22/01/2026
𝐔𝐒𝐂 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐰: 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤-𝐭𝐨-𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐭
Excellence, when sustained, becomes a legacy. For the University of San Carlos School of Law, that legacy grew stronger as it once again emerged victorious at the Stetson International Environmental Moot Court Competition, Southeast Asian Regional Rounds, securing the Overall Best Memorial Award for the second consecutive year.
In a field of 33 teams from four Southeast Asian countries, USC Law’s memorial rose above the rest, marking a back-to-back win and the third Overall Best Memorial award for the University since it began competing in Stetson in 2016. The achievement was not merely a repeat, but a reaffirmation of USC’s consistent presence among the region’s best in international environmental law advocacy.
The team behind this year’s triumph was composed of Khylle Zed Mag-aso, Nichole Simblante, and Jose Isabelo Abella, whose work on the 2025 problem, “𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘋𝘦-𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯,” demonstrated exceptional legal insight, structure, and persuasive clarity. Their memorial engaged complex and emerging issues in environmental law with both academic rigor and strategic finesse, earning the recognition of the judges and setting USC apart once more.
Behind the written work stood a strong culture of mentorship and preparation. The team was guided by Coach Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos and Team Advisors Atty. Daryl Bretch Largo, together with VP Joan S. Largo, Dean Jose Glenn Capanas, and USC DMT seniors Mel Joseph Castro and Bri Unabia. Their collective guidance ensured that excellence was not only achieved but sustained, making the back to back victory possible.
What makes this milestone particularly remarkable is its continuity. In an international competition where the problem changes yearly and the level of competition continues to rise, repeating a win is never guaranteed. Yet USC Law proved that its success is not accidental, but the result of deliberate training, institutional memory, and a shared commitment to excellence.
As USC Law celebrates this back-to-back triumph, it also celebrates the broader spirit of the mooting program, one that thrives on discipline, collaboration, and the belief that Filipino legal minds can consistently compete and prevail on the international stage.⚖️✨
Photo Credit: Atty. Mark Badayos
Words and Editing: Bren