Possible Bar Topic

Last year's barristers were in for a horrifying surprise after reading several unusual and unfair questions that were either explicitly excluded from the coverage or were really out of this world. There were questions the examinees were expected to know just because the issue was published in the newspaper. If you only have six months or less (depending on whether you took a much needed vacation after graduation or not) to review all that you have studied for the past four years, and if all your waking hours are already devoted to reading, sino ba naman ang may panahon pa para mag extra reading at magbasa ng diyaryo? Ayun, for those who failed to read the excluded materials or the daily newspaper, major panic attack tuloy! Si JO, ung housemate ko, couldn't even get herself to go back to reviewing after the first Sunday. Talagang tulala lang buong araw.

Anyway, one of my favorite professors and one of the teachers i really look up to wrote this article for Newsbreak Online. It might or might not be included sa exam but for good measure, and for barristers who have extra time or dun sa mga taong hobby lang talaga nilang magbasa tignan niyo na rin. Also, if you want to read the entire article (and I hope you do kasi the article in its entirety is interesting and informative) you can access it at:
http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3469&Itemid=88889094

SC Takes New Role in National Debate
By Theodore Te
Monday, 25 June 2007

The Supreme Court has always been perceived to be the weakest of the three co-equal branches of government, because it possesses neither the power of the purse nor the might of the sword.

This perception of weakness is also brought about by the nature of its function of judicial review which, by the Court's own terms, makes the Court a passive arbiter and not an active intervenor. In his first few weeks in law school, the elements of judicial review are drilled into every constitutional law student's head: proper party, proper case or controversy ripe for resolution, and the absolute necessity of deciding on the constitutional question. These elements ensure that the Court remains a passive receptacle, waiting for a controversy to reach it.

However, recent pronouncements by Chief Justice Reynato Puno have surprised many and led them to reconsider their traditional views and perceptions of the High Court.

First, the Chief Justice announced, in response to the Philip Alston Report on extrajudicial killings and disappearances, that the Court would designate special trial courts all over the country to resolve these cases with dispatch. Administrative Order No. 25-2007 defines as part of the mandate of the special trial courts the speedy resolution of cases involving the killing of political activists and journalists.

Second, he declared that the Court would exercise its power on judicial rule-making, which is little known to the general public but granted to the Court by the Constitution. Article VIII, section 5(5) vests the Supreme Court with the sole authority to "promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of human rights." It is a power that is not frequently invoked except by a few lawyers and then, only as a last resort.

Third, and in relation to the exercise by the Court of the power to promulgate rules on the enforcement of human rights, he also announced the holding by the Supreme Court of a multi-sectoral summit to discuss issues relative to the extrajudicial killings, stressing that the summit would have implications on the principle of "command responsibility."

The Court likewise stated aloud that it would review its own ruling on Executive Order 464 (which prohibits top government officials from appearing in congressional probes without clearance from the President) and that should an appropriate case arise, it would, in Puno's words, "plug the holes" in the decision.

Reach for what you want
Want more than you can get.
Reach, and learn what you can let go...
To get what you want,
Reach for more,
An adversary premise,
A good premise...
What do you want?
More than you can get.
but then how?
Take it in pieces,
Want it all.


The "poem" was culled from the novel A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr. It was supposed to have been written and handed out by Charles Nesson, a Harvard Law Professor, to his students on the last day of a class in criminal law.

Recipe #2 : Laing ni Lena

I chanced upon, Kailangan Kita in Cinema One. The Claudine-Aga flick where Claudine was wearing white-flimsy-tops-without-a-bra for eighty percent of the movie? Eighty percent referred to her tops for she was unnecessarily bra-less the entire time. I mean, she was supposed to be this barrio lass with a conservative father and yet she managed to get away with foregoing her underwear even at her sister's wedding?! Other than the pointless exploitation of Claudine/Lena, I loved everything about it. Anyway, because the movie was set in Albay, the reference to laing could not be avoided (unlike the white-flimsy-top-without-a-bra). Now here is my take on Laing inspired by the very pretty Lena.


Laing ni Lena*

10 g chili flakes
4 pcs siling mahaba
3 pcs onion, minced
3 pcs garlic, minced
1/2k pork, cut into small cubes
1/2k gabi stalk and leaves, chopped**
4 packs Fiesta gata in tetra pack***
5 ml Bertolli extra virgin olive oil
20 g sweet Kamayan bagoong
4 dashes of Mc Cormick granulated ginger
2 pcs Knorr pork cubes



1. Grease the pan and fry the pork until it is crispy. Remove excess oil.
2. Saute' onion, garlic, and bagoong in the same pan.
3. Add chili flakes, granulated ginger, pork cubes and gata,
allow gata to boil.
4. Add gabi stalk and leaves, stir constantly for at least 15 minutes.

5. When much of the gata has been reduced and converted into oil,
reduce heat to low fire.
6. Throw in siling mahaba, simmer for another 5 minutes and serve.

* Laing is to be cooked in high heat
** Rustans supermarket sells chopped gabi stalk and leaves.
***You may also extract gata from aged coconut, but this is a more tedious process.

Recipe #1 : Bolognese ala Monique

My friend MS recently got married. He loves my pasta. Or at least I think he loves it enough to conjure a bet involving a supply of my pasta for a year in case I lose. The bet concerned the gender of their baby. I was wishing they'd have a girl since I already have a nephew and he firmly wants a boy. We will find out in December. Anyway, I promised his wife RS that I would share my pasta recipe with her. Enjoy M and R and again my best wishes!!

Bolognese ala Monique*

3/4 k ground pork
5 pcs whole onions, minced
5 pcs whole garlic, minced
7 pcs fresh tomatoes, small diced
1/4 k button mushroom, quartered
1 1/2 pcs Knorr chicken cube
250 g Del Monte Filipino style tomato sauce
1 big can Capri whole peeled tomato
a few dashes McCormick whole dried basil
a few dashes McCormick whole dried oregano
black and green olives, as many as you want
several pinches (?) brown sugar
two swirls of extra virgin olive oil

1. Heat the pan (high heat).
2. Saute' onion, garlic, ground pork, fresh tomatoes.
3. Throw in a can of whole peeled tomatoes, shred it a bit while in the pan.
4. Add the chicken cubes, black and green olives, mushrooms and a few pinches of sugar.
5. Add tomato sauce, basil and oregano and stir until sauce reduces and oil appears on top.

Boil your choice of pasta with a pinch of salt and a dash of olive oil for 15 minutes in high heat.
Combine pasta and sauce then serve.


*Monique can't be a bad name if she turns out to be a girl...joke lang