A team from the University of the Philippines College of Law emerged as champions in the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Regionals held last Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 in Soongsil University in Seoul, South Korea.
In an information published on its website, UP Law said the team of Bernadette Angangco (IV-Juris Doctor), Julienne Morada (IV-JD) and Kesterson Kua (III-JD), along with their coach Prof. Rommel Casis, sweeped three preliminary rounds before winning the semifinal and the grand final of the competition.
"The competition involved a fictional environmental law dispute between states in a simulated version of the proceedings in the International Court of Justice. The preliminaries saw Angangco emerge as best oralist and Morada as second best oralist. They were the only team to win all preliminary matches," UP Law said.
The team went up against China University of Political Science and Law before clinching the top prize in the final round against a composite team from Seoul National University-Ehwa. A total of 10 teams joined the regional round of the competition.
"It is also worthy to note that this is the first time a Southeast Asian team has dominated the East Asian rounds while at the same time besting teams from Southeast Asia and South Asia," UP Law added.
Angangco, for her part, said they will be going up against winners of the other regional competition in the international contest scheduled March next year in Florida, United States.
"We just got back, but the training we got from the regionals was really good and it showed us what our weaknesses and strengths were, so we'll be working on that to prepare for the international finals," Angangco said.