Philippine Lawyers Visited Bacolod City for the 12th IBP National Convention

Over 2,000 lawyers from all over the Philippines participated in this year's 12^th National Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) held last March 26-28,2009 at the Bacolod Pavilion Hotel and Resort in Bacolod City.

With the theme, “Upholding the Rule of Law: IBP’s Continuing Challenge”, the biannual event is the culminating activity of every term of IBP Board of Governors. The convention aims to find solutions for some of the issues that have affected the country involving the implementation of law and to participate in the continuing task of upholding the Rule of Law.

Several notable personalities graced this year’s convention. These include Senators Francis Escudero and Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas II, Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Supreme Court Justices Magdangal de Leon and Zenaida Elepano, Professor Harry Roque, Jr., Department of Finance Secretary Margarito ‘Gary’ Tevez, Atty. Ma. Carolina T. Legarda, Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal, Deputy Court Administrator (DCA) Nimfa C. Vilches, and Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Partylist Representative Edgar L. Valdez.

IBP National President Atty. Feliciano Bautista represented the IBP during the symbolic presentation of the key to the province of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, courtesy of Negros Occidental Governor Isidro P. Zayco and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, respectively.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines 12th National Convention is supported by Smart Communications, Inc., San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), St. Luke’s Medical Center, and UBIX Corporation.

For more information about the 12^th National Convention of Lawyers, contact the Integrated Bar of the Philippines at (632) 631-3018, 631-3014, 634-4697 or visit their website, http://www.ibp.org.ph/