Bar Topnotchers, 1946-2008

August 1946
1. Gregoria Cruz, UP.................92.25
2. Roberto H. Benitez, UP............92.05
3. Aurora Marcos, UP.................91.75
4. Amadeo R. Neri, SC................91.50
5. Antonio G. Ibarra, UP.............90.90
6. Natividad G. Adduru, UP...........90.15
7. Alberto B. Villaraza, UP..........90.10
8. Teodoro C. Unson, FEU.............89.70
9. Vicente Caluag Jr., UP............89.65
10. Jesus P. Garcia, UST.............88.25

November 1946
1 Pedro L. Yap UP 91.70
2 Jose S. Zafra ACL 91.30
3 Fermin R. Mesina UP 89.40
4 Arturo M. del Rosario UST 89.30
5 Jose L. Papa UST 89.30
6 Jose R. Quintos FLS 89.20
7 Eriberto D. Ignacio UP 89.15
8 Alberto V. Señeris SU 88.80
9 Strauss S. Mendoza PLS 88.75
10 Emilio Centena UP 88.45

1947
1 Aumerfina A. Melencio UP 93.85
2 Augusto G. Syjuco AU 92.90
3 Juan M. Hagad UP 91.75
3 Antonio V. Montelibano CSA 91.75
4 Aguedo F. Agbayani UP 91.40
5 Buenaventura S. dela Fuente UP 89.05
6 Lorna Lombos UP 88.95
7 Ambrosio A. Acevedo AdeMU 88.70
7 Jesus SJ Sayuc FEU 88.70
8 Elizalde P. Rodrigazo PLS 88.65
9 Francisco Sumulong AU 88.60
10 Emma Quisumbing UP 88.30

1948
1 Manuel G. Montecillo FEU 95.50
2 Jose M. Evangelista UM 95.05
3 Francisco T. Papa UP 94.50
4 Lorenzo Miravite MLQU 94.45
5 Blasito E. Angeles MLQU 94.35
6 Fernando S. Ruiz PLS 93.85
7 Avelino C. Teaño Special 93.70
8 Kaulayao V. Faylona MLQU 93.45
8 Bienvenido A. Tan Jr. UP 93.45
9 Irene R. Cortez UP 92.95
10 Alberto P. San Juan UP 92.50

1949
1 Anacleto C. Mañgaser PLS 95.85
2 Dominador Aytona UM 94.55
3 Ramon Encarnacion Jr. MLQU 94.10
4 Celso L. Magsino FEU 93.50
5 Jose C. Campos Jr. UP 93.10
5 Nicias Mendoza MLQU 93.10
6 Enrique M. Belo UP 92.95
7 Ladislao L. Reyes UP 92.90
8 Generoso V. Jacinto UP 92.80
9 Neptali A. Gonzales PLS 92.50
10 Robustiano Espiritu MLQU 92.15

1950
1 Carolina C. Griño Special 92.05
2 Ramon O. Reynoso, Jr. UP 91.15
3 Rodolfo Ganzon ICC 91.10
4 Andres E. Matias FLS 90.30
5 Alicia V. Sempio MLQU 90.05
6 Mariano V. Ampil Jr. UP 89.30
7 Deogracias P. Lirio FEU 89.15
8 Gregorio S. Turiano FEU 88.85
9 Arturo T. de Guia UST 88.80
10 Miguel V. Gonzales MLQU 88.50
10 Ciriaco G. Lopez UP 88.50

1951
1 Vicente R. Acsay UM 92.25
2 Andres R. Narvasa UST 91.60
3 Pablo P. Garcia USC 91.50
4 William R. Veto AdeMU 91.20
5 Fortunato A. Vailoces USC 90.85
6 Isidro C. Zarraga UP 90.55
7 Benildo G. Hernandez MLQU 90.45
8 Isagani A. Cruz MLQU 90.15
9 Timoteo J. Sumawang MLQU 90.10
10 Cesar B. Dadivas FLS 89.85

1952
1 Pedro S. C. Animas UP 94.25
2 Gabriel C. Singson AdeMU 93.75
3 Marciano C. Sicat FEU 93.30
4 Augusto Almeda-Lopez UP 93.10
4 Rosalino A. Centeno FEU 93.10
5 Andres C. Regalado UP 92.90
6 Florentino P. Feliciano UP 92.90
7 Alfredo Marigomen UP 92.55
7 Roman D. Valdez FEU 92.55
8 Jeremias U. Montemayor AdeMU 92.50
9 Meynardo A. Tiro AdeMU 92.30
10 Godofredo F. Trajano UST 92.05

1953
1 Leonardo A. Amores UM 94.05
2 Juan J. Diaz MLQU 93.85
3 Jose B. Aquino AdeMU 93.25
4 Jose C. Reyes AdeMU 93.10
5 Bernanrdo P. Fernandez SBC 92.75
6 Vicenzo A. Sagun SU 92.55
7 Leopoldo A. Francisco MLQU 92.40
8 Oscar M. Herrera FEU 92.25
9 Lauro V. Francisco MLQU 92.20
10 Ernesto D. Tobias UP 92.05

1954
1 Florenz D. Regalado SBC 96.70
2 Renato L. dela Fuente SBC 95.95
3 Antonio R. Quintos AdeMU 95.50
4 Raymundo A. Armovit UP 94.30
5 Bienvenido V. Reyes MLQU 93.70
5 Jose R. Viñas MLQU 93.70
6 Benjamin V. Abela UP 93.50
6 Rodolfo J. Herman ONI 93.50
6 Salome A. Montoya FEU 93.50
7 Quirico T. Carag Jr. UP 93.45
8 Pacifico M. Castro UST 93.35
9 Rene Espina USP 93.20
10 Banjamin P. Paulino UE 93.00

1955
1 Tomas P. Matic, Jr. FEU 90.55
2 Juan G. Colias, JR. UP 89.90
3 Emmanuel S. Tipon UP 89.55
4 Ricardo M. Ilarde MLQU 87.90
5 Valentino G. Castro MLQU 86.80
6 Jose S. Balajadia UP 86.30
6 Manuel T. Muro FEU 86.30
7 Artemio R. Aliva UP 86.25
7 Vicente V. Asuncion, Jr. AdeMU 86.25
7 Jovencio F. Cinco FEU 86.25
8 Francisco G. de Guzman MLQU 86.15
9 Julio T. Baldonado MLQU 86.00
10 Lourdes J. Fajutrao MLQU 85.95

1956
1 Francisco C. Catral SBC 90.20
2 Nereo J. Paculdo UP 89.55
3 Carlos R. Imperial AdeMU 89.50
4 Alfonso B. Camillo UST 89.40
4 Juanito R. Remulla UP 89.40
5 Artemio R. Corpuz LP 89.15
5 Melencio C. Corpuz UE 89.15
5 Benjamin M. Grecia FEU 89.15
6 Raul L. Correa UP 89.10
7 Benigno A. Bernardo FEU 88.95
8 Andre L. Navato SBC 88.60
9 Ernesto M. Maceda AdeMU 88.55
10 Victor L. Sison SBC 88.50

1957
1 Gregorio R. Castillo UP 89.15
2 Antonio F. Navarrete AdeMU 88.65
3 Samson S. Alcantara MLQU 88.20
4 Don M. Ferry UP 88.15
5 Sabino R. Padilla, Jr. UP 88.00
6 Vicente D. Millora UP 87.65
7 Jose E. Picazo UP 87.40
8 Enrique D. Perez SBC 87.05
9 Romeo C. dela Cruz UP 87.00
10 Perfecto V. Fernandez UP 86.95

