Mailing Office: c/o Office of the IBP President

IBP Bldg., Julia Vargas Ave.

Ortigas Center, Pasig City

Telefax: c/o Office of the IBP President

(632) 631-3614

The ALSP is a federation of more than sixty (60) law student governments all over the Philippines. Its members include all bona fide law students whose student councils have affiliated themselves to the ALSP.

The ALSP is the officially recognized student counterpart of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The Office of the President through the National Youth Commission (NYC) also recognizes it as a legitimate national organization concerned with youth-related problems.

To contribute to the improvement of legal education in the Philippines by providing venues for academic cooperation and coordination;

To instill a sense of social awareness and public responsibility among its members, particularly in the advocacy of social justice and human rights;

To cultivate a spirit of cordiality and camaraderie among its members and contribute to their educational, social and recreational development; and

To promote better understanding, goodwill and cooperation with law students from other countries on matters of mutual concern and benefit.

The ALSP traces its beginnings to a series of informal meetings among law students from Adamson, Arellano, Ateneo, FEU, Lyceum, MLQU, PLM, PLS, San Beda, San Sebastian College, UE, UM, UP, and UST. Those who attended the said meetings agreed to form a network, which will coordinate and support each other in both academic and non-academic endeavors.

On November 2, 1989, the Founding Congress was held with the theme "Achieving Unity in Excellence, Justice and Responsibility". The General Assembly ratified the constitution and adopted the name Association of Law Students of the Philippines (ALSP).

The first major activity of the ALSP was the "Conflicts of Law", an annual sports and academic competition among law students and professors in the National Capital Region, on February 10-11, 1990.

WHEN DID THE ALSP BECOME A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION?

It became a national organization when it had its FIRST National Conference at the University of the Philippines on April 28-29, 1990. The theme of the conference was "Unity for Excellence and Social Responsibility". By this time, the ALSP has already twenty seven (27) member law schools. Thereafter the following conferences have been organized:

The ALSP has also been conducting the NATIONAL BAR SERVICES during the Bar Examinations. It provides for logistical support and serves as the center of exchange of bar materials among the different law schools. In line with this, the ALSP has also organized an Annual Eucharistic Celebration for the bar examinees and The Walk of Unity. In 1996, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin celebrated the first mass at the Manila Cathedral. In 1998, the first Walk of Unity was participated in by more than 30 law schools, with over 1,000 law students.

The ALSP, in 1997, has also institutionalized its CHRISTMAS OUTREACH PROGRAM for orphans and streetchildren. It has also adopted two provincial Day Care Centers in Daraga, Albay and Pinili, Ilocos Norte where books, school supplies and toys were donated.

Several Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) were signed by ALSP officers in the pursuit of developing the legal system in the country. During the 8^th ALSP National Conference in Iloilo City, the 1996-1997 National Board signed a MOA with the NYC to form a Free Legal Aid Program for the youth. This momentous event led to the creation of the ALSP-NYC-PBA YOUTH LEGAL AID PROGRAM (YLAP). On January 1999, the 1998-1999 National Board signed a MOA with CD Technologies Asia, Inc. (CD Asia), the makers of Lex Libris CD-ROMs for lawyers and law students. The partnership will pursue the goal of advancing legal education in the country. On April 1999 in Davao City, the 1998-1999 National Board also renewed its ties with the IBP through the signing of a new MOA with then IBP President Jose Aguila Grapilon.

Aside from its tie-up with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), the ALSP has formed linkages with Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Philippine Bar Association (PBA), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Amnesty International Pilipinas (AIP), the National Youth Parliament (NYP), Hope For ASEAN Children, the Philippine People’s Parliament-Youth (PPP-Youth) – Revitalizing the Youth Across the Nation Movement, among others.

The ALSP is the recognized representative of the Philippine law students in the ASEAN Law Students Association (ALSA), a Non-Government Organization (NGO) of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), whose Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The ALSP has been actively joining ALSA’s major activities. Among the highlights of the ALSP’s involvement, aside from participating in the ALSA Conferences (ALSC), are hosting the ALSA-sponsored ASEAN Law Students’ Competition, a debate and paper writing competition among ALSA member countries. So far, the following conferences have been held:

For the first time ever, through the leaderships of the 1995-96 and 1996-97 National Presidents, the ALSP was able to witness and participate in the following Conferences in Washington, D.C., USA: the International Law Students Association (ILSA) Spring Congress; The American Society of International Law (ASIL) Conference; and the International Rounds of the 1997 Philip C. JESSUP International Moot Court Competition. Together with their advisers, a group of ALSP officers and members were able to attend the same conferences in April 2000.

New linkages with the Asian Law Students Association, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Harvard Project for Asia and International Relations (HPAIR), based in Harvard University, MA, USA, were made on March and June 1999 through the leaderships of the 1998-99 and 1996-97 National Presidents. Linkages with the European Law Students Association (ELSA), and the Australian Law Students Association (ALSA) are on the way.

WHO ARE THE PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENTS OF ALSP?

1990-1991: Atty. JOSE MA. OCHAVE University of the Philippines

1991-1992: Atty. PHILIP NAZARENO Ateneo de Manila University

1992-1993: Atty. RAOUL C. CREENCIA San Beda College

1993-1994: Atty. JONAS L. CABOCHAN San Beda College

1994-1995: Mr. PATCH ARBAS, Ll. B. San Sebastian College-Recoletos

1995-1996: Atty. EMILY ISIDRO-VICEO University of the East

1996-1997: Mr. RYAN REY S. QUILALA, Ll. B. San Sebastian College-Recoletos

1997-1998: Mr. QUINTIN O. MAGSICO, Ll. B. University of Sto. Tomas

1998-1999: Miss HARMONY FRANCISCA A. CABIE Lyceum of the Philippines

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: