I honestly think I'm learning more and more on how to expediently multi-task. My friend once told me that as a boy, I suffer the intrinsic disadvantage of not being able to multi-task as much as the girls. Whether or not the biological intricacies of the human body have any effect on one's ability to juggle multiple things at the same time is of course a completely different question. But as far as I'm concerned, I've developed the masterful art of multi-tasking, slowly but surely, this semester.
Take this day, for example. I have to pick up some documents in school, revise my petition for certiorari, draft a motion for reconsideration, update my case list, consolidated my OLA team's reclassification of cases, email them, annotate 15 MILF documents, make an amicus brief for Commarb, and read around 200 pages. On top of all of that, I plan to go to the gym by 8, so I can meet up with friends at 10pm to eat at Banchetto.
Looks like I'm gonna make. It's still 4:18, too early to tell. But heck, I know I'm gonna make it!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Magis and the Law
I recently read an article boasting about the students, specifically the mooters, of Ateneo Law. Read here: http://ateneolaw.ateneo.edu/?p=16&type=2&sec=2&aid=83
The article agitated me-- not simply because I'm a student of UP Law. As a matter of fact, I consider myself one of the few rare creatures that can be considered as a hybrid of the best institutions: Ateneo "College" and UP Law.
But the said article's insistence on the superiority of ALS over UP is not only baseless, but overly immature. Granted that their moot court team's success grants them the right to boast, I feel that its constant allusion and comparison to UP Law has wasted what should have been a great homage to the amazing mooters of ALS.
Yes, I agree with his argument that the public's perception of Ateneans as mayabang and elitista stems from the Atenean ideals of the "magis." However, having studied in a Jesuit institution for 9 years, I can't help but feel that the article has perverted the concept of the "magis".
I first encountered the idea of "magis" when I was around 13 years old. I was young then, and all I can fathom was that it had something to do with being the best, with being excellent, with being number one. Sure, magis truly means pursuing for excellence. However, my years of being a student, whether inside Ateneo or not, as well as my numerous experiences with Ateneans and non-Ateneans, has taught me that magis is never simply about being the best, about being number one. It's not being excellent for excellence's sake. Rather, it is a persistence grown out of love.
Yes, love-- a concept, which in the mature mind, is so profound and complicated that it might as well be a full course in law school. It's so multifaceted that I can't even begin to imagine where to start. But for me, a person who truly embodies the spirit of the magis is a person who reaches for the stars, not for fame and glory, but so that he can show everyone else its brightness. The Ateneo education teaches us how to be the best, but always with the caveat that what is even more important than being the best is being persons for others.
I have nothing but the greatest respects for my counterparts in Ateneo Law. Like me and everyone else in UP Law, they are true survivors. Everyday is a test which we tackle and overcome. And it is my earnest belief that all of us- UP Law and Ateneo Law students alike- persist because we love.
So there is no need to compare. There is no need to say who is better. At the end of the day, isn't the legal profession all about upholding justice and protecting the oppressed? Isn't it all about guaranteeing that every Juan is accorded due process? Isn't studying the law, whether in Ateneo or UP, all about truly being professionals for others?
Maybe I've been out of Ateneo too long. But I doubt that magis has changed since then.
The article agitated me-- not simply because I'm a student of UP Law. As a matter of fact, I consider myself one of the few rare creatures that can be considered as a hybrid of the best institutions: Ateneo "College" and UP Law.
But the said article's insistence on the superiority of ALS over UP is not only baseless, but overly immature. Granted that their moot court team's success grants them the right to boast, I feel that its constant allusion and comparison to UP Law has wasted what should have been a great homage to the amazing mooters of ALS.
Yes, I agree with his argument that the public's perception of Ateneans as mayabang and elitista stems from the Atenean ideals of the "magis." However, having studied in a Jesuit institution for 9 years, I can't help but feel that the article has perverted the concept of the "magis".
I first encountered the idea of "magis" when I was around 13 years old. I was young then, and all I can fathom was that it had something to do with being the best, with being excellent, with being number one. Sure, magis truly means pursuing for excellence. However, my years of being a student, whether inside Ateneo or not, as well as my numerous experiences with Ateneans and non-Ateneans, has taught me that magis is never simply about being the best, about being number one. It's not being excellent for excellence's sake. Rather, it is a persistence grown out of love.
Yes, love-- a concept, which in the mature mind, is so profound and complicated that it might as well be a full course in law school. It's so multifaceted that I can't even begin to imagine where to start. But for me, a person who truly embodies the spirit of the magis is a person who reaches for the stars, not for fame and glory, but so that he can show everyone else its brightness. The Ateneo education teaches us how to be the best, but always with the caveat that what is even more important than being the best is being persons for others.
