Return to Manila: MLQU School of Law Launches Legal Aid Caravan at Rizal Park

The Manuel L. Quezon University School of Law (MLQU-SOL) successfully launched its first Legal Aid Caravan for the year on April 17, 2026, at Rizal Park, carrying the meaningful theme “Return to Manila.” The initiative reflects a symbolic and purposeful return to the University’s roots, reinforcing its enduring mission of service, justice, and nation-building.

Spearheaded by Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) Director Atty. Galahad Pe Benito, the Legal Aid Caravan underscored MLQU’s steadfast commitment to expanding access to justice and delivering meaningful community service. The caravan served approximately 60 beneficiaries, most of whom were street dwellers and individuals without permanent employment, underscoring the urgent need for accessible legal support among vulnerable sectors. Through the initiative, beneficiaries were provided with free legal consultations, assistance, and community legal education, empowering them with knowledge of their rights and available legal remedies. In addition, food and refreshments were distributed to indigent clients, reflecting a holistic approach to service that addresses both legal and immediate human needs.

The activity was conducted in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Greater Manila Chapter and the IBP Quezon City Chapter, bringing together a strong network of legal professionals and advocates.

More than just a service initiative, the caravan carried a deep sense of nostalgia and historical resonance. Holding the activity in Manila, where MLQU’s early foundations were closely tied, served as a meaningful homecoming. For many faculty members, alumni, and students, the event evoked a renewed appreciation of the University’s legacy as a law school rooted in the capital, where generations of legal minds were formed in the service of the Filipino people. The presence of the University community in Rizal Park, a site rich in national history, further deepened this connection—bridging the past and present in a shared commitment to justice.

The event mobilized volunteer lawyers, faculty members, and law students who worked collaboratively to serve members of underserved communities. Through the caravan, beneficiaries were provided with free legal consultations, assistance, and community legal education, empowering them with knowledge of their rights and available legal remedies. In addition, food and refreshments were distributed to indigent clients, reflecting a holistic approach to service that addresses both legal and immediate human needs.

More than a service initiative, the Legal Aid Caravan highlighted the School of Law’s continuing commitment to experiential and practice-based legal education through its CLEP. By engaging law students directly in real-world legal assistance under the guidance of practicing lawyers, the program strengthens their competence, professionalism, and sense of social responsibility.

The activity also reinforced the vital collaboration between the academe and the legal profession, demonstrating how partnerships can advance pro bono service, legal empowerment, and inclusive access to justice.

Through the Return to Manila Legal Aid Caravan, MLQU reaffirmed its role as an institution deeply rooted in public service — one that continues to uphold the ideals of social justice, responsive legal advocacy, and community engagement, in keeping with its enduring mission of Pro Patria et Jure — For Country and Law.