...I made the decision during Pacman's glorious evisceration of Miguel Cotto that he finally had reached the exalted "I Don't Care Who You Are Fighting, I Am Watching It Live & That's That" status, which puts him in the following company: Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tyson. My own personal Mount Rushmore. Pacquiao hit Tiger/Federer status about a year ago, and nobody cared. That's why he needs the Mayweather fight so badly. We've seen dominant pound-for-pound guys these past two decades, but nobody with finishing power anything like what Pacman has. He's like a coked-up Aaron Pryor, only without the coke. Insane. If he's fighting, I am watching.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Bill Simmons Finally Falls for Manny Pacquiao
Saturday, November 21, 2009
What the Supreme Court Said in 2004 On Distinction Between Secular & Religious Morality
Our landmark ruling in Estrada v. Escritor emphasizes that in determining whether the acts complained of constitute "disgraceful and immoral behavior" under the Civil Service Laws, the distinction between public and secular morality on the one hand, and religious morality, on the other should be kept in mind. The distinction between public and secular morality as expressed—albeit not exclusively—in the law, on the one hand, and religious morality, on the other, is important because the jurisdiction of the Court extends only to public and secular morality. Thus, government action, including its proscription of immorality as expressed in criminal law like concubinage, must have a secular purpose.[A]ny judicial pronouncement that an activity constitutes "disgraceful and immoral" behavior under the contemplation of the Civil Service law must satisfy the test that such conduct is regulated on account of the concerns of public and secular morality. Such judicial declarations cannot be mere effectuations of personal bias, notably those colored by particular religious mores. Nor would the demand be satisfied by the haphazard invocation of "cultural" values, without a convincing demonstration that these cultural biases have since been recognized and given accord within the realm of public policy. The Constitution and the statutes of the land would serve as especially authoritative sources of recognition, since they are irrefutable as to what the public policy is. At the same time, the constitutional protections afforded under the Bill of Rights should be observed, to the extent that they protect behavior that may be frowned upon by the majority.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
On Noynoy Aquino's First Online Press Conference
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Plugging Lang: 2009 UP Law Grand Alumni Homecoming
Quoting verbatim from the message I received:
The Silver Jubilarian Class of 1984 is inviting fellow alumni to the 2009 U.P. Law Grand Alumni Homecoming to be held on Thursday, 19 November 2009, at the Rizal Ballroom of the Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Ayala Center, Makati City. Registration will start at 6:00 p.m.
Class 84 is exerting every effort to make this a truly memorable evening of warmth and laughter. There will be an exhibit of paintings of U.P. Law alumni by Atty. Antonio “Tony” M. Meer, U.P. Law Class 1950 (cum laude) and Chairman Emeritus of the U.P. Law Alumni Association, Inc. In addition, Class 84 is also publishing a commemorative book, to be named “Malcolm”, which will be distributed at the Alumni Homecoming.
The evening’s guest of honor will be our beloved Professor Araceli T. Baviera. Dean Marvic M.V.F. Leonen will officially launch the run-up to the Centennial Celebration of the U.P. College of Law in 2011. He will briefly present to the U.P. Law Alumni the Centennial Projects which are now in the pipe line. The master of ceremonies will be the very talented Mr. Willie Nepomuceno.
The short program will also feature the Golden Jubilarian Class of 1959, followed by music and dancing with the Spirit of ’67 and the Brass Munkeys.
Tickets cost PHP 2,000, inclusive of dinner and entertainment, and can be purchased from the Dean’s Office at the UP College of Law.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Could COMELEC Officials Be Jailed 1-6 Years For Not Extending Voter Registration Beyond October 31?
Section 8. System of Continuing Registration of Voters. The personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours. No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a regular election and ninety (90) days before a special election.
Section 45. Election Offenses. - The following shall be considered election offenses under this Act: xxxj) Violation of the provisions of this Act.
As structured, Section 45 of Republic Act No. 8189 makes a recital of election offenses under the same Act. Section 45(j) is, without doubt, crystal in its specification that a violation of any of the provisions of Republic Act No. 8189 is an election offense. The language of Section 45(j) is precise. The challenged provision renders itself to no other interpretation. A reading of the challenged provision involves no guesswork. We do not see herein an uncertainty that makes the same vague. (emphasis supplied)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
How to Compensate for Donor Fatigue (in Pepeng relief)
The aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy ("Ketsana") saw an extraordinary demonstration of the charitable spirit of Pinoys around the world. Few hesitated to dole out donations in cash or kind, many others sacrificed time off their school or professional lives to volunteer in relief centers. The sort of exhibition that evokes genuine pride in what we can accomplish as a society. However, just as life was seemingly settling back to normal, the dire news started to trickle down from Northern Luzon. Typhoon Pepeng ("Parma"), which had frazzled Metro Manila into a state of mild panic last October 2 before veering north, had apparently left a toll more severe and comprehensive than Ondoy. Even more homes were damaged, more families forced to resettle in evacuation centers, more people were killed.
