MINUTES OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND FIRST REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE IBP MAKATI CITY CHAPTER BOARD OF OFFICERS FOR THE 2007-2009 TERM

Held on 17 April 2007 at 12:00 noon Verve Restaurant 103 Dela Rosa Cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City

PRESENT:

ATTY. DANILO O. CORTINA
ATTY. JOEL RAYMOND R. AYSON
ATTY. JESSICA ANNE M. R. LACSON-HIZON
ATTY. GRACE P. QUEVEDO-PANAGSAGAN
ATTY. ELOY E. BELLO IV
ATTY. BIENVENIDO I. SOMERA, JR.
ATTY. J. ALESSANDRA G. COCHICO
ATTY. JOSE M. JOSE
ATTY. ANTHONY W. DEE
ATTY. MONINA VIERNEZA-DIO
ATTY. GIL ROBERTO L. ZERRUDO
ATTY. MA. TRINIDAD P. VILLAREAL - Ex-Officio Director

ALSO PRESENT:

ATTY. ROGELIO VINLUAN
ATTY. CARLOS DANTE U. GARGARITA
MS. JOY CRUZ-MONTECILLA - Legal Aid Secretary

• The President, Atty. Danilo O. Cortina, led the prayer.

• The President called the meeting to order and the Secretary, Atty. Jessica Anne M.R. Lacson-Hizon, recorded the minutes of the meeting.

• The Secretary confirmed that notices for the meeting were sent out by facsimile to all parties concerned and upon her certification that a quorum was present to transact business, the following matters were taken up:

• The Minutes of the meeting held last 15 February 2007, copies of which were previously distributed to the members of the Board for their perusal, was presented for approval.

• The Vice President and former Treasurer, Atty. Joel Raymond R. Ayson, reported on the financial position of the Chapter. (Please refer to the materials for the 17 April 2007 meeting.)
  
  Atty. Ayson reported that for the month of March there was not much disbursement except the expenses for the participation of the Board in the convention held at Cagayan de Oro City and conference in Baguio City. He also added that he had processed the request for reimbursement of the former President of her expenses as previously approved by the Board.
  
  The President requested Atty. Ayson for an updated report on the Chapter’s funds as of March 2007 for turn-over to the incumbent Treasurer.
  
  After discussion, the Board took note of the Treasurer's report.

• While copies of the Legal Aid Committee’s Report and Update on Status of Cases as of 17 April 2007 were previously distributed to all the members of the Board (Please see materials for the 17 April 2007 meeting.), the President suggested to that the same be taken up during the next regular meeting.

• The President informed the Board that he received two (2) separate resignation letters from Attys. Anna Jazyven V. Gongora and John Jerico L. Balisnomo, as Treasurer and PRO, respectively thus resulting to vacancies in the Board.
  
  Considering that under the By-Laws of the Chapter, the Board may nominate the officers to fill-up the vacancies provided that there is a quorum, upon motion duly made and seconded the following were nominated and unanimously elected to the positions appearing opposite their names:
  
  Atty. Grace P. Quevedo-Panagsagan - Treasurer
  Atty. Bienvenido I. Somera Jr. - PRO
  
  There being a need to appoint an Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, the following were also appointed to the positions appearing opposite their names:
  
  Atty. Carlos U. Gargarita - Assistant Secretary
  Atty. Anna Jazyven V. Gongora - Assistant Treasurer

• The President noted that there are ten (10) committees of the Chapter and that under the By-Laws, the committees shall be headed by the members of the Board of Officers.
  
