While suffering withdrawal symptoms of a recently concluded favorite drama coupled with the limitations of friendster blogs, i can’t believe i just opened another blog in a different site.

Yes, it has been fun blogging here but I guess this is where it ends.

Don’t worry, as my friend, you’ll be hearing shortly from me where to find my thoughts in cyberspace.

Ciao!

(remind me and send me a message in case i forgot to update you, wink wink)

OH. MY. GOD.

The Integrated Bar of the Phils. and the Supreme Court have conspired to subject all practicing lawyers to involuntary servitude!!!!

As if the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education is not enough, we in active law practice have to render additional SIXTY hours of mandatory free legal aid per year effective July 2009!

Are there even enough cases to handle for free here in Butuan for all of us practicing lawyers???? That will be the day that we will have to fight our way over a non-paying client!  The lawyers of PAO must be jumping for joy, i bet!

I know my duty as a lawyer.  I’ve been rendering free legal aid ever since day 1.  My fingers could not even rest these days for notarizing those promissory notes of Normisist students FOR FREE!  Not to mention the waived notarial fees, but the documents filled up and consumed my notarial book, I have to order another book!  The students come in hordes, I cannot even come in late and go home early for fear they might be there waiting for me and I have to think of the fare they will incur if they come back again.  I started getting irritated with those notes which disturb me while making my deadlines, but then, I continued doing it because I know I have a responsibility to serve the poor, if not for the profession, then for God.

Making free legal service mandatory puts an awful twist in serving the poor.  Even for me, I don’t think rendering free legal service will be the same with this tall order.  My intentions will not be as pure by then.

Bar Matter No. 2012 of the Supreme Court states:

Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila

B.M. No. 2012             February 10, 2009

PROPOSED RULE ON MANDATORY LEGAL AID SERVICE FOR PRACTICING LAWYERS

RESOLUTION

Acting on the Memorandum dated January 27, 2009 of Justice Renato C. Corona re: Comment of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines on our Suggested Revisions to the Proposed Rule of Mandatory Legal Aid Service for Practicing Lawyers, the Court Resolved to APPROVE the same.

This Resolution shall take effect on July 1, 2009 following publication of the said Rule and its implementing regulations in at least two (2) newpapers of general circulation.

February 10, 2009

RULE ON MANDATORY LEGAL AID SERVICE

SECTION 1. Title. - This Rule shall be known as “The Rule on Mandatory Legal Aid Service.”

SECTION 2. Purpose. - This Rule seeks to enhance the duty of lawyers to society as agents of social change and to the courts as officers thereof by helping improve access to justice by the less privileged members of society and expedite the resolution of cases involving them. Mandatory free legal service by members of the bar and their active support thereof will aid the efficient and effective administration of justice especially in cases involving indigent and pauper litigants.

SECTION 3. Scope. - This Rule shall govern the mandatory requirement for practicing lawyers to render free legal aid services in all cases (whether, civil, criminal or administrative) involving indigent and pauper litigants where the assistance of a lawyer is needed. It shall also govern the duty of other members of the legal profession to support the legal aid program of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

SECTION 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Rule:

(a) Practicing lawyers are members of the Philippine Bar who appear for and in behalf of parties in courts of law and quasi-judicial agencies, including but not limited to the National Labor Relations Commission, National Conciliation and Mediation Board, Department of Labor and Employment Regional Offices, Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board and National Commission for Indigenous Peoples. The term “practicing lawyers” shall exclude:

(i) Government employees and incumbent elective officials not allowed by law to practice;

(ii) Lawyers who by law are not allowed to appear in court;

(iii) Supervising lawyers of students enrolled in law student practice in duly accredited legal clinics of law schools and lawyers of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and peoples� organizations (POs) like the Free Legal Assistance Group who by the nature of their work already render free legal aid to indigent and pauper litigants and

(iv) Lawyers not covered under subparagraphs (i) to (iii) including those who are employed in the private sector but do not appear for and in behalf of parties in courts of law and quasi-judicial agencies.

