As the sem draws near...

this was a crazy semester... the professors were a bit more eclectic than usual. the schedule was erratic. and the subjects were a tad heavier.

we survived a national epidemic, numerous storms, record-breaking conflagrations, extended barops, and of course, we survived Leonen.

but despite everything, we remain to be the person we are proud of. We are still UP LAW...

Bye Nanay...

I lost two lolas in the last year....una si Mama Perla, then just recently, si Nanay Syon.

Nakakalungkot rin. When I arrived in Pangasinan, the first thing I heard from my lolo was "Wala na si Nanay!" This coming from someone who spent close to 50 years of his life with the only woman he truly loved.

It was really sad seeing Tatay going through all the formalities and traditions associated with a funeral. I can't imagine waking up for 9 days greeted by this white casket, a bitter reminder of a great loss.

The whole family, of course, was there.

OX Brain!

All the brain vitamins I've been taking seem to be ineffective, and I'm in desperate need for some brain power. So why not feast at a scrumptious plate of OX BRAIN!

I had lunch at Kaas with my blockmates. I ordered ox brain, coupled with 2 pieces of pita bread. Of course, a generous cup of lasi (a yogurt drink) had to be had to help bring it all down.

Believe me, it's way yummier than it looks.

Team APB is first runner up in the Pi Sigma Open Debate Tournament

Team Alpha Phi Beta, composed of myself, Rain Mendoza, Ricky Sabornay, and Karl Mucho, reached the finals of the Pi Sigma Open Debate Championships.

We lost, unfortunately, to the team from the UP Debate Society, on the proposition that the reproductive health bill be enacted. We were on the negative side. We mostly argued that the bill itself contained questionable provisions which violate certain vested rights. As such, it is void for being overbroad. Alas, that wasn't enough to persuade the judges. I think the better team won. They were good, but I still think we gave them a tough match, considering we had minimum debating experience.

I didn't do as well in the finals as I did in the semis. It was probably the nerves. The Claro M. Recto room was jam-packed! I stuttered a couple of time, and I lacked the passion that I showed during the semis (where I must say I was able to impress the judges). My inexperience definitely showed during the final round.

Nonetheless, I am extremely proud of Team APB. We really worked hard for this, training till midnight, despite the insufficiency of food or transportation. Thank you team APB. My gratitude also goes out to the rest of my brods in the Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity. Thank you for your all out support. Especially during the final round. Thank you.

At least I have something to add to my lame resume. We hardly do debate in law school (foolish is the law student who tries to argue against his professor). So I'm glad I get to do this.

Waiting for the storm to come

Stuck in the library. Wala daw heavy-dence, este, evidence pala.

As much as I would like to go home, and believe me I really do, I just can't. Still have things to do. Pero honestly, coding kasi ako. So i guess I'm stuck here for the remainder of the afternoon.

May bagyo daw kasi. But of course, typical of the UP Law administration, they wait for the last possible opportunity to cancel classes. I heard that since early this afernoon, all other colleges in UP cancelled their classes. Syempre, last mag announce ang Law. In the spirit of the grand manner declarative, UP Law students should be the last to leave the campus. Hay. Kainis.

So as i wait for the storm to come, I begin the contemplate on my day.

I woke up early this morning, sporting my new beige polo barong. Syempre proud na proud ko itong sinuot habang umiinom ng coffee sa starbucks. My friend finally told me that I look like a government employee. Syempre nainis ako. Pero nawala rin agad. Bigla ko kasing naalala na at one point naging government employee nga naman talaga ako. At hindi ko ikinahihiya yun.

But still, I had to change back to my usual boring long sleeves. Nabasa kasi ako sa ulan. Tatanga-tanga kasi. Hindi nagdala ng payong. For sure magkakasakit na naman ako nito.

By 1 I was in UP Law for my PIL class (Public International Law). Professor Pangalangan asked us this question:

Why did the Philippines renounce war as an instrument of national policy when in fact, the Philippines has never waged war before?

Student 1: to reflect a norm in international law (sir's interpretation: because we're nice)

Student 2: so that other states will not attack us since we cannot wage war ever (sir's interpretation: we're nice, please don't attack us)

Student 3: so that other states will know that we have the capability to attack (sir: we're nice, but we can destroy you)

Labo talaga ng pinas

written August 6 2009. posted August 10

Results are in...

This morning, I had another visit to a different doctor. A pulmonologist this time. Results are in. Nothing's wrong with me. Wohoo! Finally, I can breathe.

But having something medically serious would have been a convenient excuse to slack off. But since everything's back to normal (yes, I'm feeling better), then I better catch up with my academic duties. Ahhh so much to do, so little time.

