legal history reflection paper

7/23/2019 Legal History Reflection Paper

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Marianne Crielle G. Vitug Legal History

201589233 November 2! 2015

"a#i$ali%ation an# Humani%ation& "evolutioni%ing t'e Legal ($a#emy

Dura lex sed lex. )'e la* is 'ars'! but it is t'e la*. )'is is t'e +irst legal ma,im onelearns about t'e la* not even as a la* stu#ent! but as an average -erson. ven as la*s are $ra+te#

*it' utmost $are an# -re$ision to ensure t'at no $iti%en is -re/u#i$e# in t'eir a--li$ation! t'eir

en+or$ement *ill o+ten result *it' one -arty being on t'e losing en#. 'en t'e la* is $lear! t'ere$an be no uestion as to 'o* it s'oul# be a--lie#! even i+ it a#versely a++e$ts t'ose involve#. t is

not a #is$i-line o+ten asso$iate# *it' mer$y! but *it' rut'lessness an# aut'ority.

)'e -revalent $on$e-tion o+ la* to#ay is ironi$ally not one o+ $om-assion. t is seen as a

$ol# an# ta$ti$al +iel#! one *'ere la*yers are vie*e# as liars *'o *ill #o *'atever it taes to geta *in an# get a'ea#. n 4ean a$i+i$o (. (gabin6s le$ture entitle# 7(##ressing "a#i$ali%ation

)'roug' #u$ation& )'e "ole o+ t'e Legal ($a#emy! 'e $'ara$teri%es t'e #is$i-line as 7too

abstra$t! too intelle$tual! too +i,ate# *it' t'e sear$' +or +un#amental -rin$i-les! as a result o+ it

being sel+$ontaine# an# in#e-en#ent +rom t'e realities o+ t'e so$ial $onte,t it is situate# in.

1

:imilarly! in 7( Note on "a#i$ali%ation an# t'e Legal ($a#emy& 'at s t'e "ole o+ t'e Legal

($a#emy;! 4ean Merlin M. Magallona #e-i$ts t'e #is$i-line as 7an i#eology o+ t'e elite $lasst'at -eo-le *ere ma#e to gro* into instea# o+ t'e ot'er *ay aroun#! t'us be$oming a tool +or t'e

legitimi%ation o+ $lass $on+li$ts.2 <ot' o+ t'ese -ers-e$tives -oint to t'e s'ort$omings o+ t'e +iel#

in terms o+ rea$'ing out an# truly re-resenting in#ivi#uals. )'e rule o+ la*! 'o*ever! *as notestablis'e# +or its o*n sae. )'e rule o+ la* e,ists to -rote$t 'uman beings an# -reserve t'e

rig'ts t'ey are entitle# to. )'e rule o+ la* en#o*s or#er u-on so$iety! an# *as institute#

-rimarily +or t'e *el+are o+ t'e -eo-le. t is t'e *ay by *'i$' t'e :tate6s so$ial $ontra$t *it' t'e

-eo-le $an be $arrie# out in t'e various as-e$ts involve# in +ul+illing its man#ate.)'e t*o le$tures -oint to t'e ne$essity o+ t'e 'umani%ation o+ t'e rule o+ la*. 4ean

(gabin uses t'e term 7ra#i$ali%ation in 'is le$ture as somet'ing to be battle#! in t'at it #enotest'e e,tremism o+ i#eas to t'e -oint o+ violen$e an# tyranny! *'ile 4ean Magallona un#erstan#s itas a revolutionary +or$e *it'in t'e legal a$a#emy itsel+! a movement +rom insi#e t'e +iel# to*ar#

a trans+orme# $on$e-tion o+ t'e #is$i-line. ssentially! 'o*ever! t'ey are bot' +or*ar#ing

alternatives to *'at t'e +iel# o+ la* 'as #evelo-e# into to#ay in or#er to mae it more 'uman!more ra* an# real. )'ey bot' o++er re$ommen#ations as to *'at la*yers an# la* stu#ents $an #o

in or#er to mae t'at goal a reality.

( legal e#u$ation at t'e =niversity o+ t'e 'ili--ines College o+ La* $omes *it' a

bur#en! one t'at -ro+essors *ill remin# stu#ents o+ until it is engraine# in t'eir 'earts an# min#s.)'at bur#en is t'e obligation to e,$el! not merely +or gra#es or 'onors! but +or t'e $ountry! +or

t'e -eo-le *'o are essentially s-onsoring t'e e#u$ation *e 'ave t'e -rivilege o+ re$eiving.