(b) Indigent and pauper litigants are those defined under Rule 141, Section 19 of the Rules of Court and Algura v. The Local Government Unit of the City of Naga (G.R. No.150135, 30 October 2006, 506 SCRA 81);

(c) Legal aid cases are those actions, disputes, and controversies that are criminal, civil and administrative in nature in whatever stage wherein indigent and pauper litigants need legal representation;

(d) Free legal aid services refer to appearance in court or quasi-judicial body for and in behalf of an indigent or pauper litigant and the preparation of pleadings or motions. It shall also cover assistance by a practicing lawyer to indigent or poor litigants in court-annexed mediation and in other modes of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Services rendered when a practicing lawyer is appointed counsel de oficio shall also be considered as free legal aid services and credited as compliance under this Rule;

(e) Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) is the official national organization of lawyers in the country;

(f) National Committee on Legal Aid (NCLA) is the committee of the IBP which is specifically tasked with handling legal aid cases;

(g) Committee on Bar Discipline (CBD) is the committee of the IBP which is specifically tasked with disciplining members of the Bar;

(h) IBP Chapters are those chapters of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines located in the different geographical areas of the country as defined in Rule 139-A and

(i) Clerk of Court is the Clerk of Court of the court where the practicing lawyer rendered free legal aid services. In the case of quasi-judicial bodies, it refers to an officer holding an equivalent or similar position.

The term shall also include an officer holding a similar position in agencies exercising quasi-judicial functions, or a responsible officer of an accredited PO or NGO, or an accredited mediator who conducted the court-annexed mediation proceeding.

SECTION 5. Requirements. -

(a) Every practicing lawyer is required to render a minimum of sixty (60) hours of free legal aid services to indigent litigants in a year. Said 60 hours shall be spread within a period of twelve (12) months, with a minimum of five (5) hours of free legal aid services each month. However, where it is necessary for the practicing lawyer to render legal aid service for more than five (5) hours in one month, the excess hours may be credited to the said lawyer for the succeeding periods.

For this purpose, a practicing lawyer shall coordinate with the Clerk of Court for cases where he may render free legal aid service. He may also coordinate with the IBP Legal Aid Chairperson of the IBP Chapter to inquire about cases where he may render free legal aid service. In this connection, the IBP Legal Aid Chairperson of the IBP Chapter shall regularly and actively coordinate with the Clerk of Court.

The practicing lawyer shall report compliance with the requirement within ten (10) days of the last month of each quarter of the year.

(b) A practicing lawyer shall be required to secure and obtain a certificate from the Clerk of Court attesting to the number of hours spent rendering free legal aid services in a case.

The certificate shall contain the following information:

(i) The case or cases where the legal aid service was rendered, the party or parties in the said case(s) for whom the service was rendered, the docket number of the said case(s) and the date(s) the service was rendered.

(ii) The number of hours actually spent attending a hearing or conducting trial on a particular case in the court or quasi-judicial body.

(iii) The number of hours actually spent attending mediation, conciliation or any other mode of ADR on a particular case.

(iv) A motion (except a motion for extension of time to file a pleading or for postponement of hearing or conference) or pleading filed on a particular case shall be considered as one (1) hour of service.

The Clerk of Court shall issue the certificate in triplicate, one (1) copy to be retained by the practicing lawyer, one (1) copy to be retained by the Clerk of Court and one (1) copy to be attached to the lawyer’s compliance report.

(c) Said compliance report shall be submitted to the Legal Aid Chairperson of the IBP Chapter within the court�s jurisdiction. The Legal Aid Chairperson shall then be tasked with immediately verifying the contents of the certificate with the issuing Clerk of Court by comparing the copy of the certificate attached to the compliance report with the copy retained by the Clerk of Court.

(d) The IBP Chapter shall, after verification, issue a compliance certificate to the concerned lawyer. The IBP Chapter shall also submit the compliance reports to the IBP�s NCLA for recording and documentation. The submission shall be made within forty-five (45) days after the mandatory submission of compliance reports by the practicing lawyers.

(e) Practicing lawyers shall indicate in all pleadings filed before the courts or quasi-judicial bodies the number and date of issue of their certificate of compliance for the immediately preceding compliance period. Failure to disclose the required information would cause the dismissal of the case and the expunction of the pleadings from the records.

(f) Before the end of a particular year, lawyers covered by the category under Section 4(a)(i) and (ii), shall fill up a form prepared by the NCLA which states that, during that year, they are employed with the government or incumbent elective officials not allowed by law to practice or lawyers who by law are not allowed to appear in court.

