Valedictory Address at the UA&P Law School Graduation 2026
This speech was delivered by Valedictorian Josemaria Leaño Villareal during the 1st UA&P Law School Graduation Rites held at the Li Seng Giap Auditorium on June 20, 2026.
Honorable Chief Justice, Alexander G. Gesmundo, University President Philip Yeung, Members of the Board of Trustees, Dean Jemy Gatdula, members of the administration and faculty, friends and family, and most importantly my fellow graduates of UA&P Law School Class of 2026, good afternoon to you all.
Little may know that our batch is the last of a rare breed, and we are unique in that way. Not because we are the graduating batch and main characters of this event, but because our journey in law school started differently from others. We entered the halls of University of Asia and the Pacific not by walking through the gates in Pearl Drive, but by entering into a Zoom video call. We experienced our first taste of class recitation not by standing up from our seats with weak knees, but by clicking unmute with shaky hands. Not before long however, the reality had set in. Law school has begun. I am in law school. This despite the fact that we may not even know what being a lawyer meant, what a lawyer actually did, and if this was the path set out for us. The four, five, six years that followed centered on answering these very questions.
They say the first year of law school is the hardest, and I agree with this. We are tasked to decipher a seemingly alien language with words like certiorari, res judicata or stare decisis. In college, I never had to memorize a single thing. Now I had to memorize Articles 1-21 of the New Civil Code for the Persons and Family Relations class of Judge Tan. On top of that, we had 20 cases for Constitutional Law I, but what about the 10 case digests I had to make for Criminal Law 1 under Atty. Alcobilla. Once again, reality had set in. This is law school. It is during this first year when the questions come in, can I take four (4) more years of this? But Atty. DM Marasigan told us, law school is a marathon, not a sprint. And so we slowed down our pace, took it one day at a time and before we knew it, the first year was over.
They say when you get to second year, you have already adjusted to the rigors of law school. Whoever said that did not go to UA&P. Second year was even more brutal, there was no time for adjustment, only greater doubt. We were thrust into the world of remedial law and commercial law, where more alien language came in. More was expected of us because we already knew what to do. Dissect provisions of the Rules of Court, recite Gamboa v. Teves then Roy v. Herbosa, then know what makes a torrens title indefeasible. We knew that law school was a marathon not a sprint, but every day and every week left for no breathing. We took it one day at a time, section by section, case by case. Soon, second year was over. We are halfway there.
Third year was not so kind. The finish line was in sight yet the hardest test was yet to come - we had to compute. We learned in Succession how to compute the inheritance of compulsory heirs, but what if the case was testate succession, what if there was preterition. Do not get me started with Tax. But we survived and soon, we were on our way to our final year.
We heard stories about review classes, but we just had to experience it for ourselves. They say this is review, but why am I learning this just now? The entire Book 1 of the RPC which we learned in one semester, we finished in one week. We thought regular classes were hard, review classes made us feel unprepared even though we barely slept the night before, even though we started studying for class a week in advance. Yet, it was the final mile and though we were at our limits, we pushed through. We were at the finish line.
This was the journey that brought us here today. This is the law school experience that we look back on. Allow me however to share the part of law school that is often left unsaid. These are the battles that are fought alone on our study desks, when turning the next page felt like your whole life depended on it. When the weight of the pressure felt like it was too much. These are the quiet moments, when you think of whether this will all be worth it. Why did I choose to do this? I already have a college degree, I am already an architect, I am already a doctor, is that not enough? Despite these thoughts, we pushed on. It was through fighting this inner battle that we came out better versions of ourselves, carrying the heavy burden of our great potential. And this is what has brought us to the finish line.
I would be remiss if I said that this battle was fought alone.
For this I thank our professors, who showed up every single day and challenged us beyond our limits. For them, it is tough love, for us, it now makes sense.
I thank my family, who I know cheered on me every step of the way. My parents, who trusted me when I decided to study law, decided to stop, and decided to give it another shot. It was worth it. My titas, who I lived with these past four years. Thank you for taking care of me, even knowing my routine better than I do. Thank you for all the snacks that I ate in the middle of the night without you knowing. To my siblings, my sister who I know is my biggest fan, and my brother who continues to watch and guide me from above. I will make you proud.
I thank the administration and staff of UA&P, for giving us the necessary support for a top-tier education. Through your hard work, our burdens seemed lighter. I thank the ates and kuyas, of UA&P, who always greeted and assisted us with a smile. Maraming salamat po.
Lastly, to my classmates and friends. I could not ask for a better group of people to go through law school with. Your hard work and dedication inspired me to push myself as much as I could. Special recognition must be given to the working students, which most of the graduates here today are. Your achievement is a testament to your grit and dedication. I am witness to low moments, the anxiety and fear. Most of all, I am witness to your growth. From scared and nervous first year law students, look where we are now. We are now scared and nervous Juris Doctor graduates. I could not be prouder to cross the finish line with you all.
From today, we may all be going on different paths. In doing so we may feel lost. So let the most unqualified person in the room give a piece of advice. Whatever that path may be, embrace it. We are called in different ways but we enter into one noble profession. Through the law we have the ability to solve complex problems, improve access to justice, serve the underprivileged, and make our mark in working for the common good. If you need some direction, I urge you to look for an intersection. Find the intersection between doing what you love and going where you are needed. What we gain here today and when we pass the bar is not a new title to our name, it is not just a job, but a new way of life.
It has been my honor to address all of you today, most especially my fellow graduates. Congratulations Class of 2026. 100% tayo sa Bar. See you at the oath taking! Good afternoon to you all.