The Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) proudly marks 10 years of its law scholarship program (LSP) this year. Looking back at its success, I am reminded of why and how this journey began in 2016. While immensely proud of my family’s accomplishments, I have been, quite frankly, a bit disappointed that none of my five children—and, so far, none of my 10 grandchildren—have taken an interest in a law career. Without a lawyer-heir, I sought to find my successors among the best and brightest minds of the next gen.
TO BEQUEATH MY LIFELONG LEGACY of safeguarding liberty and nurturing prosperity under the rule of law, I encouraged the FLP to launch the LSP in 2016 in partnership with the Tan Yan Kee Foundation (TYKFI), where I also serve (until now) as a trustee. The program supports exceptional third- and fourth-year law students who must pass the scrutiny of our board of judges headed by the incumbent chief justice. Scholars who maintain excellent academic standing receive renewed funding. Thus far, the TYKFI has generously donated over P43 million to this initiative, with individual grants growing from the original P200,000 to P250,000 per scholar per year.
Happily, our first batch (2016-2017) produced two bar topnotchers: Sean James Borja (first place), now connected with Quisumbing Torres Law Office, and Katrina Monica Gaw (fifth place), currently the chief executive officer and general counsel of Alliance Towers Corp.
As an aside, FLP has set up three other educational initiatives: (1) professorial chairs on liberty and prosperity in partnership with the Metrobank Foundation, (2) a dissertation writing contest (DWC) in partnership with the Ayala Group, and (3) a Master of Business Administration (MBA) major in entrepreneurship, sustainability, management, and business law or “Esmel Fellows” in partnership with the Metro Pacific Investments Corp.
This tradition of academic excellence has flourished exponentially. To date, we have awarded scholarships to 106 stellar law students out of 234 applicants, with the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and the University of the Philippines (UP) producing the highest number of awardees at 15 scholars each for the past decade.
AS OUR SCHOLARS NOW REALIZE, their road to success is formidably arduous. I know from personal experience that the first five years of law practice are brutally difficult. It is an intense, character-building struggle to establish a name, master the labyrinthine intricacies of our justice system, and consciously resist the insidious temptations of societal evils.
Where are they now? Who are undergoing these tough foundational years? Let us look at the notable paths they have chosen.
Following our first batch of topnotchers, our second batch of LSP scholars in school year 2017-2018 also had bar placers: Kenneth Manuel from the University of Sto. Tomas (sixth place) and Dexter Rojas from Polytechnic University of the Philippines (ninth place). Manuel, now a court attorney at the Court of Tax Appeals, also teaches law.
Rojas, currently with the Public Attorney’s Office, is also a professor of law. He recently asked me to write the foreword to his book “Top Notes in Commercial Law.” I am happy that, despite the demands of public service, he has found the time to share his knowledge with the next gen of lawyers.
Commendable also are our other law scholars: Micah Celine Carpio-Bibi (batch 2017-2018), a Court Attorney VI in the Chamber of Supreme Court Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez; Ricka Abigael Dumelod (batch 2019-2020), an Executive Assistant VI in the Chamber of Court of Appeals Justice Walter S. Ong.
OTHER NOTABLE FEATS of our law scholars include George Mariano A. Soriano (batch 2019-2020) from UP, as vice consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.
Many of them are with the private sector, like bar topnotchers Kyle Christian Tutor (first placer, 2024 bar) who is now with the Poblador Bautista & Reyes (PBR) Law Office and Maria Lovelyn Joyce Quebrar (sixth placer, 2024 bar), who found career fulfillment as a banker-lawyer at Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Our latest additions to the roster of topnotchers, batch 2024-2025, are associates in prestigious law firms: Ignacio Lorenzo Villareal (UP) is currently with PBR also, while Enrico Gabriel Paguia (ADMU) is with Angara Abello Concepcion Regala & Cruz (ACCRA) Law Office, and Chinzen Viernes (UP) is with SyCip Law Center.
And so, like their proud “lolo,” I watch our scholars continually demonstrate that the practice of law is never confined to a single path. Whether in public service, private practice, or corporate work, they are building a better nation to operationalize our philosophy of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law to uplift our people.
My children and grandchildren have their own beautiful destinies to fulfill. As for my legal legacy, my heart is full knowing that it will live on vibrantly through these brilliant young men and women who are courageously carrying on the torch of justice, defending our democratic institutions, and championing our enduring ideal of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law.
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