Licensing Executives Society Philippines Inducts Officers and Directors for 2006-2008

The Licensing Executives Society (“LES”) Philippines inducted its officers and directors for 2006-2008 on 09 June 2006 at the Tower Club, Makati City, with Patricia A. O. Bunye, a partner of Villaraza & Angangco Law Offices, leading the roster of LES Philippines officers as President.

LES Philippines is the local Society of LES International, a worldwide federation of professionals involved in the transfer of technology, industrial and intellectual property rights. It has won the bid host the 2009 Annual Conference of LES International in Makati City. This is expected to bring in licensing professionals from all over the world and will be an opportunity to showcase the Philippines as an attractive tourism and investment destination.

Bunye is the first woman President of LES Philippines in its 23-year history. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 1993. She is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Communications Committee of LES International. She served as President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Pasay, Parañaque Las Piñas & Muntinlupa Chapter from 2001-2003 and was Secretary of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Southern Luzon Region from 2002-2004. Bunye is also an active member of the Legal Committee of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines.

Also elected for the current term were: Rogelio C. Nicandro (President-Elect), Editha R. Hechanova (VP-Administration/Treasurer), Ferdinand M. Negre (VP-International), Carlo A. Carag (VP-National), C. Risel G. Castillo-Taleon (VP-Public Affairs), Leslie Anne T. Cruz (Secretary), Alonzo Q. Ancheta (Director), Renato G. Calma (Director), Pericles R. Casuela (Director), Celso L. Cruz (Director), Cesar C. Cruz (Director), Ramon S. Esguerra (Director), Alex Ferdinand S. Fider (Director), Lorna Patajo-Kapunan (Director), Llewellyn L. Llanillo (Director), Augusto S. San Pedro (Director) and Antonio R. Velicaria (Director).

During her term as President, Bunye intends to focus on broadening the membership base of LES Philippines to include company executives, entrepreneurs, university licensors, technology licensing managers, venture capitalists, inventors, technology brokers and consultants, among others. LES Philippines will also focus on partnering with and assisting local universities and research institutions in licensing in areas of advanced science and technology such as biotechnology, electronics, ICT and materials science. Toward this end, LES Philippines will hold licensing fairs to promote the available technologies for licensing. It will also hold regular LES Kapihans to discuss issues in licensing.

The Honorable Antonio T. Carpio, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, himself one of the founders and Past President of LES Philippines, was guest of honor and inducting officer. In his address, Justice Carpio elucidated on the reforms in the Judiciary, notably the use of technology to facilitate the administration of justice, including the computerization and networking of courts throughout the Philippines, national court clearances, development of the Supreme Court e-library, and proposed changes to the qualifications for MTC judges and the salary amelioration in the judiciary.