Monday, September 29, 2008
This day in history from:
Nick of time
Cashed an early time check this morning when I played Civilization: Revolution until 2:00 a.m.
But then, I had to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to take Bea to school.
I was planning to pay this time debt back afterwards by dozing off when I got back, but I had some work to do.
Then, I had to go to my consultancy until 2:30 p.m.
A meeting at 4:00 p.m. until almost 7:00 p.m. and then a meeting with my brother-in-law, who is set to construct our new office for another hour. The off to dinner which turned out also as a meeting with my partners. This ended at around 10:00 p.m.
Then the trip home, and I got back just now.
But we got paid today. And just in the nick of time... that's all I have to say about that.
Everything evened out at the end of this day. And for that I am truly grateful.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
This day in history from:
Yearbook Me
Nothing much happened today, except for two things. We chose not to go out this weekend.
But I had so much fun putting my picture in Yearbookyourself.com. Maybe you should try that one for yourself. The results are in my Facebook account and my Multiply site.
Then, I basically played Civilization: Revolution all day, interrupted only by some errands.
I'm just letting off some steam because of the events last week.
And I hope the week ahead is way better than this one.
After this, I took Bea to her classmate's place for a gather I don't know about. But I'll pick her up later, so I can still make it to choir tonight...
It's turning out to be an alright day, considering what happened yesterday.
Friday, September 26, 2008
This day in history from:
Blue Eagle, the King!
photo property of copyright owner
Congratulations to the Ateneo UAAP Men's Basketball Team for winning yesterday.
I got so excited yesterday I forgot to blog.
A Song for Mary Music adapted from Calixa Lavallée’s “O Canada” words by Fr. James Reuter, S.J.
We stand on a hill between the earth and sky; Now all is still, Where Loyola’s colors fly Our course is run And the setting sun ends Ateneo’s days; Eyes are dry at the last good-bye; This is the Ateneo way.
Mary for you! For your White and Blue! We pray you keep us, Mary Constantly true! We pray you keep us, Mary Faithful to you.
Down from the hill, Down to the world go I; Remembering still, How the bright Blue Eagles fly Through joy and tears, Through the laughing years, We sang our battle song; Win or lose, It’s the school we choose; This is the place where we belong!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
This day in history from:
Punzi as stage dad
I blocked off my schedule for today so I can take Nico to Ateneo for his Grade School Entrance Exam.
But I had him attend school first and that ended 11:00 a.m.
After a quick lunch and it was off to Katipunan.
And wow! There was no parking spot in sight. They specifically timed that exam at dismissal time. So I had to drop off Nico and her nanny to look for the testing area themselves.
I wandered around to look for a spot to park and ended up, of all places, in a little known but inaccessible place in Ateneo. Fortunately, there were a lot of tricycles around as the terminal was nearby. So I was able to accompany Nico as he went in for his exam.
The exam took about thirty minutes. But surprisingly, Nico finished about 10 minutes ahead of time and was the first child out, much to the dismay of the other parents there.
I don't know what this means, though. It could either be he did so well that he finished ahead or so poor that he could not continue with the test. I this first option was the correct one.
Then, we took a tricyle again to get to the car. And I rewarded Nico by treating him to a snack at a nearby mall.
I do hope he did very well today. According to the annoucement, the results will be out by December.
Monday, September 22, 2008
This day in history from:
Stress and Panic
Started this day early, as in, at around 3:00 a.m.
I could not sleep because of stress from today's hearing, that turned out to be a dud.
But at least, the stress went away. This did not last long, though, because I found out I had a pleading that's due tomorrow. And since I'm reserving that whole day for Nico's admission test to the Ateneo Grade School, I have to squeeze making this pleading.
Add to that our long-overdue lawyers meeting tonight that took some time.
And now, fatigue has set in.
So I'm doing what I usually do during these times short of pressing the panic button: sleep it off and wake up very early next morning (I set my alarm clock at around 3:00 a.m. again) so I can get to this darn pleading that I don't have inspiration to make.
But I'm a professional and I have to deliver.
So it's off to sleep now and hopefully, I can finish this pleading on time.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
This day in history from:
A test of patience
We (i.e. Merphi, my niece and I) reported for choir last night at around 6:30 p.m., not knowing that there would be a healing mass.
And the mass took so long. The homily took a good 45 minutes and then the priest/healer said he was just testing our patience and if we had time for God.
It was a wake up call but I took it well. I was not really bored or restless during the mass, unlike the other whose patience were tested to the hilt.
Merphi and her family did not stick around for the healing sessions. But it was the first time I saw all these people falling down when the priest/healer touched and prayed over them.