1958
1 Manuel G. Abello UP 89.25
2 Jose dlC Concepcion UP 89.10
3 Jose N. Nolledo FEU 88.95
4 Antonio J. Navas, Jr. UST 86.75
5 Norberto S. Gonzales MLQU 86.70
6 Virgilio C. Manguera UP 86.60
7 Sergio A. Apostol AdeMU 86.45
8 Raul Flores MLQU 86.30
9 Amado M. Santiago, Jr. AdMU 86.25
10 Benjamin A. Claveria UNC 85.95

1959
1 Agustin O. Benitez FEU 89.20
2 Lorenzo G. Timbol UP 88.75
3 Amado A./ Bulaong, Jr. UP 88.45
4 Custodio O. Parlade FEU 88.40
5 Romulo M. Villa UP 88.05
6 Ismael G. Khan, Jr. UP 87.95
7 Nelly A. Favias UP 87.50
8 Efren G. Gutierrez UP 87.40
9 Francis M. Zosa AdeMU 87.15
10 Pedro G. Banzon UST 87.10

1960
1 Ismael Andres MLQU 91.70
2 James J. Litton UP 91.65
3 Florencio Z. Sioson LP 91.15
4 Redentor A. Salonga AdeMU 90.15
5 David C. Naval UNC 89.85
6 Artemio V. Panganiban, Jr. FEU 89.55
7 Jose S. Brillantes AdeMU 89.20
8 Rolando N. Velasco SBC 88.95
9 Gregorio P. Molina AdeMU 88.75
10 Valerio Salazar USC 88.25

1961
1 Avelino V. Cruz SBC 90.95
2 Antonio T. Lacson AdeMU 89.20
3 Manuel B. Zamora, Jr. UP 87.45
4 Victor J. Lee FEU 86.80
5 Eugenio S. Suarez UP 86.70
6 Reginaldo I. Oben UST 86.60
7 Filemon Fernandez USC 86.45
7 Isidro E. Real, Jr. LP 86.45
8 Eliddoro G. Ubiadas UP 86.35
9 Maxie S. Aguillon UST 86.00
10 Jovito E. Talabong LuzC 85.80

1962
1 Deogracias G. Eufemio UP 90.80
2 Felicisimo R. Quioque SBC 89.70
3 Ma. Luisa A. Mendoza LP 87.10
4 Adolfo S. Azcuna AdeMU 86.80
5 Virgilio B. Jara SBC 86.35
6 Elizabeth R. Tan UP 86.30
7 Manuel R. Castro UP 86.00
8 Haydee B. Uorac UP 86.95
9 Joaquin G. Bernas AdeMU 85.10
10 Prospero A. Olivas BC 84.95

1963
1 Cornelio C. Gison AdeMU 86.35
2 Hector A. Martinez UP 85.95
3 Wenceslao R. dela Paz USA 85.05
4 Teodoro a. Almazen UV 84.95
4 Myrna Policrpio Cruz UST 84.95
5 Antonio A. Picazo UP 84.90
6 REnato V. Saguisag SBC 84.85
7 Carmelo Betita UP 83.20
8 Honorato Y. Aquino BCF 83.05
8 Remeo Limpingco FEU 83.05
8 Roberto P. Ocampo UE 83.05
9 Jose P. Mendoza SBC 83.00
10 Antonio H. Abad, Jr. FEU 82.80

1964
1 Jesus P. Castelo SBC 88.40
2 Demetrio G. Demetria UE 86.85
3 Fernando T. Chua AdeMU 86.75
4 Eduardo G. Berenguer AdeMU 86.15
5 Raymundo Dizon, Jr. AdeMU 86.10
6 Manuel S. Ferandos SBC 85.60
7 Adolfo A. Angala AdeMU 85.35
8 Ferdinand S. Tinio UP 85.00
9 Ma. Ana C. Chanco UP 84.60
10 Raul S. Picardo SBC 84.40

1965
1 Victor S. dela Serna SBC 89.80
2 Mercedita V. Santiago UP 89.55
3 Angelito C. Imperio UP 88.70
4 Jose I. Castell FEU 87.45
5 Luisito G. Baluyot AdeMU 86.50
6 Trudon G. German AdeMU 85.85
7 Frank Y. Tan AdeMU 85.50
8 Pio Y. Go USC 85.30
9 Antonio V. Ramil UP 84.95
10 Roberto Palmares USC 84.85

1966
1 Roberto San Jose UP 90.60
2 Ruben F. Balane UP 88.50
2 Pablo S. Trillana III SBC 88.50
3 Teodoro Villarmia, Jr. AdMU 88.45
4 Francisco D. Yap SU 87.70
5 Wilfredo M. Chato UP 87.00
6 Sonia Bautista UP 86.75
7 Arturo G. Cabilete AdMU 86.60
8 Hildegardo F. Iñigo AdeC 86.35
9 Ramon Aviado, Jr. AdeMU 86.25
10 Antonio B. Dayrit FEU 86.20

1967
1 Rodolfo D. Robles SBC 89.60
2 Mario Guarin\ña III USA 87.80
3 Basilio H. Alo UE 87.15
4 Douglas R. Cagas UE 86.85
5 Sylvia Katherine F. Luczon FEU 86.05
5 Rolando s. Santos SBC 86.05
5 Thomas V. Tieng SBC 86.05
6 Manuel S. Quimbo AdeMU 86.00
7 Antonio B. Nachura SBC 85.70
8 Pablito V. Sanidad UP 85.50
9 Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr. UP 84.90
10 Franklin M. Ebdalin AdeMU 84.80

1968
1 Oscar B. Glovasa UB 87.45
2 Jose Mario C. Buñag AdeMU 86.85
3 Jacinto D. Jimenez AdeMU 86.80
4 Franco L. Loyola FEU 86.05
5 Leandro C. Pancito MLQU 86.75
6 Soledad M. Cagampang UP 85.52
7 Raul Cabrera AdeMU 85.50
8 Antonio B. Panopio UE 85.00
10 Nestor I. Madlansacay LP 84.8

1969
1 Ronaldo B. Zamora UP 87.30
2 Nicolas B. Madrazo UE 87.25
3 Franklin M. Drilon UP 86.85
4 Arthur B. Soller AdeMU 86.05
5 Aniceto Y. Dideles UP 85.80
5 Danilo L. Protacio AdeMU 85.80
6 William P. Mellana AdeMU 85.60
6 Procopio V. Vergel de Dios, Jr. AdeMU 86.80
7 German a. Gineta UST 85.55
8 Antonio H. Dujua AdeMU 85.25
8 Quintin J. Garcia SBC 85.25
9 Oswaldo A. Esperat SU 85.15
10 Silvestre J. Acejas UP 84.95

1970
1 Romulo D. San Juan UP 87.50
2 Kamar M. Boloto UE 86.75
2 Jesus N. Borillo, Jr. AdeMU 86.75
3 Arturo M. de Catro UP 86.60
4 Obed C. Cutaran FEU 85.40
5 Juan D. de Zuñiga FEU 85.25
6 Jose L. Baizas FEU 84.95
7 Lou G. Tirol SBC 84.75
8 Hermogenes R. Liwag LP 84.55
9 Marcelo T. Oñate FEU 84.50
10 Rodrigo I. Alano FEU 84.40

1971
1 Henry R. Villarica UP 92.40
2 Prospero C. Nograles AdMU 90.95
3 Victor P. Lazatin UP 9.65
4 Liberador V. Villegas AdeMU 90.65
5 Romulo P. Atencia AdeMU 90.45
6 Virgilio Ma. S. del Rosario AdeMU 89.95
6 Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. UP 89.85
7 Angelito W. Chua FEU 89.60
8 Amando M. L. Suratos AdeMU 89.30
9 Eduardo N. Aguillon USA 89.25
10 Flavio P. Gutierrez UST 88.95

1972
1 Januario B. Soller, Jr. AdeMU 87.13
2 Jesus M. Manalastas UP 86.43
3 George A. Eduvala SBC 86.08
3 Leo J. Palma UP 86.08
4 Solon R. Garcia AdeMU 85.80
5 Francis Y. Gaw AdeMU 85.50
6 Domingo C. Palarca UP 85.13
7 Felito S. Ramirez SBC 84.83
8 Corazon D. Martinez UST 84.50
9 Jesus F. Balicanta SBC 84.28
10 Felino M. Ganal UP 84.13

1973
1 Vicente R. Solis AdeMU 90.30
2 Victoria Piñera AdeMU 89.60
3 Ricardo T. Chu, Jr. USA 88.60
4 Charles S. Anastacio SBC 87.20
5 Manuel L. M. Torres SBC 87.05
6 Ernesto R. Lim, Jr. SBC 86.90
7 Frumencio A. Lagustan SBC 86.80
8 Abraham B. Borreta UP 86.45
9 Lucas P. Bersamin UE 86.30
10 Jesus G. Dureza AdeD 86.25

1974
1 Arturo D. Brion AdeMU 91.65
2 Ferdinand T. Santos SBC 90.70
3 Francis H. Jardeleza UP 88.35
4 Rafael A. Morales UP 87.79
5 Francisco B. Luna FEU 87.39
6 Delfin M. Quijano CSJ-R 87.34
7 Nanette R. de Castro UP 86.90
8 Kenneth M. Barredo UNO-R 86.70
9 Marcelo J. Abibas, Jr. MLQU 86.20
10 Luis A. Vera Cruz, Jr. UP 85.88

1975
1 Nicanor B. Padilla, Jr. UE 86.70
2 Natividad B. Kwan AdeMU 86.55
3 Emmanuel R. Pacquiao UV 86.50
4 Augusto G. Panlilio AdeMU 86.35
5 Edmundo I. Imperial AdeMU 86.25
6 Antonio T. Carpio UP 85.70
6 Roldan B. Dalman AdeMU 85.70
7 Edgardo A. Abinales UE 85.30
8 William L. Chua UNO-R 85.05
9 Rosmari D. Carandang UP 84.95
10 Vicente B. Amador UP 84.90
10 Josefa K. CAuton UP 84.90
10 Vicente Q. Roxas UP 84.90

1976
1 Enrique Y. Teehankee UP 90.80
2 Pedro Y. Aquino FEU 89.95
3 Arthur E. Galace BCF 89.45
4 Vicente F. Ruaro AdeMU 88.50
5 Jose A. Curammeng, Jr. UST 88.25
6 Arturo C. Villamor USC 88.05
7 Mariano E. Sarmiento II UP 87.95
8 Ruben V. Abarquez AdeD 87.65
9 Florencio M. Martinez SBC 87.65
10 Federico C. Cabilao, Jr. UDC 87.50

1977
1 Virgilio B. Gesmundo AdeMU 91.80
2 Lowell T. Yap UE 91.35
3 Ruben O. Purisima AdeMU 91.18
4 Eduardo V. Viloria UE 91.05
5 Richard N. Ferrer AdeMU 90.72
6 Pelagio T. Ricalde UP 90.45
7 Avelino J. Cruz, Jr. UP 90.42
8 Ruen M. Cleofe AdeMU 90.05
9 Joel M. Famador USC 89.61
10 Nicolas J. Gomez, Jr. AdeMU 89.48

1978
1 Cosme D. Rosell UP 92.47
2 Domingo M. Navarro SBC 90.97
3 Alexander J. Poblador UP 90.95
4 Phillip B. King AdeMU 90.52
5 Edgardo A. Camello UP 90.42
6 Ramon C. Casano SBC 90.35
7 Andres S. Santos UE 90.02
8 Viveca L. Codamon LP 89.90
8 Rodolfo C. Fariñas AdeMU 89.90
9 Spyros L. Osorio SBC 89.87
10 Susan N. delos Reyes ZAEC 89.35

1979
1 Gregorio M. Batiler, Jr. AdeMU 91.40
2 Rene B. Gorospe UST 90.60
3 Barbara Anne C. Migallos UP 90.30
4 Marius P. Corpus AdeMU 90.00
5 Simeon V. Marcelo UP 89.90
6 Mario Luza Bautista UP 89.20
7 Rolando V. Medalla, Jr. UP 89.05
8 Jaime M. Blanco, Jr. UP 88.90
9 Gabriel L. Villareal UP 88.80
10 Guillermo A. Villasor, Jr. UNO-R 88.05

1980
1 Rafael L. Lagos UP 89.75
2 Marilyn a. Victorio UP 89.55
3 Jaime S. Jacob SBC 89.45
4 Purisimo S. Buyco UP 88.70
4 Reynaldo G. Salutan AdeMU 87.70
5 Bayani K. Tan UP 87.25
6 Noel G. Sanchez AdeMU 87.00
7 Jose F. Caoibes, Jr. UP 86.70
8 Epifania Q. Navarro AdeMU 86.55
9 Dante G. Ilaya MLQU 86.50
9 Joseph H. Reyes AdeMU 86.50
10 Giorgidi B. Aggabao AdeMU 86.45

1981
1 Irene Regodon-Guevarra AdeMU 90.95
2 Cesar L. Vilanueva AdeMU 90.15
3 Arthur T. Lim USC 90.10
4 Edgardo M. de Vera AdeMU 88.80
5 Celia Librea-Leagogo UP 88.45
6 Virgilio s. Jacinto UP 88.25
6 Jose Jesus Laruel AdeMU 88.25
7 Victoria R. Timbancaya SU 87.95
8 Edgar Julio S. Asuncion UP 87.70
8 Jose P. Crisostomo, Jr. 87.70
8 Omar B. Redula USC 87.70
9 Soledad G. Fuentes AdeMU 87.40
10 Rogelio V. Quevado UP 87.30

1982
1 Ray C. Espinosa AdeMU 90.95
2 Lily U. Valencia UNO-R 90.85
3 Silverio Benny J. Tan UP 90.80
4 Luisito V. Liban UP 90.15
5 Efren L. de Leon AdeMU 89.82
6 Edwin C. Yan FEU 89.70
7 Vidor A. Nosce AdeMU 89.32
8 Eduardo P. Lizares UP 88.55
9 Francisco S. de Guzman SBC 88.52
10 Simeon R. Raya, Jr. AdeMU 88.35

1983
1 Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee UP 91.40
2 Salvador S. Hipolito UE 90.60
3 William Y. Wee AdMU 90.55
4 Melvyn S. Jurisprudencia UNO-R 89.75
5 Rocky L. Reyes UP 88.35
6 Agerico T. Paras AdMU 88.30
7 Rosendo U. Castillo, Jr. SBC 88.15
7 Yolanda T. Mendoza UP 88.15
8 Jose Arturo R. Natividad AdeMU 87.90
9 Reynaldo S. Nicolas UP 87.75
10 Gil A. Valera AdeMU 87.70

1984
1 Richard M. Chiu AdeMU 92.85
2 Roy Joseph M. Rafols AdeMU 91.32
3 Dolores P. Abad USA 90.95
3 Manuel J. Laserna, Jr. FEU 90.85
4 Ernesto R. Añasco SBC 90.65
5 Vivencio F. Abaño AdeMU 90.30
5 Priscilla baltazar-Padilla LP 90.30
6 Manuel M. Macasaet AdeMU 90.27
7 Victor L. Chan AdeMU 90.05
8 Renato C. Pineda AdeMU 89.95
9 Arnold L. Barba XU 89.92
10 Antonio P. Bonilla AdeMU 89.75

