The Creatures of the Night Classes

In the spirit of Halloween and the gloriousness of being a bum during the traditional fright feast that is Undas, let me list down the creatures of the night that could be more frightening or deadly than any ghoul, ghost or Sadako herself. And of course, I am referring to the Law School Professors, I’ve had plenty of them, and some of them still haunt me to this day. Some make your knees shake, some make your jaws drop, while the others, you do not see or feel, until a hatchet has been buried to your back.

The Spanish Inquisitor – this one needs no metaphor, they just strike fear just by their presence. Once the recitation begins, you think you’re freaking Galileo Galilee during the middle ages. Your knees shake, butterflies flutter in your stomach. Problem is, you can never really run away from them! You will eventually meet them and cross paths with them, it’s just the way the law school system works and framed. The scariest thing about them is that they smell fear, they are like the Nazgul of the Faculty of Law, they have a way of sniffing out among the students who did not study, and if you did, the parts you skipped; making them the Scariest Creature of the Night Classes. But I like the student’s feelings that comes with an announcement that the certain professor would not be coming to class; JUBILATION! Like the light of dawn in a Vampire movie. (Genuine vampire movies, not the Twilight bullshit)

Medusa- okay, I prefer Valentina. The professor that just stares at you at you turn to stone (in fear) Enough said.

Jigsaw- Hmmmm… From the Saw movies fame. Unlike the Nazi, he doesn’t murder you; he makes a way that you murder yourself (legally impossible) he makes these elaborate obstacles so that you may escape if you truly deserve it. How like our law school lives. Difficult exams, super long coverage, impossible to answer recitations and yes, the professor is asking for a limb or two for you to survive and surely, blood sweat and tears will flow…

The Misogynist – This is one professor I have encountered but was never bothered. And thank you God for my dick! This is one ghost that has a very, very particular/limited prey- women. (especially the ones that are teeming with estrogen!) These professors have either a dark past or a very colorful present – think Rainbow colors. Although their prey may be unified but their mode of attack is varied. Others on the clothing, others on the way these ladies speak. And these ladies do prepare. J{ust like an Aswang, who only attacks pregnant women.}

Sully and Mike Wazowski – these professors terrify you at the bone at first, but hey, in the end, you end up friends with them. It’s part of their charm, and perhaps their way of training you, scare you in the beginning and will eventually ease up on you… that is if you survive the scare stage.

Brutus – Although some of them reflect the physicality of the famous Popeye villain, but the Brutus I am referring here is the Shakespearean one. And yes, all law students feel like their Julius Caesar. It’s all smiles and laughter in the Senate, but once the grades come in, a dagger is stuck at your back. And you think “Et Tu Brutus?” You go back and remind yourself what went wrong or what you did wrong, let me give you a hint... NOTHING! It’s just their nature to make you think s/he is all cool and friendly but the moment they start grading the mask comes off. {Think a Tiyanak who lures you in with the crying baby act and once you pick them up, they attack you...in the neck no less!}

The Psycho – you just happen to be in a particular class at a particular difficult time in the life of your professor. And someone has to suffer… guess who?

The Nazi– the professor who has a certain standard that no one will ever, ever reach. Like the Jews will never be the “superior race” and anyone who fails to reach that certain, impossible standard will be subjected to labor that is over and beyond what is proper and eventually just kill them in the end anyway. These are mass murderers who can’t sleep at night if they do not fail any student. I tell you, what could be scarier than genocide?

Bieber- The artist is more annoying than scary, just like this kind of professor. Like the bowler he just throws that ball and sees which pins will fall. The Eenie Minie Mo grader. (now you see the bieber connection… would Sean Kingston be a better analogy?)

The Virgin Offeror- In no way, the sacrifice is truly a virgin, I mean, a virgin in law school is like, is like, a great Shake, Rattle and Roll movie, very, very few. But these professors always have a sacrificial lamb, some deserving, mostly not. That makes it even scarier. They just feel that a 100% shouldn’t just fly like that. So they always fail one or two students, that is depending on the mood. That feels like the movie Halimaw sa Banga, the Halimaw needs sacrifices to escape the Banga, and let me ask you -in my serious tone- is there any other creature from Philippine movies that is scarier than the Halimaw sa Banga? (fine, Zuma is an exception)


So there Happy Halloween Everybody!!!

Top Ten WTF?!? moments of the 2010 Bar Exams

or how my world shattered during the four Sundays of September

10. Quasi Torts

9. Res Judicata in Prison Grey

8. The length of the Labor Law exam

7. Doctrine of the Operative Facts

6. Pro Reo.

5. Technological Transfer

4. Petition for a writ of Habeas data (forms)

3. all events test, immediacy test and rational basis test in rapid succession.

2. Petition for Letters Rogatory (forms)

1. The entire taxation exam.

and just like that, september is over!

bilang isa...

hindi sapat ang salita... kaya hindi ko na susubukan... para sa mga biktima...

It's never OVER...

the bar exams never really end on the fourth Sunday of September... it continues, it occupies everything... you take it with you...

you take it with you when you eat, when you eat Chinese food, when you eat nothing...

you take it when you shower, when you swim, when you take a bath...

you take it with you when you walk, or run or jog...

you take it with you when you watch, hwne you see, when you listen...

you remember it before you go to sleep, after waking up, and before you stand up...

you remember it when you pee, and that, too...

you remember it when you talk, when you converse, when you laugh...

but most of all you remember it when you pray, because at this point, you pray unceasingly, you pray...

you pray when you eat, when you eat Chinese food, when you eat nothing...

you pray when you shower, when you swim, when you take a bath...

you pray when you walk, or run or jog...

you pray when you watch, hwne you see, when you listen...

you remember to pray before you go to sleep, after waking up, and before you stand up...

you remember to pray when you pee, and that, too...

you remember to pray when you talk, when you converse, when you laugh...

you remember the bar exams, and then you pray...

what else is there?