>ormer (sso$iate ro+essor o+ t'e College an# no* :oli$itorGeneral >lorin ). Hilbay analy%e#t'e greatness o+ t'e institution as somet'ing t'at s'oul# be /u,ta-ose# against t'e reality t'at it

'as -ro#u$e# not only noble an# note*ort'y in#ivi#uals in la*! -oliti$s! an# governan$e! but

also notorious an# no,ious +igures t'at marre# t'e narrative o+ t'e $ountry. 3 Given t'is! stu#entsare in$ul$ate# *it' t'e ne$essity o+ being on t'e rig't si#e o+ 'istory by t'e remin#er t'at ea$'

one is an Iskolar ng Bayan! one *'o is in#ebte# to t'e nation.

1 4ean a$i+i$o (. (gabin! Addressing Radicalization Through Education: The Role of the Legal Academy ?2015@

A.

2 4ean Merlin M. Magallona! A Note on Radicalization and the Legal Academy: hat is the Role of the Legal

Academy! ?2015@ B.

3 >. Hilbay! "rand #annerisms: Reflections on "reatness and "randeur$ in 2012 N )H G"(N4 M(NN" &

LDNG <(CD ! )HNDNG >"("4 A.



Ho*ever! t'ere is a #is/un$tion bet*een t'e Isko mentality an# t'e dura lex sed lex

ma,im. ven as t'e -ur-ose +or *'i$' t'e stu#y o+ la* s'oul# be taen u- is ma#e to a--ear

sel+less! t'e met'o#s by *'i$' t'e la* is a$tually taug't -ro-agates t'e $ol#! $om-assionless -ers-e$tive o+ t'e #is$i-line more. :tu#ents memori%e statute a+ter statute! rea# $ase a+ter $ase!

but +orget t'at all la*s are ma#e +or -eo-le! an# all $ases are about -eo-le. Hilbay uotes 4ean

"aul angalangan to #es$ribe t'e gran# manner 7not as a -rivate a++air but EasF an intensely -ubli$ enter-rise t'at involves not /ust t'e stu#ent an# t'e tea$'er but! an# -er'a-s most

im-ortant! t'e inno$ent so$iety u-on *'i$' t'e la* stu#ents *ill be unleas'e#6. B n t'is sense!

'is $on$e-tion o+ t'e gran# manner t'ere+ore ne$essitates a 'umani%ation o+ t'e rule o+ la*! ainto t'e re+le$tions o+ 4ean (gabin an# 4ean Magallona. )'e gran# manner is not a$a#emi$

e,$ellen$e -er se! but e,$ellen$e t'at e++e$tuates $'ange an# rea$'es t'e grassroots.

( $onsi#erable -ortion o+ t'e semester *as s-ent stu#ying various 'uman rig'ts! su$' as

t'e rig'ts to -riva$y! to +ree#om o+ in+ormation! to +ree#om o+ religion! to +ree#om o+ s-ee$'! tore-ro#u$tive 'ealt'! to strie! to a balan$e# an# 'ealt'+ul e$ology! an# to in#ivi#ual liberty.

)'ese rig'ts are meant to be en/oye# by all! regar#less o+ age! se,! ra$e! or so$ial status! an# t'e

$ases taen u- in $lass also s'o* 'o* t'e rule o+ la* $an be 'umani%e#. n "arcia %& Drilon'! it

*as revolutionary +or t'e Court to 'ave a$no*le#ge# t'at *omen are situate# #i++erently +rommen! #ue to t'e -o*er imbalan$e bet*een t'e se,es t'at be$ame entren$'e# t'roug'out 'istory.

)'e $reation o+ t'e (ntiViolen$e (gainst omen an# C'il#ren ($t A by t'e legislative an# t'esubseuent a++irmation o+ its goal an# -ur-ose by t'e /u#i$iary in t'is $ase s'o*s 'o* t'e

#is$i-line o+ la* $an $ome to t'e ai# o+ t'e o--resse#! su$' as battere# *omen an# t'eir

o++s-ring. :imilarly! in t'e lan#mar $ase o+ Im(ong %& )choa* ! *'ile t'e Court stru$ #o*n$ertain -rovisions o+ t'e "es-onsible arent'oo# an# "e-ro#u$tive Healt' ($t8! it u-'el# t'ose

on se, e#u$ation an# t'e availability an# #istribution o+ $ontra$e-tives. n #oing so! t'e rule o+

la* on$e again -rote$te# t'e rig'ts o+ all $iti%ens! es-e$ially o+ t'e lo*er in$ome bra$ets! to

