We mourn the loss of one of the pillars of LIS education and law librarianship in the Philippines.
Atty. Vyva Victoria M. Aguirre passed away peacefully at 3:55PM today, the 12th of June 2023.
Atty. Aguirre stood on the intersection of the disciplines of law and library and information science. With four degrees under her belt - a Bachelor's and Master of Laws, a Master of Library Science degree, and a BS in Foreign Service, she embodied a distinctive and invaluable set of knowledge and competencies integral to the complex societies of today.
Atty. Aguirre was admitted to the Bar in 1993 after passing the Bar Examinations and garnering 13th place among the 725 passers (out of 3,348 examinees). She was also a registered librarian and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI). More than membership, she also became part of the leadership in PLAI, the Philippine Group of Law Librarians (PGLL), and the Philippine Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (PATLS).
After graduating from BS in Foreign Service at the University of the Philippines, she began working as a Library Clerk at the UP Main Library in 1967. While working at the library, she ventured into law librarianship and contributed to legal bibliography through the bibliographic control tools of legal information resources she created, which promote access to such collections, valuable to the practice of law and legislation.
Atty. Aguirre assisted in the enhancement of librarianship and information professional practice with her papers, lectures, and seminar presentations on intellectual property, professional ethics, and other legal aspects of the profession.
Librarians and LIS students often referred to her as an expert speaker for legal matters related to librarianship. Atty. Aguirre extended her services as a legal consultant for projects within the University, in government agencies (e.g., projects with the Supreme Court, the Department of Health, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, to name a few), and in non-profit organizations. She also served as a Commissioner in the Presidential Commission on Good Governance (PCGG) under the leadership of the late Haydee B. Yorac. With her expertise in law and information, she was also part of various committees and projects with the UP Law Center, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, and the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs.
Atty. Aguirre took over the deanship of SLIS in 2008, fresh from its recent change of name from the Institute of Library and Information Science. She led in enabling the School to tread its baby steps on terra incognita: the redirection of the School towards embracing an interdisciplinary and broader information studies perspective that was not solely focused on traditional librarianship. She led the School in expanding its course offerings, strengthening faculty complement by recruitment and encouraging advanced studies, and promoting research activity.
Fondly called by SLIS students, faculty, and staff as Maam Vyva, Atty. Aguirre is a notable professor and research adviser, having guided BLIS and MLIS students toward various career paths, even encouraging a handful of students to pursue law.
Even after retirement in 2010, Atty. Aguirre worked with the School as a Senior Lecturer of law librarianship, library management, and information law and ethics. Like the former deans that preceded her, Maam Vyva was very willing to help the School through informal consultations on various matters. Atty. Aguirre carried on her role as an educator at the Tanada-Diokno College of Law of the De La Salle University, mentoring future legal professionals through teaching and research advising.
A dedicated champion of good governance, Atty. Aguirre stood by her principles of integrity, fairness, and justice, being an ideal example of citizenship and service to the nation. She will be sorely missed.
Ma'am Vyva's remains now lie in state at the NOTRE DAME DE VIE Chapel in 383 Sentinela Road, Brgy Encanto, Angat, Bulacan. Viewing will be from 9:00AM to 9:00PM on Tuesday and Wednesday. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 9:00AM to be followed by the burial at the cemetery of Notre Dame de Vie.
Published: 2023-06-12 17:43:54