Our choir had dinner after that long mass, followed by our monthly practice session. We went home around 11:00 p.m.
It was a true test of patience. And fortunately, I think I passed this one.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
This day in history from:
Full Circle
Seems like everything has come around full circle.
More specifically, a client that we have not serviced for some time now has come back because of a big problem.
While I personally have problems with the comeback, I know my law partner has no choice but to help. But that also leaves me with no choice but to help him in any way I can. I just have to be professional about it.
I just hope that full circle will not compromise the gains we have already achieved in our office in the short time it has been in existence. We already have set rules and these get broken simply because of this one client. I hope that does not continue.
Anyway, we (meaning Bea, Nico and I) went around on some errand this morning and I played plumber again when we got back. No need to tell you what plumbing project I just finished.
Then there's choir this afternoon, of course, followed by our monthly practice.
Oh, it seems I have a picture of that big pleading we filed. Do you want to see?
Monday, September 15, 2008
This day in history from:
Getting addicted...
... to this photography thing again.
But mind you, I'm not entirely a beginner. The shutterbug bit me when I was in elementary school. I remember my dad bought a Canon AE-1 with telephoto, zoom and wide-angle lens.
It was all film then, but aside from the aperture and the and shutter speed, we had to focus manually and since we did not have a motor drive, burst (sports) shooting was out of the question.
But the fun part then was, we had a darkroom. Although it was only for black-and-white photographs, I experienced first hand the magic of developing negatives and printing pictures out of them.
But my! Times have changed!
No more negatives. No more running out of film and time lost loading them. No more negative developing costs. No more contact prints. No more smelly chemicals. No more fiddling around in the dark.
The principles of taking photographs, however, remain the same, although I forgot most of them already. But I'm pretty sure that with a little help from the internet, I will relearn them again. I just hope I will have the time to spare, given my work and other recreational pursuits.
Also, it may be a chance for me to catch up on time with my friends. I already have two invitations, one from a high school classmate and one from a law school classmate to do some photography-themed activities. As soon as my schedule clears, I will take them up on their respective offers.
I still know how to compose photographs, though, if I do say so myself. You can check my photographs out in my Multiply and Facebook accounts.
And as of now, I like to do portraits because I love to photograph my kids.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
This day in history from:
Consolation
Got consoled today from the week's events.
Fortunately there was a lifeline, with a promise of an even bigger lifeline to come. And that lifeline can take care of my needs for at least the next two months.
But the biggest consolation I got is my new toy: a Canon EOS 450D.
Yes, I know some people would rather get me a Nikon D60 or an Olympus. But I had my eyes set on this baby for quite some time. In terms of pixelage and ease of use, I think this will be a great starting DSLR.
And of course, there's my weekly consolation: my chamber session and choir tomorrow.
Of course, I'm not completely satisfied with what I got. But I'm already extremely grateful for it because I know more will be coming my way. Or more accurately, more will be coming our way.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
This day in history from:
The Easter Journey
The Easter Journey Music and lyrics by: Paulo K Tirol Soloists: Chrise Cortez Joy Cortez Migs Jimenez Toby Sandoval
Ooh, journey…
Verse 1: There’s a road unlike any other, one that Jesus walked in His time. The “Easter Road” on which He calls us: “Take my hand and walk with Me On a journey that will lead you to who you are meant to be.”
Verse 2: He brings us to a Father whose loving stirs our hearts and moves our souls; Who came to know our pain and our sorrow, and then wiped our tears away; Who by the hope He shone on people, turned the darkness into day.
Refrain 1a: Take our hands, lead us Lord, let us walk with You down the Easter Road. Change our hearts, move our souls with the love we find on the Easter Road.
Refrain 1b: So that our eyes may see You in all things; that our hands reach out to give; So that our hearts may open to embrace this world! Lord, let each moment be a step along Your road! Let our lives be a journey down the Easter Road.
Verse 3: Lead us to a Father of loving. Stir our hearts and shape our ways. Bring us to those in pain and in sorrow, that we may wipe their tears away. To bring Your light unto Your people, to turn their darkness into day.
Refrain 2a: Take our hands, lead us, Lord, Let me walk with You down the Easter Road!
Refrain 2b: Give us new eyes that see You in all things; take our hands and teach us to give; Open our hearts and make us embrace this world! Let each moment be a step along Your road! Let our lives be a journey down the Easter Road.
Coda: Let our lives be a journey down the Easter Road. Ooh, journey…
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
This day in history from:
No Lifeline
Some snags in the big case we have handled and won (and actually collected upon already).
First, there was no bonus.
