In 1939, nineteen of the best and brightest student leaders and intellectuals in the College of Law of the University of the Philippines held together by ideals of brotherhood, excellence, leadership and service established the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity. One of them was Renato Constantino, who eventually revolutionized how we viewed our nation’s history and became the voice of wisdom in the nationalist movement. As a student, Brod Tato, was the embodiment of the scholar—having served as editor-in-chief of the Philippine Collegian and becoming a champion debater. His scholarship however, did not end in his residency in UP. He later joined the academe as a prolific historian where he became a forefront in writing Philippine history from the perspective of the Filipino masses. His books, The Philippines: A Past Revisited and Philippines: A Continuing Past, as well as his famous essay, The Miseducation of the Filipino, are testaments to his nationalist and anti-colonial view of history. He also became one of the harshest critics against US imperialist encroachment in Philippine government. A few weeks before Martial Law, Brod Tato wrote satirical columns of Marcos that were published in The Marcos Watch. He was later placed under house arrest during Martial Law. His writings and words of wisdom became a guiding light of the nationalist movement that eventually led to the people power movement and continued on well into his twilight years. On September 15, 1999, Brod Tato passed away. He is survived by his wife, Letizia Roxas Constantino who now chairs the Constantino Foundation, his children Renato Constantino, Jr. and Karina Constantino David, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ten years after his death, Brod Tato’s clamor to affirm our identity as a nation and not to bow down to colonial pressures endures to this very day. To honor his call is the least we can do for a man as great as Renato Constantino—historian, nationalist, Alphan. # Summary: Ten years after his death, the Fraternity honors one of its charter members, historian and nationalist Brod Renato Constantino.
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Alphans earned top places during the First UP Law Dean’s Cup Triathlon last August 30.
Brod Mark Anthony “Marko” Samson ’93 was first in the Alumni Category while Brod Timothy Joseph “TJ” Isla ’99 finished seventh over-all and first in the Fraternity Category. Brod Rafael Guillermo ’06 placed second over-all.
Resident and alumni brods also participated in the relay race and fun run around the UP Diliman campus.
The Dean’s Cup Invitational Triathlon and Fun Run with the theme “Swim, Bike, Run for Peace Based on Justice” was organized to raise funds for the Office of Legal Aid (OLA). The OLA “houses the clinical education program of the College of Law.” Funding for OLA is crucial since providing “free legal assistance to indigent litigants” has become too costly. Students taking their internship here have been forced to shell out their own money for processing documents and transportation during the course of the program.
Also, the Dean’s Cup was an opportunity for the three biggest fraternities in the College to work together for the event as co-presentors together with the UP Law Class of 1984 and the Law Student Government.
With the success of the First Dean’s Cup, the Fraternity together with the UP Law community looks forward to next year’s festivities.
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“Krav Maga is an eclectic hand-to-hand combat system developed in Israel. It was derived from street-fighting skills developed by Imi Lichtenfeld, making use of his training as a boxer and wrestler, as a means of defending the Jewish quarter during a period of anti-Semitic activity in Bratislava in the mid- to late 1930s. In the late 1940s, following his emigration to Israel, he began to provide hand-to-hand combat training to what was to become the IDF, developing the techniques that became known as Krav Maga. It has since been refined for both civilian and military applications. Unlike most martial arts, Krav Maga is essentially a tactical defense skill. Its philosophy emphasizes threat neutralization, simultaneous defensive and offensive maneuvers, and aggressive endurance in a ‘him-or-me’ context. Krav Maga is still used by the Israel Defense Forces and several closely related variations have been developed and adopted by law enforcement, Mossad, FBI, United States special operations forces, Irish and British Special Forces.” Learn the basics of Krav Maga in this free training clinic.
]]>Join as us we round the curve at full speed in support of the 2009 UP Law Barristers.
UP College of Law
UP Law Student Government
RISE 2009: Bar Operations Commission
Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity
and
G.S.M. Blue
in cooperation with
BIG ACE Poker Club
presents
APEX: The UP Law Kickoff Party
4TH OF JULY 2009
CLUB CIRCA, EASTWOOD CITYWALK LIBIS
HIPHOP, DANCEHALL and CLUB music featured all night
Tickets at P250 (pre-event) / P300 (door sales)
Available outside the Malcolm Hall Library
or contact Tina (09178848462) or Dan (09194776575)
“Lahat tayo ay ‘Friends of Chiz,’” said program host RJ Ledesma during the “Dinner with Friends of Chiz Escudero” at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel last June 26.
And who would beg to differ? After all, Lord Chancellor Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero possesses the intelligence, wit, and sincere desire to reach out to people of different walks of life—a likable man indeed. The event was in itself a celebration of a man whom many admire and put their hopes on to bring about a much-needed change in the country. It was also a way of introducing LC Chiz to his supporters as AVPs of his personal and family background were shown and testimonials about him were given.
Resident and alumni brods joined childhood friends, classmates from preschool to Law school, associates, student organizations, and ordinary people, as the Friends of Chiz, Inc., a growing network of supporters from all over the country who “believe that the idealism and visionary leadership of the youth is a most powerful force for meaningful change,…in principle leadership,… (and) in the imperative for change…in the future of our politics.”