I have nothing but the greatest respects for my counterparts in Ateneo Law. Like me and everyone else in UP Law, they are true survivors. Everyday is a test which we tackle and overcome. And it is my earnest belief that all of us- UP Law and Ateneo Law students alike- persist because we love.
So there is no need to compare. There is no need to say who is better. At the end of the day, isn't the legal profession all about upholding justice and protecting the oppressed? Isn't it all about guaranteeing that every Juan is accorded due process? Isn't studying the law, whether in Ateneo or UP, all about truly being professionals for others?
Maybe I've been out of Ateneo too long. But I doubt that magis has changed since then.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I write like....ISAAC ASIMOV...
I tried this interesting link where it analyzes a piece of your writing and compares it with another writer.
Ok, I have no idea who this guy is. Thankfully, there's wikipedia.
Isaac Asimov, who is apparently more famous than I initially thought, is one of the most prolific writers in the science-fiction genre. In fact, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science-fiction writers during his lifetime. Some of his works include FOUNDATION SERIES, GALACTIC EMPIRE SERIES, and the ROBOT SERIES. Geez, talk about geekiness!
More on Isaac Asimov at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov
This is a surprise since I was never a fan of science fiction. Perhaps my "robotic" writing style is reflective of Asimov's mastery of sci-fi.
Ok, I have no idea who this guy is. Thankfully, there's wikipedia.
Isaac Asimov, who is apparently more famous than I initially thought, is one of the most prolific writers in the science-fiction genre. In fact, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science-fiction writers during his lifetime. Some of his works include FOUNDATION SERIES, GALACTIC EMPIRE SERIES, and the ROBOT SERIES. Geez, talk about geekiness!
More on Isaac Asimov at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov
This is a surprise since I was never a fan of science fiction. Perhaps my "robotic" writing style is reflective of Asimov's mastery of sci-fi.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Boxing: First Day...
I joined a few of my blockmates in enrolling for boxing lessons, and we just had our first class yesterday. Suffice to say I was excited since I never imagined in my whole life that I would ever take on boxing. All the punching and pushing-- with the occasional ear-biting-- that's just way to much sweat for me.
We enrolled at the Balboa Boxing Gym near Commonwealth. Nothing fancy though. It was very cramped in fact. But the people were very friendly. And the instructors were especially nice. We went through series of drills and exercise, with an extremely annoying buzzer signaling the end of every work out. As annoying as it was, I found it to be music to my ears nearing the end of the class, as I immediately ran out of breath halfway through the lessons.
Just a few moves I learned:
JAB- left punch
STRAIGHT- right punch
HOOK (left and right)
UPPERCUT (left and right)
Plus a number of combinations
JAB-STRAIGHT
JAB-STRAIGHT-JAB-STRAIGHT
DOUBLE JAB
JAB-STRAIGHT-HOOK-STRAIGHT
JAB-STRAIGHT-LEFT UPPERCUT-RIGHT UPPERCUT-LEFT HOOK- STRAIGHT
Then there's this thing they call cardio, where you continually punch for half a minute.... trust me it's not as easy as it sounds...
I have to admit, I enjoyed every moment of it. Fine, my form was no where close to good, but I did break buckets of sweat. Who knew boxing involves so much cardio?
For now, I have to be content at fighting a punching bag (that I swear fought back a couple of times). Don't expect me to be in a real boxing match though. This is just all part of my ABA 7 project-- ABS BY AUGUST 7!
So, as if my schedule wasn't busy enough, I have to make time for my weekly fitness regimen-- workout at Planet infinity 2-3 times a week, then boxing once a week. Damn, I better have a mean set of abs by the end of the year....
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Photo dump: CALATAGAN, BATANGAS
As I've blogged before, photography has become my new hobby, my way of countering the stress and monotony of my academic life. Not much is to be expected, however. With no formal lessons whatsoever, I'm a greenhorn when it comes to photography.
I bought a new Nikon D5000 out of my hard-earned election money. And yes, I had to traverse through Quiapo to get to Hidalgo just to buy my camera. It was worth it though.
Calatagan became the venue for my first official photo trip. I've gone to a lot of trips in the past, but this one was special. For the first time, a tourist-friendly beach was not the main priority. Rather, we went there for this special hard-to-find lighthouse and a supposed pristine hidden beach. Nothing grand or posh of course, but I was told that the view would be amazing for picture-perfect moments.
We decided to bring my car. I was unsure how to get there, so we had to rely on the GPRS on my iphone. Inadvertently (and I say this because we got lost), we passed by this beautiful heritage town in Taal. Something about this town spoke to me. I felt the town's history and mystery etched in every wall. One structure in particular-- a Church-- struck me.
I absolutely adore old Churches. When you look at it, you know that you're not just looking at bricks and stones. With each click of the camera, we capture a part of a long history of struggles, beliefs and passion. It's not just a place of worship. It's a witness to history.
