![“The Pharmally case... there are 46 respondents [in our complaint], kaya medyo matagal. And many of them have become invisible. Para bang they're trying to evade the jurisdiction of this body,” says Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.](https://www.panaynews.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/plunder_copy_resized_resized-218x150.jpg "Ombudsman presses P11-B Pharmally plunder case But 23 respondents missing— Remulla")
MUCH of the legal work that shapes economic activity does not happen in courtrooms. It takes place in negotiations, contracts, regulatory approvals, and business agreements that allow investments to move forward while balancing the interests of government, industry, and communities.
It is this kind of legal practice that the Ateneo Law Alumni Association, Inc. (ALAAI) recognized on October 9 when it conferred its 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in the Practice of Law on my daughter, Atty. Patricia A. O. Bunye, Managing Partner of Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia. The award honors Ateneo Law graduates who have brought distinction to the profession and exemplified excellence, integrity, and service.
Joining her among this year’s awardees were:
Public Service: Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo (1984)
Leadership and Service (Posthumous): Dean Jose Maria G. Hofileña
Practice of Law: Euney Marie J. Mata-Perez (1992)
Education: Amparita Sta. Maria (1982)
Judiciary: Court of Appeals Justice Ronaldo Roberto B. Martin (1992) and RTC Judge Rowena Nieves A. Tan (1992)
Atty. Trisha, who is married to my favorite son-in-law, Atty. Joy Rojas, has built her legal career in three specialized fields: energy, mining, and intellectual property. She heads her firm’s Mining and Natural Resources Department and Energy Practice Group and serves as a senior partner in its Intellectual Property Department.
At first glance, these areas may appear unrelated. In reality, each plays an important role in national development. Energy projects support economic growth and provide the power needed by homes and industries. Mining, when responsibly managed, helps convert natural resources into jobs and economic activity. Intellectual property protection, meanwhile, encourages innovation and helps transform ideas into commercial opportunities.
What ties these fields together is the need to reconcile competing interests. Whether negotiating an energy agreement, a mining project, or a technology licensing arrangement, lawyers are often tasked with helping stakeholders reach workable solutions. This requires not only legal expertise but also an understanding of business realities, regulatory requirements, and broader public concerns.
Atty. Trisha’s work has also earned recognition beyond the Philippines. In 2016, she became the first Filipino and the first Southeast Asian elected President of the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), a global organization focused on the commercialization and licensing of intellectual property.
Her contributions were later recognized with the Peter K. Hess Award of Achievement in 2020 and the LESI Gold Medal in 2025, the organization’s highest individual distinction. The award is conferred only on individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of intellectual property licensing and technology transfer worldwide.
Her election and leadership in an international professional organization carried a broader significance. Filipino professionals increasingly participate in global discussions, but opportunities to lead such institutions remain relatively rare. Her experience demonstrated that Filipino expertise can be recognized not only for technical competence but also for leadership.
At home, she serves as Founding President of Diwata-Women in Resource Development, Inc., a non-government organization that advocates the responsible development of the country’s mining, oil and gas, and quarrying industries.
Her professional standing has likewise been acknowledged by respected international legal directories. Chambers Asia-Pacific and The Legal 500 have consistently ranked her among the country’s leading practitioners in her areas of specialization. The Asia Business Law Journal has also included her among the Philippines’ Top 100 Lawyers every year since 2018.
Beyond her legal practice, she contributes to international legal publications and professional reference materials covering energy, mining, and intellectual property. Such publications are frequently consulted by investors and practitioners seeking to understand the Philippine legal and regulatory environment.
The Ateneo tradition calls on its graduates to be “persons for others.” In her own way, whether in the boardroom, at the negotiating table, or in international professional organizations, Atty. Trisha has sought to live out that ideal through her practice of law.
As her father, I take pride not only in the honors she has received but also in the professionalism, integrity, and public-mindedness that those honors represent./PN
