Quaere Verum

Graphic from AccuWeather.com . Yesterday, typhoon Milenyo (international code name: Xangsane ) cut a swath of destruction as it plowed right through eastern Visayas and central Luzon before heading out to the South China Sea. In it's wake it left about 50 dead, many more missing, and hundreds of millions of pesos in property damage. Milenyo is perhaps the most powerful typhoon to hit Philippine soil in more than a decade, and one of the most violent to hit the greater Manila area. As I type these words, approximately less than 60% of Luzon is receiving electrical power, courtesy of the fallen electical posts and transmission lines brought down by winds in excess of 110 kilometers per hour. Classes in all levels were suspended, as was work in all government offices, except those performing emergency services. And a number of roads have been rendered impassable, blocked by debris, overturned vehicles, fallen billboards, and uprooted trees. I guess this typhoon has really lived up to ...

It's been three days since the last exam, and somehow, I'm still finding myself. I've been doing basically nothing but read, sleep, smoke, drink tea and coffee for so long that, now, after the event I have been preparing for has lapsed, I'm struggling to figure out what to do next. I'm not due to go back to work until next week, so I guess I have this week to do some soul searching, and to catch up on some things that I have been putting off for some time now. On Monday evening, after sleeping for what seemed to be the entire day, I was extended an invitation to watch Melay , a former officemate, and her band perform at a cozy watering hole along Katipunan, about five minutes away from where I live. They were pretty good, and I'm not just saying that. I guess it was kinda nice being able to watch a live acoustic band and down a few beers at the same time. It's been quite a while since I did the same, and I was able to catch up with some friends that I haven...

Alive Pearl Jam Son, she said, have I got a little story for you What you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a... While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteen Your real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked... Oh I, oh, I'm still alive Hey, I, I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still alive Hey...oh... Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room She said I'm ready...for you I can't remember anything to this very day 'Cept the look, the look... Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare... I, I'm still alive Hey I, but, I'm still alive Hey I, boy, I'm still alive Hey I, I, I, I'm still alive, yeah Ooh yeah...yeah yeah yeah...oh...oh... Is something wrong, she said Well of course there is You're still alive, she said Oh, and do I deserve to be Is that the question And if so...if so...who answers...who answers... I, oh, I'm still alive Hey I, oh, I'm still aliv...

Yesterday was the last Sunday, the fourth Sunday in the grueling rite of passage for all law graduates and prospective lawyers in the Philippines known as the Bar Examinations. Amidst the cacophony of cheering fraternities, fireworks, drums, brass bands, and beer being sprayed everywhere, I left DLSU thankful and relieved that it's all over. What's done is done. Five months of continuous study, four Sundays of rigorous exams. And now it's all over. If you think this pen is looking kinda drained, you should have seen me after the exams. In hindsight, with regard to all of the tests, there were quite a number of questions that I wish could have answered better. Retrospection can be that way, make you second guess yourself. But there's no use crying over spilled milk. I put in my best effort, and that's all I can probably ask for. I think I put up a pretty good fight. Not in any way a 100% sure effort, probably not even 90% or 80%, but a pretty good fight nonetheless....

Prayer for my own Birthday Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You this day and all the days of my life. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love. Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have recieved but especially for life itself. Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be. I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowled...

Filched this quiz from thefirthyone . Don't think she'd mind...well at least I hope she won't. :-) And the results? They're just about what I had expected. Long live alternative rock. :-) They kinda betray my age though... Your Taste in Music: 80's Alternative: Highest Influence 80's Pop: Highest Influence 90's Alternative: Highest Influence 90's Pop: Highest Influence 90's Rock: High Influence How's Your Taste in Music?

Only one Sunday left. At this point I'm pretty much mentally, physically and emotionally drained. Yet the last Sunday is probably the most important, as Remedial Law is worth a whopping 20% of the final grade. To tell you the truth, I'm no longer thinking of passing. All I want at this point is to finish. Fatigue certainly has a way of dulling one's edge. I better put my nose to the grindstone if I want to put up a good fight. The 2006 Bar exams will probably be remembered as one of the most difficult in recent years. And as always, with my impeccable timing, I chose to take it this year. Lucky me. Nothing else left to do but to gather up steam for the last Sunday, and hope and pray for the best.

The alleged cover up behind the 9/11 tragedy. Note: Turn off the background audio first at the bottom of the page before clicking the play button.

