Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado
IBP JOINT REGIONAL CONVENTION EASTERN & WESTERN VISAYAS:
LAWYERS BRIDGING RELEVANCE AND RESILIENCE IN A CHANGING WORLD
Today is the last and final day of the IBP Joint Regional Convention Eastern and Western Visayas which started last Thursday, October 13, 2022. The Joint Convention, with a theme “Lawyers Bridging Relevance and Resilience in a Changing World” lasted for four (4) days because the lectures are also credited as units for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (“MCLE”). Every three (3) years, lawyers are required to attend MCLE Seminar for 36 hours to keep abreast with the latest legal developments to serve their clientele better.
This Joint Convention held at Waterfront Hotel and Casino is very special for two (2) reasons: 1) it is the first large gathering of lawyers and face-to-face MCLE after almost three (3) years because of the pandemic; and 2) it is jointly hosted by IBP Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas Regions. Normally, every IBP geographical region holds its own convention for its member chapters. However, during the IBP National Legal Aid Summit held in Modala Resort in Panglao last March, the Governors for Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas, Attys. Antonio Pido and Tomas Junco, Jr., respectively, agreed to hold a joint one with Cebu City as the host.
Prior to the formal and official start of the Joint Convention, sports tournaments were held for two (2) days, October 11-12, 2022, with lawyers from the different chapters in the Visayas competing in the sports of Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Chess, Golf, Badminton and Billiards. IBP Bohol Chapter, led by its President, Atty. Licelle D. Zamora, sent teams for Basketball and Chess only. While we did not win, the participants from the province showed sportsmanship and were able to gain new friends from the different chapters.
The Joint Convention was formally opened by the organizers led by IBP Cebu City President, Atty. Michelle Mendez-Palmares. No less than the Chief Justice, Hon. Alexander G. Gesmundo, graced the occasion and delivered a Lecture entitled, “The Supreme Court and the IBP: Refocusing its Advocacy and Restoring Faith in the Justice System”. In his Lecture, Chief Justice Gesmundo emphasized the need for lawyers to adopt to the changing world and meet the challenges brought by global upheavals such as the pandemic. Chief Justice said that lawyers need to be adept in the advancement of technology as he stated that even videoconferencing for court proceedings will continue even after the pandemic.
Aside from the Chief Justice, the IBP National Officers, including its Board of Governors, were in attendance. The President, Atty. Burt M. Estrada, delivered a lecture “Inclusive Growth through Inclusive Business: The Sustainable Way Forward for the IP Communities” discussing about their Ancestral Domain in his home province of Bukidnon and how their Indigenous Political Structure has brought inclusive growth for their Indigenous Cultural Community.
The last time the Province of Bohol hosted a Regional Convention was last 2010. With the revival of the tourism industry, the province can definitely hold a Regional Convention again in the near future to be participated from the different chapters of Eastern Visayas, namely: Bohol, Cebu City, Cebu Province, Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Southern Leyte.