Ondoy

September 26, 2009

I remembered it was raining early in the morning. I did not mind it that much. After taking a bath and eating my breakfast, I just continued to read for the last Sunday of the Bar Exams. I tried to read as much as I could, especially knowing that my mom and brother are on the way to Manila to see me.

Just around lunch time, mom sent an SMS to me telling that they have arrived but couldn't get to Manila because of the flood. Yes, it's super baha because of Super Ondoy. My dad also texted me telling me that my mom's flight got diverted to Clark. Pag-sure dad, nakarating na airplane nila sa airport .. haller!

After lunch, I tried to study but could not focus. I started to have head aches and I was still wondering where could my mom and brother me since they have not replied to my text messages. I was really worried about them.

Then, of course, there's the news that the bar exams could be postponed and we have to wait for further announcements. Add to the fact that I heard that the flight of some of my friends coming from Davao for Bar Ops have been diverted because of Ondoy. Then, I also got worried because some of my batchmates and friends were out there stranded.

There was this feeling of helplessness inside of me. I was restless, worried and uneasy. I wanted to cry but couldn't. I was thinking if I was feeling like this, how about all the others out there who are really suffering. I was saying that compared with this experience, taking the bar should be easy since I just have to do my part and study and take the exam and pray. With mother nature, I don't know what to do to prepare you for it.

It was a good thing that my mom and brother found a place to stay in Makati considering that almost all roads were flooded and almost all the hotels were fully-booked. I was also grateful to that taxi driver who were kind to my mom and brother.

It was a blessing in disguise that I was with Team Palisades. We shared stories and took pictures. Considering that it was supposed to be the last Sunday of the Bar on the following day, we did not do our groceries anymore. We wanted food to be delivered but no one will deliver. So, we just finished up all the canned goods available. We were still lucky indeed.

I actually didn't mind much that the last 2 exams were to be postponed. Additional time to go over the provisions would benefit me, as I felt it did when I had additional time to go over Special Proceedings. It was just the feeling of uncertainty - whether it was going to be moved to the next Sunday or it was going to be canceled - that made me feel uneasy. Plus the fact of additional expenses for hundreds of bar takers.

But that's how mother nature works!

September 27, 2009

The next day, I thanked GOD that the sun was shining. I prayed that my friends were okay and that I could get to Makati to see my mom and brother.

I did not attend the Pre-Bar Review of AdDU anymore since I really wanted to be with my mom and brother who went to Manila for me. We attended mass, ate out and just made suroy-suroy around Makati. They left late in the afternoon.

I was feeling restless inside my room. I still could not find myself to go back to studying. So, off I went to Makati again to see my friends who wanted to support us in our last Sunday. A number of them were staying in one hotel in Makati and I was so happy to see them and be with them. I slept in one of my friend's room and left the next Sunday.

Thank you Lord for my family and friends ;)

Cleaning Out My Closet

Literally!

I try to clean out my closet at least once every 2 months.

Why?

Because I want my stuff to be organized.

Because, as much as possible, I want to see similarly colored clothes together so that I could easily locate what I am looking for.

Because it makes me realize that I have been wearing some clothes too often.

Because it makes me realize that I have not worn some clothes that much.

Because I want to give away my clothes that don't fit me anymore or that I do not plan of wearing anymore.

Because it makes me think that while I do gain or lose weight every now and then, some clothes fit me anyhow.

Because it makes me realize that I have to lose some pounds around my waist so that I can wear again my pair of suit I wore in Practice Court.

Because it makes me think if I should start wearing skirt (hehe)

Because it reinforces my practice not to shop for clothes.

Because it makes me appreciate my mom more who bought clothes for me.

Because it amazes me that I still get to wear clothes that I have been wearing since 2002 (I don't know if this funny, weird or plain amazing)

Because it makes me feel more blessed and forever grateful that I have clothes to wear.

Thank you, Lord ;)

September

It's the Bar Month!

At this time last year, I was one of those who already took half of the 2009 Bar Exams. I have already passed the stage of going over my answers - the could have been, should have been stuff - in Political Law, Labor Law, Civil Law and Taxation Law and now going over the codal provisions in Criminal and Commercial Law.

