UST Law Review

Glimpse to History


Began in 1950 and with former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa as the first editor-in-chief, the UST Law Review made its regal
entry in the field of legal publication.

The UST Law Review (ULR) started as a vehicle for lead articles by law professors of the faculty and members of the
judiciary. It also featured case summaries by members-students aside from the separate sections on Book Reviews and Recent
Legislations. Through the years of its academic legal scholarship, the ULR paved the way for enriching legal and scholarly discourse
among the members of the academe. It became a tool not only in updating its readers on the developments of law, but more
importantly, it evolved as a medium for the discussion of pressing legal issues and the exploration into the uncharted regions of law.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, however, the ULR suffered a temporary setback in the year 2000. Its publication
discontinued, reasons for which cannot be ascertained. Whether it be the dissipating zealousness or the lack of administrative
support, is now of no moment. Fate did not leave the publication in the oblivion. After three years, during the academic year 2003-
2004, the ULR was revived. With the overwhelming initiative of former Dean Augusto K. Aligada, Jr., unconditional support of
former Regent Fr. Javier Gonzalez, commendable leadership of Atty. Rene B. Gorospe and an enthusiastic group of eager students,
Volume XLVIII was finally released. A renaissance, the Volume XLVIII emerged, wrapped with a much higher standard, daring to
be at par with the other Law Reviews internationally respected, aiming to be something with which each member of the academic
community would feel proud to be identified with, and a piece of work in which those who toil with it would have an uplifting sense
of accomplishment and achievement.

Two years after the re-awakening of the ULR from deep sleep, the golden covered journal has become golden itself, as it
published Volume L in the academic year 2005-2006. The appearance of the ULRs 50th Golden Edition, is a testimony of the
metamorphosis of what ULR has become: a literature with which to project the excellence of the Facultad de Dericho Civil and the
University of Santo Tomas.

The ULR has expanded its scope to reflect the growing participation of law students in the development of the legal
scholarship by devoting much of its space to student articles, though it remains to solicit articles from distinguished members of the
faculty, and likewise continues to maintain sections on Case Summaries, Book Reviews and Recent Legislations.

The 51st edition introduced some changes in the Book Review section through examination of the recent law books
published locally and internationally. Following the Harvard Law Review, ULR members have gone to the extent of cross-referencing
relevant materials to come up with a comprehensive book review. Faced with various questions of form and style in the drafting and
editing articles and other materials, the editorial board decided to formally put into writing the different rules on form and style for
editorial guidance, thus, spurring the birth of the UST Law Review Style Guide.

On March 2007, The University of Santo Tomas bequeathed to the ULR the distinguished ST. DOMINIC DE GUZMAN
AWARD in recognition of its outstanding performance in promoting Thomasian excellence.

The ULR, throughout the years, has also maintained its high-standards and credibility as a law journal. As a matter of fact,
the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the highest court of the land, has cited two of its articles. In the case of Carlos S. Romualdez
and Erlinda R. Romualdez v. COMELEC and Dennis Garay (G.R. No. 167011, April 30, 2008), the Court through Justice Chico-
Nazario cited the article of Mr. Gilbert D. Balderama entitled Denouement of the Human Security Act: Tremors in the Turbulent Odyssey of
Civil Liberties (Vol. LII, UST Law Review, 1, 16-21). Subsequently, in the year 2010, the Court in Razon v. Tagitis (G.R. No. 182498,
February 16, 2010) cited the article written by Ms. Joan Lou P. Gamboa entitled Creative Rule-Making in Response to Deficiencies of
Existing Remedies (Vol. LII, UST Law Review).

Today, the ULR continues the tradition of excellence and scholarship - an imprint that was carried and passed on through
the years by the Editors of the likes of Dean Nilo T. Divina, former Dean and Solicitor General Alfredo L. Benipayo, Associate
Justice of the Court of Appeals Rosalinda A. Vicente, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals Amy L. Javier, Senior
Undersecretary of Justice Ernesto L. Pineda, Judge Philip A. Aguinaldo, Judge Ma. Cristina J. Cornejo, Judge Oscar C. Herrera Jr.,
Atty. Rene B. Gorospe, Atty. Ma. Liza Lopez-Rosario, Atty. Teofilo R. Ragadio, Atty. Carla Santamaria-Sea, Atty. Myra A.
Quiambao, Atty. Jacqueline O. Lopez-Kaw, Atty. Marian Joanne K. Co-Pua, and Faculty Secretary Atty. Arthur B. Capili all
presently part of the Civil Law Faculty Roll. The ULR is also proud to have Editors of the likes of Atty. Hector A. Villacorta, and
Atty. Ricardo Men. Magtibay, and COMELEC Spokesperson James Arthur B. Jimenez.

The online edition is another testimony of its zeal to reach out those who have the same passion in writing and ardor for
learning, the much needed updates, and novel and thought-provoking ideas in the field of law. It is an online edition of a law journal
that is home for serious reflection and provocative thinking, an opus which has always envisioned taking an active part in the shaping
of the nations history and destiny.