New York Convention Roadshow in Tagaytay City, Philippines

Report written by Courtney Kemp

Numerous judges from the judiciary of the Philippines gathered in Tagaytay City on 2 May 2024 for a New York Convention Roadshow. The Roadshow was organized at the initiative of the Philippine Judicial Academy in collaboration with the Philippine Institute of Arbitrators (PIArb) and ICCA, and was attended by approximately 100 judges in person and 40 participating online. 

The Roadshow was opened by Hon. MA. Luisa Quijano-Padilla, Executive Secretary of the PIArb, followed by a welcome address from Prof. Andres Jana, Chair of ICCA’s Judiciary Committee. Rita Linda V. Jimeno, Associate Dean of Centro Escolar School of Law and Jurisprudence, moderated a comprehensive and engaging series of lectures and discussions.

Attorneys Julia Therese T. Magarro and Bernadette S. Sioson set the scene of the Roadshow with a strategic plan for judicial innovation for 2022 to 2027. Thereafter, Ms. Lindsay Gastrell, ICCA Judiciary Committee Rapporteur, provided an overview of international arbitration and the role of national courts. Prof. Jana followed with an overview of the New York Convention.

Judges then considered the Philippine law on enforcement of arbitral awards, as presented by partner at King & Spalding LLP, Dr. Aloysius Llamzon, followed by a detailed article-by-article analysis of the New York Convention by Ms. Gastrell, Prof. Jana, and Dr. Llamzon.

Participants were provided copies of the ICCA Guide to the Interpretation of the 1958 New York Convention, which recently had its Second Edition launched at the ICCA Hong Kong 2024 Congress following the Roadshow. The Second Edition may be downloaded here.

The Roadshow concluded with a practical workshop on the application of the New York Convention in the jurisdiction, followed by closing remarks from Comm. Linda L. Malenab-Hornilla, Chair of the ADR Department of the PIArb. 

ICCA thanks the Philippine Judicial Academy and PIArb for co-hosting the event, as well as their warm welcome and interest. Special thanks go to Ms. Gastrell and Dr. Llamzon for facilitating the event alongside Prof. Jana.