By Cyrus A. Natividad

The new Centralian Lawyers with the Faculty and Staff of the College of Law, and University officials.

The CPU College of Law tendered a testimonial dinner in honor of the successful Centralian Bar Passers on June 16, 2022 at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The program started with an invocation and playing of the National Anthem. CPU College of Law Dean Atty. Aila Rae B. Endonila gave her welcome remarks. In her message, she thanked the CPU Board of Trustees and its Chairman Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera, and Dr. Teodoro C. Robles, CPU President for their big support to the College of Law. She also expressed gratitude to the CPU Vice Presidents, and the professors and faculty who untiringly helped the bar examinees during their review.

Endonila said, “I stand proud of the achievement of the College with 102 bar passers in 2019 and in 2020/2021 bar exams.” She thanked the successful examinees who took up the Bar Exam under the worst condition during the pandemic. She mentioned how the examinees patiently took fourteen days of review in isolation. The bar examination was held at Central Philippine University last year.

Atty. Corvera challenged the new lawyers and reminded them that “Passing the Bar Examination is a huge accomplishment, but your journey has just begun…Our lawyers aside from the skill and competence, will imbibe and live out the Christian values for which this university stands for – honesty, integrity, uprightness and honor. Remember that in your dealings and practice, you do not carry only your family name but also the name of the very institution which trained you and educated you.”

Dr. Robles congratulated the successful bar examinees and recognized the efforts of the Faculty of CPU College of Law. He said “I am thankful that during my time as President of the University, we attained the average, higher than the national average”. He thanked the faculty and the hard work of the graduates. He added that, “We have to continue the good work and hope that we have more successes as the days come; to continue to shine for Central Philippine University. We shall have future lawyers who will be able to be what we want them to be – lawyers with integrity and honesty who will practice with Christian values.”

Exemplary Bar Passers, Atty. Ronil G. Arbis, Atty. Jikko S. Belejerdo, Atty. Neslie Vic L. Bibera and Atty Robespierre S. Tersol shared their experiences from the review period to examination time. Other congratulatory messages were also delivered by PAO Regional Director Jose Edmund Guillin, City Prosecutor Peter Baliao, Retired Judge Nery D. Duremdes, Judge Globert Justalero, and CPU College of Law Faculty Atty. Rodolfo V. Cabado.

Immediate Past Dean of the CPU College of Law Atty. Zacarias D. Bedona Jr. led the toast for the successful bar examinees and for the Testimonial Dinner. Rev Cris Amorsolo V. Sian, Senior Pastor of the University Church led the prayer to send off the new lawyers. Acting Asst. Dean Atty. Liza Lyn Lamason-Garcia delivered her closing remarks.

Ms. Carmelle Frances M. Romero, Administrative Officer, Office of the President was the host of the event.