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AHRC interns reflect on alternative lawyering through bookdate posted: 2006-08-11 12:12:44
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| Mark Dy, Ryan Verdejo, Ryan Quan, Lea Mateo, Francis Villanueva, Myrfi Gonzalez, Eyps Mabanes, Janice Co, Carlos Medina, Jr. (Summer 2005 and 2006 interns with Internship Director and Executive Director of AHRC) |
Interns of the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) collectively reflected on their experiences on alternative lawyering in a book titled “Remembering still: Interns’ reflections on alternative lawyering in the Philippines.”
The book, made possible with the assistance of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, was launched on August 8, 2006 at the fourth floor lobby of the Ateneo Professional Schools.
Present during the launch were AHRC alumni and resident interns, law school faculty members, partners and friends.
The launch began with a welcome address given by professor Carlos P. Medina Jr. director of the AHRC, followed by messages of support by Dr. Ronald Meinardus and Ateneo Law School Dean Cesar Villanueva.
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| Dean Cesar Villanueva with Carlos Medina, Jr. (ED) and Ronald Meinardus, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung Resident Representative |
Villanueva’s message expressed pride in Ateneo’s alternative lawyering program, which according to him is “essentially a means by which lawyers are able to empower the ordinary members of the community with the means and the wherewithal to uphold their interests and defend their rights essentially by their individual and collective acts, is a more powerful tool to create wealth in a poor country like the Philippines.”
Moreover, he described how the stories in the book “demonstrate to us all that by saving and enhancing the lives of others, every alternative lawyer actually saves his own life.”
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| Ron Monera (Summer 2003 Intern), Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ, Ryan Jay Roset (Sembreak 2002 Intern). At the back is Atty. Rommel Abitria (Summer 2001 Intern) |
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| Marge Gutierrez, Summer 2006 Intern |
Myrfi Gonzalez, AHRC internship director, presented the slim volume “Remembering Still” to the public, after which authors Minnie Tan, Kat Rances, and Mon Salas took turns in reading selected parts of the book.
Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of the ongoing human rights essay-writing contest by professor Amparita Sta. Maria, followed by a hearty dinner for the APS community.
Acknowledgment: Myrfi Gonzalez
Contributed photos
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