TAXING (some thoughts about the taxation exam)

Difficult, is such an understatement!

Impossible, is such an understatement!



If they would level the playing field as between last Sunday's exam and the exam this coming week, they would practically have to give us a an examination of connecting the dots and a coloring book.


The taxation exam made us detectives, fortune tellers, law makers, justices of the Supreme Court, fiction writers, poets, novelists, astrologers, journalist and at the end of it all, suicidal. (or maybe that's just me)


the taxation exam is the kind of exam that would anyone, (especially me) become closer to God... and i tell you, heaven must be bombarded with prayers from barristers starting 2 p.m. last Sunday! and it will continue, for a long time...


Hope is something difficult as of right now. No one can afford optimism at this stage... but we have to... we need to... there is no other way... or any other choice...


four exams to go, 2 Sundays to go...

friends, let us slay this motherfucker! We will take no prisoners!

Songs to listen to for the bar exams (especially if the first week was crap)

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the lines, lift your head, baby, don't be scared..you'll get by, with a smile... no one ever said that there is an easy way...


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the line, there a rainbow always after the rain...


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the line, saan man ako bumaling ikaw ay naroon, tumalikod man sa'yo, dakilang pag-ibig Mo, sa akin tatawag at mag papaalalang ako'y iyong iniibig at siyang itatapat sa puso...


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little less inspiration, but more direction to get myself together, i'v been stuck in a moment that i can't get out of...


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well, happiness is singing together when the day is through, is anyone loved by you... and is coming home again...

Insane in Septembrain: seven songs that remind me of the bar exams but has nothing to do with the bar exams

Arbitrary, the name of the game...

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well, do you remember? the 21st night of september?



wala na dapat maramdaman, dahil, eto na, eto na, eto na, WAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!


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i ask you, who wouldn't be?





i am not ready, i haven't finished anything yet, i haven't found what i am looking for... which is preparedness...



mahirap, pero this is too legit, for me to quit! (hey, hey!)

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to me, everything is feel like dance, i understand the first three words, then everything else is gibberish...



or am i just paranoid?

BUSES AND TRAINS: or studying while on board a Common Carrier

I have always been a commuter. From the time I learned to read during my DSWD Day Care years when I finally abhorred reading in my Civil Law Review Class, I have always been travelling from my Family Home to a place where there is hierarchical structure and chronological pattern of learning or what is known as an educational institution. So yes, I’m used to reading or studying while on board a moving vehicle.
Not only am I lazy, I think I’m the laziest in class, at one point, the only time I do get to study was when I was moving 30-50kph. In school there were always friends you talk to, and at home, well, there is the TV, the bed, the computer and of course, Chismis.

So my study habits have been restricted. Although it did cost me since i was able to finish law school in five years and was kicked-out of my former school, as they say, there is always that silver lining. I honed my reading whole travelling skills. So in the spirit of the “it’s almost tomorrow” bar exams, let me rate and somehow give tips on how to study while a stranger sleeps on you shoulder while you are crossing Mabuhay Rotonda.

(and yes, this will be in order)

The Top 8

Pedicabs
For its almost non-moving pace, and the exposure to the elements not to mention the fact that you only ride them on short distances, it is not very conducive for studying, probably you will be able to finish a doctrine or two, but the window between the time you reach for your codal and the time you will reach your destination is almost non-existent, so I just don’t bother. And really, the cost of riding one pedicab is almost a meal in your favorite carinderia. So, walk, now, it’s actually easy to read while walking than in riding a pedicab with the dirty toes of manong driver showing every few seconds is not really worthy.

Tricycle
Now, although pedicabs and tricycles are relatives within the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity, they are two different classes. For starters, it’s cheaper, and when I say cheaper, it does not include the special rides. If like me, a tricycle ride takes minutes, then you could actually read while in a tricycle, given that the time is not that short to waste, but not long enough to actually read an entire SCRA, but you could read a few provisions, plus the time you use while waiting for other passengers, you can squeeze about three or four provisions.

MRT
Well, of all the light transits, this one ranks the lowest. The crowd is just not reader friendly, not at all, people squeezing you in dragging you out, coughing on you, it is just not that friendly, but on times, you can actually read something, just hope people will not be pushing too hard. And I hope that that will not be pun, especially for the ladies.

LRT Line 1
I was not able to experience much of LRT 1, but the times I got on this train, it was very… um, discriminating. The people that are used to it, can read, can actually read while on it, in spite of the LRT smell, and in spite of the Martial Law technology. For us who are not used to such a scenario, it is a Caso Fortuito. But I could see that a few but continuous rides can make you used to it. For the small number of times I rode the train I have seen a lot of people studying inside. Well, the many students that take the LRT 1, a fraction will surely harness the power to actually do that.

Jeepneys
Ah, it is very easy to read while riding a Jeepney. Thre will be no distraction as the seats are facing each other, and there are only two things your eyes could do if it doesn’t want to meet other eyes, its either it closes and sleeps or go to the nearest readable, well, anything. How else do you think we know all the jeepney poetry that is “Barya lang po sa Umaga” or “Basta Driver Sweet Lover”? So it is easy to study, there are only a few inconveniences, first, the passing of fare. Especially if you are situated near the driver, it is almost impossible to finish a sentence much more a case digest. Second, remember the other option for the eyes, well, yes, passengers actually sleep, worse, they include you as their pillow, if not their bed. Third, the loud sounds, no one can study while the jeep’s sound system is pounding your brain out.

