MSU Law Iligan Debate & Moot Society

𝑵𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣𝒂𝙡 𝙒𝒐𝙢𝒆𝙣’𝙨 𝙈𝒐𝙣𝒕𝙝 reminds us that many of the strongest calls for justice have come from women who chose to speak when it mattered most. In courts and in public fora, women continue to take the floor and make their voices count.

Speaking is never a simple act. It means questioning what is accepted and defending what is right even when it is difficult. Through debate, advocacy, and the practice of law, women continue to show that a clear voice and a firm stand can move conversations forward.

The DMS joins in recognizing women who speak with purpose and who use their words to uphold justice. Their voices continue to shape the discussions that define our society.

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🎨: 𝐉𝐚𝐲 𝐘𝐁

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐌𝐒𝐔 𝐋𝐚𝐰-𝐈𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐩 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬

• 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 | 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱-𝟮𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 •

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗖. 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is widely recognized as the world’s largest and most prestigious public international law advocacy tournament — a yearly simulation of a dispute between countries before the 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

With the sheer discipline it demands, the release of the 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴, which is the hypothetical problem that frames the legal dispute, commences each team's months-long cycle of research, writing, revision, and refinement. From September through early January, teams painstakingly draft two memorials — one for the Applicant and one for the Respondent — each of which must be grounded in authoritative international law sources and persuasive legal reasoning.

Once memorials are submitted, the work evolves. Dedicated practice sessions transition into mock oral hearings, where competitors simulate courtroom proceedings and refine their delivery, timing, and strategic responses. Only after this intense period of preparation do teams in their respective jurisdictions gather again for the oral rounds, where they will argue both sides of the case before panels of judges that test their legal knowledge, clarity, presence, and persuasive advocacy.

This year’s Jessup Problem, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚, pushed participants to grapple with nuanced questions in public international law — from the right of third-State intervention in contentious proceedings to the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights and the limits of sovereign immunity in our rapidly globalizing world.

Against this backdrop of exceptional challenge, the 𝐌𝐒𝐔 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐒𝐔–𝐈𝐈𝐓 Jessup Team demonstrated extraordinary commitment and resilience:

𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐡 𝐂. 𝐏𝐞ñ𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐫 &
𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐳𝐦𝐚 𝐍. 𝐍𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐛
| ᴀɢᴇɴᴛꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀɴᴛ

𝐄𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐑. 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬, 𝐉𝐫. &
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐒. 𝐀𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐠
| ᴀɢᴇɴᴛꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴᴅᴇɴᴛ

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐆. 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐮𝐡𝐚
| ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜɴꜱᴇʟ

Their experience manifests their individual skill and sustained intellectual labor — from the long nights drafting memorials to the nerve-tested hours in the oral rounds.

The MSU Law-Iligan Team profoundly thanks our Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan, whose belief in this team did more than authorize a journey to Manila but reminded us that: from Iligan, our voices are worthy of the world’s most exacting legal conversations.

To DMS thanks our Coaches & Advisers Atty. Annabelle B. Cañazares-Mindalano and Atty. Janodin Marohombsar, who saw the arguments before they were polished as well as doubts, but remained our enlightening guides, patient and exacting until we could meet the bench with the steadiness of our own.

Thank you to the DMS members, Ansarey T. Fernando, Anas M. Malaco Jr., Nabel D. Mascara, Kince Alhansah M. Panondiongan, and Najib D. Macausor, whose work lived in footnotes, drills, and delight that carried us through the loudest moments of this cerebral venture.

To our sponsors, your generosity transcended more than material support, but a tangible vote of confidence that allowed us to focus on the law, knowing that a community stood behind us.

To everyone who followed the Jessup journey, cheered them on, and saw the countless hours of preparation that went into these competitions: thank you.

!

The Debate & Moot Society brims with pride for our MSU College of Law – Iligan Team on their spirited participation in the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽 𝗖. 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗽 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀.

With this year’s problem: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚, the Team stood before the simulated bench of the International Court of Justice, where states contested the right to intervene; the recognition of indigenous stewardship over rare earth resources; the contours of general principles of law; and the reach of sovereign immunity in an age of state-owned enterprise expansion. It was a dispute that cast the fractures of our modern international order: sovereignty and solidarity; development and diversity; power and principle.