Note: Turn off the background audio first at the bottom of the page before clicking the play button. Hands Jewel If I could tell the world just one thing It would be that we're all OK And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful And useless in times like these I won't be made useless I won't be idle with despair I will gather myself around my faith For light does the darkness most fear My hands are small, I know But they're not yours, they are my own But they're not yours, they are my own And I am never broken Poverty stole your golden shoes It didn't steal your laughter And heartache came to visit me But I knew it wasn't ever after We'll fight, not out of spite For someone must stand up for what's right 'Cause where there's a man who has no voice There ours shall go singing My hands are small I know But they're not yours, they are my own But they're not yours, they are my own I am never broken In the end only kindness matters In the...

Damn. Civil Law was okay, but Taxation was a humdinger . It was so much of a humdinger that the Bar Chairperson extended the allocated time by an hour, and according to the watchers, that virtually never happens. It didn't help that much though if you didn't have any idea how to answer the questions. After I left, I couldn't help but notice a couple of female barristers somewhat teary-eyed after leaving their examination rooms. Other barristers wore glum expressions and traversed the halls with their heads bowed. And I thought I was taking this exam seriously. Outside, it was the only thing being talked about. Everyone, regardless of school, was seemingly blindsided by the questions asked in Taxation. People I hardly knew were asking me how I did, or sharing their thoughts about the exam. Reactions varied from depression, to anger, to hysterical laughter. What can I say? These are the Bar exams we're talking about. Expect the unexpected. And the unexpected certainly...

Today, the 8th of September, is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary . Let us give pause for a moment and reflect on this very special day when Our Lady, conceived without sin and chosen by God to bear his Son Jesus Christ, first came forth to this world. Alte Pinakothek's "The Birth of Mary" (circa 1470). Thy birth, O Virgin Mother of God, heralded joy to all the world. For from thou hast risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God. Destroying the curse, He gave blessing; and damning death, He bestowed on us life everlasting. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. For from thou hast risen of Sun of justice, Christ our God. ­- from The Divine Office - Matins

And they say mutes can't sing... :-) Note: Turn off the background audio first at the bottom of the page before clicking the play button.

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putti...

If you're my age (or older) you may remember this 80s hit from the band Mr. Mister . Most people think that this is just an ordinary pop song, but it's actually more than that. Beneath all the synthesizers and electric guitars this is really a religious song. No kidding. The key words in the chorus are Kyrie Eleison , not Kyrie Allison nor "carry a laser" as many thought it sounded like. It's a Greek phrase which means "Lord have mercy" . It was lifted from the Kyrie invocation, recited in Greek or in Latin in some traditional Roman Catholic masses. Κύριε ἐλέησον, Χριστὲ ἐλέησον, Κύριε ἐλέησον. Kyrie eleison; Christe eleison; Kyrie eleison. Lord have mercy; Christ have mercy; Lord have mercy. So if you were actually singing this song in 80s without knowing what it meant, you were actually asking God for mercy. Which isn't really such a bad thing. In fact I could really use some of his mercy right about now. The song is quite nice. It was one of m...

From my inbox. A little something that may help ease your (and my) anxieties... To: YOU Date: TODAY From: GOD Subject: YOURSELF Reference: LIFE This is God. Today I will be handling all of your problems for you. I do not need your help. So, have a nice day. I love you. P.S. And, remember... If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don't despair; There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for years. Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person w...

First I was afraid I was petrified... Well what do you know. I survived my first Sunday without totally screwing up...well, maybe a little. :-) Two down, six more to go. I really don't know why I insist on doing this. I can be a real masochist sometimes.

I first posted this prayer about the same time last year. This year however, it takes on greater significance. This time, it's personal. Lord God, the creator of all, and fount of all knowledge and wisdom, I implore you to guide me in my undertaking to become a lawyer. Open my mind to absorb, remember and live the principles of law and justice distilled in my readings and in the lectures I attend. I beseech you to illumine the thoughts of the bar reviewers so they could be your instruments in guiding me. Fill me with your grace, so I would have a clear mind in identifying the issues raised in the bar questions. Give light for me to discover the correct, just and ethical answers to the bar questions so I could pass the Bar. Finally, grant me the serenity to accept whatever is thy will and show me the correct path to take for your greater glory. AMEN. (This is a non-sectarian prayer written by Prof. Abelardo T. Domondon) Good luck to all bar examinees! For truth, justice, and God...