Gullas Law School - International Law Students Alliance

17/09/2026

The University of the Visayas proudly celebrates a historic milestone as Joshua Tambor receives the Third Place Award in the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) Dissertation Writing Contest during the awarding ceremony held on September 16, 2026 at the Manila Polo Club.

The distinguished occasion gathered some of the best and brightest law students in the country, recognizing outstanding scholarship and research that advance the philosophy of liberty and prosperity under a rule of law.

Joshua, together with his thesis adviser, Atty. Eunice S. Baliong, received their plaques and cash prizes from FLP Chairman, Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos.

The ceremony was graced by members of the Supreme Court, including Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, Associate Justice Midas Marquez, and Retired Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas Bernabe, underscoring the significance of the occasion and the high regard accorded to excellence in legal scholarship.

As the first scholar from UV to receive this distinction, his Third Place finish marks a truly historic achievement for the University and its tradition of developing lawyers committed to excellence, research, and the rule of law.

Congratulations, Joshua! Your achievement has opened a new page in the history of legal scholarship at the University of the Visayas. May this distinction be both a celebration of what you have accomplished and an inspiration for those who will follow. ⚖️📚🏆

03/09/2026

𝑻𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑽𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝑭𝑳𝑷 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒕

CEBU CITY — University of the Visayas-Gullas Law School (UV-GLS) alumnus Joshua Tambor has become the first Visayanian to earn a distinction in the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) Nationwide Dissertation Writing Contest after his thesis was named Third Best Thesis in the 2026 competition.

Tambor’s winning entry, “Bahala Na is Not a Legal Standard: An Analysis of the Preventive Standards in International Environmental Law and their Relevance to the Protection of Liberty and Prosperity under the Conditions of Escalating Climate Risk,” placed among the best submissions from law students across the country.

The recognition marks the first time a Visayanian has received an award in the nationwide competition.

Founded by retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity promotes the philosophy of “Liberty and Prosperity under the Rule of Law,” which advances the idea that individual freedom and economic well-being must be pursued together within a just legal order.
Its nationwide dissertation writing competition provides law students an avenue to undertake legal scholarship on issues affecting liberty, prosperity, social justice and the rule of law, and to examine how legal principles can respond to contemporary challenges facing Filipino society.

Tambor focused his research on one of the country’s most pressing concerns: the increasing risks posed by climate change and recurring disasters.

Using Cebu City as a focal point, the study examines how recurring floods, infrastructure failures and livelihood losses cannot always be attributed solely to natural forces. It argues that the severity of disasters may also be traced to foreseeable human and institutional factors, including land-use decisions, inadequate infrastructure planning and weak enforcement of environmental regulations in high-risk areas.

The thesis challenges the conventional characterization of disasters as purely “natural” occurrences and questions the continued reliance on the concept of fortuitous events when their consequences could have been reasonably anticipated or mitigated.

Drawing on international treaties, customary international law and the International Court of Justice’s 2025 Advisory Opinion on climate change, Tambor argues that escalating climate risks require legal standards anchored on prevention, due diligence and accountability.

The study further advances the position that environmental protection should not be treated merely as a policy concern separate from the rule of law. Instead, it argues that effective environmental governance is closely connected to the protection of life, liberty, livelihood and economic security, particularly among communities most vulnerable to climate-related disasters.

The title’s declaration — “Bahala Na is Not a Legal Standard” — captures the central argument of the research: that increasingly foreseeable climate risks demand preventive government action rather than resignation to disasters as unavoidable events.
Tambor completed the thesis under the supervision of his adviser, Atty. Eunice Baliong.

His third-place finish gives UV Gullas Law School its first recognition in the FLP nationwide dissertation competition and places a Visayanian among the law students recognized nationally for scholarship advancing the Foundation’s ideals of liberty and prosperity under the rule of law.

The recognition also makes Tambor part of the community of FLP scholars and awardees established by the Foundation to encourage young members of the legal profession to contribute to the development of Philippine law and public policy.

02/09/2026

CONGRATULATIONS JOSHUA TAMBOR for winning 3RD BEST THESIS at the 2026 Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity Nationwide Dissertation Writing Contest!

Gullas Law School proudly celebrates Joshua Tambor who has been awarded the 3rd Best Thesis in the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) Nationwide Dissertation Writing Contest, besting law students from across the country. He is the first-ever awardee from the University of the Visayas and now joins the distinguished guild and family of FLP Scholars.