The organization is led by Brods Rogelio D. Garcia ’55 as Chairman, Ramon S. Esguerra ’75 as President, Anthony T. Dogillo ’55 as Treasurer, and Pablito M. Rojas ’55 as Corporate Secretary. Brods Novato T. Cajigal ‘54, Hermenigildo C. Dumlao ‘54, Hesiquio R. Malillin ‘73, Rolando M. Rivera ’53, Eduardo R. Robles ‘66, Conrado D. Soriano ‘72, and Henry R. Villarica ‘66 are also members of the Board of Directors.
LC Chiz Revealed
LC Chiz was born on October 10, 1969 in Manila to former Agriculture Sec. Salvador Escudero III and Evelina Guevara. He grew up at Project 6, Quezon City and lived there for 28 years.
The University of the Philippines became his second home from elementary to high school (graduated 1985) to his undergrad years (AB Political Science) to Law School (graduated 1993). At UP Law, he became Secretary General of the Association of Law Students of the Philippines and a member of the Order of the Purple Feather.
While at Law School, LC Chiz joined the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity in 1990. The following year, he represented the Fraternity at the UP Open Debate where he clinched his very first victory as a debater. From here on out, his potent talent in public speaking and debate was tapped and developed. “But I didn’t have the gift; I was forced into public speaking by the Fraternity,” said LC Chiz in an interview with Manifesto Magazine.
After graduating from UP Law, he went on to earn his Masters in International and Comparative Law as a scholar from the prestigious Georgetown University Law Center in the United States. He then became a junior associate, a legal consultant, and senior Law lecturer at UP, Ateneo de Manila University and Aemilianum College in Sorsogon.
At 28, he became Representative of the First District of Sorsogon. The following year, he married theater actress Christine Elizabeth Flores. From the very start of their marriage, LC Chiz wanted to point out that public service was the kind of world they as a couple would be involved in.
During his second term in the House of Representatives, he became Majority Floor Leader and then became the official spokesperson of the late Fernando Poe Jr. during the 2004 elections. He continued to serve his final term as the Minority Floor Leader.
Three years later, at 37, he became Senator with the second highest number of votes. He is currently Chair of the Committees on Justice and Human Rights, Constitutional Amendments, Banks and Finance Intermediaries, and Revisions of Laws and Electoral Reforms. It was also in the same year when he became proud father to fraternal twins Maria Cecilia and Joaquin Cruz.
To add to his long list of achievements, LC Chiz has been conferred as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines in 2005. He also became the only Filipino named as one of Asia’s Idols by the Asian News Network. He was also recognized as one of the Young Global Leaders of 2008 by the World Economic Forum.
Dreaming Big
LC Chiz did not fail to inspire those in attendance to dream big. Dispelling rumors that he aims to run for Vice-President in the upcoming elections, LC Chiz said, “(L)ibre ang mangarap…at kung mangangarap ka man lamang, (mangarap ka nang malaki).”
Rebutting critics that point to his age as his weakness, LC Chiz said that he fears growing old into politics. He points out the notion that the longer one stays in politics, the “longer one’s horns grow.”
He also displayed the wit and humor he has become known for. Pointing out the significance of the Alpha Phi Beta in his life, he said, “Dalawang dahilan kung bakit ‘Brod’ ang tawagan…Brod dahil kapatid ang turing—parehong pinanggalingan, iisang organisasyong kinabibilangan…at Brod dahil hindi alam ang pangalan.”
As for his family, he hopes to move in a new home where his kids could play in the grass. “Narinig ko may garden daw sa Malacañang,” he said.
Kidding aside, all eyes are now set on Lord Chancellor Sen. Francis G. Escudero. The road ahead may be filled with all sorts of obstacles from different sides. But LC Chiz can be assured that with friends like his and the Fraternity always by his side, his dream to bring change to the country will one day be a reality.
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“Law will never reign if they who rule are too few and rule to serve their own interest.”
Thus Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno summarized the Philippine reality of the law serving more the interests of those who are in power, rather than those who most need them.
In his talk given during the 1st Alphan Lecture Series on 27 February 2009, the Chief Justice reiterated the need to make the law responsive to the needs of the poor and marginalized. “Unless they find law a friend, they will later treat law as their enemy. They will resist law if all they experience is its lawlessness.”
The Lecture, attended by students, professors, and people’s organizations from different marginalized sectors – informal settlers, women, fishers, and farmers – emphasized on the need to empower the poor by using the law as a tool to gain access to democratic institutions and processes.
“The four pillars of legal empowerment of the poor are acquisition of property rights, business rights, labor rights, and access to justice. These will enable the poor to fight for equality and help them gain significance in society,” the Chief Justice said.
He, however, underscored that legal empowerment must not be equated to ‘charity’ to the poor. “Legal empowerment is about endowing the poor with rights, arming them with the tools to enforce these rights in our judicial system.”
In sponsoring the Lecture together with the Economic, Social, Cultural Rights – Asia, and the Alternative Law Groups, the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity highlighted the responsibility of law students to become ‘Abogado para sa bayan [lawyers for the nation]’ after they graduate and pass the bar exams.
The Alphan Lecture Series on the Emancipation from Poverty through Legal Empowerment is the first in a series of talks to be given by eminent Alphans in celebration of the Fraternity’s 70th Anniversary. ##
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