University of the Philippines Visayas Chancellor Clement C. Camposano hosted a fellowship dinner for UP Law graduates based in Western Visayas last Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022. The recent 2020/2021 bar examinations passers Berne M. Facinal and Francine Beatrix Caram were recognized during the event held at the Performance Hall of the UPV Main Building.
The Supreme Court released the results of the exam on April 12, 2022. Three hundred forty-one out of 345 UP Law graduates, or 98.84%, passed the exam on their first attempt. Over two out of every five UP Law passers, or 44%, obtained a grade of 85 or better.
The fellowship dinner also highlighted the present UP Law extension program in UPV, which was made possible under the leadership of UP President Danilo Concepcion and with the support of UP Law Dean Edgardo Carlo Vistan II and Chancellor Camposano. The program began in September 2021 and coincides with the 75th anniversary of UP’s presence in Iloilo.
Together with Assistant Professor Andre Palacios, UP Law coordinator for the extension program in UPV, Chancellor Camposano showed the classrooms to the alumni prior to the dinner. They also had their group photo taken at the newly inaugurated Oblation Plaza.
The UP Law alumni guests included former Secretary of Agrarian Reform Atty. Rene Villa (UP Law Class of 1978); Atty. Angelo Aninao (1979); Atty. Elsa Divinagracia (1985); UPV Legal Counsel Atty. Nellie Jo Aujero-Regalado (1992); Labor Arbiter Asuncion Jamerlan-Divinagracia (1994) from Negros Occidental; RTC Judge Jennifer ProtasioArches (1994) from Negros Occidental; MTC Judge Steven Cercado (2000); Civil Service Commission lawyer Kristine Alobba (2001); former Integrated Bar of the Philippines governor for Western Visayas Atty. Marienne Ibadlit (2003) from Aklan, Atty. Leofred Ledesma (2012); Atty. Francis Baclay (2013); Iloilo Business Club lawyer Atty. Eunice Guadalope (2018); and Atty. Dan Delfin (2019) from Capiz.
Also in attendance were UP Law students from UP Diliman, UP Bonifacio Global City, and UPV who are in Western Visayas, including Denise Ventilacion, 4th year law student (UPD), Lance Villarosa, 3rd year (UPBGC), Jules Contreras, 1st year (UPV), and Cristo Dilla, 1st year (UPV). Student Regent Renee Louise Co, who is a 4th year law student in UP Diliman, was a special guest during the event.
"This is local significance because under our administration, UPV really wants to become part of this Iloilo growth history. I think for that to happen, UPV must host new programs. The University is not distinguished by its being. It is distinguished by its programs,” Chancellor Camposano shared during his speech.
Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla, UPV Chancellor for Academic Affairs, also joined the fellowship dinner.