1985
1 Janette Susan L. Peña UP 89.40
2 Menardo I. Guevarra AdeMU 88.22
3 Edison F. Quintin MLQU 87.70
3 Lilian B. Hefti SBC 87.7
4 Abelardo T. Domondon AdU 87.45
5 Oscar Gerard C. Breva AdeMU 87.40
5 Ma. Victoria S. Rotor AdeMU 87.40
6 Buenaventura C. Go-Soco, Jr. DWU 86.65
7 Edward S. Serapio AdeMU 86.30
8 Leila M. De Lima-Bohol SBC 86.26
9 Fe D. Vivencio AdeMU 86.15
10 Ma. Elena G. Opinion USA 86.12
10 Mary Carolyn S. Que SBC 86.12

1986
1 Laurence L. Go AdeMU 88.60
2 Armando S. Kho AdeMU 87.60
3 Solomon M. Hermosrura SBC 86.80
4 Jose Ismael Enrique C. Palma, Jr. AdeMU 86.60
5 Roberto a. Gana AdeMU 86.40
6 Andrea L. Si UNO-R 86.30
7 Bernardo V. Cabal AdeMU 86.30
8 Cresencio Fortunato R. Balsbas UP 86.15
9 Peter Donnely A. Barot UP 86.0
9 Andres Willhelm B. Camarista UI 86.00
10 Corazon G. Ferrer-Flores UST 85.75

1987
1 Mario P. Victorino AdeMU 88.55
2 Rey D. Tancinco UP 87.65
3 Elmore O. Capule AdeMU 87.60
4 Miguel F. Gudio, Jr. SU 87.40
5 Mario M. Tavora AdeMU 87.35
6 Linus G. Abaquin AdeMU 87.15
7 Francisco M. Macalino AdeMU 86.80
8 Fernando C. Soriano AdeMU 86.60
9 Imelda A. Manguiat UP 86.10
10 Jose Ma. G. Hofileña AdeMU 86.05

1988
1 Maria Yvette O. Navarro UP 88.12
2 Antonio M. Bernardo AdeMU 87.78
3 Ma. Jasmine S. Oporto UP 87.74
4 Ma. Valentina S. Santana UP 86.81
5 Hever M. Bascon, Jr. AdeMU 86.51
6 Ben Hur R. Olivas AdeMU 86.33
7 Cyril Regalado USA 86.325
8 Timoteo B. Aquino SBC 86.32
9 Rene V. Tria SBC 86.31
10 Silvina Q. Mamaril SLU 86.20

1989
1 Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C. Teodoro, Jr. UP 86.18
2 Meinrado Enrique A. Bello AdeMU 86.08
3 Antonio Gabriel M. La Viña UP 86.02
3 Ranulfo G. Mendoza SBC 86.02

4 Persida V. Rueda UE 85.62
5 Thaddeus E. Venturaza AdeMU 85.53
6 Rowena L. Garcia SBC 85.20
7 Thaddeus R. Alvizo UP 85.14
8 Jalilo O. dela Torre USJ-R 85.10
9 Sinforoso R. Pagunsan AdeMU 85.09
10 Jefferson M. Marquez SBC 84.94

1990
1 Aquilino L. Pimentel III UP 89.85
2 Augusto A. San Pedro, Jr. UP 89.35
3 Mylene Garcia-Albano AdeMU 88.95
4 Maximilian Joseph T. Uy UP 88.20
5 Marciano G. Delson SBC 87.95
6 Romeo Johann I. Fernandez AdeMU 87.75
7 Frederick G. Young AdeMU 87.60
8 Ruben C. Carranza UP 87.45
9 Fernando Y. Concepcion AdeMU 87.20
10 Reynaldo B. Robles FEU 87.10

1991
1 Joseph P. San Pedro AdeMU 89.95
2 Maribeth A. Lipardo AdeMU 89.75
3 Joseph Ferdinand M. Dechavez SBC 87.97
4 Susan Pearl D. Villanueva UP 87.32
5 Gerardo June T. Buan SBC 87.10
6 Risel G. Castillo SBC 86.57
7 Gafar E. Lutian SBC 86.25
8 Angelo C. Perez AdeMU 85.97
9 Susan P. Cariaga UP 85.70
10 Antonio T. Kho, Jr. SBC 85.65

1992
1 Jayme A. Sy, Jr. AdeMU 87.00
2 Gerard A. Mosquera AdeMU 86.30
3 Carina C. Laforteza UP 85.95
4 Joel Jude R. Mutia AdeMU 85.90
5 Angelique A. Santos AdeMU 85.70
6 Edilberto T. Castañeda UP 85.60
7 Michael G. Aguinaldo AdeMU 85.35
8 Imelda M. Abadilla SBC 84.75
8 Peter-Joey B. Usita SBC 84.75
8 Ma. Divina s. Andaya-Carandang LP 84.75
9 Angela P. Garia UNO-R 84.41
10 Priscilla B. Valer AdeMU 84.40

1993
1 Anna Leah Fidelis T. Castañeda AdeMU 88.32
2 Crisostomo M. Akol SBC 87.30
3 Rosemari U. Griño AdeMU 86.82
4 Pablo John F. Garcia, Jr. UP 86.51
5 Ma. Josefina G. Se AdeMU 85.27
5 Patrick V. Santo UP 85.27
5 Nelson S. Victorino ArU 85.27
6 Andrew Michael s. Ong UP 85.25
7 Jose Jesus M. Disini, Jr. UP 85.22
8 Rogelio J. Bondoc, Jr. AdeMU 84.90
9 Manuel P. Casiño SBC 84.55
10 Maria SocorroZ. Manguiat AdeMU 84.47

1994
1 Francisco Noel R. Fernandez UP 89.20
2 Fernando C Sioson AdeMU 88.45
3 Gregorio V. Cabantac UP 87.90
4 Harrison M. Paltongan SBC 87.70
5 Marlon J. Manuel AdeMU 87.35
6 Caroline V. Henson AdeMU 87.25
7 Alan John B. Tantoco AdeMU 87.05
8 Joel G. Tinitigan AdeMU 86.75
9 Felix T. Sy, Jr. AdeMU 86.45
10 Arnel M. Santos AdeMU 86.10
10 Maria Paz Romana S. Angeles AdeMU 86.10

1995
1 Leonor Y. Dicidican UP 91.20
2 Emmanuel Donato K. Guzman UP 89.20
3 Winston M. Ginez SBC 88.00
4 Abner C. Gener, Jr. UP 87.10
4 David Emmanuel B. Puyat UP 87.10
5 Carla E. Santamaria UST 87.05
6 Shennan A. Sy AdeMU 86.95
7 Gwen B. Grecia UP 86.75
8 Arnold F. de Vera UP 86.35
9 Maria Grace C. de Jesus UP 86.25
9 Jeanne Merced M. Macasaet UP 86.25
10 Lyssa Grace S. Pagano-Lubrica BCF 86.00

1996
1 Patricia Ann T. Progalidad UP 90.60
2 Peter L. Pacheco AdeMU 90.50
3 Katherine Agnes MC Arnaldo AdeMU 90.35
4 Recaredo C. Borgonia, Jr. UP 89.65
5 Amante A. Liberato FEU 89.50
5 Herminigildo G. Mukarami, Jr. AdeMU 89.50
6 Shirley F. Alinea UP 89.45
7 Yasmin Suzette J. Tan UP 89.40
8 Rosalia S. Bartolome UP 89.30
9 Amor M. Datinguinoo UP 89.15
10 Edgar DL Bernal UP 89.00

1997
1 Ma. Celia H. Fernandez UP 90.02
2 Mary Ann L. Villamor UP 89.40
3 Rhett Emmanuel C. Serfino MLQU 89.20
4 Ma. Trina Eliza K. Ngo AdeMU 89.15
5 Jose Raullito E. Paras SBC 88.82
6 Emmanuel S. Ypil AdeMU 88.07
7 Teodulfo Antonio G. San Juan UP 87.77
8 Philbert E. Varona AdeMU 87.55
9 Alleniery Allan V. Exclamador MSU 87.00
10 Ralph S. Sarmiento UStL 86.82