The form shall be sworn to and submitted to the IBP Chapter or IBP National Office together with the payment of an annual contribution of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000). Said contribution shall accrue to a special fund of the IBP for the support of its legal aid program.

(g) Before the end of a particular year, lawyers covered by the category under Section 4(a)(iii) shall secure a certification from the director of the legal clinic or of the concerned NGO or PO to the effect that, during that year, they have served as supervising lawyers in a legal clinic or actively participated in the NGO�s or PO�s free legal aid activities. The certification shall be submitted to the IBP Chapter or IBP National Office.

(h) Before the end of a particular year, lawyers covered by the category under Section 4(a)(iv) shall fill up a form prepared by the NCLA which states that, during that year, they are neither practicing lawyers nor covered by Section (4)(a)(i) to (iii). The form shall be sworn to and submitted to the IBP Chapter or IBP National Office together with the payment of an annual contribution of Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000) by way of support for the efforts of practicing lawyers who render mandatory free legal aid services. Said contribution shall accrue to a special fund of the IBP for the support of its legal aid program.

(i) Failure to pay the annual contribution shall subject the lawyer to a penalty of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000) for that year which amount shall also accrue to the special fund for the legal aid program of the IBP.

SECTION 6. NCLA. -

(a) The NCLA shall coordinate with the various legal aid committees of the IBP local chapters for the proper handling and accounting of legal aid cases which practicing lawyers can represent.

(b) The NCLA shall monitor the activities of the Chapter of the Legal Aid Office with respect to the coordination with Clerks of Court on legal aid cases and the collation of certificates submitted by practicing lawyers.

(c) The NCLA shall act as the national repository of records in compliance with this Rule.

(d) The NCLA shall prepare the following forms: certificate to be issued by the Clerk of Court and forms mentioned in Section 5(e) and (g).

(e) The NCLA shall hold in trust, manage and utilize the contributions and penalties that will be paid by lawyers pursuant to this Rule to effectively carry out the provisions of this Rule. For this purpose, it shall annually submit an accounting to the IBP Board of Governors.

The accounting shall be included by the IBP in its report to the Supreme Court in connection with its request for the release of the subsidy for its legal aid program.

SECTION 7. Penalties. -

(a) At the end of every calendar year, any practicing lawyer who fails to meet the minimum prescribed 60 hours of legal aid service each year shall be required by the IBP, through the NCLA, to explain why he was unable to render the minimum prescribed number of hours. If no explanation has been given or if the NCLA finds the explanation unsatisfactory, the NCLA shall make a report and recommendation to the IBP Board of Governors that the erring lawyer be declared a member of the IBP who is not in good standing. Upon approval of the NCLA�s recommendation, the IBP Board of Governors shall declare the erring lawyer as a member not in good standing. Notice thereof shall be furnished the erring lawyer and the IBP Chapter which submitted the lawyer�s compliance report or the IBP Chapter where the lawyer is registered, in case he did not submit a compliance report. The notice to the lawyer shall include a directive to pay Four Thousand Pesos (P4,000) penalty which shall accrue to the special fund for the legal aid program of the IBP.

(b) The “not in good standing” declaration shall be effective for a period of three (3) months from the receipt of the erring lawyer of the notice from the IBP Board of Governors. During the said period, the lawyer cannot appear in court or any quasi-judicial body as counsel. Provided, however, that the “not in good standing” status shall subsist even after the lapse of the three-month period until and unless the penalty shall have been paid.

(c) Any lawyer who fails to comply with his duties under this Rule for at least three (3) consecutive years shall be the subject of disciplinary proceedings to be instituted motu proprio by the CBD. The said proceedings shall afford the erring lawyer due process in accordance with the rules of the CBD and Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court. If found administratively liable, the penalty of suspension in the practice of law for one (1) year shall be imposed upon him.

(d) Any lawyer who falsifies a certificate or any form required to be submitted under this Rule or any contents thereof shall be administratively charged with falsification and dishonesty and shall be subject to disciplinary action by the CBD. This is without prejudice to the filing of criminal charges against the lawyer.

