CENTERED on the theme “More than the Law: Semper Ad Meliora (Always toward better things),” the Junior Bedan Law Circle - Alabang (JBLC) held its annual town hall meeting at the Manny Reyes Hall on Oct. 20 to outline the plans and directions of the organization and conduct a human formation seminar.

The event gathered Legal Management students and faculty members, including Atty. William Santos, Atty. Miguel Pangilinan, Atty. Julio Gabriel, and JBLC moderator Atty. Charles Washington Baculi.

Introduction of officers and list of activities

JBLC President Jackjared Villaflor (IV-BSLM) introduced the organization’s officers for academic year 2026–2027. They include Internal Vice President Jhim Earl Klaint Buragay (IV-BSLM), IVP Associate Charlyn Pilotin (IV-BSLM), External Vice President Shanon Colonia (III-BSLM), Secretary Melizza Magno (III-BSLM), Treasurer John Gabriel Villanueva (III-BSLM), Auditor Kirsten Benedicto (III-BSLM), and Public Relations Officer Felicity Oliveros (III-BSLM).

The batch representatives are Bianca Nicolas (I-BSLM) for first year, Natasha Clarke (II-BSLM) for second year, Angelo De Guzman (III-BSLM) for third year, and Janelle Balane (IV-BSLM) for fourth year.

Villaflor then shared JBLC’s slated activities for the academic year. For the month of December, JBLC is to participate in the annual Integration contest adopting the theme High School Musical for the Sing and Dance Competition, as well as the Battle Cry Competition. The organization also plans to hold a seminar entitled “The Anatomy of impeachment and the legal issues surrounding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte,” and organize a law school tour to SBCA and San Beda University School of Law.

In January, JBLC plans to hold Intellectual Property Law Week, launch the social media series “LM mo ba?”, release an episode of fAIth and Justice on artificial intelligence and intellectual property, and celebrate Constitutional Law Week.

February activities will include Human Rights Law Week, an episode of fAIth and Justice on human dignity and machine efficiency, the LM Sports Fest, and the annual Tour de Legma, with proposed visits to the Senate and House of Representatives.

In March, JBLC will celebrate Legal Management Month through a Thanksgiving Mass, competitions, and community outreach. Lastly, the organization will support fourth-year Legal Management students during their final thesis defense and hold its annual LM Night in April.

Opening the Program with a Purpose

Dr. Andres San Mateo Jr., dean of the School of Business, Accountancy, and Management, delivered the opening remarks and encouraged students to participate in organizational activities despite their academic responsibilities.

“Because it is only through these activities that you get to know each other and be able to identify or be able to know each other, the other side of each other, so that you will be able to have a very close relationship with your fellow LM students,” he said.

Afterwards, Atty. Juan Ruffo Chong, Director of the Tertiary and Graduate Education and the Department Chair of the Legal Management program, delivered an inspirational message, emphasizing the importance of the program in preparing students who will proceed to law school stating those who will be able to graduate within the program should be able to do much better than other courses.

The Director further reminded students to remain committed to their academics and put in the necessary effort to achieve their goals, stressing that success requires personal sacrifice. “In order for you to become like us, like them, you have to have sacrifices in your life. It doesn't happen overnight,” he said.

Human Formation Seminar

Prof. Mark Louie Cañete of the Religious Education Department led the human formation seminar, discussing how students’ experiences can shape their values, character, and sense of responsibility.

Prof. Cañete said experiences do not automatically lead to personal growth. “The road does not automatically make us better,” he said, encouraging students to reflect on how their experiences shape their character. 

He also distinguished suffering from sacrifice, explaining that sacrifice involves giving something up for a meaningful purpose. Relating this to the demands of the Legal Management program, he urged students to find purpose in their academic struggles and approach their responsibilities with intentionality, allowing these experiences to contribute to their personal development.

Towards the end of the discussion, he encouraged students to reflect on a central question: “What is this road doing to you?” Mr. Cañete challenged them to look beyond their achievements and difficulties and consider whether their experiences have helped them become better, more understanding, and more compassionate individuals.

In an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD, Villaflor shared that JBLC aims to strengthen its commitment to academic excellence and community engagement this academic year by making its activities more relevant to the needs and experiences of Legal Management students. 

“While we have retained some of our previous activities, we also seek to enhance them and make them more engaging, relatable, and meaningful,” he said, while also emphasizing that it aims to raise awareness of legal, social, and academic issues affecting students and the wider Bedan community.

Addressing student participation—as the organization observes low student participation throughout the year, JBLC aims to strengthen connections among LM students through activities such as its first General Assembly, which focused on human and character formation. “For the first time, students are grouped beyond their existing circles of friends,” Villaflor said.

With the support of department chair Atty. Juan Ruffo D. Chong, Atty. Charles Baculi, and the LM faculty, JBLC also seeks to make its activities engaging and meaningful.

“We want JBLC to be more than an organization students attend; we want it to be a community they feel connected to, take pride in, and actively contribute to,” he added.