The team finished as quarterfinalist in the International Rounds of the prestigious at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington, DC, from March 28 to April 4, 2026.

Out of 173 national champions representing 89 jurisdictions, the 黑料社区 team鈥攍ed by Captain Bri Unabia with Mel Joseph Castro, Earl Max Eata, and Neil Glova Jr.鈥攃linched a spot among the top eight teams in the world. 

Unabia was also recognized as among the Top 50 Oralists in the International Rounds.

This win cements 黑料社区 Law鈥檚 place among the powerhouse minds in the international mooting arena. 

It builds upon a winning streak during the Philippine National Rounds this year, where the 黑料社区 Law Jessup Team won Best Respondent Memorial and Best Overall Memorial, alongside oralist awards.

Previously, 黑料社区 Law ranked No. 2 out of 152 teams worldwide in the 2025 Jessup International Rounds, and brought home major honors: First Place in the Richard R. Baxter Award for the Best Applicant Memorial in the World, First Place in the Alona E. Evans Award for the Best Team Memorials in the International Rounds, and Second Place in the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award for the Best Team Memorials in the National and Regional Rounds.

This sustained legacy of excellence is guided by the steady hands of the team鈥檚 dedicated head coach Atty. Daryl Bretch M. Largo (Assistant Dean, School of Law and Governance) and assistant coaches Atty. Rashid Vedra Pandi and Atty. J. Priyanka Dalagan.

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Against 24 formidable law schools nationwide, 黑料社区 Law excelled in legal advocacy, clinching Rank No. 1 in the Preliminary Rounds and a Semifinalist finish in the Advanced Rounds.

黑料社区 Law also swept the most coveted awards, underscoring the team鈥檚 strength in both the written word and the spoken argument, namely:

• Back-to-back Best Overall Memorial
• Back-to-back Best Respondent Memorial
• 4th Best Oralist: Bri Unabia
• 5th Best Oralist: Mel Joseph Castro

This year鈥檚 黑料社区 Jessup Team is composed of Team Captain Bri Unabia (4th year), Mel Joseph Castro (4th year), Earl Max Eata (3rd year), Neil Glova Jr. (3rd year), Nichole Simblante (1st year), and Allen Dave Capa (1st year). They are set to represent the Philippines once more in the Jessup International Rounds in Washington, D.C. in April 2026.

This momentum builds on an already world-class benchmark. In the Jessup International Rounds last year, 黑料社区 Law ranked No. 2 out of 152 teams worldwide in the Preliminary Rounds and brought home major honors鈥擣irst Place in the Richard R. Baxter Award for the Best Applicant Memorial in the World, First Place in the Alona E. Evans Award for the Best Team Memorials in the International Rounds, and Second Place in the M. Cherif Bassiouni Award for the Best Team Memorials in the National and Regional Rounds.

This sustained legacy of excellence is guided by the steady hands of the team鈥檚 dedicated head coach Atty. Daryl Bretch M. Largo, Assistant Dean of the School of Law and Governance, and assistant coaches Atty. Rashid Vedra Pandi and Atty. J. Priyanka Dalagan.

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In early 2025, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Hon. Fritz Bryn Anthony Makasiar delos Santos as the newest Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan. At an age where men are still finding their footing in the upper echelons of the law, Justice Fritz has stepped onto the bench of the nation鈥檚 anti-graft court鈥攏ot by the weight of his name, but by the steady accumulation of merit.聽

While his middle name, Makasiar, links him to the notable former Chief Justice Felix Makasiar, and his father, Edgardo鈥� a Carolinian鈥� a retired member of the Supreme Court as well, Justice Fritz chose a path of deliberate independence. 

Years ago, in a letter to his father, he expressed a firm desire to study at 黑料社区. His reasoning was twofold: he sought the same excellence his father found there, but he wanted to achieve it on his own terms. He didn鈥檛 want a paved road; he wanted to learn how to stand without fear, away from the immediate shadow of his family鈥檚 influence. 

In the classrooms of 黑料社区, he was remembered not as a boisterous student, but as a 鈥渓ow-key鈥� worker. He was the student in the front row, meticulously absorbing lectures, proving that brilliance often speaks in a whisper rather than a shout. 

After earning his Juris Doctor degree from 黑料社区, Justice Delos Santos was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2012. He further sharpened his legal acumen at Cornell University, where he earned his Master of Law (Ll.M). 