(e) The falsification of a certificate or any contents thereof by any Clerk of Court or by any Chairperson of the Legal Aid Committee of the IBP local chapter where the case is pending or by the Director of a legal clinic or responsible officer of an NGO or PO shall be a ground for an administrative case against the said Clerk of Court or Chairperson. This is without prejudice to the filing of the criminal and administrative charges against the malfeasor.

SECTION 8. Credit for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). - A lawyer who renders mandatory legal aid service for the required number of hours in a year for the three year-period covered by a compliance period under the Rules on MCLE shall be credited the following: two (2) credit units for legal ethics, two (2) credit units for trial and pretrial skills, two (2) credit units for alternative dispute resolution, four (4) credit units for legal writing and oral advocacy, four (4) credit units for substantive and procedural laws and jurisprudence and six (6) credit units for such subjects as may be prescribed by the MCLE Committee under Section 2(9), Rule 2 of the Rules on MCLE.

A lawyer who renders mandatory legal aid service for the required number of hours in a year for at least two consecutive years within the three year-period covered by a compliance period under the Rules on MCLE shall be credited the following: one (1) credit unit for legal ethics, one (1) credit unit for trial and pretrial skills, one (1) credit unit for alternative dispute resolution, two (2) credit units for legal writing and oral advocacy, two (2) credit units for substantive and procedural laws and jurisprudence and three (3) credit units for such subjects as may be prescribed by the MCLE Committee under Section 2(g), Rule 2 of the Rules on MCLE.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules. - The IBP, through the NCLA, is hereby given authority to recommend implementing regulations in determining who are “practicing lawyers,” what constitute “legal aid cases” and what administrative procedures and financial safeguards which may be necessary and proper in the implementation of this rule may be prescribed. It shall coordinate with the various legal chapters in the crafting of the proposed implementing regulations and, upon approval by the IBP Board of Governors, the said implementing regulations shall be transmitted to the Supreme Court for final approval.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Rule and its implementing rules shall take effect on July 1,2009 after they have been published in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Good luck to me…

Shet!

There’s that popular saying that no matter how evil, a person always has a good side.  Now then, there’s also the reverse - no matter how good we want to be, there is always an evil side in us.

Ever experienced those times when you could literally feel the hidden horns in your head show itself to the world in slow motion - those times when, in the middle of doing something bad, your conscience managed to capture you, but consciously, you turned a deaf ear, and did it anyway?

I rushed to court today because I was running late.  H was out of town, so I was sure to use his own car garage there.  I usually park at my brother’s own garage inside the grounds of the court premises - he has two, one inside given him by my uncle who already transferred to another office and the one outside the gate given him by H.  My brother never parks at the space given by my uncle and always parks outside.  So, you could say, there’s an unspoken rule that that parking garage is mine.  Because it’s not always everyday that I’m in court, my prosecutor friend parks there when he sees that my car is not there when he arrives.

This morning, I expected to park at H’s garage thinking my prosecutor friend has already used “my” parking space.  The first thing I noticed when I drove in was that another car which I do not recognize was parked in the parking space of H and that did not look good to me.  Good that “my” parking space was still vacant, so I settled there.

Catching my breath, I was glad the hearing in my court has not begun yet.  I was cheerfully chatting with court personnel and other lawyers when a familiar looking employee slid beside me.  He told me he was the one who parked at H’s parking space because blah, blah, blah…I blankly looked at him, clearly wondering why he’s telling me about it…Then, he asked to get my car keys — because he wanted to move my car out of “my” garage and transfer it to H’s.  He will be vacating his car from H’s space and park my car there instead because my prosecutor friend has arrived and he had nowhere to park.

I immediately blurted a defiant “No” - and that took us both aback - him, bewildered why I brusquely refused and me, surprised at my unreasonable reply.  At that precise moment, I came to my senses and knew I should say “yes” because it was the practical thing to do.  Except, my bitchiness got the better of me.  And rudely, this time, I rebuffed him again.  Yeah, and I did that deliberately and willfully.

Where did that come from?  Maybe I was pissed off because he parked at H’s parking space when it was not his in the first place.  Maybe it was because I was equally annoyed with my prosecutor friend who had the gall to still want to park in “my” space when I’m already parked there.  Maybe it was because he took me casually and carelessly demanded I give him my car keys as if we’re friends?  Maybe because I felt he was overly confident when he interrupted me?  Maybe it was because I was already in a foul mood, not getting enough sleep and waking up late because of watching a kdrama on a weeknight?