Monday, September 28, 2009
The Urgent Need for an Online List of Evacuees from Typhoon Ondoy
New Storm/Flood Warning For Philippines This Week
It is reported that 2 more tropical depressions are feared to hit the Philippines this week. Via Facebook, I came across this Note written by Inday Espina-Varona, relaying a message from Yvette Lee. Due to the urgency of the warning, I'm reposting the Note in its entirety (with apologies) so that the proper caution and preparation can be had by as many people as possible.
Yvette Lee, a veteran diver, and the friend I rely on for weather forecasts, has never been wrong yet about which way the wind blows (or how much rain will fall). Many times, she has told me to disregard Pag-asa because various other satellites, including those used by the US military, are showing different storm tracks. On Friday, she said winds would be light but waters very heavy and to prepare for serious floods.Let's hope if the worst does come, we are utterly prepared.
Tonight, with some urgency, she asked me to contact Gibo, if I could. I've texted her message en toto to a defense reporter, but am posting it here anyway in the hope someone who does know Gibo or the AFP Chief or some such top gun can relay it. They may know what Yvette knows already but she is worried due to the absence of clear-cut warnings on TV and radio news. She would post here but has no Internet access at the moment. I'm tagging as many people I know that cover Crame and Aguinaldo (or who are there, thus the soldiers). Perhaps, other media people can check with their own sources and issue warnings that people can heed.
Here's her message:
IF YOU HAVE CONTACT NUMBER OF GIBO YOU BETTER LET HIM KNOW TO EXPECT RAINS AGAIN BEGINNING TOMORROW. BAKA KALA NILA WALA NA TYPHOON WALA NANG RAIN. THE WEATHER SATELLITES SHOW RAIN COMING IN FROM THE EAST FOR 2 DAYS AT LEAST.
THEY SHOULD ASK THE PEOPLE WHO WERE STANDING ON ROOFS AND WHO WENT BACK INSIDE, TO LEAVE TILL WATER GOES DOWN TO NORMAL BECAUSE THE WATER WILL RISE VERY FAST AGAIN WHEN IT STARTS RAINING...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
On Assisting Philippine Victims of Tropical Storm Ketsana ("Ondoy")
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red CrossMETROBANKPort Area BranchPeso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2Type of Acct. : SAVINGSSwift Code: MBTC PH MMBANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDSPort Area BranchPeso Acct.: 4991-0010-99Type of Account: CURRENTBANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDSUN BranchDollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94Type of Account: SAVINGSSwift Code: BOPI PH MMFor your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the banktransaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with yourname, address and contact number.Credit CardPlease fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone &mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last threedigits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to bedonated.For more details, visit www.redcross.org.ph .
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Alexis Tioseco
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Philippine Free Press 101st Anniversary Edition

I got my copy at Caltex-Julia Vargas, also available at 7/11 and National Bookstores, or you can call 844-2316, 844-2251, 844-2275, 0919-583-8487 for orders.
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Underrated Genius of Carlo J. Caparas
Abuel: O hija, buksan mo na yung napaka-raming regalo ko.
Sunshine: (smiling demurely) Salamat itay, pero sa wari'y ko hindi ako nararapat tanggapin ang mga regalong iyan. (turning to her several elder brothers) Oh mga kuya, sa inyo na lang ang mga regalo ko.
Mga Kuya: Uy, tenk you!!
(The kuyas charge at the table and each grabs a gift for their own. Sunshine and her parents exchange meaningful looks and exchange hearty laughter.)Years ago, I laughed at the seeming idiocy of this scene. Yet upon mature retrospect, the genius of the visionary overwhelms. One would expect the brothers to be repulsed by the thought of appropriating the presents gifted to their sister on their eighteenth birthday. A hack director would have played the scene that way. What the auteur Caparas does is to confound our gender-driven expectations, compelling us to question our tacit acceptance of the male-female role vis-a-vis birthday gifts which conservative society had imposed on us. And there is no more vital role for an artist than to challenge our own values system.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
For Those Calling for the Canonization into Sainthood of Corazon Aquino
With the special permission given by the Vatican, President Cory was finally face-to-face with Sister Lucia [of Fatima renown], who told her: "I have been praying for you all this time! Do you still have the rosary I sent you?"
It was the rosary Sister Lucia herself had made for her and given through Cardinal [Jaime] Sin, who had asked how she came to know about Cory, without radio or television or nespapers in the convent: Was it through the Blessed Mother? Lucia just smiled. (p. 179-180)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Game-Changer
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Goliath is Dead, Or Wins (Worst Front Page Ever)
Apparently, Michael Jackson is Goliath, and he will win, says the Palace. And when that happens, the world will mourn like it mourned Kennedy. A prediction from Nostradamus? Just another atrocious PDI front page, though this one is the stuff of legends.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Live-Tweeting the 1986 People Power Revolution
I was 9 years old during the 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines, but my memories of those four days are still quite vivid (it helps that I was even then, such a nerd). Here's how I would have tweeted the event. To the best of my memory.
