Outer Space

I found our house in Wikimapia. You might wanna check it out...

http://wikimapia.org/#y=14668076&x=120946459&z=18&l=0&m=a&v=2

sarcasm

i look good in the morning... unshaven(except for the goatee scruff which i am sporting right now), unruly hair and a little eye booger. how ironic isn't it?

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Kaye was playing SIMS last night. I call it PLAYING GOD. hehehe. at any rate, it was fun to watch.

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so little time, so much idleness... and so much to study. Come 2007, I'll be singing WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS. Hay... Bar na.

life is hell without stress...

i miss the stress...

perhaps, i should escape the manila scenery so i could appreciate the beauty of doing nothing.

doing nothing in manila is such a waste of time...

dos noches ante la navidad...

Feliz Navidad a Todos! Una Buena Noche con mucho alegria en sus corazones, y paz en sus hogares, y ezperanza para el año proximo!

(you hafta pardon my rusty spanish...)

Party Centrale Details..

Okay, since I have, more or less, ‘material time’ to speak of, before I go back to UST for my graduation picture taking… I have to recount some few details of the past week…

It is a tradition in the Faculty of Civil Law to hold parties for the professors, despite the ‘no-party’ policy of Dean Benips… at any rate, we held our party for Dean Aligada and Dean Dimayuga… We had a nice budget for catered services from Ernest’s mom, comprising of Pork Teriyaki, Chicken Cordon Bleu and Baked Macaroni. (What can we do? My organizer, Mida, did great!) Dean Aligada requested for Kare-kare, which he said he ate for four days, showing only his appreciation for our gesture. Dean Dimayuga likewise enjoyed our impromptu song and dance numbers… Of course, I sang… and it elicited giggles from everybody… ‘kilig’ moments.

Then as the night went on to its zenith, about 30 people attended ‘our’ party at Ernest’s place, we consumed one bottle of tequila, and six cases of San Mig Light and Strong ice. Captain Logroño said it was the first time he got so drunk since the Balakitan exercises. Hahaha. We played the ‘suck and blow’ card game, which eventually lead to some kind of slightly kinky girl to girl action. Hahaha!

We got so drunk that we left the place after the ‘simbang gabi’ bells tolled, as if we were some kind vampiric species afraid of the onslaught of dawn.

The following night, I met up with my college friends for JL’s dinner party at Cena at Greenbelt… we then proceeded to Aruba Bar at Metrowalk, where we werem’t initially allowed entry because Tim was wearing ‘slippers’ (they do have a strict dress code, but I think that is wise), so we had to run off to the metrowalk tiangge and bought him a pair of fake chuck tailors… Hence, he is now known as “Happy Feet”

Prior to that, we saw China Cojuangco in a very unusual place… she was with some girlfriends at the Pleasure Place, that adult toy store, probably browsing for some funny exchange gift item. She is indeed picture perfect.

We didn’t actually enjoy the house music inside Aruba, it was too loud, we couldn’t have a big conversation, instead, we were shouting at each other’s ears.

The next day, after badminton, we went to Balsa, (and we comprises me, Dencio, Perry, Larry and Ariel, the ‘elder’) We got drunk easily since we were tired. We went to pick up Kaye at Starbucks at Forbes Park thereafter.

Then last night, after classes which lead to nothing… we had planned to join forces with the gals of 4A. However, we decided not to, because our own girls might feel out-of-place. So we went back at Ernest’s place, and had a few drinks, and some nice chit-chat and laughs until four o’ clock in the morning.

So, I am currently 90% alcohol. Until the next party… which is just about a few days, or a few hours ahead...

Party Centrale...

Four days of non-stop partying... whew... gruesome... worth every minute of it...

More on Aruba Nights... Saturday, December 16th

Butch with His Kamikaze
Some form of savagery...
Anya and I
The Devil Wears Imitation Nike
"Happy Feet" Tim in a 'prayerful' pose

Aruba Nights: JL's Birthday Celeb, Saturday, December 16, 2006

Martin, Tim a.k.a. "Happy Feet", and Anya while waiting for Dinner at Cena
Some Spicy Prawn Thingies
Me, Kitten and the Birthday boy. He doesn't really smile on camera. Hehehe
Me and my pasta

At the Aruba Bar at Metrowalk

frm larry's blog

Your EQ is 147

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's" Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

transicion, unotro vez...

And so, the Partying has started in the Faculty of Civil Law, amidst the Policy of My Lord Alfredo Benipayo that no parties should be held within the week, but only next week… and accordingly, refuted by Dr. Albert Palacios, Esq., “Who can stop people from celebrating Christmas?”

