SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society

To our mentor, coach, and biggest critic in the best way possible—Happy Birthday, Atty. Mikko Solis! 🎉🥂

Your wisdom in law and passion for debate inspire us every day. Thank you for leading the SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society with heart, humor, and dedication. May this year bring you even more victories, laughter, and joy!

They say the loudest voices are the ones that win moots, but Hesus, Louren, and Jacque taught us that the strongest voices come from a place of quiet determination. 🏛️💙

Congratulations to 𝐇𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐭, 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐨, and 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐫𝐨, former members of the SPSPS-Law Moot and Debate Society, on their Juris Doctor graduation! Watching all of you grow from a beginner into the champions we saw has been such an honor.

Hesus, thank you for showing us what it means to lead with grace. Your "gentle steering" and wise words have shaped so many of us in LMDS. We know you’ve faced your own battles to get here, which makes this victory so much sweeter.

To Lourieniel, your grace, resilience, and steadfast dedication have been a constant source of inspiration to us in LMDS; this milestone stands as a well-deserved recognition of your sustained efforts and commitment.

To Jacque, your composure, perseverance, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impression on us in LMDS; this achievement duly reflects the diligence and effort you have consistently shown.

We’re going to miss your presence, but we know you’re onto bigger and better things!

Good luck on your next journey. Go get that “𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐘.” title, Hesus, Louren, and Jacque!

𝐒𝐏𝐒𝐏𝐒-𝐋𝐌𝐃𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 "𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬" 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The inaugural Clash of Counsels 2026 successfully concluded its first edition of the Public International Law (PIL) moot court competition on March 29, 2026, held at the SPSPS Library.

Organized by the SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society, this landmark event served as a practical final evaluation for PIL students in lieu of the traditional written examinations.

The competition commenced with the intensive preliminary rounds, where student oralists represented their respective sections across three distinct roles within a simulated International Criminal Court (ICC): the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), the Legal Representative of Victims (LRV), and the Defence. These matches tested the students' mastery of international statutes and their ability to pivot between different legal perspectives.

Following three grueling preliminary matches, JD-2B emerged as the top-scoring team. Exercising their first-seed advantage, JD-2B chose to represent the OTP in the final round, while Team JD-2A and JD-2D assumed the roles of LRV and Defence, respectively.

The final round escalated into a sophisticated display of wit and legal mastery as each team delivered their final arguments before a distinguished board of judges.

The panel featured Atty. Mikko Solis as President, supported by co-panelists Atty. Robbin Docena, Hesus Bucatcat, and Lourieniel Dacillo.

After a rigorous deliberation on the merits of the oral arguments, JD-2A, representing the LRV, was declared the overall winner of the competition. JD-2D (Defence) followed as the first runner-up, with JD-2B (OTP) placing third.

Individual excellence was also a highlight of the event. Mamerto Caliwan, Jr. of JD-2A delivered a standout performance, earning the title of Overall Best Oralist and the award for Best Oralist for LRV. Other top individual honors were bestowed upon Aljon Malot for Best Oralist for OTP and Mac Bruen Ibañez for Best Oralist for Defence.

Meanwhile, JD-2B took home the Overall Best in Memorial Award along with the Best Memorials for both the LRV and Defence categories. Team JD-2A secured the Best Memorial for the OTP.

——
Contributed Photos Courtesy of Floramay Bacus, Bernard Ace Romano, and Wangari Casio

ICYMI: Behind every great oralist is a powerful memorial. Team JD-2B secured the Best Memorial award at this year's Clash of Counsels Moot Court Competition.

ICYMI: Here are the results for the Clash of Counsels Moot Court competition 2026. Mamerto Caliwan, Jr. of Team JD-2A bagged the Overall Best Oralist award.

𝐒𝐎, 𝐈𝐓 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐒!

Meet the three (3) competing teams for the Clash of Counsels Moot Court Competition 2026.

TEAM 2611B:
1. Aljon Malot
2. Jaica Paula Ron
3. Mac Bruen Ibañez

TEAM 2503A:
1. Gualberto Gualberto Jr.
2. Mamerto Caliwan
3. Paul Leonard Balame

TEAM 2708D:
1. Nereo Valeriano Jr.
2. Christopher Corsiga
3. Quailex Kwia Ballais

𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐃-𝐃𝐀𝐘!

Wishing the very best of luck to all our mooters from JD 2A, 2B, and 2D who are set to participate in the Clash of Counsels Moot Court Competition 2026!

May your arguments be airtight, your citations be precise, and your composure remain unshakable under the fire of the bench. The floor is yours—make every word count.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐏! ⚖️

This March, the traditional exam room transforms into a courtroom. The SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society (LMDS) proudly presents “𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬”—the ultimate final assessment for our 2nd Year Public International Law (PIL) students!

Paulinian Law students from sections 2A, 2B, and 2D are set to go head-to-head in a moot court simulation, arguing before a distinguished panel of judges.

𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: SPSPS Library
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: March 29, 2026
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Who will emerge with the best memorial? Who will withstand the heat of the interpellation? Stay updated by following our official social media accounts. We will be posting clips and updates as the event progresses.

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒: The SPSPS SHS Library transformed into a high-stakes courtroom yesterday, February 22, 2026, as the Law Moot and Debate Society (LMDS) clashed in a moot court simulation for the inaugural launch of “Clash of Counsels”.

The event drew a crowd of Paulinians eager to witness the art of oral advocacy and legal reasoning in action. The main moot court problem saw the clash of counsels between the Federal State of Apanuri (Applicant) represented by Iris Anne Jaingue and Maxinne Ezra Bayadog, and the Republic of Ramaya (Respondent) represented by Patrick Cañedo and Jerry Yubal, Jr.

Meanwhile, Atty. Mikko Solis, adviser of the SPSPS-LMDS, served as the president of the panel, alongside JC Sabonsolin and John Rafael Calvara as co-panelists.

The moot court exhibition was anchored on the theme of “𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲” from the 5th University of Cebu - Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (UCKAS) International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.

The exhibition provided a platform for aspiring legal minds to showcase their ability to navigate complex legal issues, respond to rigorous questioning from the bench, and deliver compelling arguments under pressure.

The SPSPS LMDS extends its gratitude to everyone who attended and supported this exhibition.

See you on our next event! 👀

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬?

Come see how it’s really done.

The SPSPS Law Moot and Debate Society (LMDS) proudly brings you “𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬”, a live moot court exhibition where we break down the art of the argument.

This moot simulation is structured around the theme of “𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲” from the 5th University of Cebu - Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (UCKAS) International Environmental Law Moot Court Competition that was held last October 20-25, 2025, as organized by the University of Cebu, University of Cebu School of Law, with the support of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Rule of Law Programme Asia and Oceania Philippines.

This event is open to the entire Paulinian community. But since space is tight, we recommend getting there early before the house is full.

📍Where: SHS Library
⏳When: Sunday, February 22, 2026 (2:00pm - 4:00pm)

Whether you're an aspiring litigator or just love a sharp intellectual battle, this is an exhibition you cannot miss.