‘Liberty, prosperity, rule of law’

These are the keywords and ideas that patriotic, talented, and trustworthy law school juniors and seniors have to believe in and promote to obtain scholarships and/or to win dissertation-writing prizes from the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) and its partners, the Tan Yan Kee Foundation (TYKF) and the Ayala Corporation (AC), respectively.

Headed by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, the board of judges of the FLP-TYKF scholarship program carefully examined the essays of the finalists (who passed the preliminary screening for their academic excellence) and awarded scholarships to 10 third year and two fourth year law students, in addition to nine other senior students who succeeded in renewing the third year scholarships that were given them last year.

Thus, for this school year, 21 scholars will be awarded P200,000 each, divided into P100,000 for tuition, P80,000 for stipends, and P20,000 for books. The awardees are:

Juniors: Allan Crisostomo (FEU), Cecilia Joahna Laza (St. Louis U), Anton Gabriel Leron (UP), Mary Therese Maurin (U Cebu), Louis-Mari Opina (UST), Daverick Angelito Pacumio (UST), Ma. Paula Ramos (U Cordilleras), Robert Jhon Salazar (FEU), Erielle Sibayan (U Cordilleras), and Shalimar Hillary Taongan (DLSU)

Seniors: William Christian Dela Cruz (Father Saturnino Urios U), Ricka Abigael Dumelod (UST), Florida Fomaneg (UP), Rowell Nico Macalino (ADMU), Joy Francine Mappang (U Cordilleras), Geremae Mata (USC), Carlo Angelo Negado (USC), Laurence Obaob (USC), Jani Omamalin (USC), George Mariano Soriano (UP), and Mark Stephen Sy (ADMU).

The members of the scholarship board of judges are Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, former education secretary Edilberto C. de Jesus, TYKF vice chairman Harry C. Tan, law dean Anna Maria D. Abad, and lawyer Joel Emerson J. Gregorio.

On the other hand, Senior Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe chaired the board of judges of the FLP-AC dissertation-writing contest. Selected first place winner for P320,000 was Lord Jay-em Cuntapay (ADMU); second place for P220,000: Eunice Baliong (USC); three third places at P120,000 each: Christianne Noelle De Vera (DLSU), Trisha Aliya Dulanas (USC), and Catherine Joy Lim (ADMU). All the scholars and dissertation winners will also get plaques of appreciation.

Seven other finalists will receive P20,000 each: Sheila Marie Cabazares (RMC), Jyrus Cimatu (UST), William Christian Dela Cruz (Father Saturnino Urios U), Chelsea Ysabel Go (FEU), Kenneth Limosnero (DLSU), Fidel Rico Nini (UP), and Ericka Therese Uyguangco (ADMU).

The faculty advisers of the winners will also receive cash prizes: P100,000 for the first placer (Evecar Cruz Ferrer), P75,000 for the second placer (Rashid Pandi), and P50,000 for each of the third placers (Dr. Rebecca Khan, Pandi, and Ferdinand Negre, respectively).

The members of the dissertation board of judges are De Jesus, Gregorio, Ayala Corporation managing director and general counsel Solomon M. Hermosura, and law dean Anna Maria D. Abad.

The FLP scholarships are unique. The recipients are judged not only for their excellent academic performance in the eligible law schools but also for their commitment to promote the FLP’s underlying philosophy of safeguarding the liberty of our people and nurturing their prosperity under the rule of law.

FLP believes in the intertwining relationship of justice and jobs; freedom and food; ethics and economics; liberty and prosperity. One is useless without the other. Yes, it teaches the indispensability and inseparability of the freedom from tyranny and the freedom from poverty; and of the freedom from fear and the freedom from hunger—to be attained and preserved under the rule of law in a democracy, not under the rule of force in a monocracy.

On the other hand, the dissertation contest aims to improve the writing skills of law students and their ability to research, analyze, and apply the FLP’s philosophy to improve the lives and livelihoods of our people.

This contest is open to all junior and senior law students as well as those taking a master or doctoral law degree here or abroad. It is open also to Ph.D. candidates regardless of their bachelor or master degrees.

The scholars and dissertation winners automatically become members of the FLP Scholars Society. FLP fervently hopes that from this society will arise the new leaders of our country—patriotic, talented, and trustworthy promoters of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law.

Comments to [email protected]