  After discussions, the following were appointed as the Chapter's Committee Heads
  
  a. Legal Aid - Atty. Danilo O. Cortina/Atty. Jose M. Jose
  b. Bench & Bar - Atty. Eloy E. Bello IV
  c. Legal Education - Atty. Bienvenido I. Somera, Jr.
  d. Legislation & Research - Atty. Jessica Anne M. R. Lacson-Hizon
  e. Publication - Atty. J. Alessandra G. Cochico
  f. Membership - Atty. Anthony W. Dee
  g. Programs - Atty. Grace P. Quevedo-Panagsagan
  h. External Relations - Atty. Monina Vierneza-Dio
  i. Ways & Means - Atty. Gil Roberto L. Zerrudo
  j. Sports - Atty. Joel Raymond R. Ayson
  
  Upon suggestion of the President and after discussion, the Board agreed to create a Special Projects Committee for the creation of the Chapter's website to be headed by Atty. Juan Orendain Buted.
  
  The President reported that there was a request from the Executive Judge of Makati that Bench and Bar activities be held on any day except Wednesdays.
  
  Atty. Gil Roberto L. Zerrudo suggested having a membership drive inviting lawyers to join the Chapter. Atty. J. Alessandra G. Cochico explained that normally membership to the Chapter is dictated by the law firms to which the lawyers belong, residences and the place of notarial practice.

• The President informed the Board that the Southern Luzon Governor Regional Elections will take place on 21 April 2007 at Batangas City at 10 o’clock in the morning. For the purpose, Atty. Mory Amorado, the current Southern Luzon Governor, has requested all delegates as well as their alternates to bring with them their corresponding authorities from their respective chapter Boards. Atty. Amorado also requested that the delegates be in formal attires.
  
  It was noted that under the By-Laws, the Chapter is entitled to have five (5) delegates to participate in the election. The President and the Vice-President being already automatically delegates, there is a need to elect three (3) more delegates who will participate in the forthcoming elections.
  
  Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board –
  
  RESOLVED, That the following officers, be, as they are hereby, nominated as the Chapter’s voting delegates to the Regional Election for the Southern Luzon Governor to be held on 21 April 2007 in Batangas City and their alternates:
  
  

  Voting Delegates: ATTY. DANILO O. CORTINA ATTY. JOEL RAYMOND R. AYSON ATTY. JOSEPHINE ALESSANDRA G. COCHICO ATTY. JOSE M. JOSE ATTY. BIENVENIDO I. SOMERA, JR.

  Alternates: ATTY. ELOY E. BELLO IV ATTY. ANTHONY W. DEE ATTY. MONINA VIERNEZA-DIO ATTY. AILEEN L. DUREMDES ATTY. JESSICA ANNE M. R. LACSON-HIZON ATTY. GRACE P. QUEVEDO-PANAGSAGAN ATTY. GIL ROBERTO L. ZERRUDO

• A. Block Screening of Spider-Man 3 on 05 May 2007 at 11:15 a.m. at GB 3 Cinema
  
  The President advised the Board of the Chapter’s current project, which is the movie showing of Spider-Man 3 and added that the same is a joint project of the 2005 Board and the current Board.
  
  The movie shall be shown on 05 May 2007 at 11:15 in the morning although the actual screening time is 11:30 am to give the late movie goers leeway to come. The price of the ticket is Three Hundred Pesos (PhP300.00).
  
  The President said that the project shall be handled by the Committee on Ways and Means, by the External Relations Committee as well as the Special Projects Committee. The President suggested that during the fifteen (15) minute waiting time, there should be a short program (i.e. giveaways for the children, trivia, etc.). At the same time, the names of the donors shall be announced.
  
  A total of three hundred twenty (320) tickets, representing the number of seats in the cinema, were distributed to the members of the Board. The President said that Atty. Villareal was included in the project because the film showing is also a project of the previous Board.
  
  The President further noted that the project is not only a fund raising event for the Chapter but a fellowship as well because it will give the members an opportunity to meet friends, relatives as well as clients.
  
  The President also apprised the Board that the firm names of the officers of the Board are indicated at the back of the tickets as an incentive.
  
  A concern regarding the seating arrangement was raised during the discussion. The President replied by informing the members that there will be no reserved seats. The President said that the cinema will be open as early as 10:30 a.m. to allow the movie goers to choose their desired seats.
  