To commemorate the middle of September, I am posting bar-related text messages I have received and suprisingly kept in my cellphone after a year. Here goes:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
Jaz, il be praying for u! God bles u! - Thyrza

Gud evening ja. Sleep na for 2m's exam. I knw ur good 2 go. Just do ur best and our prayers will kip u through out the exam. Nyt2x - Bem

Lord, we ask for the guidance of d holy spirit upon Jazzie n taking d bar exam. Give her a sound bndy and mind and the wisdom, intellectual capacity 2 cmprehend & give d best answrs 2 each questions. May u grant her wish 2 become a lawyer. Dis we pray n Jesus name. Amen - Tito Ben (mom's officemate, sent through mom's number)

May God, d great master, give light to your mind, give peace to your soul, make easy for you d bar exams and bless you in taking it ..Good morning. :) - Norhani

1 day, d villagers decidd 2 pray 4 rain. On d day of prayer, every1 gatherd and only 1 boy came wid an umbrella. That's FAITH.
Wen u throw a 1 yr old baby in d air, he laughs cox he know u wil catch him. That's TRUST. Every nyt we go 2 bed, wer not sure dat we'l get up 2moro, but we stil hav many plans for d coming day. That's HOPE.
Have FAITH & TRUST n God. Never lose HOPE. GOD is good ol d time! gud am - Atty. Rogie

Thanks again for everyone who sent text messages and prayed for us .. as in!

I'm saying the same prayer and more for my dear friends and schoolmates taking up the bar exam. Go, go, go!

A Choice

I read this very wonderful article written by Mr. Rene Lizada in today's edition of Sun Star Davao. I'm posting it here to share with you (Emphasis mine):

A CHOICE
By: Rene Lizada

"HOW people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours."- Anon

I have met some very interesting people in my life and I am sure you have.

In my line of work I have to deal with people every day and I have always been fascinated with the variety and the depth and the shallowness of persons. People fascinate me because people are so diverse. No one is the same.

And we get to know people in many ways. In their manner of speech, in their values, in what they do and do not do, in what they stand for, in their strengths and yes weaknesses, in their dress, in their choices and yes in how they treat you. You get to know a lot about people in the way that they treat you.

I guess most people would be civil to one another, I guess that would be the safe route. We show only a shadow of who we really are to people we barely know.

We treat them civility and caution. It is different when it comes to family and friends. That level in which we treat family will depend on what kind of family member you are. That is also true with friends, how you treat your friends show the kind of friend you are. But in any case, the way we treat others reflects the kind of person we have become. And whether you like it or not, who you are will slowly emerge. One cannot really hide the sweetness or the stench of a person, not really. No one can hide it.

But let us leave that aside for awhile. Let us talk about how we treat others. How others treat us is something beyond our control. How we treat others is something we can do something about.

Let me tell you a story. Leo Tolstoy, the Russian writer was with a friend and they stopped by a newsstand. The writer bought a paper and the vendor gruffly gave back the change. The writer did not say anything. The following day, Tolstoy and his friend went back and got another paper. The vendor reacted the same way. This went on for a week and finally his friend could no longer contain himself and he asked the writer why he tolerated such callous behavior. Tolstoy remarked that no one can tell me how and what to feel, I refuse to let that vendor have the power over me.

Sometimes I find it odd that we let people have power over us when in fact they are powerless from the very start. If Tolstoy got mad at the vendor, in effect he was relinquishing his power to choose what and how to feel. This is true when we meet someone and say, nasira ang araw ko dahil nakita ko sya. Your happiness depends on a person? There is something amiss with you if you think that way.

Your happiness does not depend on another person, it depends on you. Tolstoy and let me quote him again said it best, "if you want to be happy, be." Do not place the power of your choice in the hands of people because most people will put you down. Your happiness lies within you, it is your choice. No one can make you happy, only you. And in the same way, no one can make you miserable except yourself. Ultimately, it is your choice. And how we react to those who belittle us, judge us, despise us shows us the kind of people we are.

It was Christ who gave us the remedy for evil. If someone slaps you in one cheek, let us give the other. If someone takes your clothes, give him your coat as well. That is not being a coward, on the contrary that is the height of courage and strength. It is so easy to slap back. It is very difficult to just stand there and take it. But in slapping back, you give the other person the satisfaction of stooping to their level. No decent person will slap you deliberately, steal from you purposely. Only those who are consumed by hate and greed can do that. And if you slap back you fall into their trap. You and I have the choice. You and I have the power to let it just go.

Supposing someone stole something from you and you meet this person. And this person who knows that he or she stole from you will greet you and say hi to you as if nothing happened. What would you think? What would you do? You have a choice. You get down to that person's level and scream and curse which that person would just love you to do because that is THAT person's level.

Or you do the right thing. Let it be. If that person greets you knowing fully well what he or she did, there is something very abnormal about that. In the end each person no matter what he or she thinks, no matter what he or she does, will always know the truth. Each person in the darkness and the stillness of the night will have to deal with the things that they do. We all have to face our demons.