LRT line 2
The light rail transit a student can depend on. To begin with, it is very spacious, secondly, the air-conditioning works…well, and the floor is not that gross to actually sit on. This is the train I memorized most of codal provisions in my first year in law. Actually, all of the codal provisions.

FX
Cold, sometimes. Comfortable, it depends. Spacious, only in front. But a lot of students do their final study while riding an FX, I would have ranked it lower than two, but my entire college life, I was riding, and hence, I was studying in an FX. Filipino design, japanese maker, what else could you ask for? Well, still a lot. But up until now, you see dozens of students cramming inside an FX. While the other dozen is still sleeping.

Bus
My number 1… well, the passengers do not bother you with their fare, you can actually feel the air-conditioning. It’s fast. And well, although there are the occasional passenger who mistake you for a bed, that does not happen as much in jeepneys. So yes, when I go to the bar exams, I’ll be riding a bus, and guess what I will be doing on my way to La Salle? Yup, I’ll probably be sleeping.










written a few days before the bar exams

Dear Ning,

Kamusta bakasiyon mo? ako, eto pa rin nag rereview, bad trip talaga tong meralco, nag bro-brown out pa rin dito. Walang silbi sa bahay kundi bumabad sa internet, o kaya’y kasama ang buong barkada nakatambay sa may kanto. Well, that was a lie, we don’t see each other anymore, alam mo naman na ikaw an gaming organizer and magnet at the same time, we come to you, we come for you. Buti na lang andiyan si Ate Di, kung wala. baka di na namin kilala ang isa’t isa. Oh, Ning, while you were away, the E-heads had their reunion concert, TWICE, yes, the reunion that we were talking about. None of us went, though. I can’t speak for them. But I just didn’t feel like it. I know, know, that was a wasted opportunity, and it was my chance to miss. Speaking of miss, what have you missed so far, how long has it been Ning? 5 years? Well, mag ba-bar exams na ako this September, so please pray for me. So I could continue the profession we have always wanted. Speaking of wants in life. Our good friend Ynna is now teaching, and guess what subject? You’ll love this. Art Appreciation and Philosophy. In love ang bata! Di ba ang saya? Ning last Sunday, nag pa-birthday sina Jey at Mark sa Pampanga. Yup! Pampanga. Our last field trip together, our last out of town. Tapos ngayon 5 years old na si iko. Di kami nakapunta. Sayang. Loy is now married, and now living in Australia, sosiyal si Loy. Greener pastures ito. Si Cindy went back to law school. Along with Rina, Mel, Berna, Bryan, Angel at Bis. Francine and Jhet are getting married next year, January 22 ang date, And guess what? Ninong ako! Weird that I was a principal sponsor before I can even be a secondary one. Isa pa yang si Charo na greener pastures, asa Dubai! Hiwalay na sila ni Don. Mahaba din na istorya. Si Father, nawawala. Mahaba-haba ang kwento. Si Meg ay mayaman na. At least that is what we heard. Di na nag pakita yan. Si Nikki lumabas daw sa Wowowee, napanuod mo ba? Ako hindi. May link sa internet pero nung sinabi sakin ni nikki yung website, lasing ata ako, di ko maalala eh. We’ve met Cecille, Karl’s girlfriend, I don’t know if you’ve met before, but we like her, I’m sure if she’d have met you, she would have loved you as well. Jun, Randy and Chen are now Florence Nightingales. Si Luis asa Chowking, si Tse asa eroplano, si jheng at Lyndon, wala ako balita. Ate Fleur is now a Doctor so is Sir Mommy. Filio almost die (his words) di nga kami nakadalaw, kasi lumabas na daw siya sa hospital nung balakin namin. Hospital, Ning, our last memory together. With Tita Nira, na Fb friend ko ngayon. St. Lukes. Sa semi-ward na may exhaust fan sa taas ng bed mo, na pinakain mo pa kami ng croissant na bigay lang din pala ng bisita mo for you.

I can’t shake off the feeling that I’ve wasted my final minutes with you, making fun of your room, making fun of you. But I am happy as well, that the last time we saw each other, we were all laughing, at ourselves, at our memories. But, I wish we could have more time, not in that hospital, but in life. You’ve left us too soon, too soon.


We use to go home together, leaving in the same district, we always have fun when we ride the FX laughing all the way through España, Quezon Avenue, and Commonwealth. Remember when we made two total strangers become friends? I remember that we always talk about that our FX rides are always “bitin” funny, how you made a metaphor about life being like an FX ride, I didn’t know at that time that you were making your life the ultimate example of your own metaphor.

Get Togethers are not the same without you, music is not same without you, siomai is never the same without you.

I also can’t shake the feeling that you went of a broken heart, and I mean, literally and figuratively. And February 13? One day before Valentines day? Bitter, much? Hehe

I can’t shake the feeling that you are still here with us, guiding us.

You are ning. You are always present. You are always present tense. You are our own gerund. You are our proper noun, you are our noun, and you are our verb. You make us, you describe us, you define us. You are N-ing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NING! We love you. Till we see each other again!

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Naalala kita pag umuulan
Naalala kita pag kakain na
Naalala kita pag may nadadapa
Naalala kita pag may pamali-mali sa kanta

this was taken, during last year's bar exam, when we crossed the Taft Avenue, the section close for people like us, and open only for people like them... but now, i'm short of five weeks from crossing that same path, close for people like them and only open for people like me...

