20/F Zuellig Building, Makati Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1225, PHILIPPINES
essay writing contest header copy

Objectives

  1. To encourage and promote public awareness, extensive research and healthy discussion on the issues concerning the West Philippine Sea.
  2. To gather the sentiments, opinions and points of view of the public in general and the law students in particular on these very critical issues facing our country.
  3. To practice, hone and develop the analytical and writing skills of the participants – law students.
  4. To provide a forum for the participants-law students to freely express their views, opinions and suggestions on the issues concerning the West Philippine Sea
  5. To give due recognition and awards to the law students who could come up with the best essays.

Mechanics

  1. Open to all bona fide law students who are enrolled (in any month of 2018) in any law school in the Philippines
  2. There is no age requirement, nor any entry fee or registration fee.
  3. A law student can send only one (1) entry. All entries should be originally composed or written by the law student – participant. The participant, however, may use or cite supporting data, research or paper prepared by another writer or source but proper attribution, citation, credits or acknowledgment should be given to such sources.
  4. The Essay shall be in a Microsoft Word Format and saved using the file name “MARLAW ESSAY”. The Essay shall use the font type Times New Roman and with text size 14, single space, justified, page size 8.5 in x 13 in (long bond paper) and in portrait orientation. The page margins shall be: left hand-1.5 inches, upper 1.2 inches, right hand-1.0 inch, lower 1.0 inch from their respective edges. This is in observance of the Efficient Use of Paper Rule promulgated by the Supreme Court.
  5. The Essay shall be written in English to discuss any issue or issues concerning the West Philippine Sea. The Essay may however contain some few words or phrases in Filipino or other local dialect with English translation for style purposes. The Essay must contain not more than 5,000 words. There should be no pictures, drawings or graphics but the use of simple tables and/ or charts is allowed. The participant must provide a Title to his or her Essay. The “MARLAW ESSAY” File itself shall contain no name, school, address, telephone number or any other data or information that would identify the participant to provide anonymity.
  6. The law student-participant shall directly submit his/ her entry via email using his or her own email address to MARLAW at the email address EssayWritingContest@marlaw.com.ph. Each email address should submit one entry only.
  7. The email sent to MARLAW shall contain the subject “MARLAW ESSAY WRITING CONTEST 2018” but with no accompanying text or graphics or video message to provide anonymity. The email sent to MARLAW shall contain 2 files only as attachments. The First file shall be the “MARLAW ESSAY” itself (without the name, age, address, school, etc. of the participant). The Second file shall also be in Microsoft Word format and saved using the file name “MARLAW PARTICIPANT INFO” which must contain the participant’s full name, birthday, age, year level, law school, Student No., school address, residence address, cellphone number, telephone number and other details. The Second file shall also contain sufficient proof that the participant is/ was enrolled in a law school covering any period in 2018, such as photo of the current school ID, Registration Cards, Official Receipt for Tuition Fees, Certificate, etc.
  8. Submission of Entries shall be from October 27 2018 (12:00:00 am) to November 3, 2018 (11:59:59 pm) only. Entries received prior to or after the said dates will not be considered eligible and will be disqualified.
  9. Only the files “MARLAW ENTRY” sent by the participants shall be sent to the judge/s but each entry will be given a unique code first. The judge/s therefore shall be able to select the Winning Essays and Runners Up based on the coded entries only. Only after the judge/s have given the codes of the Winning Essays and Runners Up shall the second file in the corresponding emails be opened to identify the names and details of the Winners.
  10. The Winners shall be notified through his/ her email address and/ or the contact details provided in the Second file. If the identity of any winner cannot be established or if the Entry is found to have violated any of the Rules or Mechanics, said Entry shall be disqualified and the next best Essay determined by the judge/s shall be selected as the winner.
  11. By submitting an Entry/ Essay, the participants expressly allow MARLAW to publish their Essays but proper attribution/ credits will be given to the participants and to also permit MARLAW to share copies of the essays to various government agencies or interested persons or organizations for citation, study, recommendation, policy review and research purposes.           

Criteria

  • Content and Clarity - 50%
  • Style and Creativity - 20%
  • Persuasive Effect - 20%
  • Originality - 10%

Prizes

  1. First Prize                         :P30,000.00 in cash (sponsored by MARLAW Past President Atty. BENJIE BACORRO) plus Php 10,000 worth of Gift Certificates from Rex Bookstore
  2. Second Prize                   :P15,000.00 in cash plus Php 4,000 worth of Gift Certificate from Rex Bookstore
  3. Third Prize                       :P10,000.00 in cash plus Php 3,000 worth of Gift Certificate from Rex Bookstore                
  4. Runner Up                        :P5,000.00 in cash plus Php 2,000 worth of Gift Certificate from Rex Bookstore
  5. 6 Consolation Prizes      :Php 1,000 worth of Gift Certificate from Rex Bookstore  

                    Certificates will also be awarded to the Winners.