1998
1 Janet B. Abuel BCF 91.80
2 Norma Margarita B. Patacsil UP 91.40
3 Maria Franchette M. Acosta UP 91.25
4 Benigno G. Par, Jr. UST 90.85
5 Andre C. Palacios UP 90.70
6 Kenneth L. Chua AdeMU 89.70
7 Aaron Philip B. Cruz AdeMU 89.65
8 Gregorio M. Perex\z USC 89.30
9 Margie P. Colinayo AdeMU 89.15
10 Ambrosio L. Cantada II AdeMU 89.10

1999
1 Edwin R. Enrile AdeMU 88.50
1 Florin T. Ibay UP 88.50
2 Dara C. Acusar AdeMU 87.70
3 Francis Joseph H. Ampil AdeMU 87.20
4 Roel A. Refran AdeMU 86.90
5 Maritess B. Avila SBC 86.55
6 Randy T. Ceniza AdeDU 86.05
7 Karen B. Caparros UP 85.90
7 Lourdes C. Echavez-de Leon AdeMU 85.90
8 Riafe M. Cagas UP 85.75
9 Fritzie P. Tangkia UP 85.55
10 Grainoil U. Baysa-Pee AdeMU 85.50

2000
1 Eliseo M. Zuñiga, Jr. UP 90.60
2 Arvin Dexter M. Lopoz AdeDU 90.55
3 Jean G. Pantaleon-Pallorina AdeMU 89.20
4 Rogelio G. Largo AdeDU 88.55
5 Joan D. Adci UP 88.40
6 Machael Felipe A. Mercado SBC 88.30
7 Valerie C. Feria UP 88.15
7 Princess Lou D. Managuelod UP 88.15
8 Prudence Angelita A. Kasala UST 87.85
9 Andrea Antonette A. Sese-Relucio AdeMU 87.80
10 Ma. Cristina T. Suralvo UP 87.45

2001
1 Rodolfo Ma. A. Ponferrada UP 93.80
2 Jesus Paolo U. Protacio AdeMU 90.05
3 Anthony Mark A. Gutierrez AdeMU 89.85
4 Solomon F. Lumba UP 88.55
5 Katrina Diane Noelle C. Monsod AdeMU 88.50
6 Ma. Theresa U. Ballelos UP 88.40
7 Amabelle Grace G. Mascardo SU 88.35
8 Adonis V. Gabriel SBC 88.25
9 John Noah M. Red AdeMU 88.10
10 Dante R. Bravo SBC 87.95

2002
1 Arlene M. Maneja UST 92.90
2 Connie G. Chu AdeMU 90.40
3 Eric R. Recalde SBC 90.30
4 Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Chan-Gonzaga AdeMU 89.80
4 Michelle Ann U Juan AdeMU 89.80
5 Dorothy A. Uy AdeMU 89.50
6 Maria Gracia R. GAmez UP 89.40
7 Joel Emerson J. Gregorio AdeMU 89.10
8 Rex S. Austria SBC 89.05
9 George O. Ortha II SBC 89.00
10 Joseph Lyle K. Sarmiento AdeMU 88.75

2003
1 Aeneas Eli S. Diaz AdeMU 88.53
2 Harvey Lawrence N. Dychiao AdeMU 87.58
3 Saben C. Loyola SBC 87.29
4 Mark Oliver M. Karaan SBC 85.35
5 Sabrina Kate D. Paner AdeMU 85.17
6 Dorothy B. Dizon AdeMU 85.12
7 Mani Thess Q. Peña UP 85.06
8 Melissa Romana P. Suarez AdeDU 85.00
9 Henry M. Francisco SBC 84.82
10 Jose C. Evan BiC 84.64

2004
1 January Sanchez UP 87.45
2 Ronald P. De Vera UP 86.95
3 Charlito Martin R. Mendoza SBC 86.75
4 Ma. Cristina C. Larrobis USC 86.30
5 Efren Vincent M. Dizon SBC 86.10
6 Michael Geronimo G. Martin AdMU 86.05
Maria Melissa G. Tan SBC 85.55
7 Joseph Joemer C. Perez UP 85.45
8 Neil Simon S. Silva UP 85.40
9 Ma. Melissa D. Jamero USC 85.30
10 Ronald P. De Vera UP 86.95

2005
1 Joan de Venecia UP
2 Jomini C. Nazareno AdMU 86.40
3 Sheryl May B. Tanquilut AdMU 85.95
4 Nyerson Dexter Tito Q. Tualla MLQU 85.45
5 Tamsin Rae N. Lucila UP 85.35
6 Gladys V. Gervacio UPHR 85.30
7 Claudine B. Orocio-Isorena UP 85.20
8 Pedro Jose F. Bernardo AdMU 85.05
9 Dexter B. Calizar PLS 84.70
10 Johnson A.H. Ong FEU 84.65

2006
1 Noel Neil Q. Malimban UC 87.60
2 Deborah S. Acosta UP 87.40
2 Ricardo M. Ilares III AdeMU 87.40
3 Erika Ana Andrea C. Jimenez AdeMU 86.60
4 Maria Charizza B. Carlos AdeMU 86.10
5 Gina Lyn R. Rubio FEU 85.75
6 Anjuli Larla A. Tan DVOREFI 85.70
7 Karen H. Gaviola USC 85.68
8 Al-shwaid L. Ismael UC 85.65
9 Timothy Joseph M. Mendoza UP 85.55
10 Alain Charles J. Veloso UP 85.50

2007
1 Mercedita L. Ona AdeMU 83.55
2 Jennifer T. Ong UP 83.35
3 Yvanna DL. Maalat AdeMU 82.75
4 Jennie C. Aclan USC 82.10
5 John Michael S. Galauran UNC 81.60
6 Karen S. Canullas SSC 81.40
7 Sheryl Ann D. Tizon UP 81.35
7 Cecille L. Mejia AdeMU 81.35
8 Marforth T. Fua SBC 81.20
9 Ruby M. Luy AdeDU 81.15
10 Christian B. Llido UC 80.90
10 Vivian S. Tan UP 80.90

2008
1 Judy Lardizabal SSC
2 Mylene Amerol Macumbal MSU 85.65
3 Oliver Baclay Jr. AdMU 85.50
4 Majesty Eve Jala AdMU 85.55
5 Mari Elizabeth Liceralde UP 85.40
6 Michael Macapagal UP 84.15
7 Denise Dy AdMU 84.00
7 April Love Regis AdMU 84.00
8 Christine Joy Tan AdMU 83.80
9 Jihan Jacob SBC 83.75
9 Shirley Velasquez UP 83.75
10 Vanessa Raymundo SBC 83.70

Bar Exams 2009: Political and International Law

PART I

I

TRUE or FALSE. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, or FALSE if the statement is false. Explain your answer in not more than two (2) sentences. (5%)

[a] A law making “Bayan Ko” the new national anthem of the Philippines, in lieu of “Lupang Hinirang,” is constitutional.

[b] Under the archipelago doctrine, the waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago form part of the territorial sea of the archipelagic state.

[c] A law that makes military service for women merely voluntary is constitutional.

[d] A law fixing the passing grade in the Bar examinations at 70%, with no grade lower than 40% in any subject, is constitutional.

[e] An educational institution 100% foreign-owned may be validly established in the Philippines.

II

Despite lingering questions about his Filipino citizenship and his one-year residence in the district, Gabriel filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman before the deadline set by law. His opponent, Vito, hires you as lawyer to contest Gabriel’s candidacy.

