FCAP Legal Internship Program

by Jamael Jacob

 
It was September of last year, when FCAP decided to review and assess the status of its internship program, which is being made possible through the support of the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids organization. Based on the observations gathered, it was decided that a new design had to be devised in order to meet the primary goal of the program, which is to mold a new generation of tobacco control advocates among the future lawyers of the country.

The new program format was finished by October, and a pilot phase was immediately implemented the month after that.

Recruitment was done merely by word of mouth due to time constraints and also partly because of the pilot nature of the project. Of the six applicants who initially signified interest, three actually went on to join the program – Arianne Reyes, Earla Langit and Benedict Nisperos. All three hail from the UP College of Law. Just this April, Cielo Ceñidoza, an incoming senior at the San Beda College of Law, also opted to join the program.

Acting out as their supervising lawyers are attorneys, Josefina
Buenaseda, Jamael Jacob and Karla Espinosa.
 
ORIENTATION SEMINAR
 
In order to fully acquaint the interns with the tobacco control advocacy, a test curriculum was drafted and subsequently delivered to the interns through a four-part orientation lecture series held in January of this year. Topics ranged from the history of tobacco, to legal issues surrounding the advocacy, down to the specific details of FCAP, as an organization, including its programs and activities. A number of individuals, mostly from the FCAP office staff, were called on to discuss the topics identified in the curriculum. Dr. Daniel Tan of Tobacco Free Philippines, Mr. Bobby Del Rosario and Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo also graced the orientation and contributed to the discussions. In addition to the interns, three other people were invited to listen in and join the audience: Paula Yap (a graduating journalism student from UP) and lawyers, Karla Espinosa and Kristine Jazz Tamayo. Karla is now a part of the FCAP legal team.