I hope this bar exams would be my only... and when i walk down Taft Avenue on the fourth sunday of September, i would know i have done my best. friends, join me... let us take those steps in Manila...


(photo by Jhe Reyes)

Not Once, But Twice

Now that I am to take my bar this September, it reminds me of the lessons I have learned in law school, some profound, some enlightening, some discouraging, some depressing, but others, I have to learn twice. Yup, two times. Dalawa!

Here is a rundown of what they “lessons” I had to learn and re-learn for a second time.

Criminal Law 1

First take:

Professor: Atty. Maximo Amurao
Atty. Maximo Amurao is 1/3 of the infamous triumvirate of my former school San Beda College known as the Triple A, the triple threat of San Beda College of Law. He was THE first law school professor, and when I say first I mean the first to come to class, all with his tall, dark personality. Atty. Amurao was excellent both in teaching and scaring the shit out of me. But you learn, and you learn well. Although our personality did not necessarily match, I mean personal;ity as I have no other term for it. To illustrate , my recitation grade (announced in front of the whole class) was 78, 60, 60, 70, 75, 70, 60, 60 ,60… and whole bunch of 60’s and 70’s. I still remember the question when I got my highest Amurao grade, it was about ex post facto law and subsequent amendemt of penal laws and if favorable to the accused. It was in the form of a hypothetical question: “suppose Senator Revilla would lessen the penalty for Illegal Possession of firearms from 12 years to 8 years, and Robin Padilla has already served 9 years, what will happen to Robin Padilla?” The showbiz connection saved my utterly humiliating recitation grade.
We made a mistake in our first class of asking for his name, all he had for us was “ask around, and I tell you will never forget my name until you take the bar” (I am to take the bar and I still tremble just hearing his name being spoke)

Final Grade: 63

Second Take:

Professor: Atty. Ramel Muria

It was fairly easy, okay, who am I kidding it was easy as this was my second take. The difficulty was the expectation as I already took it the year before. That was as to the codal provisions. But Atty. Muria bombarded us with cases after cases aftes cases, some of them still in Spanish, some them very very old, some of them does not even have citations so it was more of a research effect. Atyy. Muria knew all the cases well, despite the fact that we had to read hundreds of cases we had to memorize every detail of every case. Names, dates, locations, penalties, decisions, witnesses and what was worse you can neve have a complete recitation until you know all the “important” facts, otherwise you stand. Just stand. Oh, and not to mention my book being thrown out of the classroom as he has a strictly no open book policy.

Final Grade: 85

Constitutional Law 1

First take:

Professor: Atty. Juanito Arcilla

Remember the Triple A I was telling you about? He was the second member. And yes, we ended up having both of them in one day, for two consecutive days Wednesday and Thursday. A bunch of my classmates dropped one of the subjects. I fought on and eventually lost. It was Atty. Arcilla that really got me in this love for political law. His brilliance alone would leave you speechless, and then ypu see him in this denim jacket that reminds you circa 60’s Easy Rider movie types, and you realize that he is a cool guy, the side his students never really experience. He asked us to read thousands of cases, memorize the constitution and act as if we enjoy it. (Although in retrospect, it was the political law cases that I truly enjoyed reading) He has this special way of making an emphasis with his accent like CONG-ress or PREZ-ident. And then it was coupled with his hand gestures falling on top of the table making this thump sound. Until today I have not forgotten justiciable question and political question. Nor forget to make a list of the powers of congress. (But seeing our congress today, you would want to down list those powers) He was one of the few who did not really make use of class cards or make that very mundane yet psychologically traumatic act of “shuffling.” He was making use of a class record, listed alphabetically, so we know when the gaze goes down, all of us with M-Z surnames were all trembling.

The most memorable experience I had with him, was when I was called for recitation on Wednesday. I was fairly confident that I will not be called for the next recitation the next day, I did not study, not even a word. I was even telling my classmates of my presumption that I will not be called for recitation. As confident as I was, I even sat right in front of him, one of the scariest seats in town. I was listening to the other recitations, my book closed right in front of me and then, and then I heard him say, mis-TER KE-ha-nooooo… give us the case of Araneta vs. Dinglasan… SHOCKED!!! And my classmates saw the terror on my face. Pure, sheer terror! Embarrassment, well, I’m used to it. I will never ever forget the case of Araneta vs. Dinglasan. Presumption in law school is like a bloody meat in a shark infected water.

Final Grade: 69

Second Take: Professor: Atty. Jose Aguila Grapilon

The Renaissance man. Since this was my second take, I was not really difficult reading all those concepts, but my second take was helpful, if my first take was pure theoretical, my second one was application, praxis even. Atty. Grapilon showed us the forest amidst the trees, the bigger picture. You learn by reading, you understand by exposure was what I am most grateful for Atty. Grapilon and the life lessons you take with you. Nothing would teach you how to become a renaissance man than a renaissance man himself; books, movies, music, TV, plays, are helpful tools not only to become a good lawyer, but more importantly to become a good person. He includes Grammar and History lessons in his class.

Of course, no Grapilon write up would be complete without speaking of his generosity. Free beer, cigarettes, food and occasionally free movie.

Final Grade: 86

Persons and Family Relations

First take:

Professor: Judge Hernando

Uh, of our class only one passed the midterms, she is now a lawyer. Persons was very difficult but when we look back, it was mostly fun, the memories we had with Judge Hernando. And in the spirit of the fun memories, I would just like to talk about the fun things. The bad ones are memorization of hundreds of provisions, reading hundreds of cases, no absences etc….to be honest I do not remember Persons being that very difficult, I don’t even have memories of bad recitations, oh no, I had many of them but not memorable ones.
He gave us the spelling of Mercado-Fehr vs. Fehr, his spelling was Fi-E-H-R…nobody laughed.