'ave a$$ess to a++or#able +amily -lanning an# 'ave $ontrol over t'eir -ro$reative rig'ts. )'ese$ases s'o* 'o* t'e la* *as al*ays meant to be not #eta$'e# or in'umane! but $onte,tuali%e#

an# -rote$tive. t $an be a tool +or -ositive $'ange! so t'at 'uman rig'ts are not en/oye# only by

t'e elite! but by all in#ivi#uals a$ross t'e so$ial strata. )'e la* *as meant to o++er a means +or re#ress +or t'ose *'o #o not 'ave a voi$e! not to +urt'er #e-rive t'em o+ su$' re-resentation.

4ean (gabin6s most im-ortant re$ommen#ation is to 'ave e,tension servi$es to t'e

bigger $ommunity by o++ering 7regular seminars! le$tures! *ors'o-s! an# o-en #ialogs *it'various $ommunity se$tors in or#er to -rote$t t'ose 'uman rig'ts! attain re#ress +or grievan$es

t'roug' legal $'annels! an# obtain /u#i$ial relie+. 9 He also suggests an in$or-oration o+ t'e so$ial

s$ien$es in or#er to +urt'er 'umani%e t'e #is$i-line by in$or-orating t'e so$ial an# 'istori$al

$onte,ts o+ $ases.10 4ean Magallona taes t'is a ste- +urt'er an# -resents t'e interesting -ossibility o+ 'aving a 7/uris-ru#en$e o+ -overty an# a 7so$iology o+ la*.11 Maing t'ese

re$ommen#ations into realities *oul# allo* +or t'e rule o+ la* to trans$en# $on$e-tual

boun#aries an# into a$tuality +or t'e average >ili-ino. (t t'e beginning o+ t'e semester! t'ere *asa #is$ussion on *'o 7real >ili-inos are! an# in t'is #ay an# age! t'e term en$om-asses a very

broa# an# #iverse set o+ -eo-le! an# it la$s -re$ise #e+inition. )'e average >ili-ino! 'o*ever! is

4 Id$ at 1B.

5 Gar$ia v. 4rilon! G.". No. 192A! Iune 25! 2013.

6 "e-ubli$ ($t No. 92A2 ?200B@.

7 mbong v. $'oa! G.". No. 20B819! (-ril 8! 201B.

8 "e-ubli$ ($t No. 1035B ?2012@.

9 (gabin! su+ra at 910.

10 (gabin! su+ra at A.

11 Magallona! su+ra at 9.



o+ t'e *oring $lass! struggling #ay in an# #ay out to ee a living +or 'imsel+ an# +or 'is +amily.

'ile 'e may not be $on$erne# *it' t'e $on$e-t o+ t'e rule o+ la*! 'e is very mu$' a++e$te# by

its mani+estations! *'i$' la* stu#ents an# la*yers 'ave great -o*er over. Having sub/e$ts liet'e /uris-ru#en$e o+ -overty an# -rovi#ing o--ortunities +or intera$tion *it' grassroots

$ommunities *ill allo* la* stu#ents to 'ave a more #o*ntoeart' -ers-e$tive o+ t'e #is$i-line

t'ey 'ave #e#i$ate# t'eir lives to. Many may be averse to a 'eavier $ourse loa# or 'aving to #omore *or! but in t'e en#! t'ey may also +in# more reason to some#ay be great la*yers +orge# in

t'e gran# manner.

Coming +rom a so$ial s$ien$es an# 'umanities ba$groun#! my -ersonal struggle *it'la* s$'ool *as its veneer o+ #is-assion. :tu#ying t'e la* meant living a me$'ani$al li+e o+

rea#ing! 'ig'lig'ting! memori%ing! an# *riting. 'ere *as t'e 'eart in t'is li+eless routine; )'e

revolutionary brea in t'e legal a$a#emy 4ean Magallona $alls +or -resents t'e solution to t'at

uestion. Contrary to -o-ular belie+! 'umanity an# $om-assion are at t'e very $enter o+ t'e +iel#o+ la*! i+ only la* stu#ents an# la*yers *oul# #elve #ee- enoug' to uneart' its #ee-er -ur-ose

an# meaning. )'e legal -ro+ession is a tool +or #estru$tion only in t'e *rong 'an#s! but *it' a

legal e#u$ation groun#e# in so$ial realities! it $an be a great euali%er.