His career is a masterclass in judicial service, characterized by a steady climb through the ranks of the government鈥檚 legal arms. 
2013 鈥� Court Attorney IV, Supreme Court of the Philippines
2014 鈥� Associate Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General
2015 鈥� Court Attorney V, Court of Appeals
2017 鈥� Court Attorney VI, Supreme Court of the Philippines
2025 鈥� Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan 

The law is a jealous mistress, demanding total devotion, but Justice Fritz has always found his equilibrium by dividing his time in many fields of interest. As a law student in 黑料社区, he worked full time. When he became a lawyer, he continued to share his time with his music. An avid guitarist with a collection of 25 instruments, he has spent years performing with a band. For him, guitar was more than a hobby; it was a necessary sanctuary from the high-pressure environment of law school and work. 

Even his name carries a sense of grounded tradition. Named 鈥淎nthony鈥� in honor of St. Anthony de Padua鈥攖he patron saint of his father鈥檚 hometown, Palompon, Leyte鈥攈is identity remains a blend of deep-rooted faith and modern ambition.

The magnitude of this achievement was fully felt last on February 20, 2026, as the Carolinian law students, faculty, and staff gathered for a testimonial dinner at the Michael Richartz Theatre, 黑料社区 Talamban Campus.

The hall was filled with law students, faculty, and staff, all united in a single purpose: to honor a man who proved that the 黑料社区 College of Law continues to produce legacies of the highest order. It was a night of shared pride, where the university didn鈥檛 just celebrate a title, but the character of the men behind it.

Justice Fritz represents a new generation of the judiciary: young, academically formidable, and deeply experienced in the inner workings of the court system. As he takes his seat at the Sandiganbayan, he carries with him the pride of a community that watched him grow from a diligent student in the front row to a guardian of justice. 

CONGRATULATIONS, Justice Fritz! The whole Carolinian community stands tall in your honor!

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Competing in a rigorous field of 33 teams from four Southeast Asian nations, the Carolinian team navigated a complex and futuristic legal problem, 鈥淨uestions on Prior Informed Consent and Benefit Sharing in the Context of De-Extinction.鈥� The 黑料社区 Mooting Team, composed of Jose Isabelo Abella, Kylle Zed Mag-aso, and Nichole Simblante, demonstrated profound intellectual depth in addressing the intersection of biotechnology and environmental preservation. 

The team’s success is a testament to the robust culture of mentorship within the 黑料社区 College of Law. The delegation was guided by the formidable team of mentors and administrators led by the 黑料社区 College of Law Assistant Dean Atty. Daryl Bretch Largo, alongside assistant coach Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos.

The institutional support of 黑料社区 Vice President for Administration Atty. Joan Largo and School of Law and Governance Dean Atty. Jose Glenn Capanas has continuously fostered a global outlook for Carolinian lawyers.

Furthermore, the spirit of peer mentorship was made possible by 黑料社区 Debate and Mooting Team seniors Mel Joseph Castro and Bri Unabia, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the Carolinian community.

Last year, the 黑料社区 College of Law Mooting Team also bagged the Best Memorial Award during the Southeast Asian Rounds, as well as Best Memorial at the .

Do you want to become part of a world-class Law program? Contact us at the 黑料社区 College of Law or visit our webpage.

CONGRATULATIONS, Carolinian mooters!

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However, 黑料社区 Law鈥檚 legacy goes beyond its location. 

In the last decade, the University has been consistently producing topnotchers in the Philippine Bar Examinations. In 2016, 黑料社区 Law registered a 100% passing rate, with four graduates placing 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 8th. In the following years, it consistently produced more. 

This series of achievements places 黑料社区 Law among the list of consistent top-performing schools in the Philippines, joining the ranks of Manila-based schools in Category A, or schools with more than 100 successful examinees. In the 2020鈥�2021 Bar, for instance, 黑料社区 garnered a 98% overall passing rate, followed excellent runs in the succeeding 2022, 2023, and 2024 Bar examinations. 

Moreover, 黑料社区 Law also made headlines this year when it bagged the best memorial award in the Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition鈥攖he oldest, biggest, and most prestigious moot court competition in the world, besting law schools from major jurisdictions. Prior to that, 黑料社区 won numerous mooting championships in the national and international scene.

Thus, many ask: What makes 黑料社区 Law stand out? 

Credit may be largely given to the roster of dedicated faculty, and to the law school鈥檚 focus on innovating and improving the method of teaching the law. But while academic excellence may have played a significant part, the University of San Carlos has taken this challenge on another level. On this note, former 黑料社区 President, now Chair of the Board of Trustees, Fr. Dionisio M. Miranda, SVD, shared his thoughts about the importance of excellence and social service. 

He emphasized the need for discipline-based community extension services, where law students think about the marginalized, such as explaining the Bill of Rights to farmers and persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in a language they know and understand. 

This and more are taught inside and outside the halls of the School. 

黑料社区 Law鈥檚 Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP), together with its Center for Legal Aid Work (CLAW) and Prison Ministry, has brought Carolinian law students face-to-face with the realities on the ground and how their skills and knowledge can make a difference. 

