A Decade of Resolve: Reflecting on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award
Description
A Decade of Resolve: Reflecting on the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award is a commemorative lecture marking the 10th anniversary of a historic ruling that reshaped international maritime law and underscored the importance of a rules-based global order. Hosted in Aotearoa, this event is part of the Philippines' global commemoration of the Award under the overarching theme: A Decade Hence: The Enduring Promise of Peaceful Dispute Settlement.
The lecture features Atty. Florin T. Hilbay, former Solicitor General of the Philippines and the country’s lead agent in the landmark case Republic of the Philippines v. People’s Republic of China. The 2016 Arbitral Award remains highly significant for global maritime governance, regional security, and Indo-Pacific stability. Drawing from his role as one of the architects of the Philippines’ victory, Atty. Hilbay will offer invaluable insights into the case’s legal, diplomatic, and geopolitical implications a decade later.
The lecture highlights the Award’s role in upholding international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. With the Indo-Pacific serving as a crucial corridor for global trade and economic activity, this event seeks to foster dialogue on regional cooperation, the promotion of a rules-based maritime order, and the broader significance of the tribunal’s findings. As tensions over maritime security persist, this platform provides an opportunity for policymakers, academics, and students to engage on issues shaping the stability of this vital region.
The event also celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Philippines-New Zealand Diplomatic Relations and the elevation of their partnership to Comprehensive Partnership status. By strengthening academic and policy ties between the Philippines and New Zealand, this lecture reaffirms both countries’ shared commitment to fostering peace, stability, and cooperation in international relations.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of one of the most impactful legal rulings in modern history with insights from Atty. Florin T. Hilbay.
Lineup
Atty. Florin T. Hilbay
Atty. Florin T. Hilbay served as the youngest Solicitor General of the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution, holding the position from 2014 to 2016. During his tenure, he represented the Philippine government in eight en banc cases before the Supreme Court and served as the Philippine Agent in the landmark case Republic of the Philippines v. People’s Republic of China, which led to the historic 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award. A renowned legal scholar and practitioner, Atty. Hilbay is widely respected for his expertise in constitutional law and the philosophy of law, which he taught as an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law. He also served as Director of the Institute of Government and Law Reform in the same institution. Atty. Hilbay’s career has been shaped by the guidance of two of the Philippines’ most distinguished legal minds: Senator Jovito R. Salonga and Justice Vicente V. Mendoza, a noted constitutional law expert. In addition to his tenure at UP Law, Atty. Hilbay served as Dean of Silliman University’s College of Law from 2022 to 2025, where he focused on the interplay between free speech and property rights, particularly in the contexts of monetary and legal systems. Ranked first in the 1999 Bar Examinations, Atty. Hilbay exemplifies academic excellence and global perspective. He holds a Master of Laws from Yale Law School and was a visiting fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg, Germany. With his illustrious career as a lawyer, educator, and scholar, Atty. Hilbay brings a wealth of experience and insight into the ongoing importance of the 2016 Arbitral Award and the broader challenges of international law and governance.
H.E Kira Chistianne D. Azucena
Kira Chistianne D. Azucena is the Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand with concurrent jurisdiction over the Cook Islands and Niue. On 13 June 2023, she presented her credentials to Governor-General RT. Hon. Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO of New Zealand. Ambassador Azucena is a seasoned diplomat with a career spanning 31 years, having joined the Philippine foreign service in 1995. Throughout her career, she has held various notable positions, including Director of the Division for Central Europe at the Office of European Affairs; Special Assistant to the Secretary-General of the National Organizing Committee of the Philippine Hosting of the 12th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in 2006 in Cebu; Assistant Secretary of the Office of American Affairs; Chief Coordinator of the Office of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; and Assistant Secretary of the Office of the United Nations and International Organizations. Abroad, Ambassador Azucena served as First Secretary and Consul and Alternate Permanent Representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the Philippine Embassy in Rome; Deputy Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR; Deputy Consul General at the Philippine Consulate General in New York and Manager of the Philippine Center in New York; and Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d’affaires, a.i. at the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Azucena was born in Dumaguete City, Philippines, in August 1973. She obtained her Bachelor of Mass Communication degree from Silliman University. She is married and has three children.
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