[a] Before election day, what action or actions will you institute against Gabriel, and before which court, commission or tribunal will you file such action/s? Reasons. (2%)

[b] If, during the pendency of such action/s but before election day, Gabriel withdraws his certificate of candidacy, can he be substituted as candidate? If so, by whom and why? If not, why not? (2%)

[c] If the action/s instituted should be dismissed with finality before the election, and Gabriel assumes office after being proclaimed the winner in the election, can the issue of his candidacy and/or citizenship and residence still be questioned? If so, what action or actions may be filed and where? If not, why not? (2%)

III

The Municipality of Bulalakaw, Leyte, passed Ordinance No. 1234, authorizing the expropriation of two parcels of land situated in the poblacion as the site of a freedom park, and appropriating the funds needed therefor. Upon review, the |Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte disapproved the ordinance because the municipality has an existing freedom park which, though smaller in size, is still suitable for the purpose, and to pursue expropriation would be needless expenditure of the people’s money. Is the disapproval of the ordinance correct? Explain your answer. (2%)

IV

The Municipality of Pinatukdao is sued for damages arising from injuries sustained by a pedestrian who was hit by a glass pane that fell from a dilapidated window frame of the municipal hall. The municipality files a motion to dismiss the complaint, invoking state immunity from suit. Resolve the motion with reasons. (3%)

V

To address the pervasive problem of gambling, Congress is considering the following options: (1) prohibit all forms of gambling; (2) allow gambling only on Sundays; (3) allow gambling only in government-owned casinos; and (4) remove all prohibitions against gambling but impose a tax equivalent to 30% on all winnings.

[a] If Congress chooses the first option and passes the corresponding law absolutely prohibiting all forms of gambling, can the law be validly attacked on the ground that it is an invalid exercise of police power? Explain your answer. (2%)

[b] If Congress chooses the last option and passes the corresponding law imposing a 30% tax on all winnings and prizes won from gambling, would the law comply with the constitutional limitations on the exercise of the power of taxation? Explain your answer. (2%)

VI

In a criminal prosecution for murder, the prosecution presented, as witness, an employee of the Manila Hotel who produced in court a videotape recording showing the heated exchange between the accused and the victim that took place at the lobby of the hotel barely 30 minutes before the killing. The accused objects to the admission of the videotape recording on the ground that it was taken without his knowledge or consent, in violation of his right to privacy and the Anti-Wire Tapping law. Resolve the objection with reasons. (3%)

VII

Crack agents of the Manila Police Anti-Narcotics Unit were on surveillance of a cemetery where the sale and use of prohibited drugs were rumored to be rampant. The team saw a man with reddish and glassy eyes walking unsteadily towards them, but he immediately veered away upon seeing the policemen. The team approached the man, introduced themselves as peace officers, then asked what he had in his clenched fist. Because the man refused to answer, a policeman pried the fist open and saw a plastic sachet filled with crystalline substance. The team then took the man into custody and submitted the contents of the sachet to forensic examination. The crystalline substance in the sachet turned out to be shabu. The man was accordingly charged in court.

During the trial, the accused:

[a] challenged the validity of his arrest; (2%) and

[b] objected to the admission in evidence of the prohibited drug, claiming that it was obtained in an illegal search and seizure. (2%)

Decide with reasons.

VIII

Congressman Nonoy delivered a privilege speech charging the Intercontinental Universal Bank (IUB) with the sale of unregistered foreign securities, in violation of R.A. 8799. He then filed, and the House of Representatives unanimously approved, a Resolution directing the House Committee on Good Government (HCGG) to conduct an inquiry on the matter, in aid of legislation, in order to prevent the recurrence of any similar fraudulent activity.

The HCGG immediately scheduled a hearing and invited the responsible officials of IUB, the Chairman and Commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). On the date set for the hearing, only the SEC Commissioners appeared, prompting Congressman Nonoy to move for the issuance of the appropriate subpoena ad testificandum to compel the attendance of the invited resource persons.

The IUB officials filed suit to prohibit HCGG from proceeding with the inquiry and to quash the subpoena, raising the following arguments:

[a] The subject of the legislative investigation is also the subject of criminal and civil actions pending before the courts and the prosecutor’s office; thus, the legislative inquiry would preempt judicial action; (3%) and

[b] Compelling the IUB officials, who are also respondents in the criminal and civil cases in court, to testify at the inquiry would violate their constitutional right against self-incrimination. (3%)

Are the foregoing arguments tenable? Reasons.

[c] May the Governor of the BSP validly invoke executive privilege and, thus, refuse to attend the legislative inquiry? Why or why not? (3%)

IX

Warlito, a natural-born Filipino, took up permanent residence in the United States, and eventually acquired American citizenship. He then married Shirley, an American, and sired three children. In August 2009, Warlito decided to visit the Philippines with his wife and children: Johnny, 23 years of age; Warlito, Jr., 20; and Luisa, 17.

While in the Philippines, a friend informed him that he could reacquire Philippine citizenship without necessarily losing U.S. nationality. Thus, he took the oath of allegiance required under R.A. 9225.

[a] Having reacquired Philippine citizenship, is Warlito a natural-born or a naturalized Filipino citizen today? Explain your answer. (3%)

[b] With Warlito having regained Philippine citizenship, will Shirley also become a Filipino citizen? If so, why? If not, what would be the most speedy procedure for Shirley to acquire Philippine citizenship? Explain. (3%)

[c] Do the children — Johnny, Warlito Jr., and Luisa — become Filipino citizens with their father’s reacquisition of Philippine citizenship? Explain your answer. (3%)

X

Maximino, an employee of the Department of Education, is administratively charged with dishonesty and gross misconduct. During the formal investigation of the charges, the Secretary of Education preventively suspended him for a period of sixty (60) days. On the 60th day of the preventive suspension, the Secretary rendered a verdict, finding Maximino guilty, and ordered his immediate dismissal from the service.

Maximino appealed to the Civil Service Commission (CSC), which affirmed the Secretary’s decision. Maximino then elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals (CA). The CA reversed the CSC decision, exonerating Maximino. The Secretary of Education then petitions the Supreme Court (SC) for the review of the CA decision.

[a] Is the Secretary of Education a proper party to seek the review of the CA decision exonerating Maximino? Reasons. (2%)

[b] If the SC affirms the CA decision, is Maximino entitled to recover back salaries corresponding to the entire period he was out of the service? Explain your answer. (3%)

*** END OF PART I ***

PART II

XI

TRUE or FALSE. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, or FALSE if the statement is false. Explain your answer in not more than two (2) sentences. (5%)

[a] Aliens are absolutely prohibited from owning private lands in the Philippines.

[b] A de facto public officer is, by right, entitled to receive the salaries and emoluments attached to the public office he holds.

[c] The President exercises the power of control over all executive departments and agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations.

[d] Decisions of the Ombudsman imposing penalties in administrative disciplinary cases are merely recommendatory.

[e] Dual citizenship is not the same as dual allegiance.

XII

William, a private American citizen, a university graduate and frequent visitor to the Philippines, was inside the U.S. embassy when he got into a heated argument with a private Filipino citizen. Then, in front of many shocked witnesses, he killed the person he was arguing with. The police came, and brought him to the nearest police station. Upon reaching the station, the police investigator, in halting English, informed William of his Miranda rights, and assigned him an independent local counsel. William refused the services of the lawyer, and insisted that he be assisted by a Filipino lawyer currently based in the U.S. The request was denied, and the counsel assigned by the police stayed for the duration of the investigation.

William protested his arrest.