I can do this!!!!!

Ang hirap magkasakit...

I've been sick for a month now. Literally sick. Fever, cough, colds, plus that heavy feeling you feel every morning.

I always figured na malamang pagod lang. But my health has been exacerbating the past few weeks that my parents demanded medical intervention. So last friday, we went to the clinic of Dr. Benjamin Ramos, a urologist who happens to be a friend of a family friend. I went through a series of check-ups, which included a chest xray and blood sampling. I'm skipping all the medical jargon and keeping it lay man.

We were told to return Monday for the result of the examinations. For me, this of course meant enduring though a weekend's worth of my parents constant rebuking and health reminders. I can't even start to complain how annoying it is for my parents to repeatedly remind me about eating well and sleeping enough. But I guess when you're a law student, it's hard to keep track of those things. The worst advice they gave: "I know pressured ka. Ang technique lang dyan, wag mong isipin ang pressure" Right! Easier said than done.

I'm just glad BarOps is almost over. Truth be told, I blame my sickness to BarOps. Not that I'm regretting taking on the job, because I don't. But I guess I was just so overwhelmed by the work that I neglected taking care of myself. Well, I won't let that happen anymore.

Anyway, by tomorrow, I'll find out finally what's wrong with me. I'm also meeting with a pulmonologist. So far, they're suspecting something is wrong with the right part of my lungs. Hope it's nothing serious. Pray pray pray.

Another worthless coffeeshop afternoon...

I'm currently hanging out in Bo's coffee while waiting for my parents to finish their meandering in this trade show in Megamall. I ordered Cafe Americano and carrot bar. Come to think of it, I never order anything else here. I'm also availing of their free internet ammenities. Hence, here I am, blogging in the middle of Megamall, watching complete strangers pass me by.

It's amazing how comfortable I am in a coffee shop. Not just Bo's. I'm mostly in Starbucks, and every now and then Seattle's Best or Coffee Bean. I could stay in a coffee shop for hours on end. One time, I actually stayed in Starbucks Silver City for 12 hours straight. Imagine how I smelled like after. Yes, like the sweet stench of roasted coffee beans.

Because of this unreasonable frequency of visits, I'm usually broke come Thursday or Friday of every week. I always tell myself, it's ok, my parents will understand. I have to study right? But after a couple of years of excessive spending, I decided to go less to coffee shops, and trained myself to study in the condo or in the school library.

There's a dilemma though. I'm so used to studying in a coffee shop that studying anywhere else is a complete struggle. But I have no choice. I can't go back to that expensive habit. I have to start being more financially responsible. Amen.

Damn, I can't wait to get out of here. Mommy, Daddy, come get me please.

My first SLR camera...

Finally, after a lot of sucking up to, I convinced my mom to buy me an SLR camera. She bought me a Fuji S5800, a digital camera with SLR-like features. Well, close enough...

It just so happened that my friend also bought an SLR. He invited me to take pictures of the famous Manila Bay sunset. So we rode the bus going to MOA (photographers commute daw kasi. bawal kotse). I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Never mind the myriad of people just hanging around the area. The bay itself was disgusting. Ugh. I guess Concerned Citizens of Manila v. Atienza is yet to be proven to be anything other than a worthless piece of jurisprudence. Anyway, enough of the ranting. Here are some of the pics I took:














Syempre di kame natapos dun. We went straight to Marikina, and got ourselves kinda drunk. We woke up early the next day to take some pictures of Marikina River. At least it was a lot cleaner than Manila Bay, but the view was not as spectacular.







Some pictures I took at home. Mga close up shots naman.







Don't be too harsh on me. No formal training at all. I'm not even sure if I'm tweeking my camera right. One of these days I have to enroll myself in a photography class. Pero as of now, I guess these will do.

Spongebob is dead...

This made my day...




Finally someone was able to shut that annoying vermin up....ugh...

of booze and friends.... part 2

After pigging out in Tagaytay, we went to Laguna.

We met up with the girls (Char, therese, jo, joana), and went straight to Char's house. Walang tao. Kami lng. What else to do when no one's around? Get drunk of course.

Grabe ung inuman. Suffice to say, I drank so much that I had to puke. The embarassing part was that save for Char, all the other girls were ok. Kami lng ni jerome yung nasuka. Ayun tuloy, nilabas ko lahat ng kinain ko sa house ni Ipe. At least diet rin un....in a creepy bolemic way.

It felt great to be drinking with these guys again. I can't believe we've been friends for 7 years, and if that night was any indication, then we shall be drinking for many more years ahead.

