEO of Baron Travel Corporation; and Atty. Joel J. Gregorio as members. (Courtesy of the Supreme Court Public Information Office)