As Cebu and the rest of the Philippines continue to reel from recurring floods, intensifying typhoons, and the mounting toll of the climate crisis, Joshua's research could not be more timely or more urgent. It speaks directly to the lived reality of Filipino communities who face disaster not as a distant possibility, but as a near-yearly certainty.

Joshua’s thesis—“Bahala Na is Not a Legal Standard: An Analysis of the Preventive Standards in International Environmental Law and their Relevance to the Protection of Liberty and Prosperity under the Conditions of Escalating Climate Risk"—challenges the legal habit of calling disasters "natural" — a label that quietly erases the human decisions behind their deadliest consequences. Using Cebu City as a lens, the study shows how recurring floods, infrastructure failures, and livelihood losses are not just accidents of geography, but foreseeable results of land-use decisions, weak infrastructure planning, and lax environmental regulation in high-risk areas.

Drawing on international treaties, customary international law, and the ICJ's landmark 2025 Advisory Opinion, the thesis argues that environmental protection is not a footnote to the rule of law — it is one of its most urgent expressions. Where legal doctrine still treats disasters as "fortuitous events," Joshua makes the case for due diligence, accountability, and justice for the communities left to bear the worst of the climate crisis.

Founded by retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity champions "Liberty and Prosperity under the Rule of Law" — the belief that the two must always go together, since one is useless without the other. It works toward inclusive economic growth grounded in the social justice principle of giving more law to those who have less in life.

This achievement is a testament to rigorous scholarship, a deep sense of justice, and a genuine commitment to the communities most vulnerable to climate harm.

Joshua's thesis was supervised by his adviser, Atty. Eunice Baliong.

The Alliance is proud of you, Joshua! 🇵🇭⚖️

02/09/2026

BARRISTER SURVIVAL KIT: DEPLOYED. As our beloved ILSA Alumni Barristers officially enter their Bar Exam week, the Alliance has sent them off with the essentials for the journey ahead—scented candles to “light” and “warm” the mind and spirit; inhalers, because breathing is important, especially when the questions are not giving; first aid essentials, for God forbid, the emotional, mental, and possibly physical damage; and to top it all, handwritten notes from the ILSA family—because no matter how terrifying the Bar may be, they will never face it without an army of people cheering them on!

To our ILSA alumni barristers: go forth and conquer! May your minds be sharp, your answers organized, your pens cooperative, and your panic attacks purely hypothetical.

The Alliance is behind you every step of the way. We have seen you argue, advocate, survive moot courts, debates, and thrive under pressure—now it’s time for one final showdown.

Thank you to our ILSA Alumni for the donations to our barristers. Many thanks as well to ILSA President Kyle Marie Inzo and ILSA Secretary-General Pierre Ratunil for this initiative.

Go make us proud, future Attorneys! ⚖️🔥

25/08/2026

The Alliance proudly celebrates the appointment of our alumnus, Adin Jhon H. Ligsanan, as Special Investigator of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

As a former member of Team Actio Popularis, ILSA’s award-winning human rights debate team, this appointment demonstrates that Adin's commitment to human rights went beyond the debate tournament. Today, that advocacy finds its place in the actual field of human rights work and public service.

We are proud to witness this next chapter of Adin’s journey. May he continue to serve the public with the competence, integrity, and heart befitting a true human rights defender.

Congratulations, Adin! We are proud of you and look forward to the meaningful work ahead.

01/07/2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ILSA GRADUATES! All of them have excelled in academics and contributed to service and leadership, a testament to the culture of excellence, advocacy, and heart cultivated in the organization. Thank you for representing ILSA and GLS to your utmost! We are the proudest of all of you!

Our graduates garnered the following awards:

Velasco, Cherry Ann
- Rank 2, Class Salutatorian
- Don Vicente Gullas Leadership Award
- GLS Leadership Award
- GLS Service Award
- Distinction in International Legal Advocacy
- The Triennial Advocacy Laureate

Tagarao, Neil
- Rank 10
- GLS Service Award
- Distinction in International Legal Advocacy

Senaca, Fergus Johann
- GLS Leadership Award
- GLS Service Award
- Distinction in International Legal Advocacy

Ligsanan, Adin Jhon
- Excellence in Debate Advocacy Award
- GLS Service Award

Tambor, Joshua
- Excellence in Debate Advocacy Award
- GLS Service Award

💚🤍

27/06/2026

Thank you for the warm “salubong” from our GLS family, ILSA alumni, and GLS BarOps President Rodney Lim! 💕🫶 This team victory is made possible because of your unwavering support.

22/06/2026

thank you for the warm welcome Ambassador Malaya 🇵🇭

20/06/2026