Ph Supreme Court Associate Justice Dimaampao keynotes BukSU Law’s Silver Anniversary Launch, Unveiling of New Logo and Legal Aid MOU

Supreme Court of the Philippines Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao keynoted the launch of the Bukidnon State University (BukSU) College of Law’s Silver Anniversary on September 2, 2026, celebrating 25 years of public legal education in Northern Mindanao.

The event kicked off a year-long celebration, highlighted by the college’s new logo and a new partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Bukidnon Chapter to boost local legal service and education.

In his keynote address, Justice Dimaampao framed the celebration around the judiciary’s constitutional mandate to make justice reachable for every Filipino.

“Justice must not only exist; it must be reachable. A right that cannot be enforced is a right in name only,” Justice Dimaampao stated, highlighting the core objectives of the Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022–2027 (SPJI).

He outlined how technological tools such as electronic filing, digitized records, and virtual proceedings are modernizing court operations and breaking down traditional barriers. However, he stressed that technology remains a vehicle rather than the end goal.

“The true measure of innovation is not how sophisticated our systems become, but how effectively they improve the lives of the people who seek justice,” Justice Dimaampao said. “When access expands, confidence grows. When confidence grows, trust deepens. And when trust deepens, the rule of law flourishes.”

Reinforcing the drive for accessible justice, the ceremony featured the signing of an MOU between the BukSU College of Law and the IBP Bukidnon Chapter, led by Chapter President Atty. Evann Ric T. Tan. The agreement directly integrates the law school’s Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) with the Supreme Court’s Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) framework.

The MOU signing was participated in by Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, BukSU Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation, representing BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol; Atty. Evann Ric T. Tan, President of the IBP Bukidnon Chapter; officers of the IBP Bukidnon Chapter; and Dean Atty. Ophelia Pilar Rubio-Zamora.

The partnership bridges classroom instruction and active practice by involving law students in legal aid outreach, client consultations, and community service under the direct supervision and mentorship of practicing lawyers.

“Legal education cannot be confined to the four walls of a classroom,” Atty. Rosh RK B. Casulla, faculty member of the College of Law and Extension Coordinator said.” Through CLEP, our students engage in legal aid activities, interact with actual clients, and see firsthand how the law impacts real people.”

Atty. Tan reiterated the commitment of the local bar, “This MOU is far more than a ceremonial agreement; it is a concrete bridge connecting legal education to the legal profession. We are committing our resources to ensure that students gain the practical experience necessary to become ethical, competent lawyers.”

As part of the kickoff leading up to the grand culmination in 2027, the College of Law formally unveiled its redesigned college logo.

Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Hazel Jean M. Abejuela, in a message read on her behalf, reflected on the milestone: “A legacy is not measured only by the years we have lived, but by the lives we have touched and the difference we have made. Twenty-five years represents generations of students taught, lawyers formed, and communities touched through the pursuit of justice.”

BukSU College of Law Dean Atty. Ophelia Pilar E. Rubio-Zamora acknowledged the founding dean, Ret. Judge Vivencio Estrada, noting that his early leadership “laid the foundation upon which generations of students, faculty, and alumni continue to thrive.”

Representing University President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, through Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovations Dr. Carina Joane V. Barroso, reaffirmed the university’s support for the College of Law as the sole state-funded higher education institution offering legal education in Northern Mindanao.

BukSU Law Alumni Association President Atty. Richard P. Lusica emphasized the tangible impact of the college’s 25-year history, pointing to graduates serving across the judiciary, prosecution, public defense, and private practice, including producing a top-performing examinee in Mindanao during the 2025 Bar Examinations, Atty. Gerilin A. Gascon, CPA.

The launch gathered university officials, members of the bench and bar, faculty, alumni, and students to mark a quarter-century of academic instruction. (with information from Kristine Jane Dongogan and Kristine Joy Dongogon/ JD-4 Students)