  B. Gun Safety Seminar
  
  Atty. Jose M. Jose advised the Board that there will be a gun safety seminar for the Judges of Makati and the members of the Board tentatively scheduled after the gun ban.

• A. Alternative Dispute Resolution Activity
  
  The President informed the Board that he received an invitation for an ADR Activity, which was held in Baguio City, last Holy Tuesday.
  
  Atty. Eloy Bello reported that there was an advocacy forum in the morning. After lunch, the participants observed and participated in an actual court-annexed mediation. Atty. Bello also explained that the project started in Bacolod, Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro and that Makati City will be the next site of the project.
  
  The Board noted that the Judicial Dispute Resolution (JDR) adds another level to the proceedings because if mediation fails, the case shall be raffled to a mediation judge. Some of the members opined that the JDR may be a waste of time because it adds another step to the proceedings.
  
  B. New Signatories
  
  The President informed the Board of the need to designate the Chapter’s signatories to its bank accounts considering that there is a new set of officers.
  
  Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board –
  
  RESOLVED, that the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Makati City Chapter, maintains Bank accounts with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation with savings account no. 1-249-72046-8 and with Money Market account no. 7-249-11754-9; Security Bank with account no. 0602-018875-550; Philam Savings Bank with account no. 310101498444.
  
  RESOLVED, FURTHER, That the Board designates, as it hereby designates, the following: Attys. Danilo O. Cortina (President); Joel Raymond R. Ayson (Vice President); Grace P. Quevedo Panagsagan (Treasurer); and Anna Jazyven V. Gongora (Assistant Treasurer) to be the account signatories with their respective specimen signatures appearing across their names, to wit:
  
  DANILO O. CORTINA
  JOEL RAYMOND R. AYSON
  GRACE P. QUEVEDO PANAGSAGAN
  ANNA JAZYVEN V. GONGORA
  
  PROVIDED, That the signatures of either of the a forenamed Chapter’s President or Vice President jointly signing with either of the aforenamed Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer will be sufficient to bind the Chapter.
  
  PROVIDED, That the Chapter Treasurer is designated to provide a copy of the foregoing resolutions to Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation with savings account no. 1-249-72046-8 and with Money Market account no. 7-249-11754-9 Bank with account no. 0602-018875-550; Philam Savings Bank with account no. 310101498444, for the latter to consider as valid and binding, until the same resolutions are amended, revoked, substituted or replaced by subsequent resolution(s) issued in writing by the Board.
  
  C. Planning Session
  
  After discussion, the Board decided to hold the Chapter’s annual planning session on the 25th and 26th of May 2007. The venue will be announced on a later date.
  
  D. Oath Taking
  
  The President requested Atty. Lacson-Hizon to ask for the assistance of Atty. Santiago T. Gabionza, Jr. in making arrangements with the office of the Chief Justice for the officers’ oath taking.
  
  E. Newsletter Publication
  
  Atty. J. Alessandra G. Cochico reported that she has yet to come up with the newsletter since she has only received two (2) articles. Since there is an activity on 05 May 2007 for the Spider Man 3 screening, she suggested that the newsletter be distributed on said date.
  
  Upon inquiry from Atty. Gil Roberto L. Zerrudo on the number of issues of the newsletter, Atty. Cochico replied that last year the Chapter released four (4) issues and the forthcoming issue is the fifth (5th) issue already.
  
  Atty. Jose suggested for the Chapter to come up with eight (8) issues per year. The President then suggested that for every Chapter activity, there should be pictures and reports.
  
  F. Stock Room Rental
  
  The President informed the Board that the stock room rental for the Chapter’s office is Two Thousand Pesos (PhP2,000.00) per month.
  
  G. Lunch Meeting Sponsor
  
  The Board thanked the President, Atty. Cortina, for graciously hosting the lunch meeting.

• There being no further business to transact, the meeting was thereupon adjourned. The Board agreed to meet next on 26 May 2007.