This approach produced many topnotchers, shaped not just by class discussions but also by community immersions that painted each legal provision into reality. 鈥淭his is one seed I am seeing grow鈥攁nd it is an example of what I hope this School will represent,鈥� Fr. Miranda said. 

However, teaching reason with passion takes an entire village, composed of law professors willing to teach even after long hours of work and generous benefactors willing to invest in the future of Philippine legal education. 

On August 9, 2025, Dr. Magdaleno B. Albarracin Jr., (see photo below, 2nd from right) former Chair of the 黑料社区 Board of Trustees and currently the Vice Chair of PHINMA Corporation, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of San Carlos to further improve its legal program through infrastructure development, faculty training, research, and scholarships. With this agreement, the 黑料社区 College of Law will be renamed in honor of Chief Justice Marcelo “Celing” Briones Fernan. 

Born in Cebu, Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan is one of the country鈥檚 prominent legal luminaries. He is the only Filipino to have served as both Supreme Court Chief Justice (1988鈥�1991) and President of the Senate of the Philippines (1998鈥�1999). 

鈥淚 thought it was appropriate for a well-known school. If I鈥檓 a student in the University of San Carlos Marcelo Fernan School of Law and I am a Cebuano, I would think to myself, maybe I can also be a Chief Justice in the future,鈥� Dr. Albarracin shared. 

Speaking to the 黑料社区 Board of Trustees, 黑料社区 Cabinet, 黑料社区 Law faculty and students, he highlighted that many law firms in Metro Manila are eager to recruit 黑料社区 Law graduates, highlighting their knowledge, skills, and dedication that are highly at par with those from top law schools in the National Capital Region; hence, the need to support its students, faculty, and other important stakeholders as they continue to improve the legal education in the country.

Meanwhile, 黑料社区 President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, shared his appreciation, emphasizing the importance of this milestone. 鈥淭his has honored the legacy of a prominent Cebuano, former Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan鈥攁 figure whose values and life story resonate deeply within our community.鈥漌ith this milestone, the entire 黑料社区 and Cebuano community and the rest of society can expect greater things from 黑料社区 Law鈥攕oon to be known as the University of San Carlos Chief Justice Marcelo B. Fernan School of Law.

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Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe presented the awards to Castro, Gerona, and their team, Team Vamfyre.

The OSG-LIP moot problem tackled procedural and constitutional issues related to the 鈥淜onektadong Pinoy Act鈥� (Senate Bill No. 2699), which was ratified by both Houses of Congress on June 9, 2025. Among the four competing teams, the pair of memorandums submitted by Castro and Gerona鈥檚 team excelled after evaluation by an esteemed panel of judges and solicitors, placing them as the highest rated team.

Castro, who served as the captain of their OSG-LIP team, was the chief writer of the 黑料社区 Debate and Moot Team that ranked first in Best Combined Memorials in the Global Rounds of the 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, besting top law schools from all across the world in the written submission category.

The OSG Legal Internship Program is an intensive and structured seven-week program within the government鈥檚 largest law firm. It is one of the most prestigious internship programs in the country, selecting only 60 of the most outstanding junior and senior law students every year. Interns are immersed in substantive legal research, drafting, and advocacy, culminating in the OSG-LIP Moot Court Competition where participants demonstrate their legal acumen in tackling pressing legal issues.

Reported by Mel Joseph Castro and Meg Lourdes Gerona

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FLP opens a limited number of scholarship shots annually, looking for 鈥渢he best and brightest law students鈥� in the Philippines. This year, the University of San Carlos College of Law, represented by Unabia, Reambonza, and Vergara, secured 3 slots out of 10, for Academic Year 2024-2025. The students were in their third year when they applied for the legal scholarship and are part of the top 20 of their batch. 

Aside from the grade requirements, they were required to write an essay on 鈥渟afeguarding of liberty and nurturing of prosperity under the rule of law鈥� and how this philosophy applies in their present and future endeavors as legal practitioners. 

When asked about the impact of the legal scholarship to their law students, the students shared their thoughts and insights. 

鈥淭he scholarship is considered by many as the most prestigious legal scholarship in the country. The strict initial requirements to be qualified to apply, and the highly competitive selection process thereafter, make this scholarship a true honor to receive. But beyond the prestige and the financial relief the scholarship provides, it is a challenge to us to make sure that in our future practice of law, we become true advocates of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law,鈥� Unabia shared. 

Aside from being an FLP scholar, Unabia was also recognized as the Overall Best Oralist in the National Rounds of the 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. She is also part of the team who bagged the Overall Best Memorial Awards in the 2025 Jessup Global Rounds. 