He asked a classmate if he was a judge how he would decide the case he answered “Wherefore” …everybody snickered…

A classmate was absent, in the next meeting he was asked about a case not part of the assignment, he was not able to answer he was asked to leave… everybody trembled

A classmate was absent, the next meeting she was asked to recite articles 1 – 4 of the civil code, she was able to answer, and then he included articles 5 – 10, she had it memorized too…everybody smiled.

When I transferred, he also transferred, I saw him paid my respects, greeted him and he said “I remember you” yes, sir, we remember each other, after a few years, he became a bar examiner and a Justice.

Final Grade: 69

Second Take:

Professor: Atty. Rex Austria

Well, most cases we had were just repeated of what we had the first time, also we had most of the provisions memorized; the only significant thing that happened was the controversy that happened in San Beda prior to their transfer, which was asked in our Finals Examination.

Some classmates would see him read a book in a library hours before class, preparing just as we were.

This was also the second time I had Atyy. Austria for a professor, he was my Legal Ethics professor in San Beda, he gave me a 75.

Final Grade: 88

Obligations and Contracts

First Take:

Professor: Dean Domingo Navarro

Oooohhhh… cigarettes and law working hand in hand, sometimes in our favor. Dean was amazing in teaching his civil law subjects, but he would fail you just like that, after years after I had him as a professor I still hear horror stories about him. But the important thing is that you learn. You do not forget anything he teaches or ask. To this day, I can still recall the elements of Caso Fortuito and the Statutes of Fraud. He wasn’t just plain scary, in fact, I would have loved to have him as a professor again. Or maybe not. I also had the experience of having the third A of the Triple A when Dean got sick in the middle of the semester, we had to sit in in the class of Atty. Albay, so I did get to experience all of the Triple A.


My most memorable recitation was with the case of Juntilla vs. Fontanar, a fortuitous event case, about a jeepney falling into ravine and the passenger losing his Omega watch.

Final Grade: 68

Second Take:
Professor: Judge Eugene Paras

Of course I had to use the book of his father. I do not really remember much about my second take, nothing really stands out to be immortalized in writing. But Judge Paras was great; he polished whatever we learned in our first take. I do remember him laughing when we used the term pour autrui, our pronunciation was POR-O-TRI, his was POR-AU-TUR… till today, we had no idea what is the proper pronunciation.

Final Grade: 83

Torts and Damages

First Take: Professor Dean Flores

Dean Flores never really taught us anything, he would come to school tell, stories, give us an outline and a handout and that is it. Nothing more. Nothing less., Why I failed is probably a question that will be answered in the afterlife. But I am not holding my breath. But he tell great stories, he is of a certain age that whatever story he tells is a little charming, my favorite was his experience in the Japan Airlines case about him being stranded in Japan when Mt. Pinatubo erupted.

Final Grade: 70

Second Take:

Professor: Atty. Dimson

Atty. Dimson has had reputation in our school; she fails a lot of students. I was afraid of her. This is probably the only incident that my second take is more difficult than the first time. I had to digest ten cases per week, not to mention the probability of being called in recitation and the possibility of a quiz. She never tells you if your answer is correct or wrong. She dislikes absent students and even calls them for recitation with an automatic grade of 65, I had that fate. I beg her to grant me reprieve of reporting on a case in lieu of my 65. Nope, she said. I like torts and damages, I took it twice.
Final Grade: 80

Because I took many subjects twice I hope I repeated them enough so I will not have to take the Bar Exams twice.

Bar Exams = Not twice, But Once…





This was witten 75 days before the first of the four sundays of september.

7 things you need to learn about law school, but were afraid to ask (plus three more things)

In the spirit of the first week of law school (for some students), let me make my own version of a freshmen kit that would have been helpful in my first year of law.

It is Difficult. Whatever myths you heard when you were a senior in college, were probably true. Some of them could have been overly exaggerated, but most of them would probably be accurate. So be afraid. Be very afraid.

It is cut throat. Nope, not that kind of throat you perve! In some schools, it is necessary that you have to be competitive, that you have to be aggressive. If you think you are in that kind of environment, then you better get your gear up. Dust off you old armor and get ready for battle. In that kind of law school, pleasantries would be a knife stuck to your front side and not at your back. Be wary, not all you know would be your friend, and even your friends may not be yours exactly.

It is Social Interdiction. Civil interdiction is a concept you have yet to learn, deeply. But basically you lose all your civil rights; it is civil death hence, the analogy. Before you enter law school, kiss your social life goodbye. It is over. Thhis is your social death. But I am not saying you will never again taste that bitter, refreshingly cold drink that is called beer. Your social life will be replaced by a different form. So no birthday parties on Friday night if you have recitation on Saturday, no more out of town trips, you have a long exam the next week, no more spontaneous afternoon movie trips of you are on deck that afternoon. (Although...)

Ask and you shall Receive. Law school is of a different animal. It has its own culture, way different from what you may have in college. Professors are different, even the clothes required of students would be different. So when in doubt ask your classmate, an upper classman, a friend in other law school, an old schoolmate, a friend-lawyer, all of them would have different experiences and all of them would have something to contribute and share with you.

Prepare to make a choice. Almost all of law students would be in a cross road, and you have to make that choice. It could be as simple as making a decision on the schedule you are taking. (Although, technically not simple as some students got kicked out for choosing the wrong schedules) but some are as profound as family vs. law school, legal career vs. another opportunity. And you have to make a choice. And prepare to stick to it.


