BY ATTY. JULIUS GREGORY B. DELGADO
IBP-BOHOL HOLDS YEAR-END FELLOWSHIP, TESTIMONIAL DINNER, AND LEGAL AID AWARDS
IBP-Bohol Chapter had its Year-end Fellowship, Testimonial Dinner and Legal Aid Awards last Friday, December 6, 2024, at Shang Palace, Taloto District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol. With a theme “Hello (2025), Love (IBP-Bohol), Goodbye (2024)”, the Chapter culminated a very productive and successful year.
After fourteen (14) long years, Bohol was given the chance to host the IBP Eastern Visayas Regional Convention. The Chapter also launched so many firsts and reached unprecedented milestones. It launched the 1st Jail Decongestion Summit last August, the second one in the country after the Supreme Court’s and the first organized by the IBP, both national and local. The Chapter also launched the Lex Athenaeum: IBP-Bohol’s Corporate Lawyering and Trial Academy and hosted the 1st Housing and Real Estate Development Regulation and Human Settlement Adjudication Summit last September. IBP-Bohol’s first Privilege Card, Nyor: Abogadong-Bol-anon Privilege Card, and Generali Pilipinas Group Insurance and HMO for members, dependents, and law office personnel were also launched last month. Finally, the 26th Board of Officers and Directors distributed free 2025 IBP Planner to encourage early payment of local dues.
The occasion was also a Testimonial Dinner for three outstanding Boholana lawyers. The first one is a defender of our fragile environment, nationally acclaimed and recognized Environmental Lawyer, Atty. Esther Gertrude Biliran, the second is our Immediate Past President Atty. Licelle Zamora who served our Chapter for two (2) decades. Last but not the least, is Atty. Rochelle Mahinay-Sero, DILG Region XII Director, who was born and raised in Corella, Bohol and finished her elementary, high school, undergraduate and law studies in Bohol.
Top volunteer lawyers of the Chapter’s Legal Aid Program were also feted. Past President Atty. Idonah Lee Grupo-Coritico was recognized for handling the most number of cases for the lost, the least and the last. Attys. Francis Marco Somorostro, Rhoel Tumarao and Hazel Buena-Siez were also recognized for joining the most number of Legal Aid Outreach organized by IBP-Bohol Chapter.
Hosted by Directors Jervis Clifford Vertulfo and Zeah Zamora, raffle and parlor games were also conducted with all participants taking home major and/or door prizes. Group dancing and singing also culminated a well-attended and fun-filled evening. Moonlight Serenade by Alma and Frank provided the entertainment.