[a] He argued that since the incident took place inside the U.S. embassy, Philippine courts have no jurisdiction because the U.S. embassy grounds are not part of Philippine territory; thus, technically, no crime under Philippine law was committed. Is William correct? Explain your answer. (3%)

[b] He also claimed that his Miranda rights were violated because he was not given the lawyer of his choice; that being an American, he should have been informed of his rights in proper English; and that he should have been informed of his rights as soon as he was taken into custody, not when he was already at the police station. Was William denied his Miranda rights? Why or why not? (3%)

[c] If William applies for bail, claiming that he is entitled thereto under the “international standard of justice” and that he comes from a U.S. State that has outlawed capital punishment, should William be granted bail as a matter of right? Reasons. (3%)

XIII

A terrorist group called the Emerald Brigade is based in the State of Asyaland. The government of Asyaland does not support the terrorist group, but being a poor country, is powerless to stop it.

The Emerald Brigade launched an attack on the Philippines, firing two missiles that killed thousands of Filipinos. It then warned that more attacks were forthcoming. Through diplomatic channels, the Philippines demanded that Asyaland stop the Emerald Brigade; otherwise, it will do whatever is necessary to defend itself.

Receiving reliable intelligence reports of another imminent attack by the Emerald Brigade, and it appearing that Asyaland was incapable of preventing the assault, the Philippines sent a crack commando team to Asyaland. The team stayed only for a few hours in Asyaland, succeeded in killing the leaders and most of the members of the Emerald Brigade, then immediately returned to the Philippines.

[a] Was the Philippine action justified under the international law principle of “self-defense”? Explain your answer. (3%)

[b] As a consequence of the foregoing incident, Asyaland charges the Philippines with violation of Article 2.4 of the United Nations Charter that prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State.” The Philippines counters that its commando team neither took any territory nor interfered in the political processes of Asyaland. Which contention is correct? Reasons. (3%)

[c] Assume that the commando team captured a member of the Emerald Brigade and brought him back to the Philippines. The Philippine Government insists that a special international tribunal should try the terrorist. On the other hand, the terrorist argues that terrorism is not an international crime and, therefore, the municipal laws of the Philippines, which recognize access of the accused to constitutional rights, should apply. Decide with reasons. (3%)

XIV

The Philippine Government is negotiating a new security treaty with the United States which could involve engagement in joint military operations of the two countries’ armed forces. A loose organization of Filipinos, the Kabataan at Matatandang Makabansa (KMM) wrote the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of National Defense (DND) demanding disclosure of the details of the negotiations, as well as copies of the minutes of the meetings. The DFA and the DND refused, contending that premature disclosure of the offers and counter-offers between the parties could jeopardize on-going negotiations with another country. KMM filed suit to compel disclosure of the negotiation details, and be granted access to the records of the meetings, invoking the constitutional right of the people to information on matters of public concern.

[a] Decide with reasons. (3%)

[b] Will your answer be the same if the information sought by KMM pertains to contracts entered into by the Government in its proprietary or commercial capacity? Why or why not? (3%)

XV

The KKK Television Network (KKK-TV) aired the documentary, “Case Law: How the Supreme Court Decides,” without obtaining the necessary permit required by P.D. 1986. Consequently, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) suspended the airing of KKK-TV programs. MTRCB declared that under P.D. 1986, it has the power of prior review over all television programs, except “newsreels” and programs “by the Government”, and the subject documentary does not fall under either of these two classes. The suspension order was ostensibly based on Memorandum Circular No. 98-17 which grants MTRCB the authority to issue such an order.

KKK-TV filed a certiorari petition in court, raising the following issues:

[a] The act of MTRCB constitutes “prior restraint” and violates the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression; (3%) and

[b] While Memorandum Circular No. 98-17 was issued and published in a newspaper of general circulation, a copy thereof was never filed with the Office of the National Register of the University of the Philippines Law Center. (2%)

Resolve the foregoing issues, with reasons.

XVI

[a] Angelina, a married woman, is a Division Chief in the Department of Science and Technology. She had been living with a married man, not her husband, for the last fifteen (15) years. Administratively charged with immorality and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, she admits her live-in arrangement, but maintains that this conjugal understanding is in conformity with their religious beliefs. As members of the religious sect, Yahweh’s Observers, they had executed a Declaration of Pledging Faithfulness which has been confirmed and blessed by their Council of Elders. At the formal investigation of the administrative case, the Grand Elder of the sect affirmed Angelina’s testimony and attested to the sincerity of Angelina and her partner in the profession of their faith. If you were to judge this case, will you exonerate Angelina? Reasons. (3%)

[b] Meanwhile, Jenny, also a member of Yahweh’s Observers, was severely disappointed at the manner the Grand Elder validated what she considered was an obviously immoral conjugal arrangement between Angelina and her partner. Jenny filed suit in court, seeking the removal of the Grand Elder from the religious sect on the ground that his act in supporting Angelina not only ruined the reputation of their religion, but also violated the constitutional policy upholding the sanctity of marriage and the solidarity of the family. Will Jenny’s case prosper? Explain your answer. (2%)

XVII

Filipinas Computer Corporation (FCC), a local manufacturer of computers and computer parts, owns a sprawling plant in a 5,000-square meter lot in Pasig City. To remedy the city’s acute housing shortage, compounded by a burgeoning population, the Sangguniang Panglungsod authorized the City Mayor to negotiate for the purchase of the lot. The Sanggunian intends to subdivide the property into small residential lots to be distributed at cost to qualified city residents. But FCC refused to sell the lot. Hard pressed to find a suitable property to house its homeless residents, the City filed a complaint for eminent domain against FCC.

[a] If FCC hires you as lawyer, what defense or defenses would you set up in order to resist the expropriation of the property? Explain. (5%)

[b] If the Court grants the City’s prayer for expropriation, but the City delays payment of the amount determined by the court as just compensation, can FCC recover the property from Pasig City? Explain. (2%)

[c] Suppose the expropriation succeeds, but the City decides to abandon its plan to subdivide the property for residential purposes having found a much bigger lot, can FCC legally demand that it be allowed to repurchase the property from the City of Pasig? Why or why not? (2%)

XVIII

What are the essential elements of a valid petition for a people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution? Discuss. (2%)

Bar Exams 2009: Labor and Social Legislation

PART I

I

TRUE or FALSE. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, or FALSE if the statement is false. Explain your answer in not more than two (2) sentences. (5%)

[a] An employment contract prohibiting employment in a competing company within one year from separation is valid.

[b] All confidential employees are disqualified to unionize for the purpose of collective bargaining.

[c] A runaway shop is an act constituting unfair labor practice.

[d] In the law on labor relations, the substitutionary doctrine prohibits a new collective bargaining agent from repudiating an existing collective bargaining agreement.

[e] The visitorial and enforcement powers of the DOLE Regional Director to order and enforce compliance with labor standard laws can be exercised even when the individual claim exceeds P5,000.00.

II

[a] Enumerate at least four (4) policies enshrined in Section 3, Article XIII of the Constitution that are not covered by Article 3 of the Labor Code on declaration of basic policy. (2%)

[b] Clarito, an employee of Juan, was dismissed for allegedly stealing Juan’s wristwatch. In the illegal dismissal case instituted by Clarito, the Labor Arbiter, citing Article 4 of the Labor Code, ruled in favor of Clarito upon finding Juan’s testimony doubtful. On appeal, the NLRC reversed the Labor Arbiter holding that Article 4 applies only when the doubt involves “implementation and interpretation” of the Labor Code provisions. The NLRC explained that the doubt may not necessarily be resolved in favor of labor since this case involves the application of the Rules onEvidence, not the Labor Code. Is the NLRC correct? Reasons. (3%)

III

Richie, a driver-mechanic, was recruited by Supreme Recruiters (SR) and its principal, Mideast Recruitment Agency (MRA), to work in Qatar for a period of two (2) years. However, soon after the contract was approved by POEA, MRA advised SR to forego Richie’s deployment because it had already hired another Filipino driver-mechanic, who had just completed his contract in Qatar. Aggrieved, Richie filed with the NLRC a complaint against SR and MRA for damages corresponding to his two years’ salary under the POEA-approved contract.