Second, I think all of it will be spent for our big move. No reward for us, except for the handling counsel (which he really deserves, so that's alright).
And to think, I really needed the lifeline, especially this week. Now it appears there will be none and we're all on our own.
Personally, I'd rather have the lifeline than the office, but I'm only 20% of that office, with a negligible revenue stream at the moment. This makes my voice equally negligible to nil.
Oh well... Better look for a lifeline somewhere else.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
This day in history from:
Heart-wrenching
This is what I don't like about family law practice.
There are times when as a lawyer, you have to get what's best for your client. But you have to play by the rules at the same time.
The lawyer in me says we got what's best for our client, within the rules.
But the father in me says to hell with the rules and I will not let the other party get even an inch.
Well it was a good thing I was not the one attending that hearing today. Personally, I would have advised them to just run and run as fast as they can.
Well I hope tomorrow will be better. For all of us.
Monday, September 01, 2008
This day in history from:
Integrated Bar of the Philippines Statement on Corruption in the Court of Appeals
Almost a month after the first public declarations of bribery by Court of Appeals Associate Justice Jose Sabio, Jr., the issue is starting to be relegated to secondary importance in the news. The journalism cycle is swift, but the cycle of corruption in the judiciary that the media has reported is recurrent and seemingly unending. The expose on improper influences on magistrates has been described as an anomaly that was not new and has been known to exist for a long time, but has only been talked about in whispers in the corridors of justice.
The Supreme Court's creation of an investigating panel is commendable, but it is completely reactionary.We expect the inquiry to be exhaustive, and we do not question the integrity and qualifications of the investigators. But what happens after the reports and recommendations have been made and the spotlight has been turned elsewhere? The Court of Appeals members directly involved in the allegations of corruption have exposed a troubling divisiveness and a penchant for personal self-preservation that further erodes the image of what is considered to be the second highest court in the land.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines urgently calls on those CA members involved in the controversy to immediately and irrevocably submit their resignations, out of delicadeza and out of ultimate concern to salvage what is left of the integrity of the Court as an important national institution. The resignation is a necessary sacrifice that needs to be made by those whose names have been dragged into the scandal.
The need to address corruption in the judiciary goes beyond the issue of the ongoing investigations, but needs to start and end where the controversy all started. The honorable magistrates of the Court of Appeals now have the opportunity to show the entire country that there are no sacred cows, so to speak. This is a clear chance to convince the nation that indeed, corruption is a real and pressing problem and needs to collective effort of the Court to address and stamp out.
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines joins the Filipino people in their fervent desire to fight corruption at the highest levels of our courts. Our call is drastic as it is urgent.
(SGD.) Feliciano M. Bautista National President
Rogelio A. Vinluan Executive Vice-President
Abelardo C. Estrada Governor for Northern Luzon
Ernesto A. Gonzalez, Jr. Governor for Central Luzon
Marcial M. Magsino Governor for Greater Manila
Bonifacio T. Barondon, Jr., Governor for Bicolandia
Evergisto S. Escalon Governor for Eastern Visayas
Raymond Jorge A. Mercado Governor for Western Visayas
Ramon Edison C. Batacan Governor for Eastern Mindanao
Carlos L. Valdez, Jr. Governor for Western Mindanao
(Published in the Philippine Star @ page 11, 01 September 2008)
PRAYER FOR GENEROSITY
Lord Jesus,
Teach me to be generous,
Teach me to serve You as You deserve
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil and not to seek for rest,
To labor and not to ask for reward,
except that of knowing
That I do Your Holy Will. Amen
THE LAWYER'S PRAYER
May every word I speak be from Your Truth...
I ask come from Your Wisdom...
May every case I handle receive Your Guidance...
May every heart, every life I touch, feel Your Love.
THE JABEZ PRAYER
And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying,
"Oh, that You would bless me indeed,
and enlarge my territory,
that Your Hand be with me,
that You would keep me from evil,
that I may not cause pain."
So God granted him what he requested.
Side Oath
The Lawyer's Oath
I do solemnly swear that
I will maintain allegiance to
the Republic of the Philippines,
I will support its Constitution
and obey the laws as well as
the legal orders of the
duly constituted authorities therein;
I will do no falsehood,
nor consent to the doing of any in court;
I will not wittingly or willingly
promote or sue any groundless,
false or unlawful suit,
nor give aid nor consent to the same;
I will delay no man for money or malice,
and will conduct myself as a lawyer
according to the best of my knowledge
and discretion with all good fidelity
as well to the courts as to my clients;
and I impose upon myself this voluntary obligation
without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion. So help me God.
