Atty. Joseph Noel Estrada, a Bachelor of Laws alumnus of the Faculty of Civil Law, returned to the University of Santo Tomas on September 18, 2019 to turn over a copy of his new book, “The Education Act,” to his alma mater. Estrada in early September posted in personal Facebook account that he was turning over the copy marked with serial number “0001” to his alma mater, and in the book, Estrada dedicated the work to his family and UST.
His advocacy will make a Thomasian really proud
In his message during the turnover of the book, UST Rector fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD heaped praises on “Atty. Erap” Estrada, who is known in the Philippine educational landscape, whether “in small schools, mission schools, to the big ones, as an educator and advocate. He is not just a lawyer; he has a conviction.”
“I have seen his advocacy in the Senate, in the House [of Representatives], CHEd [Commission on Higher Education] most especially, in DepEd [Department of Education], representing CEAP [Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines]…and he has done a lot, and he has a big future in the field of education,” said fr. Dagohoy, who is actively involved in CEAP and other local private education associations like the Association of Catholic Universities of the Philippines (ACUP).
I hope one day an aspiring Thomasian lawyer will pick up the book
Estrada, who graduated in 2004 and passed the Bar exams in 2005, expressed his dream for a future Thomasian lawyer to specialize in the field of education because that future lawyer got to read the book. Recognizing that not everyone is inclined to work in the field, Estrada said that “education law is unique.”
The book, while only taking three months to complete, was actually a compendium of an entire career’s work and research. Formatted according to The Education Act of 1982, the provisions are peppered with explanatory notes, jurisprudence, as well as salient provisions of related laws, regulations, and memorandum orders, among others. Rex Publishing House is carrying the title, which will be featured in a book caravan later this year.
Estrada immediately set out for independent practice, with the goal of eventually putting up his own firm. This dream was realized less than a decade ago, when he put up the Estrada and Aquino Law Firm, where he is Managing Partner.