Every Professor must have a party. And so, what came of us? In a span of one hour, we decided to pool our resources and employ CATERED SERVICES of Ernest’s Family Catering Business. We’ll do a grand party tomorrow for Dean Aligada and Dean Dimayuga… and hopefully, invite Justice Benipayo and Judge Aguinaldo. In the tradition of law school, this is the only time when mortal enmity between professor and student is relaxed, everybody is in a jovial mood. Dean Augusto “El Terible” Aligada and I are becoming closer. Henceforth, I have already secured for myself another sure vote for the deliberations on March, aside from the vote of Daddy Benips. It is politics, but based on quantum meruit, as it always should be.

I used to be such a wallflower… perhaps, because I kept myself from the limelight for too long, engrossed with my personal life, and the girls whom I held dearest to my heart. Now, I’m a public figure once more. I hold leadership positions in Law School for this year, which hopefully, is my last. I have made my name known to Father Regent. I have made my face a recognizable face among several deans and professors. I have built my foundation, from where I must build my name in the near future.

Atty. Culling has forewarned us that what keeps us from what we are is fear. Every lawyer is afraid every time he steps into the courtroom. This, we all must conquer. It’s high time to embrace my dharma, it is inevitable. We have our fun, we become irreverent… however, it must be noted that we are a class of our own. There is a substantial distinction between the common layman and the lawyer. We cannot act in certain ways, we cannot enjoy certain mundane things… but this is what we opted for. The prestige comes with a great price. We fight for liberty, yet our own liberty is restricted in one way or another. It is a great sacrifice, especially for me, who dreams of becoming a member of the judiciary, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the Supreme Court. Money isn’t always a motivation… it is service and honor.

This is my last Christmas in the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines… as a student. I ain’t leaving my alma mater for good. I will teach Legal Management in the Faculty of Arts and Letters in the future. For this Faculty has nurtured my soul and my heart, this is where I became a full pledged youth… and in the Faculty of Civil Law, I became a wise man. Eight years… eight magnificent years in UST. Looking at the bigger picture, I am just a speckle in a tapestry woven by Popes, Kings, Wars, Nations, Kingdoms, and Empires. In the first place, I always felt that I belong here… I have always had the tenacity for tradition, societal conservatism and grandeur, at the same time, liberalism, Godliness and nationalism.

I wrote this essay once in Expository Writing in AB, and I referred to UST as a daughter of the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution and Modernism. Now, I’m a part of the long saga of the centuries which has just passed by the threshold of the millennium.
Dreams are made into reality at this moment in time when a person is in transition. I am entering such transition. This is destiny. I made it. I’m proud of it.

I’d love to see my name in the SCRA as ponente, in a landmark case of first impression, to which the life of the nation depends. I do not want to be the ‘great dissenter’, I want to be the voice of the majority. If I should be remembered by time, let me be remembered as such:

BERNÁRDO, J. ponente.


I want to be the first Justice of the Supreme Court who is also a poet, novelist and essayist. I want to be first Justice who crossed the linguistic border, bringing together the Hispanic, American and Filipino traditions in prose. This is how I see our country could become great… by looking into the future, whilst holding on to the past.


I want to be of like fame such as Pablo Neruda, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Paolo Coelho, Dante Alighieri, Nick Joaquin, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Hugo Black and Chief Justice Marshall.

This is my dream… and it is free. No fees, no taxes, no customs duties.

The spirit of Christmas is befalling upon us all...

I got myself two new books... Tropical Gothic, which is a compilation of short stories of the late Nick Joaquin, and Chronicles of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, my fourth novel by this iconic Latin American writer. I had a copy before of this novel, which I didn't even read, and alas, I do not who borrowed it. I love these authors because they live in the same plane of existence where I live... an alternate universe, suffice to say, is MAGICAL REALITY and SEAMLESSNESS. Hopefully, I'd read them all, together with the legal stuff, and my unfinished reading of the ZAHIR of Paolo Coelho.

I wonder, am I really RENE GOROSPE in the making?!

I got a lot of friends in the arts... it would be nice to talk to a literature fan once in a while... 'cause in it there is the true human spirit...

Perhaps Chief Justice Reynato Puno or Justice Dante Tinga would concur.

Yes, sometimes, Jurisprudence is Literature...

Larry had this entry about a christmas wishlist...

All I want for Christmas this year is a graceful exit from UST, walking down the isle of the Medicine Auditorium in august black toga... paying reverence to the Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, The Judiciary and the Legal Profession... I am once more annotated into the Four Hundred year old Line up of alumni of UST, and of the two hundred year old roster of Civil Law... and to sing the UST Hymn with pride and prestige once more.

and passing the BAR...