It should be about you. I was never pressured into taking up law; I did it on my own accord. I am one of the few lucky ones. If you are not into it, then I tell you, it would be a very difficult ride for you. You have to like it. Love it, even. It is not you mother that would have to stand, with trembling knees in front of your professor, it not you father that will read mountains of case, it is not your lolo that would digests all those cases. So be honest, and tell them this is not for you. I know, it is not easy, but four years of law school will not be a walk in the park.

Prepare to be embarrassed. Just be.

Whatever I have written thus far, forget about it. What you are about to read is more important.

Make Friends. I was lucky to have amazing classmates; it is one of the lucky things I have; always having the best of classmates. That is why law school wasn’t as difficult for us, especially for me, The more friends you have the easier it would be. But do not be an Artista make meaningful friendships, friendships that will last. Quality over Quantity. (Let me take this opportunity to thank all my law school friends. tH4nK5! Jejejeje)

Rest. Learn how to. Take Saturdays off, or Sundays, or both. Just do not over do it! I mean the resting. If you do not, it will take its toll on your body, on your brain, and be very difficult to recover from. So once in a while, watch movie or a soap opera on TV, just take breather. Refresh your brain.

ENJOY! Yes, law school is different, it is difficult but enjoy it. That is how you will keep your sanity all throughout law school. You are already there, make the most of it, have fun. Make fun of each other; make fun of yourself, even. Learn to laugh. All work and no play…well, you know the cliché. I know it is difficult, but it would be more difficult if you do not enjoy it.

So go out there, and slay that Motherfucker! (You’ll need shotguns for these kinds of things)







when this was written there are only 70 days to the first of the four sundays of september.

Phi – LAW –sophy

Phi – LAW –sophy
My journey of a thousand recits did not start with my being kicked out of Beda, it started four years prior that fateful event. It started when I made the biggest mistake of my life. The BIGGEST and the BEST mistake I have ever made. I chose PHILOSOPHY from seven majors listed on the board. And admittedly, it was because I mistook Philosophy for Psychology. Yup, I was that stupid!

If Philosophy and I were a movie, it would have been the plot of an odd couple film, a buddy movie. Plot would have been two people at the beginning so different they can’t stand each other but by the end credits they’d be together in a wedding party drinking. Just Drinking.

But it has to be said, I fell in love with Philosophy. From the lecture on incredulity to my thesis titled “The Sublime as the Fulfillment of the Postulation of God’s Existence in Kant’s Categorical impertative” Given that it was, for us, a dead end course. The career choices were slim, all we had were to become a teacher, a priest, or a teacher-priest. There were a bunch of other… uhm… existential careers we were looking at, to wit: a taxi driver, a gym instructor, a bold star and a parlorista. But nothing compared to the call of the legal profession, it was the loudest since it was echoed by parents and just about everyone. So yes, I took their “advice”

The transtition from philosophy to law is not really a minor feat. It was the personification of the allegory of the cave…in reverse.

It has been said by upper class men that Philosophy was a great pre-law course, they said that reading SCRA is peanuts compared to reading Heidegger. The problem was I never read Heidegger.
Although bot require so much from students, like reading literally hundred of books. But Law and Philosphy are very different. They require different things from students.

To illustrate:

Law, a professor requiring a student to study dozens of provisions, hundreds of pages of annotations, read 20 cases per hour is pure sadism. Philosophy, thinking about the nature of men, the human will, the source of knowledge, the existence of God, the meaning, existence, metaphysics of things is pure masochism.

In Philosophy, we were thought that the lowest form and the most unreliable source of human knowledge is Authority. We were trained to question, disparage authority that it reduces authority to a mere concept. In law, that is the only thing that matters and the only source: AUTHORITY; constitution above all, supreme court above all courts, recent law over old ones. In law, to question authority (whether it be a famous author, or jurisprudence) is to create anarchy, and to be held in contempt. No opinion matters other than those who are in power. Law is so arbitrary as authority is fleeting. But it is what it is. In latin, Dura Lex Sed Lex. We are a government of laws and not of men. Laws created by men.

Both are difficult. Both are satisfying. They are equal, but Philosophy, I have to say, is Primus Inter Pares

Philosophy may not make good law students, but I do believe philosophy make good lawyers. And I intend, with all my might, to prove it right.

I (w)could become a lawyer one day, but I do not think I will be a philospher. I am a Philo Major, I complicate things because life is complicated. We answer with a question and we question without end. We see things differently from other people. And people see us differently. But we are used to that.

Philosophy may not be the best pre-law course, but digests of cases is not as fulfilling as digests of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy, reading Tsi Ming Choi is not as satisfying as the Philosophy of Mo Zi, Lao Tzi or Cong Zi. And Finishing Jurado is not as great as finishing Kant.

They may not agree, but i promise i will become 100% Philo Major, and 100% lawyer.

Bar Results: or why 100% feels good...

I woke up with a text message from dear friend joyce, asking me what time we meeting up in KFC, as the day was March 26, 2010, the supposed date of the release of the results of the 2009 bar exams… I went straight to the phone, dialed the Public Information Office number of the Supreme Court and asked, what time would be the release. A girl with her chraming colegiala voice answered that it would be in the evening, I asked “mga 6?” and she hanged up on me. THAT B****!!! But seriously, I have been calling her for the past weeks, I’m already two phone calls short of stalking her… so I understand the bitchiness…

At around three in the afternoon, I started a text blast, which read: “Prayer Brigade: We’ll bombard heaven with our prayers. At exactly 5pm. Please say a little prayer for our barrister friends, let’s help them pray. Pass this message” the goal was to make as many people pray, only a handful replied, but I hope many people prayed and passed on the message.