You do not allow that person to have power over you. That person might have stolen something from you but that person will never steal the dignity you have, the choice you have, unless of course you allow it.

Do not let those who are powerless over you have the power over you.

The Cell Phone

Congratulations to me! I got a new cell phone!

Yup, I have a new Nokia 2700 phone and the second one that I owned as brand-new.

I had my first phone back in December 2000. I think I first had a 5110, then came a 3210.

I had my beloved 3210 when I graduated from college, while I was still working and kept it until around early 2006 when I was already in law school. I had fun with my 3210 as I was the butt of jokes on why I didn't by a new one considering that I was already earning. I answered that I don't need a new one since it was still working. And I think the major, major reason was that at least if it gets snatched in Metro Manila, I won't worry much about the phone and how much it costs. I just have to worry about my sim and all the contacts. We even had this running joke that even if I would be very willing to surrender my phone, the robber would just let me keep my phone .. haha

Thereafter, my aunt gave me her Nokia Red Flip Phone (I don't know the model .. haha)., wherein I had fun doing the flips but I guess that resulted to more necessary fixes.

Then, after a year or so, I had this hand-me-down Nokia Gray Phone (I don't know what model again .. haha) and still keeps it to this day. And when I went to Manila for the bar last year, I also had another hand-me-down Nokia Orange Phone (Yes, I identify it by color .. haha)

Now, I have this Nokia 2700 as a replacement of the Nokia Orange Phone.

And the fact that I am most proud of is that I didn't spend any money to acquire any of those phones. Sure, I may have spend a few bucks to have some of them repaired. But I did not purchase any one of those.

The first new phone I got was a gift from my mom. The rest are hand-me-downs, which I did not pay for. And the recent one is a freebie from one of the networks (telecommunication networks, not TV networks .. hehe)

Oh, I know .. I'm kuripot!

Say What You Want

I sort of expected the worst when it comes to students' evaluation of the teachers. Let's just say I have already been warned and thus, I did not set up my expectations high.

A few weeks ago, I already received my first set of evaluation by my students last semester. You have the usual numerical figures as to how many students in a class chose always, most often, sometimes or never.

And then, you have the comments and suggestions part. Here are the Top 10 Comments for me, in no particular order (murag Ms. Universe!):

1. You should give examples not taken from the text book

(I expected this since I already told them beforehand that I'll be using the examples in the textbook so that it's easy for them to understand the illustrations. I found it hard at the beginning giving examples different from the textbook and then they come up to ask why is it like this or like that in the book. After the illustrations, that's when I try to change some facts .. defensive .. haha!)

2. Don't be too fast in discussing our lessons! Discuss it clearly and properly!

(I do not much have objection here except that most students really expect to be spoon-fed with all the topics. I always have to explain to them that it's a two-way street)


3. You can't do anything about the noise,
don't give surprise quizzes just because you are angry.

(I was surprised because I don't give out surprise quizzes. It doesn't mean that if the student was surprised, then, it's already a surprise quiz. Most probably, the student was absent last time when I announced the quiz .. hehe .. kaya nasurprise jud siya!)

4. Make your true/false questions easier. It's kind of confusing sometimes.

(It's probably because law school trained me well .. hehe)

5. I hate the subject but the teacher's great in teaching.
I get to understand the subject already

(One of my goals in teaching .. achieved!)

6. She returns quizzes and assignments within one (1) week. Brilliant teacher. She is very generous and understanding.

(Most of the times, I really return it on the next meeting. I was very appreciative when I read this, most especially because I have a feeling that the one who wrote this is one brilliant student!)

7. Olrayt!

(Another one of those comments which I have a feeling who wrote. And to think that at the time it was written, the student whom I suspect wrote this wasn't really doing well in class)

8. More patient during class discussion. Don't lose your cool ma'am just take a breath so that you may end the class not in a bad mood. Take care always!

(Admittedly, this comes from the only class where I get in bad mood, though not often. Maybe I am already tired plus the fact that daghan jud badlongon .. hehe)


9. Those student I hell we who do not know how to study

(This is the most confusing comment .. hehe ;)


10. Maau kaau mutodlo naa koy natun-an. Happy Birthday.
We love you ma'am. You're the best!

(Another one that keeps me going with this profession!)

Whether it's good or bad, positive or negative, I thank the Lord that I get to do what I want to do and that what I want to do really makes happy and content.

Until the next evaluation!