After that, I search for meaning of life...

Could it be, UNENDING GRACE?

killer lines

"almost everything about the two of us is wrong... that's why it so perfect..."

hometown blues and being an academic

December 7, we were supposed to be finished with the recitation in Civil Law Review 2. We’ve been standing for three weeks, but alas, Dean Aligada didn’t even cast his shadow and we waited for one and a half hours, until I finally decided to dismiss the class. I was damn tired of going back and forth the Dean’s Office just to ask where the hell he is. Good thing Nick has Fr. Regent’s number, and apparently, Dean Aligada was watching the Christmas Concert at the Chapel. Well, I would have loved to watched the symphony orchestra and the world-renowned UST Singers, with all the high and mighty people, the student body and the members of high society, plus the air conditioning itself inside the Chapel gives a Christmasey air… I’d rather watch the broadcast on ABC 5 on the 23rd of December in the comfort of my sala.

I went out to join my friends for 4A at Sprout, this photocopier place-cum-sari-sari store, where the drinking began… We at 4B had plans of our own, but the hell, I like to start drinking as soon as possible, in the company of beautiful women.

This section of Law School used to be an all exclusive section for girls, until my ‘Dad’ (Dean Benipayo) opened up the section to lesser beings… with the typical stature, complexion, facial symmetry and the stand… In short, lahat ng magagandang nilalang nandun. Not all of them are snobs, in fact, the group I’m with are the coolest among them all. Irreverent (in our standard), fun, playful, smokers, drinkers… girls, you’d love to have for a barkada.

Until nabitin kame sa apat na grandeng red horse, we had to transfer to Tapsi… I was officially adopted by them… and yes, sabik sila sa boys. (Not in the instinctual manner) They do have boys in their class now, but they ain’t cool enough, or rather, they haven’t socialized with them yet.

Then came the barrage of text messages from my classmates. I had a hearty laugh since they thought I abandoned them. Well, technically yes, kasi naman, I hate mora and pontification. They have no right to pontificate. Only I have such right. I ain’t even a president for God’s sake, I’m a crisis manager. I’m entitled to fun once in a while with the people of my preference. Besides, it’s diplomacy in action. Theses people ain’t just friends… they are Colleagues, and in the future, who else are we to turn to? Thomasians aid Thomasians, Lawyers aid lawyers.

Lot somehow told me na nagselos daw sila sa Four A. Hehehe. Would a gentleman decline the invitation of beautiful ladies? I think not… Besides, as de facto emperor of the class I commanded them to follow us at Tapsi.

I just had to leave early (around 10pm) ‘cause Chanelle was really drunk. FYI, she’s a graduate of La Salle and St. James… and we have common friends from La Salle and St. James, and we both hail from Malabon. So, as a gentleman’s and a kababayan’s duty, I must assist a damsel in distress. Besides, I was loaded already and ready to retire for the night. I had to leave my minions there… Anyhow, our alpha male JV was to proceed there after his basketball try outs. He’s in control in my absence.

And speaking of Malabon, there’s much to talk about home-grown pride.

There is something unique in this ancient fishing village that happens every December 8 to 10. Fiesta Concepcion, we traditionally refer to it… In honor of the Immaculate Conception.

How unique is it, since other places like Manila and Pasig celebrates the same, if not the whole world?

Well, let the historian in me speak…

The image of La Inmaculada Concepcion is estimated to be 300 years old. Was Canonically crowned, by authority of Pope John Paul II on December 7, 1986. This icon which is venerated for the past three hundred years is something which you do not see in most western art, nor in popular Filipino iconography. Among the popular images in the Philippines are mostly in the representation of De Guia, De Los Remedios, La Naval, Penafrancia, Manaoag, Caysasay, Piat et al. They are fully dressed in beaded regalia, and usually carry the Child Jesus.

However, this image in Malabon, was, according to legend, was left in a kariton by a Chinese merchant. Another legend tells that it was carved from the driftwood, from which came the images too of St. Bartholomew of Malabon, and St. Joseph of Navotas.

I’d rather go with the Chinese Kariton story.

The icon is carved as if she is wearing a white robe, wit a sash for a belt, and a, how should I say this, alampay, which is blue on the foreground and red on the rear. Another unique thing about this image is that she wears shoes… golden shoes for that matter. Plus, her hair is tied pony hair style, with the long golden lace flowing downwards. She does not hold the child Jesus… instead… her hands are semi-clasped in a prayerful position… more likely as if she was clapping. The image has a very beautiful face, mestisahin, but the color, having been repainted, gives her the appearance of a mullata.