It turns out that that same day was the beginning of the campaign for the coming election, so it was hell everywhere, traffic and monotonous drumming with ati atihan on the side.

At 5pm, remembering my own text message, I started praying and almost cried (okay, fine! I cried) I was praying to God to make me a bringer of good news…

I arrived at the Supreme Court, there were four guards there, a lady jaguar and three XY chromosomes, who, if they were in a Filipino movie, they would have been played by Max Alavarado (may he rest in peace) and Palito, (may he rest as well, but not yet in peace) The Supreme Court already has the three screens set up. And the flag was eerily in half-mast. Still a mystery to us.

I asked if there was a rest room inside, as my bladder was already the size of a watermelon and was about to explode. They answered in the negative, so I went straight to Robinson’s Place, where I met another friend Marj, who was also meeting her friends.

I got the Supreme Court (again) my friend Doms was already inside, the female guard, upon checking my bag laughingly told me “ang dami niyo baon sir, ah” I would have been insulted but it was in fact full of baon. A bag of tortillos, two buns of Spanish bread, a can of cheese balls from Qatar, (okay! Duty Free) a bottle of 500 liters of Coca-Cola and a bunch of other edibles I’m keeping as my emergency packet in case the apocalypse comes or if I get stranded on an island that is Sampaloc, Manila in case of heavy rains. The guard told us the results will be read by 730pm.
It was only 6 at that time.

There were already a few people there, the early ones were seated in the gutter, while the earlier ones were in the steps of the Department of Justice. (which I find weird, the DOJ office is in the same compound as the Supreme Court, hmmmm… talk about home court advantage) we decided to stay by the barrier and without sounding like a megalomania, I think we started the ripple of people hurrying towards the gates. We decided we could not take the crush of people and to stand there for hours, we decided to go the steps of the DOJ, which was already dirty and wet. The next best thing was the veranda at the left side of the building, amidst the pink and orange boungavillas. We situated ourselves there and waited for another friend, Jean, who was coming from Makati and bladder the size of watermelon as well.

The whole compound was blasted with music, all kinds of music from Lady Gaga to Frosty the Snowman (in bossa nova, by the way) the latter, of course, elicited applause from the crowd. The playlist was weird, it includes Bumpin’ and Grindin’ songs from the 80’s to the present, which we think is Midas Marquez’s Ipod playlist. Midas (Supreme Court’s spokesperson) was in his usual spokesperson-should-look-good self, and wearing a cool-but-i-should-look-dignified crispy white shirt. But it wasn’t him who got the most applause, (the loudest belonged to Justice Nachura) that belonged to the lady in black. Every time she goes out of the building, into the yard, she was welcomed with applause. The Filipina beauty with her Morena skin, and long black, straight hair wearing a black top, black pants and white rubber shoes with (neon) orange laces. She started some commotion (at least on our side) when she went out holding a mysterious object which techies refer to as a USB. The list was finally tested, yup, only tested. We had to wait for two more hours. We were there for a very long time and at that point we were talking amongst ourselves that maybe this is symptomatic to the justice system of our country. Snail paced. We were almost tempted to shout “JUSTICE DELAYED, JUSTICE DENIED” no pun intended, although we were waiting for a justice… Nachura .

We were there for a very long time we decided to call 8-MCDO, while the rest were just drinking water whose microbiology is questionable; we decided to take the matter into our own hands. Call 8-MCDO, and yes with their 40Php flat delivery charge. As doms correctly put it, there is no “I” in the supreme court.

So while we were in the middle of cheeseburger deluxe, McNugget and crispy chicken fillet burger. A stir happened, people inside the building scrambling to get outside. THIS WAS IT! Midas introduced Justice Nachura, who was wearing coat and tie, or at least from my point of V. At this time I was already flooded with questions like “ano balita????” and yes, with multiple question marks, because clearly, one is never enough. Justice Nachura started with “we lowered blah blah blah”, “it has a precedence blah blah blah…” I’m sure you could find a copy of that on youtube, since there were a lot of people pointing their cameras and phones toward justice delayed, I mean, Justice Nachura. He then enumerated the top ten. (by this time, we already heard chismis from marj that the top 1 and 2 were from beda, and that yebra was top 1 –this we heard a long time ago) I was half expecting the top two would go to honey rose. “And without further adieu,” I heard Justice Nachura said, “the list.”

Three screens started showing list of names. And just as we thought we had a great location, we realized from our position, the first screen was covered by Jose Abad Santos… the statue. (It would have been pretty scary if we were covered by the person. May he rest in peace.) The only part of the screen we could see was the top of the head of Jose Abad Santos, and beside his torso. I could not concentrate, I had three screens to look at, and was bombarded with texts messages (do not worry friends, I don’t mind)