After hours of driving, with my aircon deteriorating with every kilometer travelled, we finally arrived at Calatagan. We decided to go find the light house first. With posters and pictures of the lighthouse scattered all around the town proper, we were confident that we would be able to find it. We were wrong. We were dead wrong! We spent hours going back and forth along the same freaking street, before we realized that we had to go through this extremely narrow path covered with thorny bushes. It was so constricted you can hear the leaves and thorns squeaking through the car's window. When we finally got there however, we were greeted with closed gates! Yes, after going through all that trouble, we discovered we weren't allowed to enter. Alas, no pictures.
We did, however, managed to find the hidden beach of Calatagan. Similar to the lighthouse, the right to see this beach had to be earned. Suffice to say, we had to go through another labyrinth just to find this one. I have to say though that my expectation exceeded what I saw. But it was nonetheless an amazing opportunity to click away. Besides, something about its coverture appealed to me. Enjoy the pics...
I bought a new Nikon D5000 out of my hard-earned election money. And yes, I had to traverse through Quiapo to get to Hidalgo just to buy my camera. It was worth it though.
Calatagan became the venue for my first official photo trip. I've gone to a lot of trips in the past, but this one was special. For the first time, a tourist-friendly beach was not the main priority. Rather, we went there for this special hard-to-find lighthouse and a supposed pristine hidden beach. Nothing grand or posh of course, but I was told that the view would be amazing for picture-perfect moments.
We decided to bring my car. I was unsure how to get there, so we had to rely on the GPRS on my iphone. Inadvertently (and I say this because we got lost), we passed by this beautiful heritage town in Taal. Something about this town spoke to me. I felt the town's history and mystery etched in every wall. One structure in particular-- a Church-- struck me.
I absolutely adore old Churches. When you look at it, you know that you're not just looking at bricks and stones. With each click of the camera, we capture a part of a long history of struggles, beliefs and passion. It's not just a place of worship. It's a witness to history.
After hours of driving, with my aircon deteriorating with every kilometer travelled, we finally arrived at Calatagan. We decided to go find the light house first. With posters and pictures of the lighthouse scattered all around the town proper, we were confident that we would be able to find it. We were wrong. We were dead wrong! We spent hours going back and forth along the same freaking street, before we realized that we had to go through this extremely narrow path covered with thorny bushes. It was so constricted you can hear the leaves and thorns squeaking through the car's window. When we finally got there however, we were greeted with closed gates! Yes, after going through all that trouble, we discovered we weren't allowed to enter. Alas, no pictures.
We did, however, managed to find the hidden beach of Calatagan. Similar to the lighthouse, the right to see this beach had to be earned. Suffice to say, we had to go through another labyrinth just to find this one. I have to say though that my expectation exceeded what I saw. But it was nonetheless an amazing opportunity to click away. Besides, something about its coverture appealed to me. Enjoy the pics...
Thursday, June 24, 2010
And the blogging continues...
Wow, I completely forgot about this blog.
Of course, not that anyone reads it in the first place. Blogging about myself, with myself as the ONLY reader... it's something that's easily thrown out of my list of priorities.
But this year is a special year. It marks what is hopefully the last year of my academic life (not counting the bar review that is). So it's best i try as much as possible to document what I can. Hopefully, when i grow old, wrinkly and rich, I can look back at how AWESOME my last year at law school was...
Speaking of reminiscing, there are some travel pictures i wish to upload. I promise to do it soon. Wouldn't want to waste my new Nokia D5000. :)
I have to say though, it has been, and will continue to be, a CRAZY HECTIC year for me. As of now, I am...
1) OLA Intern
2) OLA Team Leader
3) Research Assistant for Atty Lavinia
4) Research Assistant for IILS
oh yeah, I'm a law student too. I've been forgetting about that aspect of my life recently...
LET THE BLOGGING CONTINUE...
Of course, not that anyone reads it in the first place. Blogging about myself, with myself as the ONLY reader... it's something that's easily thrown out of my list of priorities.
But this year is a special year. It marks what is hopefully the last year of my academic life (not counting the bar review that is). So it's best i try as much as possible to document what I can. Hopefully, when i grow old, wrinkly and rich, I can look back at how AWESOME my last year at law school was...
Speaking of reminiscing, there are some travel pictures i wish to upload. I promise to do it soon. Wouldn't want to waste my new Nokia D5000. :)
I have to say though, it has been, and will continue to be, a CRAZY HECTIC year for me. As of now, I am...
1) OLA Intern
2) OLA Team Leader
3) Research Assistant for Atty Lavinia
4) Research Assistant for IILS
oh yeah, I'm a law student too. I've been forgetting about that aspect of my life recently...
LET THE BLOGGING CONTINUE...
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