The excuses can go on and on to justify my outburst over what is now a petty thing actually. This is what always happens when the flare up of my temper has subsided and the voice inside my head tells me I’ve been bad and pangs of guilt envelop me.  Then I think of what that person must have felt - embarrassment, shock, hate? Remorse is such an uncomfortable feeling, don’t you agree?

This lenten season I’m gonna try harder to keep those horns at bay.

P.S.  BTW, just in case you’re wondering?  The parking garages inside the hall of justice here are not for free - it’s bought from it’s previous owners who had it built.  You might think that I was usurping the spaces : )

Eduardo and Linda are poor farmers.  They have five children, but only one live with them in their farm.

Junior, who has mentally slow, helps his parents with the household chores and tills the farm for them.  He is 22 years old but his mind is several years younger.  He never went to school.  He kept repeating grade one but he never managed to pass it.  Linda says he was a sickly child who had previously suffered a convulsion due to high fever.  She blamed the fever for the mental disability of her child.

One day, Junior was the object of the town’s troublemaker.  The troublemaker teased him and even threw him out of the carabao he was riding, kicking him several times when he dropped to the ground.  Junior ran away from him because previously, the same troublemaker had thrown him off the banca and left him to swim in the icy river.  After Junior finished the morning chores, he went to the direction of the town to play pool.  On the way to town, he saw the town troublemaker again, coming toward his direction.  Junior went the opposite side of the road to avoid him but the troublemaker followed him.  Once in front of him, the troublemaker boxed him several times.  Junior ran away but he followed him to box him again.  After several blows, Junior remembered the kitchen knife in his pocket which he used that morning to cut banana leaves.  He reached for the knife and defended himself.

The next thing he knew, he was already at the side of the road, with his bloodied hands, crying for help, and holding the lifeless body of the troublemaker. A barangay official came to him and lead him to the police station to voluntarily surrender to the authorities.

A complaint for Murder was charged against Junior.  There were no known relatives of the troublemaker, so the Chief of Police stood as complainant in the case.  Linda sought the services of a lawyer to help Junior.  The Information indicted Junior of Homicide, instead of Murder.  His bail was initially set at P 40,000.00.

Eduardo and Linda frantically called their other children to chip in for the bail.  Having only raised half the amount, their lawyer moved for the reduction of the bail bond at P 20,000.00.  Unfortunately, an order of the court informed them that the amount set for the bond was a mistake and it was changed to P 120,000.00, with the court saying that it would approve a reduction thereof to P 60,000.00.  Since the spouses did not even have P 40,000.00, how could they have P 60,000.00?

Eduardo and Linda were lost without Junior.  Having solely relied on him for the hard work in the farm, they want so much to have him home the soonest time possible.  Mr. Complainant said he would have the case dismissed for forty grand.  The spouses hurried to their lawyer to tell the good news.  The lawyer just shrugged, instructing them not to do it.

Behind their lawyer’s back, the spouses paid P 30,000.00 to Mr. Complainant, with the promise that in the hearing the following week, the Judge will already order the release of Junior.

Hearing day came.  Linda excitedly informed their lawyer of the arrangement she made with Mr. Complainant.  The lawyer was devastated.  The lawyer scolded Linda, telling her Junior will definitely not be released today or any day in the near future.  There were no private complainants who can desist from the case to have it dismissed.  Even then, Linda remained to be hopeful.

The case of Junior was called.  Mr. Complainant was late.  Junior’s lawyer asked for a second call so that Mr. Complainant can participate in the plea bargaining.  The judge reset the case instead and told the lawyers to just submit the Plea Bargaining Agreement in the next hearing.

Linda could not believe what had happened.  She waited with her lawyer for Mr. Complainant to arrive so that they can all go to the Prosecutor to talk on the terms of the plea bargaining.  After forty-five minutes, Mr. Complainant arrived and all of them went to see the Prosecutor.

