Page 1, About Page

Marichu is the TOWNS Awardee for Law (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service) for 2004-2007 voted for by the TOWNS panel of judges led by the Supreme Court Chief Justice for “achievement in the field of Law” “for the high standards of dedication and integrity that she exhibited as Chief Legal Counsel of the University of the Philippines (Diliman), … her resoluteness in challenging government to live up to the standards of nationalism, human rights, and good governance” in awarding ceremonies hosted by the President of the Republic of the Philippines on October 28, 2004 at the Malacañang Palace.

Upon request for the RLC presentation April 2022, the following is a summary sent: Marichu has served as resource person to news organizations such as ABS-CBN, Al Jazeera, ABC 5, GMA 7 News, to government institutions such as the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the U.P. Law Center, and has given legal advice and/or representation to journalists, writers, filmmakers, faculty members, students, peasant leaders, school administrators, government employees, legislators, prosecutors, police staff/ military staff, Cabinet secretaries, homeowners associations, realty corporations, manufacturing business corporations, and media organizations.

Upon request of the U.P. HRDO July 2023, the following were UPDATES sent. 2020-2023 only:

In 2021-2023: Upon invitation of the Commission on Human Rights of the Republic of the Philippines, she made a public presentation to members of the Commission on Human Rights HREP Office and the Cagayan de Oro Press Club on the topic of human rights and the media last May 26, 2021. Upon invitation of the U.P. Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform, she delivered a public presentation to the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Republic of the Philippines information officers and executive officials of her research on free speech issues and limits to free speech last August 22, 2022, hosted by the U.P. Law Center Institute of Government and Law Reform..

From 2022-2023: Her recent research work includes the empirical study on violation of the right to privacy of indigenous community schoolteachers, environmentalists, urban poor, cultural workers, professionals, farmers, human rights workers, against hate speech and red-tagging which was presented to the public, live and face-to-face last June 14, 2023 at the UP College of Mass Communication. She also conducted an empirical study on the violation of the right to privacy against unreasonable searches and seizures of netizens research “The Pandora Accounting: The Unleashing of State Forces against Netizen-Authors and Content-Creators during the Darkest Days of the Pandemic: A Legal Discursive Analysis” which was presented to a worldwide audience, live, via Zoom, last December 7, 2022. She is slated to finish her study “The Law and Ethics on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism” to be presented to the public in January 2024.

Seven videos (of about 40 videos) of worldwide-live-televised and live-streamed videos of discussion follow below. Marichu was Department Chair of the UPCMC Journalism Department for two non-consecutive terms from 2001-2004 and 2009-2012 handling academic and administrative work for a full complement of ten regular faculty members and ten lecturers and for the College Executive Board for said terms. She has also participated in the shaping of University policies on governance in previous terms of the University Diliman Council Committee on University Governance (nominated as chair but deferred to another member due to workload)

As U.P. Diliman Chief Legal Officer (1994-1996), for the 19 months of aggressive litigation, corporate, and administrative work, presiding over 226 completed contract-reviews, 155 legal research and opinions, delivering 71 U.P. University housing units to faculty awardees after illegal occupants were given time to clear them thru legal processes, and winning a total of 80 cases and pending incidents, she received an Award of Merit from U.P. Diliman In recognition of her “…pioneering efforts, outstanding leadership, team-building skills, administrative competence…”

As a member of the Public Interest Law Center, she delivered the oral arguments in the Supreme Court en banc in the “Visiting Forces Agreement case” entitled Bayan et al vs. Executive Secretary Ronaldo Zamora, G.R. No. 138570 October 10, 2000 for the main petitioner, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – the first legal challenge to the constitutionality of the VFA. The trailblazing case is the forerunner to a host of cases filed by other groups and organizations in the next twenty years on international agreements on military exercises on Philippine soil.

As a member of the prosecution team, for winning the plunder case People of the Philippines v. Joseph Estrada, et al., 26558 Sandiganbayan, September 12, 2007, the Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of the Philippines recognized her work and that of members of the prosecution team with an Award on its 16th Anniversary on May 21, 2004 at the Office of the Ombudsman for her “selfless service, dedication, tireless efforts in assisting the Office of the Ombudsman for in the prosecution of the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada” She was also cited for excellent public service by the Special Prosecutor of Ombudsman’s Office for her work in the plunder case People vs. Estrada, Oct. 17, 2007 upon successful termination of the case.

The Philippine Graphic Magazine voted and listed her as the Top 25 Young Leaders for 2004 for their anniversary issue in 2004.

The Philippine Association of University Women- U.P. Chapter and the U.P. Center for Women’s Studies awarded her a “Certificate of Recognition” “for her exemplary dedication and for her service to the nation that has done women proud and brought distinction to the Alma Mater, the University of the Philippines”, on Dec. 20, 2004 at the U.P. Executive House.

The Marie Claire Magazine Philippines launching issue voted and listed her as the Top 25 Women Who Changed Our Lives (“Top 25 Women Who Rock”, Oct. 21, 2005 for “… (T)heir their commitment to and excellence in their respective fields that make them incredible. They act with courage and conviction. They epitomize all that is great and inspiring about Filipino women. They join Marie Claire Philippines in celebrating the launch of its very first issue.” Ibid.

Page 1 of “About Page”: Seven videos of live-televised and live-streamed worldwide as resource person on media issues, law on communication and media, and media ethics follow.

Four still photos from freeze-frames of four videos precede said vidoes…

in five seconds… in 5… 4…3…

2… and…

July 2, 2023, third day of opening of Teleradyo on Radyo Sais Trenta 630 khz AM radio (after three years of shutdown): Live interview as resource person on the end of the “network wars” at:
https://wp.me/p2mko-h32
June 14, 2023 SRO Teleradyo at: