To quote verbatim from Social Justice Society et al. vs. Hon. Atienza et al. (2008):

Petitioners and their counsel, Atty. Samson Alcantara, submitted a four-page memorandum that clearly contained either substance nor research. It is absolutely insulting to this Court.

We have always tended towards judicial leniency, temperance and compassion to those who suffer from a wrong perception of what the majesty of the law means. But for a member of the bar, an officer of the court, to file in this Court a memorandum of such unacceptable quality is an entirely different matter.

It is indicative less of a personal shortcoming or contempt of this Court and more of a lawyer’s sorry descent from a high sense of duty and responsibility. As a member of the bar and as an officer of the court, a lawyer ought to be keenly aware that the chief safeguard of the body politic is respect for the law and its magistrates.

There is nothing more effective than the written word by which counsel can persuade this Court of the righteousness of his cause. For if truth were self-evident, a memorandum would be completely unnecessary and superfluous.

The inability of counsel to prepare a memorandum worthy of this Court’s consideration is an ejemplo malo to the legal profession as it betrays no genuine interest in the cause he claims to espouse. Or did counsel think he can earn his moment of glory without the hard work and dedication called for by his petition?

[in the dispositive portion of the case] Atty. Samson Alcantara is hereby ordered to explain within five (5) days from notice why he should not be disciplined for his refusal, or inability, to file a memorandum worthy of the consideration of this Court.

Treble costs against petitioners’ counsel, Atty. Samson Alcantara.

Just to give an idea, the caption, signatures, and other required mundanities in a Memorandum (e.g. the list of people to whom copies were furnished, and there were lots of those in this case), taking into account the font size which is at least 12 or 13, would easily take up over two pages already.  I'm guessing this guy was sacked in a hurry...

On Art.1 of the Family Code

"Gifts to the person to whom the donor is engaged to be married are considered legally as conditional, and, upon breach of the engagement by the donee, may be recovered by the donor. This rule is particularly true with respect to gifts of jewelry and the engagement ring."

ten-den-den-duuuuuunn...

so much for my weekly update! :)

EDIT -- 4:38 PM

just because neighbors can't seem to get enough of me, allow me to clarify:

ATENEO AB Communication for undergrad was my choice. I passed UP with a course I really wanted to take  (BA Euro Languages) in lieu of the career I want to pursue after BAR. People from my not-so-distant can confirm this so you can go check.

UP Juris Doctor for law was, again, my choice. I passed Ateneo Law too, and you don't know how much drama (and how long a drama!) it was amongst my family who were hellbent on keeping me in the magis-oriented world of the our beloved Jesuits.

Next time you want to know more, please ask me directly. There's nothing more vexing than finding out I'm a staple in your poker games. Fat and insecure old ladies, please do something better than this.

See you in church! (LOL)

It would be cliche to say that a chapter has just ended, or that a new page has been turned (or any other book-related metaphor, for that matter). But that's what happened.

I once asked fight or flee, and so I made a choice. I made a choice to fight; to fight for me. And some people will say it is selfish, and others won't really get it. But what they have to understand is that I didn't come into this thinking that I always had the option to walk away at some point, even if it meant that I might come back (a factor in the equation that is still unclear). I came into this thinking forever, one day at a time. And I don't really know how it happened or where it all started, but one day, I was accosted by my heart to stop and face the truth about who I'd become.

I turned from a person of conviction into someone who told convenient truths, to keep unnecessary conflict from happening. I turned from a person of faith into someone who reinforced her walls, unsure of who was to be trusted. I turned from a good person into a severely compromised and exhausted one.

To say there is no bitterness or anger or pain would be a lie. In fact there has been too much -- there are friends who have become strangers, and whispers that never cease. But we've all had our faults, we've all made mistakes. And whatever it was that was going on around me, I ultimately made the choice to act the way I did. To compromise the way I did. To do the things that turned me from one person into this one that I barely recognize. That falls on me, and that's what I have to deal with.

I'd been told that maybe if I'd just brought it up, if it had been talked about sooner, that so much more could be salvaged. I'm not sure I agree, because there are just too many opinions of me that will never change. Opinions I've held on to for too long a time, to keep a peace that gradually became more important to me than what I said I believed in. And I've watched myself expend my heart over and over again for all the wrong reasons, and watched so many good people lie down and do the same.

The time has come for me to take a step back from this little planet we've made for ourselves. The time has come for me to take care of myself. To recover the good things that have been lost. To heal. To trust again. To love without bounds and measure. To live.

I thank everyone who's been a part of these past few years, and especially to those who have understood me and listened to me and fed me and held my hand all throughout. Much love.

There are just so many things I will miss, and people I hope to hold on to even as things change. And they will change; I guess it is the only certainty we ever really face.

At the end of it all, I would just like to wish everyone the happiest life, and the most peace to accompany them. God bless you all, friends. :)

Okay, a slightly less toxic post in apologies to the f-list... ^_^;

My brother told me of a PSP game making waves now called Echochrome, where you try to get Stick Figure X from Point A to Point B by walking him through black-and-white 3D "mazes" that everybody says recalls M. C. Escher, and by getting through the clever traps and challenges by following just 5 simple yet utterly mindraping rules:

• Perspective traveling - When two separate pathways appear to be touching, they are
• Perspective landing - If one pathway appears to be above another, it is
• Perspective existence - When the gap between two pathways is blocked from view and the pathways appear to be connected, they are
• Perspective absence - When a hole is blocked from view, it does not exist
• Perspective jump - When the mannequin jumps, it will land on what ever appears beneath it

All in all, a brain-bender, as can be astutely deduced from watching the video below:



I've never even played it and already it's boggled my (admittedly rather easily bogglable) mind. Absolute fucking genius in a videogame.

Since I don't have a PSP (thank God! My already extant insanity won't be aggravated), I have the benefit of the equally fantastic soundtrack by Hideki Sakamoto instead: thirteen exquisite pieces by a string quartet that fascinate li'l ol' me by being elegant, profound, and sympathetic at the same time. (Normally I abhor the word "profound," especially where it's said with sincerity and not mockery, but I lack more appropriate descriptives at the moment afslkjalk;sg) Follow the link to the evil torrent!

1)       ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
         Nagluluksa ako dati dahil sa lalaki, mga 16 pa ko nun, eh yun yung time na uso maging goth-like madrama samin. Cut to 2008: Hello keloid.

2)       WHAT IS ON THE WALLS OF YOUR ROOM?
         Painting ng pakwan. Tsaka bintana.


3)       WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
         Kahit ano papatulan ko, actually. I realized that the day I downloaded Reba McEntire hahahahaha. Basta hindi siya overly keso, yun lang.


4)       DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
         12:03 pm. Kaya hapon ako magising. Wahahahahaha.


5)       WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
         The Joy Guccissima in brown. Grabe lang. Tinatawag niya katawan ko.


6)       WHAT/WHO DO YOU MISS?
         I MISS MY BFF! Nagnervous breakdown ako nung umalis siya. Okay tama na naiiyak nanaman ako eh.


7)       WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
         I have to think about this. Cheap lang kasi ako eh, so di ako sure hahahaha.

8)       DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
         Kung sobrang liit talaga ng space, malamang. Not usually though.


9)       DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
         No. Type ko nga yung madilim eh. Sarap matulog/sumayaw. Hahahahahaha.


10)    THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY.
       Raissa. Umalis kasi eh. BOOOOOOO.


11)    WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
       Turning into one of those terribly unhappy shell-of-a-person people. I swear.


12)    WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING/BEING PROPOSED AT?
       Somewhere random, like harapan ng banyo sa may car park.


13)    COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
       Both. My love for Barako and Red Bull is shared all around.


14)    FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
       I’d have to say cheese. Like cheeses other than the existing mozarella. Tsurgi talaga ako pag mga four-cheese eklavu. Nako.


15)    IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
       Those twice baked potato halves by Yellow Cab. And that wagyu beef burger at Cyma. Hmmmmm fatness happiness.


16)    FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?
       Not sure, I keep changing my mind. Tie between yellow and green, I think.


17)    WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED?
       Hindi siguro ito yung first of all the meaningful gifts, pero ito yung pinaka naaalala ko: nung bata ako, binigyan ako ng ninang ko ng isang box na puno ng libro. As in mga 15-20 books. Grabe, nafeel ko talaga na kilala niya ako. Ang sarap lang.


18)    FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
       Topshop and Dorothy Perkins (hindi siya nasseparate sa utak ko). And Greenhills Tiangge. Hahahahahaha.


19)    WHO IS THE HOTTEST FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY?
       Kung female, Angelina Jolie malamang. Kung male, Brad Pitt pa rin talaga ako. Well well well, buti na lang nagkatuluyan sila.


20)    DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?
       Otherwise known as Kael. Joke lang. Maita talaga pangalan niya. HAHAHAHA BAD TITA BAD.


21)    WHAT KIND IS IT?
       It is called bata.


22)    WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
       Hindi mo naman napipili yung nararamdaman mo eh, so probably yes. If I would act on it is a whole different story. Baka lumanduch lang ako ng onti, kasi masaya yung may open-ended pechayan good vibes.


23)    HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA?
       Nung zygote pa lang ako, ate.


24)    YOUR WEAKNESS?
       BAKA ANONG PANGALAN MASABI KO RITO. WAHAHAHAHAHA –looks at lurlas- BIHEYB BIHEYB.


25)    MET ANYONE FAMOUS?
       Huey Lewis. Cruise with me baby. HAHAHAHA.


26)    FIRST JOB?
       Writing about the pearl shake phenomenon and writing some quiz for a product-based website. (HI ATE ER!)


27)    EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
       Welcome to the existence of myself in grade 4. Grabeng enjoy yun.


28)    DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOULMATE?
       Feeling ko hindi iisang soulmate lang per person, kasi ngayon pa lang, sa ikli ng buhay kong to, ang dami ko nang nakilalang taong kinoconsider kong soulmates. :)


29)    WHAT DID YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT THE MOST?
       My cuteness. Joke. My humility. HAHAHAHAHA.


30)    HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?
       Yes, but I still have a gap between my two front teeth because I’m pasaway yo.


31)    WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
       A crapload of Febreeze.


32)    WHAT’S YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIE?
       Once is definitely up there. Almost Famous, shempre. Sound of Music hahaha. (Puro music movie ata, pwede na akong mag Singing Bee.)


33)    WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR?
       Unfair question! Maybe B16. He’s really good.


34)    WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
       Angel Gabriel, messenger of God. Kaya eto, naging Girl Abunda. Hahahahaha.


35)    WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
       Bath and Body Works Black Raspberry. It’s kind to me.


36)    ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?
       Masyado nga akong maintindihin eh hahahaha. Kaya meron akong tendency for self-loathing pag nagseselos ako.


37)    HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
       I lock myself in a room and scream, then go on YM or call my friends and vent.


38)    WHAT’S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?
       Just to be happy and share that happiness to the people I love. Simple lang.


39)    WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
       Not sure. But I know I had a scarf that I had to wear on my head for me to be able to sing. HAHAHAHA grabe ang labo ko as a person.


40)    DO YOU USE SARCASM?
       Di rin. HAHAHAHAHA.


41)    WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW OF ALL TIME?
       Malamang Friends. Pero grabe lang, Gossip Girl.


42)    DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES?
       Yes, and a nice little brain to boot.


43)    WHERE WOULD YOU GO IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE?
       Greece. Or India. Mmmmm.


44)    WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU HAD ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD?
       First, I’d probably construct a decent village for my peeps in Rosario.
    Then I’d buy my parents a villa in Rome (long-promised as a joke, but the follow-through would be awesome), get nice bags for my sisters, something awesome for my brothers and pamangkins.
    Then make a movie with my sister and my MDAFriends.
    Then papakainin ko lahat ng kaibigan ko.
    And then we’ll see. :)


45)    HAVE YOU EVER DREAMED OF BECOMING A MOVIE STAR?
       Di rin, pero kung mangyari okay lang HAHAHA.


46)    HAVE YOU EVER FELT SUICIDAL?
       Four score and seven years ago.


47)    THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX
       Ang kanyang arrive.


48)    FAVORITE THING TO HATE
       HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TOO MANY ANSWERS TOO MANY ANSWERS! Dear God, please make me a kinder person. Thank you.


49)    FAVORITE WORD
       Chenes. Cheverloo. Etchos. Waley. Korek. Tru-es. Tsurgi. Words that start with “ch” or end with “esh.”


50)    DO YOU A HAVE A TATTOO?
       Nope. Almost got one once, but then again, I’m not dead yet.


51)    HAVE YOU EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING?
       HAHAHA yes. Kapal ko lang.


52)    IF YOU WERE SOMEONE ELSE, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF?                  Maybe, if I was an equally bading someone else. I don’t know, I’m a lot to handle hahahaha.


53)    WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST FRUSTRATION?
       Hahahaha let’s just say the hurdle’s been jumped. On to the next.


54)    HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BESTFRIEND?
       Thuper! I have my BFF, my lurlas, my number one baboy friend, my eggies, my mdafriends, my MDs… I’m super blessed in the friend department.


55)    REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
       Pinay. HAHAHAHA.


56)    KISSES OR HUGS?
       Pareho na lang! Namili ka ka pa.


57)    RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
       Relasyon naman. Ako pa, sos.


58)    DO YOU HAVE LOW SELF-ESTEEM OR HIGH SELF-ESTEEM?
       Masyadong high, sa totoo lang.


59)    WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
          Man’s Ultimate Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Okay siya.


60)    DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE
        HAHAHAHAHAHAHA isang malaking joke. As in MALAKI na joke talaga. :))

as snagged from skeleton_rust :)

The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed.

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Strike those you HATE and encourage people to burn before reading

Unfortunately I don't actually intend to read much of anything these days, more like optimistically hope that I'll try to get around to it someday...