The Prosecutor was adamant with the only objective of setting Junior’s penalty at prision correcional, or not more than six years and one day.  Junior’s lawyer asserted all the possible mitigating circumstances, which, if granted would set the minimum penalty at six months.  The Prosecutor did not allow it.  After all the negotiations, they settled with the penalty of two years four months and one day to six years.

Linda was shocked.  Junior has been in jail for about five months yet so he had at least two years to spend in jail.  She had honestly expected Junior to come home with her that day.  She had even packed his things at the jail before leaving for court.  She attempted to confront Mr. Complainant but the latter only told her that she should be happy that the penalty originally set at twenty years has been substantially reduced.  Linda argued that he had promised a dismissal today, with Junior being released.  Mr. Complainant did not even care to answer her.

Linda proceeded to their lawyer and cried her heart out.  The lawyer could only listen to the woes of a very poor woman who had been taken advantaged of.

That amount she gave to Mr. Complainant cost them to sell three of their carabaos.

‘Tis the day lovers go public to flaunt their love.  With all the hoopla going on, i bet couples are compelled to do something every February 14 to celebrate love.

My sister who is based in Manila had to fly to Bohol to be with her husband on this special day, leaving my beloved niece to the care of the yayas and Tante Doc.  As they say, “mapugngan pang baha, ang gugma dili.” My friend’s “girlfriend” made a side trip to Butuan and just stayed a couple of hours, just to celebrate a pre-valentine get together yesterday with him.

Personally, I would have wanted to let this day pass like an ordinary day.  I do not need a special day to celebrate my love - because for me and my husband, everyday is valentine’s day : ) If I had my way and did just that, it would be weird doing nothing on Valentine’s day when everybody’s doing something - we’d be totally left out!

And so, apart from the customary flowers and dinner, H and I watched a Valentine concert of The Company tonight.  When I told him a few days ago that we’d be watching this, I could not specifically tell him the songs popularized by The CompanY when he asked about them - he’s totally clueless of the group…and I…I know I liked their songs but I could not recall them…?

Anyway, listening to The CompanY tonight sing their popular songs was like a walk down memory lane.  Their love songs brought scenes of the past to my mind…those days in high school and college…the feel of young love and childish heartaches, LOL.  It seemed just around the corner, those days.

We sat in the same table with my good friend Ched and her husband, Arnell.  Ched and I enjoyed singing along their old songs which definitely brought happy memories of our beautiful youth.

The CompanY sang a relatively new song from their newest album released late last year.  It was my first time to hear this new song, entitled Nandito Pa Rin Tayo, and listening to the lyrics of the song had me missing my friends and the laughs and the tears we shared.

So, I’m linking The Company’s music video of Nandito Pa Rin Tayo in this post.

I dedicate this to all my friends and loved ones - you know who you are - Happy Valentine’s Day!

bwahahaha! i’m reposting my friend Jenny’s entry at her blog.

Thanks jen, for making me laugh so hard tonight : )

==============================================

Boyfriend to Girlfriend, may LQ: What do you take me for?! Granted?

Ok, maybe I am over reacting (read:  gisapot c manang kay nabuang na sa mga hearings).  These green jokes have always been common in this male dominated profession but I still think green jokes said in front of ladies in a formal place with all of us supposed to be in our respectable selves  is in bad taste. Not just in bad taste, it’s plain indecent.

There’s nothing wrong with green jokes as long as it’s made at the proper time and in the proper place. The courtroom is hardly the place for such appalling behavior.

Morons!

The Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Fatima arrived in Butuan yesterday on board the noon flight…There was a procession from the airport towards St. Joseph Cathedral.  A mass followed immediately after the procession.

This Image came from Fatima, Portugal - the same image which shed bloody tears from Our Lady’s eyes.

I was only able to visit the Image this morning before going to the office.  The Image was laid up high so that the devotees cannot touch it.  The blue and white ribbons were free for everybody to touch, though.  When I was there, the church was full, especially of children from Butuan Central Elementary School.  I had a hard time going near the image because the kids were thick.

I looked at the Image and sought Our Lady’s intercession for my prayers - keep my loved ones safe and healthy, help my country in this trying times- that was all i could manage because my mind went blank!

I also prayed for the soul of my grandmother.  Happy Birthday to my Lola Charing — who would have been 95 today!  She was a devotee of Mama Mary.  I cursed myself for waking up late this morning - I missed the trip to the cemetery with the family at 6am!