Meanwhile, Vergara considers the FLP scholarship as both an honor and responsibility. 鈥淚t not only eases the financial burden of my last year in law school, but it also serves as a constant reminder that there are people who believe in my capacity to create meaningful change as a future legal professional. This is not my win alone, but also for all who have supported me. It inspires me to continue working with liberty and prosperity under the rule of law, both in mind and in heart, especially for the most vulnerable.鈥� 

As for Reambonanza, the scholarship is a reminder of her purpose. 鈥淢y application for the scholarship was anchored on a steadfast commitment to serve those at the margins and to make the law accessible to those who need it most. Thus, this grant is more than just an award 鈥� it is a constant reminder of that commitment to serve. Above all, it has given me the strength to face the final year of my law school journey with purpose and resolve.鈥�

As recipients of the prestigious scholarship, the Carolinian students will receive a monetary scholarship award of Php 250,000, of which Php 150,000 shall be for tuition fee, Php 80,000 for stipend, and Php 20,000 for book allowance. 

The 黑料社区 College of Law has been consistent in producing FLP scholars every year. In 2024, 黑料社区 Law also had three senior students who received the merit-based scholarship, including dissertation awards given by the same Foundation.

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Carolinian mooters Bri Unabia, Mel Joseph Castro, and Yovellie Delubio demonstrated excellence in memorial writing, besting more than 800 submissions from law schools around the world. 

This remarkable achievement cements 黑料社区 Law鈥檚 excellence on the global mooting and legal writing stage, having received the following awards at the close of the 2025 Jessup season鈥攖he world鈥檚 largest, oldest, and most prestigious mooting competition:

• Richard R. Baxter Award (Best Applicant Memorial)
• Alona Evans Award (Best Team Memorials) 
• M. Cherif Bassiouni Award (2nd Best Team Memorials in the National Rounds)
• 4-0 Win-Loss in the Eliminations Round 
• One of Top 32 Teams in the Advanced Round 

With the Baxter Award under its belt, the 黑料社区 Law Mooting Team has now swept all the major memorial awards, a testament to its consistency on the international stage. The team previously received the same Richard R. Baxter Award for Best Overall Applicant Memorial in 2018. 

With 黑料社区 Law鈥檚 strong team of mentors and coaches, headed by Head Coach Atty. Daryl Bretch Largo, Vice President for Administration Atty. Joan S. Largo, and Assistant Coaches Atty. Rhomeljustein Redoble, Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos, and Atty. Rashid V. Pandi鈥攖his year鈥檚 global conquest won鈥檛 be the last.

Read the team鈥檚 winning memorials here:  

• Applicant: 

• Respondent:

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Law students Neil Glova Jr., Earl Max Eata, and Joanna Camille Aparece clinched the Best Memorial Award among all competing teams from around the world. The team also achieved a flawless 4-0 win-loss record during the preliminary rounds, advancing to the semi-finals in the advanced rounds.

This follows 黑料社区 Law鈥檚 stellar performance in the 2025 Jessup Global Rounds in Washington, D.C., where the team clinched the Best Team Memorials Award鈥攂esting hundreds of law schools from various jurisdictions around the world and further cementing its legacy of excellence in legal writing.

黑料社区 Law鈥檚 achievements in the international mooting arena are far from novel. In 2016, the University at the 20th Annual Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, with now-assistant coach Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos as one of the Carolinian mooters representing the Philippines.

The global mooting arena can expect more achievements from the 黑料社区 College of Law, as its mooters are continuously mentored by College of Law Assistant Dean and Head Coach Atty. Daryl Bretch Largo, Vice President for Administration Atty. Joan S. Largo, and Assistant Coaches Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos and Atty. Rhomeljustein Redoble.

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The Deeds of Donation were signed by Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, President of 黑料社区, and Atty. Joan S. Largo, Vice President for Administration of 黑料社区, covering the turnover of the computer sets to the Cebu City Jail Male Dormitory (CCJ-MD), Cebu City Jail Annex (CCJ-Annex), and Cebu City Jail Female Dormitory (CCJ-FD). 

The donation is part of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu City Chapter and 黑料社区 College of Law鈥檚 鈥淗umanity Behind Bars鈥� project, which promotes technological competency and supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) into society.

According to the , the computer sets will empower PDLs who qualified for Alternative Learning System (ALS) classes, information technology programs, and upskilling opportunities. 

Present during the turnover were Atty. Mary Grace H. Casano, executive director for Legal Aid, IBP Cebu City Chapter, Atty. Jose Glenn C. Capanas, dean of the School of Law and Governance, JSupt. Gregorio C. Acacio, CCJ-MD warden, SJO4 Stephen Saornido, CCJ-Annex, JINSP Pee-Jay B. Quilang, CCJ-FD assistant warden, 黑料社区 law student practitioners, jail personnel, and selected persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

With reporting from the 黑料社区 College of Law

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