The University of the Philippines College of Law (UP Law) has achieved remarkable success in international moot court competitions, clinching top honors in both the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition and the Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition held in the United States in April 2024. This dual triumph underscores UP Law’s global standing and prowess in legal advocacy.
In the final showdown of the 28th Stetson Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition held from April 10-13 in Gulfport, Florida, USA, the UP Law Stetson Team emerged victorious against the Singapore Management University. The team showcased their legal acumen on the issue of the protection of a critically endangered Mountain Gorilla species threatened by oil extraction activities.
Meanwhile, at the final round of the 2024 Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition held in Washington, DC, from March 30 to April 6, the UP Law Jessup Team outperformed Argentina’s Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in a simulated court dispute before the International Court of Justice. Their arguments centered on crucial issues such as political expression, statelessness, nationality rights, and the authority of the United Nations Security Council in dispute resolution.
2-Peat Stetson Environmental Champions
UP Law’s recent triumph at the 28th Stetson Annual International Environmental Moot Court Competition marks their second Stetson international title, following their victory in 2018.
Coached by 2018 Stetson champion and now Professor Marianne Vitug and faculty advisor Professor Rommel Casis, the UP Law Stetson Team, comprised of Noel Francis Galinato, Miriam Celine Miciano, and Alia Dominique Yao, demonstrated outstanding skills.
Notably, Miciano received the Overall Best Oralist award for the preliminary rounds, while Yao earned recognition as the 3rd Best Oralist for the preliminary rounds and the Best Oralist for the championship round.
The competition invited 29 law schools worldwide, including representatives from the Philippines – UP Law and Ateneo de Naga University.
Two UP Law student teams won back-to-back victories in global moot court tilts, securing the Stetson championship and Jessup World Champions title. My full report on the @UPCollegeofLaw victories in @JessupWhiteCase @The_Jessup and Stetson on @GoodNewsPinas_ Photos via UP Law pic.twitter.com/mEhEmBewfY
— Angie Quadra Balibay (@AngieQBalibay) April 15, 2024
Jessup Cup World Champions Once More
UP Law’s historic victory at the 2024 Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition reaffirms its prominence in the legal arena. The University of the Philippines Jessup Team made history after being declared World Champions in the “Olympics” of moot courts, the largest and most esteemed gathering of law schools in competition. The victory is UP Law’s second Jessup Cup title since a Lui Bungo and Chito Gascon-led team won the Philippines’ first Jessup in 1995. UP Law also made the global rounds last year.
Coached by Professor Marianne Vitug and guided by faculty advisor Professor Rommel Casis, the UP Law Jessup Team, composed of Mary Regine Dadole, Pauline De Leon, Pauline Samantha Sagayo, Chinzen Viernes, and Ignacio Lorenzo Villareal, showcased exceptional simulated court skills.
Villareal’s stellar performance earned him the prestigious Schwebel Award for Best Oralist in the Championship Round. The final arguments were adjudicated by esteemed legal luminaries, including Judge María Teresa Infante Caffi of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon of the Supreme Court of Singapore, and Ganna Yudkivska, Vice Chair of the UN Working Group on Arbitration Detentions.
This year’s Jessup, sponsored by the Global law firm White & Case LLP and administered by the International Law Students Association (ILSA), attracted a record number of 642 teams from over 100 jurisdictions, the most the face to face competition has ever had, according to the Jessup organizers. UP Law was the only representative from the Philippines and the Asia Pacific region to advance to the quarterfinals and eventually nab a finalist berth.
Share this milestone in Philippine education and spread Filipino pride!
Be part of our vibrant Good News Pilipinas community, celebrating the best of the Philippines and our global Filipino heroes. As winners of the Gold Anvil Award and the Lasallian Scholarum Award, we invite you to engage with us and share your inspiring stories. For stories Making Every Filipino Proud, reach out to GoodNewsPilipinas.com via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. LinkTree here. Let’s spread good news together!