Compared with the icons of St. Bartholomew and St. Joseph, which are very Filipino-Western, this image is very Oriental. Similar to that of the Icon of Kwan-Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. This my dear friends, is my learned opinion.

It should not be amiss that this is not the first time that a Chinese or a pagan Deity has been transformed into a Catholic Saint… The icon of Nuestra Senora de Guia in Ermita is also alleged to be an image of KwanYin, though crudely made. Legend has it that is was found washed ashore in Manila even before the Spaniards came. Hence, it is possible that the image is indeed of Chinese origin, since the Chinese were trading with us long before our alleged ‘discovery. Another example is the Virgin of Caysasay in Taal, which is revered by Taoist as A-Mah… the Goddess of the Sea.

What about the image of Guadalupe? Some say it is a fraud… a hoax planted by the Catholic missionaries in order to convert the Mexicans… but when we look at it at a cultural and historical perspective, it is indeed unique to Mexico… it represents not just Mary, but the Earth Goddess of the Incas, Aztecs and Tolmecs… Pacha Mama.

We have this rite every time we open a bottle of wine or gin or whatever alcoholic drink… we pour the first shot to the earth, and we say, it is for the devil. However, it is a misconceived idea. In other wine-cultivating cultures, (also in Rome and Greece) the first shot is offered to the Gods… In the Inca Culture, it is offered to the Earth Goddess, from whom the grapes from which the wine came from.

It should not be amiss that in Renaissance Japan, after the conversion of some people to Christianity by Francis Xavier, the people were worshipping the Female Buddha with a Child as the Mother of God, that they recognize this image more that Christ himself.

And, if you yourself were a reader of The Da Vinci Code, and other related books, there are certain things which our religion has inculcated from the ancient faiths… such as Isis, the Virgin Mother, who is also identified as Sophia, the darkness, the source to wisdom… who in transformed into the Virgin Mary in the Christian cult.

Judaism wasn’t amiss of such concept of the goddess. Before, it became the Judaism of today, the ancient Canaanite religion worshipped Ashera, the consort of Yahweh.

Also, Islam, the youngest of the Monotheistic faiths believed in Mary, called her Mariam, and the Christmas story of the Arabs is far more splendid that ours… since it details the miracles of Jesus through Mary during the exile in Egypt.

Some Hindus believe that Jesus and Buddha are the reincarnation of Shiva, the God of destruction and recreation…

In Fact, our Christmas, December 25, is originally the feast of Sol Invictus, the unconquerable sun… in honor of the Persian God Mithras… who is also a dying-rising God (another one is Horus, or so I recall), as much as Christ is also a dying and rising God.

So, what’s my point?

Religion propitiates the soul… there is never an absolute truth… inasmuch as ourselves are continually evolving, so is religion… but one thing is common in them all…

The belief in a higher being and a higher existence.

Now, let us go back to the popular beliefs in my hometown…

I live in Concepcion, Malabon, where two Churches are domiciled, the Catholic Church and the Aglipayan church… both venerate the La Purisima Concepcion. (I should know, ‘cause half of the family is Aglipay) They have their own icon, we have our own icon… but according to hearsay, about a hundred years ago, after the establishment of the Aglipayan Church, a meeting at the plaza took place, wherein the Catholic Church and the Aglipayan Church tried to resolve the issue on whether what image is the original. Apparently, what they did is cover up the two images, and being detached from the Oro (globe) they chose which would belong to whom. Allegedly, the Catholics got the original globe, while the Aglipayans got the original statue. This is what I heard from the not so ‘elderly’ of the local church. Due to the lack of historical records, this constitutes hearsay, and is inadmissible as evidence. But symbolically, it only shows that the two faiths are one in belief, despite the lack of unity.

Secondly, every procession, whenever the Catholic procession passes by the Aglipayan Church, the bells toll, and vice versa. That is how I remember it. I do not know if it is still performed, since the Catholic priest here is somehow more of a renegade than most Dominicans in UST.

Thirdly, while the Catholic Church holds the pagoda every December 9th, the Aglipayan Church holds the Caracol, or street dancing.

Fourthly, the image of St. Joseph of Navotas comes to Malabon to fetch the Virgin Mary and parades around Malabon and Navotas until it reaches the Church of San Jose in Navotas where the Salve is performed.

In conclusion, without any partisanship, what we have here in Malabon is a very unique expression of faith, of different belief systems, with a common goal…

Beat that…

This is something worth a thesis… if not for the lack of historical documentation.

