By Ramon Timothy Bautista and Kim V. Naparan
MENDIOLA, MANILA–The San Beda University College of Law (SBU-COL) opened its doors to the new batch of first-year students, who will pioneer the new curriculum prescribed by the Legal Education Board, last July 18 and 19 via Zoom.
Around 400 incoming first-year students attended The Red Spell: The 2022 Freshmen Orientation Day, inspired by Disney’s animated film “Encanto.” The two-day virtual event was spearheaded by the Student Affairs Society (SAS).
The orientation began with a song rendition by the SBU-COL’s Vox Legis, the Philippine National Anthem, and the San Beda University Vision-Mission Statement.
During the opening remarks, College of Law Dean Marciano Delson highlighted the achievements of the SBU-COL in the Bar examinations. He expressed the University’s pride for holding the highest grade in the Philippine Bar exams history, which was obtained by the retired Supreme Court Justice Florenz Regalado in 1954.
Dean Delson also emphasized the Benedictine core values of Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work) to be applied in law studies.
The University administration was presented by the Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB.
“More than academic excellence, we need to develop our hearts filled with love for God and one another. And that is being a Bedan is to become a person with a compassionate heart,” Fr. Maranan, OSB said in his welcome message.
This was followed by the introduction of the roster of esteemed law professors who warmly greeted the students.
Atty. Adonis Gabriel, the Prefect of Student Affairs discussed the rules of conduct of SBU-COL. He also remarked that a signature trait of a Bedan lawyer is “always [the] prayerful one being taught not on legal practice but on the hallmarks of Benedictine education through Christ.”
Vice Dean Francesca Señga explained the administrative and academic policies of SBU-COL. She also announced some changes in the conduct of online classes for this academic year.
Recitation will still be held through Zoom in the first semester. But in the second semester, it will be hybrid and will depend on the alert level status.
Quizzes are still conducted using the Red Canvas. But for the Midterm and Final exams, SBU-COL will now utilize ExamSoft, the same program used by the recent Bar exams. Midterm exams are online. But the Final exams will be held on-site.
“For the Final exams, we will announce it in advance so that those in the province can make preparations but it will be on-site. This is without prejudice to the alert level status that the government might issue.”
Vice Dean Señga said that the reason for the change of application for the exams was to prepare the students for the Bar. There will be also a separate orientation in discussing ExamSoft.
On the second day of the orientation, students were acquainted with the different recognized law student organizations. During the breakout session, the freshmen met their respective blockmates. They also asked for tips on surviving law school from their facilitators.
THE BARRISTER 