And then… I saw –indy Andre, the L was covered by Jose Abad Santos arm, and I shouted YEAH LINDY! WOOOOOHHHHH!!!! I started to text her while still looking at the screens, and then –hommel. (J, obviously covered) WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! Now it was two for six (7 if masha is included) my eyes went straight to the middle screen where the only things I saw were shapes of different sizes that only has a semblance of letters. I had to stretch my neck, (okay, if you know me I don’t have a neck) I had to stretch each and every vertebra I have just to see clearly. I got scared I thought no Lizano was listed, and then, and then, I saw Legazpi… okay, E is still far from I, so I was about to snap my spinal column when I saw LIZANO, Jenifer. Imagine that in very, very blurred letters, bit I saw what I saw. I immediately texted her. “OK NA” she replied “Anung ok na???” Yes, With multiple question marks as well. (which I thought, jen, mag tetext ba ako sayo ng OKAY NA, kung bagsak ka!” hehehe… (peace, Jen!) at this point I thought I saw MENDOZA, Marco… but I am not too sure this time, I was already crying tears of joy. I could not see the third screen where Paudac was listed, (although, I never doubted that) I knew Mariano was the surname of masha, but her first name could be maria shallani for all I know. so I didn’t bother looking at the screen. BUT.. thankfully, a man gave woman a copy of the list. I told jean and doms to look. But Jean was elbowed by an asshole, who I think failed because he looked at the list twice. I made eye contact with the woman and said “ate, pasilip naman” she said Yes, and we looked. Obiles was there, Paudac was obviously there, Mendoza was also there, so was Mariano (masha pala is her real name…hehe) we told ate thank you and she said “may titingnan pa kayo?” we sheepishly took the list from her. Who said GMRC can’t get you anything? And we looked at the list for names texted to us. We went and looked at the names being flashed on screen, we saw names of our friends and names we knew: Carlo Valeza, Kat Charcos, Deb Santos, Callejo, Cañero, (who by the way was spelled as Ca-ero, along with Nu-ez and a bunch of Spanish sounding surnames) Mimi Genova, Amber Zulueta. We made acquaintances with bedans celebrating and we ran into Pepe and Bec (evangelista) who was taking a picture of her name. We waited for our friends to arrive, shook hands, hugged and… received phone calls. DAMN! 100% Feels GOOD, nay, GREAT!!!

We went home with smile on our faces and one hell of a story to tell.









Not so positive parts were purposefully omitted by the author, as the mood of the narrative is a bit crass. And it would have been insensitive.

taking a bow

How about a round of applause. standing ovation…

Five grueling years, five law school years… is finally coming to a close…

How about a round of applause, standing ovation…

For that one good recit that kept us optimistic, or that bad one that made us suicidal…

For that final five minutes, or the first 175 of pure terror…

For the lengthy assignment, or that good news of “same readings for next meeting”

For the impossibly long list of cases to digest, or that short list of books to read…

For that pop quiz, or that surprise lecture…

For that professor you love, or the one you love to hate…

For that beadle (any beadle for that matter)

For the winter wonderland of a classroom, or for the sixth circle of hell…

How about a round of applause, standing ovation…

The feeling of sheer horror when class cards are shuffled…

The feeling of euphoria about a lecture…

The collective sigh of relief, professor not coming…

The collective gasps, midterm results coming…

The silence, when a door is opened…

The laughter that follows after a false alarm…

And the comfort through a text message- “walang daw pasok sabi ni atty…”

How about a round of applause, standing ovation…

For that smile when you enter the classroom…

For that pat on your shoulder after a bad recit…

For that applause after a great one…

For the classmates who whispered…

Wrote down on paper…

Traced letters on your back…

Used signs and body language…

Pinched your arms…

Kicked your foot…

Passed answers on papers…

Yes, for the friends who always had your back…

And most of all,

For the friends you meet, the one you lost, the one you want to have, the one you feel comfortable with, the one you talk to, the one you laugh with, you cry to, you cry for, the one you tell secrets to, the one who tell secrets to you, the one you trust, the one you despise, the one you once had, the one you will have, the one who made you laugh, the one who made you cry, the one you listen music with, the one you listen lectures with, the one who take pictures of you, take pictures with you, the one who texts you, the one who doesn’t, the one older or younger than you, the one who had most experience, the one who had the least, the old wise man… or woman, the crazy friend, the happy one, the somber or serious one, the wet blanket, the one that shocked you, that offended you, that hurt you, that you love no matter what…the one you shocked, that you offended, that you hurt, the one who you loved just the same… and that love you no matter what…the one you fought with, chat with, shout, eat, get drunk, vomit, dance and go home with… the friends you will remember… and for the friends you will keep…

How about a round of applause… standing ovation…

Come on and take a bow…

to begin

i am a law student... and about to graduate, and the idea excites, as well as thrills me, but not the ritual, nor the celebration, but the end of it, the BAR EXAMS...

The bar exams, is not your typical, run of the mill licensure exam, it is not just an exam, it is an event, a culture in itself, it is like no other... and pardon my legalese, it is Sui Generis.

The four (in my case, five) years of law school is geared toward this... a sort of, um, battle, that an attorney-wanna-be would fight for four Sundays of September... a battle between law schools, between classmates, between friends, between fraternities and cliques, but mostly, a singular battle against one self...

the four years is already a grueling, difficult, hellish of a ride, all with one purpose, to prepare us for this battle, no, to prepare us for THE battle of our lives. And although many survive the boot camp that is law school, not many will come out alive after the battle, all of us will be injured, hurting and probably bleeding, some of us will lose love ones, some their sanity, some would pay with their own lives, all are just collaterals for battle ahead.

And that is why preparation for this battle is extremely important, other armies would choose only the best soldiers, others would hire the best generals, to others, the choice is for the best captains and platoon leaders... providing for trainings and amenities, but it will all boil down to one soldier, one soldier for himself.

And when the battle comes, the armies would be gathering its troops, prayers will be said, trumpets will roar, drums will be hammered, beacons will be lighted, and colors of flags will flutter across the sky, the noise of well wishers will drown out the loud pounding hearts of the soldiers as they step into what might be the biggest fight of their lives...

This is a soldier who would not only be fighting for his life, but for his mentors, his family, friends and even God... and giving all his got for the this one crazy battle...