(not'er obsta$le! 'o*ever! is t'at t'e -ro+ession o+ la* 'as asso$iate# gran#eur an#su$$ess *it' -rivate -ra$ti$e! t'us $asting a s'a#o* o+ in+eriority over alternative la*yering.

)'ere is naturally a -e$uniary in$entive atta$'e# to -rivate -ra$ti$e! an# t'is greatly in+luen$est'e #e$isions o+ t'e best an# t'e brig'test. 4ean (gabin -ro-oses t'e en$ouragement o+

alternative la*yering in $lini$al legal e#u$ation! but +alls s'ort o+ a real suggestion on 'o* to

attra$t greater interest +rom stu#ents on a larger s$ale. Ho*ever! i+ t'e $urri$ulum is re+orme# to be more grassrootsoriente# an# roote# in t'e so$ial s$ien$es! it mig't naturally +ollo* t'at la*

stu#ents *ill #is$over t'eir -assions in alternative la*yering as *ell. )'ere is a great -let'ora o+

interest grou-s *'ose a#vo$a$ies are varie# enoug' to +as$inate most! i+ not all! la* stu#ents.

ven i+ t'ey #o not en# u- #evoting +ulltime *or to su$' grou-s or to alternative la*yering! it*oul# alrea#y be a big #i++eren$e +or t'em to be immerse# in t'ese realities an# to #evelo- some

initiative to #o -ro bono *or +or *'atever t'ey #is$over t'ey are -assionate about.

n 7Globali%ation o+ Legal :ervi$es& C'allenges an# ossibilities in t'e 'ili--ine:etting! ro+. Harry "oue! Ir. a#vo$ates +or t'e liberali%ation o+ legal -ro$esses in t'e $ountry

-ursuant to t'e General (greement on )ra#e an# :ervi$es ?G():@ o+ t'e orl# )ra#e

rgani%ation ?)@.12 it' globali%ation! 'o*ever! $omes more $'allenges +or t'e legal -ro+ession an# its 'umani%ation. (lt'oug' t'e tren#s o+ globali%ation 'ave un#eniable bene+its!

t'ey also o+ten lea# to t'e #iminution o+ 'uman #ignity! as nations an# businesses +o$us more on

-ro+its an# gains t'an on laborers an# t'eir nee#s. )'e +iel# o+ la* is no e,$e-tion to t'ese

tren#s! in t'at -ra$ti$e is also evolving to a$$ommo#ate $rossbor#er transa$tions. n res-onse tot'is! t'e +rame*or o+ international 'uman rig'ts la*! as +or*ar#e# by 4ina' :'elton 13! $an be

a--lie# in or#er to ensure t'at globali%ation is balan$e# out by 'umanitarian la*. )'roug' t'is

-ers-e$tive! la*yers may be a$tive agents in ensuring t'at t'e ne* $on$erns o+ laborers in aglobali%e# *orl# $an also 'ave legal reme#ies. (s #i++i$ulties be$ome international an# $om-le,!

so too must la*yers a#a-t to #evelo- solutions t'at are /ust as intri$ate.

+ 'uman rig'ts are to survive! t'e rule o+ la* must tae t'e +ore+ront in -reserving t'em.)'e $'anges -ro-ose# by 4ean (gabin an# 4ean Magallona *ill remain elusive +antasies unless

la* stu#ents! la*yers! an# t'e legal a$a#emy all $oo-erate to -ut t'em into motion as soon as

-ossible. C'anging t'e +rame*or by *'i$' t'e la* is taug't *ill liely tae #e$a#es! but

some#ay! t'e ri--le e++e$ts o+ t'e 'umani%ation o+ t'e la* *ill be$ome evi#ent. )'e = College

12 H. "oue! "lo(alization of Legal ,er%ices: -hallenges and .ossi(ilities in the .hili++ine ,etting AA.

13 4ina' :'elton! An Introduction to the /istory of International /uman Rights La0 ?nternational nstitute o+

Human "ig'ts! :trasbourg! >ran$e! Iuly! 2003@.



o+ La* must be$ome t'e -ioneer o+ t'is revolutionary brea! $onsi#ering t'e bur#en *e 'ave

alrea#y taen u-on ourselves as Iskos. )'e la* may be 'ars'! but it s'oul# not be 'eartless.

legal history reflection paper

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