By Kean Andrei Bagaipo
Former Silliman University Student Government (SUSG) President John Christian Entrata became the first recipient of the Dean Salvacion Huising Jardeleza Memorial Scholarship for the SU College of Law (SULAW).
Entrata, a second-year law student, will receive ₱40,000 worth of tuition and fees coverage per semester until he finishes law school should he maintain his academic performance.
“As a full-time student [who is] fully supported by my parents, the scholarship was a huge relief to me and my family,” he said, stressing that the opportunity would allow him to “focus better on his education.”
The second-year law student graduated from SU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs.
“Becoming a lawyer is a childhood dream I have shared with my parents ever since and I have always been fixated on going into law school after finishing my bachelor’s degree,” Entrata shared.
Currently, he is the Supreme Law Council’s internal vice governor and Level II batch president.
From school year 2022 to 2023, Entrata served in the student government, prioritizing on the implementation of platforms for the return of face-to-face classes after the pandemic.
“As a former SUSG President, I have always been trained to put my best foot forward in everything that I do,” he said. “I think the rigors of the SUSG before prepared me for the demands of law school thereby allowing me to perform better in class.”
Prior to his presidency, Entrata also became the SU School of Public Affairs and Governance representative in the SUSG 31st Student Assembly where he was elected as house speaker.
Jardeleza scholarship grant
SULAW officially launched the Jardeleza Memorial Scholarship last Jan. 13 during its thanksgiving service for its 2024 bar passers.
The new scholarship endowment was given by Hon. Justice Francis H. Jardeleza, the former associate justice of the Supreme Court, in honor of his late mother.
According to Entrata, the grant became “more meaningful” for him as it is sponsored by Jardeleza who he “always looked up to.”
“I just hope to be able to uphold the pride and honor that comes with the scholarship and continuously qualify for it in the semesters to come,” he stated.
Moreover, Entrata recognized the support of alumni for students pursuing the legal profession, especially for those who are hindered by financial constraints.
“As such, support from the alumni could be of great help in making legal education accessible to more students and in producing more Sillimanian lawyers who could make an impact in the legal profession,” he said.
Last year, SU produced nine newly licensed lawyers and is among the top performing schools which obtained a 100-percent passing rate for first-time takers.