In my entire life, this is the first February 9 without a big celebration…Miss you, Lola!

(as posted on my facebook account)

1. Butuanon or Bol-anon? I’ve asked my good friend Jasper about this.Both Papang and Nanny were born in Bohol (Valencia and Calape, respectively).Both of them were raised in Butuan.I was born and raised in Butuan.While growing up, I thought I was Bol-anon because they always said we were.
2. I did not go to kindergarten school.At 6yo, Nanny enrolled me in Urios College Grade School.We left shortly for Nigeria for Papang’s work and I was enrolled grade 1 at Maryland Convent Private School in Lagos, Nigeria.There, I got accelerated to grade 3 after grade 1(?).
3. Two years after the whole family came home – and Nanny enrolled me in Grade 3 again (ano ba yan, kuya!) – she was afraid I didn’t learn anything there.
4. In Nigeria, I experienced being whipped (yes, the one used for horses) by the teacher during classes coz I didn’t do good in Yuroba (their Language) and the same goes for French class.My auntie used to let me wear multiple uniforms to lessen the impact (I went home with marks on my back).
5. Back in UCGS Grade III – Love.My first friends were Mabel Jandug, Joan Espeleta, Jane Salcedo and Sonia Ato (as far as my memory can remember).
6. It was in Grade III that I beat Marlon Vallejos (of III – Faith) and Ralph Ciencia (of III-Hope) in the oratorical contest (Ako’y Magsasaka).Until now, Ralph is still bitter about this, bwahahaha!
7. My oldest friend is Merryl Villafuerte — our houses are beside each other.
8. In Grade IV, my singing career began (and lasted ‘til grade 6).Of all the things I sang, I dunno why my friends always tease me with “Thank You for the Music”.
9. My barkada in Grade VI:D’BLANK (Dalsa, Bernadette, Lina,  Ava, Moi and Kara); CLANBERKK (Carmela O., Lina, Ava, Moi, Bernadette, Bien, Edmund, Rolando, Koko and Kara).
10. High School was a refreshing change – I abandoned singing and joined the Theatre Arts (but I ended singing there japun!); I began hanging out with Celeste, Carmela M., Zandee, Mitchoy and Pamela Semilla in Freshman year.
11. Sophomore year was the beginning of AYANE (lynA, mithoY, zandrA, yeyeN and celestE)…and shortly, we became XKLUSIVZ (for klus jud mi kaayo; AYANE + Edsel, Alvin and Ralph…I’m proud to say we’re celebrating 21 years of friendship…and counting…
12. I joined the Citizen Army Training in Junior Year.I did not finish the summer training because I vacationed with my family in Bohol…and this landed me being Band Officer for the batallion, gesh!
13. Ma’am Hidalgo kicked me out (together with Mitchoy, Celeste and Zandee, and Ralph too) from the Theatre Arts because I joined the CAT.So I (with them) auditioned in the Glee Club…and we all got accepted…except for Ralph (he begged Ma’am to accept him back in Theatre Arts, and himala, nisugot c Ma’am).
14. Our 1 year stint in the Glee Club was a disaster.We failed to come up with a musical show.Oh, we did practice!I can’t recall what happened.
15. Papang was kinda strict on me during High School.I always came home past my curfew.Papang locked the gate of our house.No worries.I go with Merryl to her house and climb the dividing wall between our two houses and JUMP! I think I did this at least three times.
16. I raised hell when Papang wanted me to take up Nursing in Xavier University.I wanted to study in Cebu…sigh, sigh…wonder what I would have been now if I heeded my father’s advice…?
17. I took up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy in the University of San Carlos, Cebu City.In college, I found beautiful and lasting friendships – Clavel, Hazel, Ann, Sarah, Hazel A., Gavina, Yvonne, Joy, Jerrylyn, Gaya, Mara…to name a few.Yup, until now, we’re friends. : )
18. What I regretted during college was not being active in school activities.I mean, every chance I got, I went home to Butuan.One time, I was still in my school uniform when I boarded the ship straight from final exams (my cousins brought my things to the boat as they were going home as well).I did not attend acquaintance parties, Christmas parties, Intrams, Junior Prom (I attended the Graduation Ball, thank God), even retreats…Butuan was always calling SOS for love : )
19. After passing the CPA Board Exam, I went home to Butuan. It never occurred to my mind to find work and settle elsewhere.While job hunting, I helped my Ate Jojo sell chicken in Langihan Wet Market from 2pm to 8pm.I was the Cashier in her small stall.  One day, Celeste and Mitchoy went with me there … when, out of the blue, we saw our HS Classmate, Cecille Augustus Fernandez pass by with his brother.  It was our first meeting since HS graduation.  Of course, we called him like crazy…that was the beginning of a rekindled friendship, *wink*wink*…
20. I eventually taught Accounting in Urios College for a year.I stopped because of frustration…my students did not study in the way I expected they should. My first full time job was being Regional Accountant of the Commission on Population.About a year after, I transferred to the Civil Service Commission as Administrative Officer.
21. Out of boredom, I enrolled in Law School (2^nd Batch) where my destiny waited for me : ).The summer before my third year in Law School, I married my Law Professor.Oh, just imagine the tongues wagging and weird rumors…It was the best decision I had made in my life.
22. MarkV used to tease me that my reproductive organs were “Made in Taiwan”.My hormonal state is bad.I underwent all that fertility treatments…name it, I’ve done it (except invitro, which is against my religious beliefs)…from the manghihilot, to acupuncture, to Chinese doctors in Binondo (thanks to Jasper!) to treatments in Cebu Doctors and Makati Med.All those treatments grew me a myoma subjecting me to myomectomy…after which close family doctors strongly advised me to stop for the likelihood of growing a myoma is better than conceiving a child.With my mom’s breast cancer, all of us women in the family are prohibited to mess with hormones. Ever.The end of all those fertility work ups.(Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly fine with this, by God’s grace, I don’t think I’m missing anything — it’s just accepting God’s plan and trusting His love).
23. With no children of my own, I’m perfectly happy being surrogate mother to my nephews and nieces whom I love dearly as my own – taking care of them, when they were younger - bringing them to school, picking them from school, bathing them, reviewing them for exams…now they’re growing so fast, I’m missing my time with them already…
24. I have a secret life in the net.: )Look for ecargneeron or yeyenssi in the asian dramas… and my age there is like fifteen years lesser my true age!
25. I’m happy and content with life right here, right now.With my own time at work (except teaching law school during nights), my asian dramas, my occasional coffee breaks with Ched, JennyB, Nikki, Lyna, Zandee, and Ralph @ True Brew (sometimes Margie’s og here c JennyND!), my family with me — life is beautiful.