Throughout this intellectual labyrinth, the Team stood firm in cohesion of purpose and conviction, with:

𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐡 𝐂. 𝐏𝐞ñ𝐚𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐫 &
𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐳𝐦𝐚 𝐍. 𝐍𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐛
| ᴀɢᴇɴᴛꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀɴᴛ

𝐄𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐑. 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬, 𝐉𝐫. &
𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐒. 𝐀𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐠
| ᴀɢᴇɴᴛꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴᴅᴇɴᴛ

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐆. 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐮𝐡𝐚
| ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜɴꜱᴇʟ

In confronting the Gordian complexities of jurisdiction, responsibility and rights, the MSU Law–Iligan Team demonstrated the rigor of exhaustive research, calibrated reasoning, and the courage to defend a position to its last principled conclusion.

The Team’s performance was guided and strengthened by the mentorship of our advisers, Atty. Annabelle B. Cañazares-Mindalano and Atty. Janodin M. Marohombsar. Through their exacting critiques and countless hours spent simulating oral rounds, they refined our advocacy and ensured that the team carried both intellectual depth and precision.

The DMS extends its most profound gratitude to Chancellor Atty. Alizedney M. Ditucalan, whose support affirms that MSU-IIT belongs in the global legal discourse and whose leadership enables students to step beyond regional boundaries and engage in conversations that shape international law.

To the researchers and DMS members — we give thanks to your verification, counter-arguments, and unseen labor that fortified the team even more.

In a year where the global moot community once again converges under dynamic legal education, the challenge was not simply to compete but to contribute meaningfully to the evolving discourse of public international law.

We remember this season more than the rankings or results but for the discipline forged in preparation, tested in the oral rounds, and the scholarship refined in memorials drafted long past daybreak.
For in Jessup, the true victory lies in navigating the drowning complexities and emerging sharper and steadier, in the pursuit of justice beyond borders.

Congratulations, MSU Law Team. The Gorge was formidable—but so were you.🤎💛

The 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 extends its warmest congratulations to its resident members who have officially graduated and earned their Juris Doctor degree, 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑵𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑻. 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒔 and 𝑱𝒊𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊 𝑫. 𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏.

This milestone is a moment of genuine pride for the entire Society. Law school is not simply a program to complete but a journey that tests character and resolve. Reaching this day shows endurance and strength beyond what is often seen from the outside.

Both graduates have grown not only as students of the law but as individuals who understand the responsibility of advocacy and the importance of standing for something greater than themselves.

The Society celebrates this achievement with deep respect and admiration. May this success serve as the foundation of honorable legal careers.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔, 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒖𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔! The Debate and Moot Society is proud of you.

The 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 of the MSU College of Law – Iligan congratulates its alumni and former resident members who passed the 2025 Philippine Bar Examinations:

1. 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒚. 𝑲𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒉 𝑨. 𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔
2. 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒚. 𝑱𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒆𝒍 𝑻. 𝑩𝒆𝒉𝒆𝒄
3. 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒚. 𝑨𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒘𝒆 𝑨. 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓
4. 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒚. 𝑱𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑳. 𝑱𝒆𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒎

They began their legal training in this Society where arguments were tested in debates and moots as a pulsing choice to advocate. Those rooms were smaller than courtrooms but the work done there is real. Today, that same discipline carries over into the profession they now enter, not as students of the law, but finally, its officers.

𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 is often framed as a lesson in martyrdom, but history suggests something more: José Rizal's life was pivotal not just because he was willing to die, but because he refused to simplify the country he loved.

A physician, linguist, and reformist who wrote against both colonial abuse and native complacency, Rizal believed that liberation without intellectual discipline merely replaces one form of domination with another. His ex*****on on December 30, 1896 was meant to end an argument; and at large, it forced the nation to inherit one.

That argument remains unresolved. The Philippines today lives amid competing versions of its past—some carefully documented, others loudly revised—and in a political culture where loyalty is often measured by volume rather than reason. Rizal warned against this condition with unsettling precision. In his essay, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, he predicted that a people unmoored from truth and education would struggle not only with foreign control, but with governing itself. What he feared was not instability, but amnesia, complacency, and the slow moral decay of those in power.

Thus, Rizal Day comes not as a pause from public life but an entry point into it. It invites us to remember that nationhood is sustained not by mere spectacle or sentiment, but by citizens willing to think historically, argue honestly, and accept the slow burden of responsibility—an inheritance that remains, even now, both demanding and unfinished.

Happy Rizal Day to all!

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🎨 : ᴋɪʀQ ʀᴏᴄʜᴇꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴜᴍᴀɴᴅᴀ
| ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ʟᴀʏᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀ

✍🏻 : ɢʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ᴀɴɴᴇ ɢ. ᴅᴀʏᴜʜᴀ
| ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴜꜱ, ᴇᴅɪᴛᴏʀ-ɪɴ-ᴄʜɪᴇꜰ

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 to the newest members of the Debate and Moot Society!
8 out of 10 applicants passed at the conclusion of the month-long rigorous screening process.
Welcome home and Congratulations.