FEU-IL celebrates its 75th anniversary

The Institute of Law of Far Eastern University is celebrating its 75th founding anniversary from August 24–30, 2009. Among in attendance to the first day of the weeklong celebration was FEU Vice President for Academic Affairs, Arch. Miguel Carpio, Associate Dean of the Institute of Law, Atty. Viviana Paguirigan and the current president of the FEU Law Alumni Association, Atty. Silverio Garing.

The Institute of Law opened its doors in 1934 and one of the older colleges of law in the country. Also, it is a pedigreed law school from whose ranks two other law schools located in the university belt were formed. The Institute has the unique distinction of having two Senate Presidents served as Dean: Jovito Salonga (1956-1963) and Neptali Gonzales (1976-1986). Its present dean is Atty. Andres Bautista, president of the Philippine Association of Law Schools and also one of the members of the moral force, a formal movement initiated by Chief Justice Reynato Puno that will lay down the standards in choosing candidates for the May 2010 election.

Among the Institute of Law’s notable Alumni were former Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban; Jose N.  Nolledo, member of the 1986 Philippine Constitutional Commission; Alfredo Lim, former Senator and current Mayor of Manila; Edilberto Sandoval, Associate Justice of Sandiganbayan; former Senators, Edgar Ilarde, Wenceslao Lagumbay and Datu Mama Sinsuat; Neptali Gonzales Jr., former Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives and founder of Rizal Technological University;  Nestor Mantaring, National Bureau of Investigation Director; and many other reputable individuals in the government. The late former president Cory Aquino and presidential son and Camarines Sur Representative, Dato Arroyo also studied law in FEU. (inset photo: former Chief Justice Panganiban during his student years in FEU)

Recent Bar Topnotchers:
2005 – Atty. Johnson A.H. Ong, 10th placer
2006 – Atty. Gina Lyn Rubio, 5th placer; FEU Law Class Valedictorian
2007 – Atty. Evangeline M. Co, 11th placer

In 2003, The Institute teamed up with the De La Salle University Graduate School of Business to offer the JD-MBA program, the Philippines’ first graduate dual program in law and business administration.

This year’s 75th founding anniversary activities include Exhibits, Bazaar and Booths; Sports Fest; Quiz bee and debate tournaments; Essay Writing Contest and Free Buffet for IL students, faculty, alumni and staff.

 VPAA Carpio and Atty. Garing led the ribbon cutting at the Photo Exhibit
FEU Law Building, August 24, 2009