That is why it is called Tradition… which in law, means DELIVERY. Something which is passed on from generation to generation, and is held as truth, despite the accuracy of the source…

As much as we believe in everything else… all are true.

yet it hurts once again...

seeing you oblivious to my presence...

in one room...

neither smiling at me, just walking past by me

as if i never existed...

secrets revealed...

i am bound by three rules...

Lawyer-Client privilege

Penitent-Priest privilege (cause I feel like a confession was on-going at that time)

And Friensdhip privilege...

Hay... Ang hirap mag-alaga ng kaibigan.

sometimes i just i wish i was a Mafia Prince...

so I could shoot the fucking daylight out of all them bastards...

without conscience...

without duty...

without law...

'Palabod' ka kamo ha... tarantado ka... isa kang 'Bernardo'... wag kang kakanti ng kadugo mo!

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Endearment...

After a two-week hiatus, I finally played badminton! Ghod! I feel the calories burning! If it weren’t for my social calendar, I would have not undergone the lack-of-game ordeal. At any rate, I haven’t reached the suspensive condition… If ever by next weekend, I’d be in Biñan, I’d hafta play tennis. That’s the deal. I need to sweat it out. (Well, I could play basketball there, but I haven’t held a damn basketball in… three years?! And FYI… the sport itself doesn’t like me... had I not been a regular fourth year graduating student, I’d join the GSCL United… a.k.a… Graduate School-Civil Law United, our football team. Ghod!!! I miss the smell of grass in the afternoon sun! My spikes [this is a specie of shoes] are already being eaten up by mold… and I don’t fucking have an iota of idea where the hell are my shin guards and long socks.) Anyway, I guess I’m no longer meant for the grass. Therefore, I’d concentrate on the racquet sports…

I absented myself from class last Wednesday, ‘cause it was my grandad’s birthday. I felt obliged to do so… being the eldest grandson from the line of my father… we always have this “Dedicacion” or “Padasal” to the Christ the King (since the liturgical calendar of the Feast itself always falls within the week) which is lead by the Apostleship of Prayer (with Tita Juling as the Contact person). My papa (with a spanish accent) just turned 82. He’s my old lion, my soldier, my eminent provider, whom I love so dearly, despite the military treatment and cusses I had before during his younger years and my youthful innocence. I am always duty bound to him… even though he’s just a Lt. Col by rank, he is my General. It was a touching moment, ‘cause my grandma was teary eyed during the prayers. FYI… just to let you know when did this tradition started… my Tita Mayette, while she was an Architecture student at UST, design our first altar, replicating the old altar of Concepcion Church (the round retablo of the Virgin), and it was was blessed by either Monsignor Sarmiento or Monsignor Florentino during my papa’s birthday, who, at that time, was active with the Catholic Church. (FYI… our family is also a patron of the Aglipayan church, since half of the clan is Aglipay.)

After hearing the news that there would be no classes on November 30 due to Typhoon Reming, I fled in haste to UST to create some dilatory tactics in order to induce my classmates to gather for a drinking session at my place. Prior hand, it was planned that a class session would be held on Nov. 30 itself, but under the circumstances, it would more propitious to hold it otherwise on an earlier date. However, I was too late because Dean Dimayuga dismissed the class early on. I just met with bestfriend JV and Mavic at SM San Lazaro. JV and I, after leaving Mavic at the place where Regina Sorority was holding its meeting, went around UST and QC just to look for people to drink with. Ernest promised he’d come, but alas, he fell asleep. So, those who heeded our call were Lot, Shayne and Mags. We went to my place and drank and talked from 11pm til 5am in the morning. JV was so amazed with our place that he’d like to hold our Xmas party here. I told him, it’s just because we’re riparian. Hehehehe. Anyway, it would depend whether or not the tides would rise or not.

Since there were only five of us, we had a nice conversation of law school life, and loves, and every shitty thing… it was the first time I heard JV philosophize (being a Philosophy major at UP) and forever, his words will haunt me… “The more you get educated, the more obscure love becomes… do you still remember the first time you fell in love?”

And it was also the first time in history that I heard the word LIBOG (coming from a girl) spoken many times within five minutes… from Lot. Hehehe.

And so, this week, to consider, is very amusing. Today, I bought myself a new polo for only 200 bucks. (there is a sale at HUMAN in SM San Lazaro), a new pair of ‘short’ shorts for badminton, and a tiny pillow whenever I feel sleepy while studying at the Reading Area. FYI… it’s my dad’s birthday on the third, me and my mom shopped for some gifts for him.