Straight from Cabadbaran City attending a family’s Golden Wedding, H and I practically flew to Raniel’s Memorial Chapels in Imadejas Subdivision to pay our last respects to our oldest compañero here in the city.

Tonight was the last night of the wake of Former FSUU College of Law Dean Wenceslao B. Rosales.  He peacefully joined our Creator in his sleep at the ripe age of 89.

Dean was my law professor in many subjects since first year until my last year.  He was in his seventies then.  He had a hard time transferring from classroom to classroom especially climbing the stairs.  He had to stop between flights of stairs to catch his breath.  Looking at him at our classroom, all out of breath, I inwardly thought he’d die any time then.

According to the older lawyers, Dean was pretty tough and strict in his younger days as a practicing lawyer.  I did not know him as that.  To us, he was a gentle and a dedicated teacher - his wisdom inspired us all.

Dean took time to motivate me during law school, gave me courage during my bar review, and was one of the first persons who congratulated me when I made the Philippine Bar.  “I will see you in court”, that’s what he said.  He was so proud of all of us who were lucky to hurdle the exams.

When Dean retired about a year or two after our batch graduated, he did not stop there.  He continued to give his support for the FSUU bar examinees through his prayers.  He was very quick to inquire who made the bar and he was always concerned for the ones who failed.

I met my old friends there tonight as we reminisced the four years we were together.  It was great seeing them again after almost 7 years.  Some of us see each other in court, but we never got time to talk and catch up. It would have been better to reunite under happier circumstances.

Even then, tonight was still a celebration for Dean’s life - a life very well lived.

The card given tonight by Dean’s family.