There were probably enough pictures there to black mail me. The hell I care. All i know is that I had fun.





This was me seconds before I started puking. Good thing there were bushes all around Char's house. Didn't have to clean up much.



That night, and the whole weekend, wasn't just about booze and drinking and getting drunk and puking. More importantly, it was all about friends.

It wasn't about the food nor the fact that we were away from the buzz of Manila. It was about the all the conversations we had and the reminiscing we did.

It wasn't about the alcohol nor the desire to be drunk. It was about the comfort knowing that no matter how trashed out we were, someone's there to help us make it through the night.

It was a night that proved that neither time nor distance can take away what true friendship has established.

Of booze and friends...

Spent my whole weekend having fun with my college friends...

First up, Tagaytay.

Taena ganda ng bahay ni Ipe. Sarap ng food. Tumaba ata ako ng mga 5 pounds sa isang gabi kong stay dun. Sarap mag jacuzzi. Haaaaaayyyyy.....

After feasting on Ipe's scrumptous lunch, we decided to play "blow the candle". The last time we playd this was in 2005. We probably weren't as fast and as agile as we were then, but it was still just as fun. Boys vs. Girls. Boys won. 1-0



Then it ws jacuzzi time. All 7 of us together. Then biogesic time. God knows we needed that.



Finally, as a way of giving the girls a chance to redeem themselves, it came time for the videoke challenge. The girls naturally won, but only by a slim margin. Nga pala, I scored 8 sa first song ko. It devastated me. Then Jerome scored 2, and Ipe scored 1. I realized I wasn't that terrible naman pala. Boys vs. Girls. Girls won. 1-1



For the final challenge, we played charades. First to ten. Obvious ba? syempre panalo kame! Boys are smarter ata. Or at least mas madaya. Basta panalo kame.




Boys v. Girls. Final Score: 2-1. The boys win.

I survived Sagada p.2

spelunking |spiˈlə ng ki ng |
noun
the exploration of caves, esp. as a hobby


And spelunking we did...

Like what every single person that ever went there would tell you, your Sagada experience will never be complete unless you survived the steep, dark, rocky, dangerous, yet beautiful caves of Sagada.

Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.

I'm such a lousy friend

Today, I realized I'm such a lousy friend....




This morning I got 3 text messages. It came from my brods. Aljo is in the hospital; he's been confined there for the past few days. Damn, I didn't know.

We visited him in the hospital. I was glad to see he was ok. Havent seen him the entire summer. But somehow, visiting him there didn't make up for the fact that I was one of the last to know that he was confined in the hospital. Damn.

Then at around 5 pm, I got to chat with my old high school classmate, Norbert. He's also a close friend. It's been ages since I last heard from him. He told me he just went through an operation two weeks ago. Hernia, he said. Damn, I didn't know...again.

I'm such a lousy friend.

They say that you discover who your true friends are at your darkest moments. If that's true, then what does that say about me.

God, I pray for my two friends. I might not always be there for them, but I know that you are. May they find comfort in your presence.

Today is June 1

As far as I'm concern, summer has officially ended.

The only thing left to do is to prepare for the semester ahead.

Today, June 1, I decided to start shopping for school supplies. It has always been one of my favorite things to do when I was a child. I'd go back and forth across the aisles of National Bookstore searching for the right kind of notebook for me. It's funny, now that I think about it, it was like I was waiting for a notebook to choose me. Ok, enough with the mysticism.

Oddly enough, I wasn't as excited this year as I have been in previous years. Usually I'd spent hours in National Bookstore, and in fact, I'd be going in and out of different branches across the metro. But this year, it took me no more than 20 minute (believe me, that's way below my average). It was like I didn't even care anymore what I bought, just as long as I bought something.

Then, during my commute back home, it suddenly hit me why. I was still so freaking exhausted. I haven't relaxed enough to condition my brain for the next semester of hell in law school. In fact, I've been suffering from recurring headaches during the entire summer. Plus, I've gained weight and I don't feel healthy anymore. Argh. This is so frustrating. School starts in a couple of days, and I do not feel that I'm mentally and physically ready for the gruesome and arduous semester of taxation, succession, evidence, bills, PIL and transpo. If it's any indication of what's ahead, then I'm bound to get even more headaches in the succeeding months.

Ok, got to change my game plan. Get more sleep. Plenty of sleep. Exercise dammit. Stop staring at ur Mac. Party. Drink. Hang out. Try living for the next 9 days. Relax.

scandal scanda scandal

Here's part of an article I read in inquirer.net. Couldn't have said it better myself.

WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE hungry, give them a circus.

That’s just what the Senate did the other day.

