By Karren Jay G. Asgar

CPU-College of Law students, alongside prominent individuals, participate in the official launch of ‘alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan’ on April 8, 2025, at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Lobby.

On April 8, 2025, the Central Philippine University – College of Law officially launched “alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan” in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Iloilo Provincial Government through the Provincial Population Office. Held at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Lobby, the event gathered students, faculty, and staff members of the CPU – College of Law, along with invited guests, representatives from various secondary schools across the province, and personnel from the Iloilo Provincial Population Office.

The event began with preliminaries, followed by a welcome message from Atty. Ruel Von D. Superio, Provincial Population Officer. Afterward, Atty. Liza Lyn S. Lamason-Garcia, delivered the program context and rationale of the said initiative.

“alaLAYI literally means providing guidance to our learners and our students on the provisions of the law and the insights of jurisprudence, teaching them of legal rights and such other legal matters,” Atty. Superio said during his welcome message.

One of the highlights of the event was the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Gov. Arthur Defensor, Jr.; Atty. Aila Rae Endonila, Dean of the CPU College of Law; and Dr. Ernesto Servillon, Jr., Department of Education Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent. The signing was witnessed by Iloilo Provincial Population Officer, Atty. Ruel Von Superio; CPU College of Law Assistant Dean, Atty. Liza Lyn Lamason-Garcia; Commission on Population and Development VI Regional Director, Harold Alfred P. Marshall; Integrated Bar of the Philippines Iloilo Chapter President, Atty. Mehelinda Penetrante; and DepEd Iloilo School Governance and Operations Division Chief, Dr. Gilbert Solidum.

CPU-COL Dean Atty. Aila Rae B. Endonila (left) and Assistant Dean Atty. Liza Lyn S. Lamason-Garcia (2nd from left) receive a Certificate of Appreciation and token from Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. (2nd from right), together with Atty. Ruel Von D. Superio (right), Provincial Population Officer.

After the signing, a keynote message was delivered by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., who emphasized the significance of the event. “We are commemorating the 124th Founding Anniversary of the Province of Iloilo, and one way we honor this milestone is through our continued efforts in implementing engaging programs and strengthening collaborations and partnerships,” he said. He further highlighted that this legal-awareness program would provide essential legal education, assist in navigating legal processes, and promote a deeper understanding of rights and responsibilities among the school-based multipurpose teen centers.

A series of messages of support were also delivered, starting with the academe by Atty. Aila Rae Endonila, Dean of the CPU College of Law; from the Department of Education by Dr. Ernesto Servillon Jr., Schools Division Superintendent of the Schools Division Office – Iloilo; from the national government agency by Director Harold Alfred P. Marshall, Regional Director of the Commission on Population and Development VI; and from the legal sector by Atty. Mehelinda A. Penetrante, President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines – Iloilo Chapter.

The program “alaLAYI: Pag-ubay Legal sa Kabataan” aims to strengthen legal aid services in teen centers by providing legal advice, assistance with legal documents, and educational seminars. It also seeks to raise awareness through sessions on gender-based laws, comprehensive sexuality education, and voter’s education.