It featured the video sex scandal, starring a movie starlet and a celebrity doctor, to cater to the public’s baser instincts.

The show, covered on national television and radio, fit the desire of Senator Jamby Madrigal, who orchestrated it, for more public exposure.

She is kulang sa pansin or wants attention.

Decent and intelligent people could only shake their heads in shock and disbelief.

They can’t believe the august body that was once composed of intellectual giants – the likes of Claro M. Recto, Camilo Osias, Raul Manglapus, Lorenzo Tañada, Arturo Tolentino, Jose Diokno, and oh, yes, Ferdinand Marcos – is now peopled by fishmongers and pork or meat vendors who sell meat – human flesh, that is – by the kilo.

- Tulfo, May 30, 2009

It seems that people are making too big a deal out of this entire mess, resulting into a crowded, fully televised circus. At the center ring are these attention-craved politicians who are enjoying the free ride alongside what should have been a quiet and discrete bandwagon. Because of this, they have ignored the most crucial question of them all:

SINO BA TLAGA YUNG BRAZILIAN CHICK SA VIDEO?

hehe...can't help it....boys will be boys...

my first 6k...

What could be sweeter than your first income for one month's worth of work?

Spending it of course!

As said in a previous blog, I'm working as a research assistant for Atty Lavina. (argh, someone teach me how to type enye in a Mac)

The pay's nowhere near significant. A humble 6 thousand per month. But if you really look at it, it's not at all that bad. It's amazing in fact. I don't need to report to a lousy office everyday; I can just work at home for most of the time. I attend very interesting meetings with Supreme Court justices, judges, and legal practitioners. With free lunch! (So what if it's just jollibee!) hehe. Most of all, I am being trained under the auspices of a great teacher and lawyer, and an even greater person. Wow sipsip!!!

Today I got my first 6k. Was so excited to encash it. Couldn't stand the build up as I had to go to three different BPI braches. But nothing feels better in my wallet than money out of my own sweat and hardwork.

Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit. The work's not that difficult. Intellectually stimulating, yes. But this is to be expected of a law student- a UP LAW student at that. However, I am indeed grateful and blest to have been given a chance to do this. So far, my "boss" has expressed his desire to hire us for the next two years. I only hope that after seeing me work for the past month, he still maintains his desire to do so.

Now for the fun part- how to spend my 6k. Of course, 1k has to be set aside as savings. Then I promised myself that I'd start working out. That will take another 2k or so. Then perhaps buy a few gadgets for my mac. Will definitely buy a new casing. I also promised my kuya and his family that I'd treat them out to dinner. Knowing them, 1k probably won't be enough.

Haaaayyyy. 6k is starting to sound so measely.

Encounter with Justice(s)

I'm not really sure if I'm allowed to blog about this. But what the heck...

I just recently started working as a research assistant for Atty. Lavina, who was my Consti I professor. And yes, he made us memorize the entire constitution. What a headache that was.

Anyway, today I was tasked to go to this meeting in the Supreme Court. There were only 7 present in the said meeting, and only 3 actually did the talking. Among those present were a retired justice, and a current justice.

On my way to the Supreme Court, I did not really know what I was going to do there. After a quick text to Atty Lavina, he replied that I was there to assist in whatever way I can. To me, it meant that I was just there to take down notes. So for the most part, I was just silent, doing what I've been doing in previous meetings, i.e. staring at the speakers and pretending to care.

But today was different. Since it was such a small group, I decided to volunteer to read the important provisions to be discussed. It was at that point that the two justices turned their attention to me. They asked for my name, if I was a lawyer (obviously I said not yet), from what law school, and in what year. The whole dialogue lasted for about a minute. But as a law student, being asked by justices in the judiciary is like having small talks with your favorite artista. I know it seems OA and baduy, pero tumalon puso ko. Finally I mattered in the meeting. I wasn't just another warm body.

that was the highlight of my day. damn, I need to get a life.

I survived Sagada p. 2

"The Big Falls"

Obviously I forgot the actual name of the place. But it was spectacular!

Like everything else in Sagada, you have to earn the right to enjoy the Big falls. May one hour trek muna bago makadating dun. Pero ok lang, kasi sobrang ganda ng view. hinto nga kame ng hinto ni resty para mag picture hehe.






And I was so excited to finally step on an actual rice terraces. Hay, the simple joys of life...




And finally, the main event...



It might not look big on pictures, but trust me, it was breath taking. Perhaps it was the roaring sound of water falling. Or the refreshing droplets on your face. Whatever it was, it was amazing.





Confession: hingal ako pabalik. Damn, I have to start exercising again.