SR and MRA traversed Richie’s complaint, raising the following arguments:

[a] The Labor Arbiter has no jurisdiction over the case; (2%)

[b] Because Richie was not able to leave for Qatar, no employer-employee relationship was established between them; (2%) and

[c] Even assuming that they are liable, their liability would, at most, be equivalent to Richie’s salary for only six (6) months, not two years. (3%).

Rule on the validity of the foregoing arguments with reasons.

IV

Diosdado, a carpenter, was hired by Building Industries Corporation (BIC), and assigned to build a small house in Alabang. His contract of employment specifically referred to him as a “project employee,” although it did not provide any particular date of completion of the project.

Is the completion of the house a valid cause for the termination of Diosdado’s employment? If so, what are the due process requirements that the BIC must satisfy? If not, why not? (3%)

V

[a] Baldo was dismissed from employment for having beenabsent without leave (AWOL) for eight (8) months. It turned outthat the reason for his absence was his incarceration after he was mistaken as his neighbor’s killer. Eventually acquitted and released from jail, Baldo returned to his employer and demanded reinstatement and full backwages. Is Baldo entitled to reinstatement and backwages? Explain your answer. (3%)

[b] Domingo, a bus conductor of San Juan Transportation Company, intentionally did not issue a ticket to a female passenger, Kim, his long-time crush. As a result, Domingo was dismissed from employment for fraud or willful breach of trust. Domingo contests his dismissal, claiming that he is not a confidential employee and, therefore, cannot be dismissed from the service for breach of trust. Is Domingo correct? Reasons. (2%)

VI

Albert, a 40-year old employer, asked his domestic helper, Inday, to give him a private massage. When Inday refused, Albert showed her Article 141 of the Labor Code, which says that one of the duties of a domestic helper is to minister to the employer’s personal comfort and convenience.

[a] Is Inday’s refusal tenable? Explain. (3%)

[b] Distinguish briefly, but clearly, a “househelper” from a “homeworker.” (2%)

VII

Johnny is the duly elected President and principal union organizer of the Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Manila Restaurant (NMMR), a legitimate labor organization. He was unceremoniously dismissed by management for spending virtually 95% of his working hours in union activities. On the same day Johnny received the notice of termination, the labor union went on strike.

Management filed an action to declare the strike illegal, contending that:

[a] The union did not observe the “cooling-off period” mandated by the Labor Code; (2%) and

[b] The union went on strike without complying with the strike-vote requirement under the Labor Code. (2%)

Rule on the foregoing contentions with reasons.

[c] The Labor Arbiter found management guilty of unfair labor practice for the unlawful dismissal of Johnny. The decision became final. Thereafter, the NMMR filed a criminal case against the Manager of Manila Restaurant. Would the Labor Arbiter’s finding be sufficient to secure the Manager’s conviction? Why or why not? (2%)

VIII

Alexander, a security guard of Jaguar Security Agency (JSA), could not be given any assignment because no client would accept him. He had a face only a mother could love. After six (6) months of being on “floating” status, Alexander sued JSA for constructive dismissal. The Labor Arbiter upheld Alexander’s claim of constructive dismissal and ordered JSA to immediately reinstate Alexander. JSA appealed the decision to the NLRC. Alexander sought immediate enforcement of the reinstatement order while the appeal was pending.

JSA hires you as lawyer, and seeks your advice on the following:

[a] Because JSA has no client who would accept Alexander, can it still be compelled to reinstate him pending appeal even if it has posted an appeal bond? (2%)

[b] Can the order of reinstatement be immediately enforced in the absence of a motion for the issuance of a writ of execution? (2%)

[c] If the order of reinstatement is being enforced, what should JSA do in order to prevent reinstatement? (2%)

Explain your answers.

IX

[a] What is wage distortion? Can a labor union invoke wage distortion as a valid ground to go on strike? Explain. (2%)

[b] What procedural remedies are open to workers who seek correction of wage distortion? (2%)

X

[a] State briefly the compulsory coverage of the Government Service Insurance Act. (2%)

[b] Can a member of a cooperative be deemed an employee for purposes of compulsory coverage under the Social Security Act? Explain. (2%)

*** END OF PART I ***



PART II

XI

TRUE or FALSE. Answer TRUE if the statement is true, or FALSE if the statement is false. Explain your answer in not more than two (2) sentences. (5%)

[a] Seafarers who have worked for twenty (20) years on board the same vessel are regular employees.

[b] Employment of children below fifteen (15) years of age in any public or private establishment is absolutely prohibited.

[c] Government employees have the right to organize and join concerted mass actions without incurring administrative liability.

[d] A waiver of the right to claim overtime pay is contrary to law.

[e] Agency fees cannot be collected from a non-union member in the absence of a written authorization signed by the worker concerned.

XII

In her State of the Nation Address, the President stressed the need to provide an investor-friendly business environment so that the country can compete in the global economy that now suffers from a crisis bordering on recession. Responding to the call, Congress passed two innovative legislative measures, namely: (1) a law abolishing the security of tenure clause in the Labor Code; and (2) a law allowing contractualization in all areas needed in the employer’s business operations. However, to soften the impact of these new measures, the law requires that all employers shall obtain mandatory unemployment insurance coverage for all their employees.

The constitutionality of the two (2) laws is challenged in court. As judge, how will you rule? (5%)

XIII

Atty. Renan, a CPA-lawyer and Managing Partner of an accounting firm, conducted the orientation seminar for newly-hired employees of the firm, among them, Miss Maganda. After the seminar, Renan requested Maganda to stay, purportedly to discuss

some work assignment. Left alone in the training room, Renan asked Maganda to go out with him for dinner and ballroom dancing. Thereafter, he persuaded her to accompany him to the mountain highway in Antipolo for sight-seeing. During all these, Renan told Maganda that most, if not all, of the lady supervisors in the firm are where they are now, in very productive and lucrative posts, because of his favorable endorsement.



[a] Did Renan commit acts of sexual harassment in a work- related or employment environment? Reasons. (3%)

[b] The lady supervisors in the firm, slighted by Renan’s revelations about them, succeeded in having him expelled from the firm. Renan then filed with the Arbitration Branch of the NLRC an illegal dismissal case with claims for damages against the firm. Will the case prosper? Reasons. (2%)

XIV

Jolli-Mac Restaurant Company (Jolli-Mac) owns and operates the largest food chain in the country. It engaged Matiyaga Manpower Services, Inc. (MMSI), a job contractor registered with the Department of Labor and Employment, to provide its restaurants the necessary personnel, consisting of cashiers, motorcycle delivery boys and food servers, in its operations. The Service Agreement warrants, among others, that MMSI has a paid- up capital of P2,000,000.00; that it would train and determine the qualification and fitness of all personnel to be assigned to Jolli- Mac; that it would provide these personnel with proper Jolli-Mac uniforms; and that it is exclusively responsible to these personnel for their respective salaries and all other mandatory statutory benefits.

After the contract was signed, it was revealed, based on research conducted, that MMSI had no other clients except Jolli- Mac, and one of its major owners was a member of the Board of Directors of Jolli-Mac.

[a] Is the Service Agreement between Jolli-Mac and MMSI legal and valid? Why or why not? (3%)

[b] If the cashiers, delivery boys and food servers are not paid their lawful salaries, including overtime pay, holiday pay, 13th

month pay, and service incentive leave pay, against whom may these workers file their claims? Explain. (2%)

XV

Among the 400 regular rank-and-file workers of MNO Company, a certification election was ordered conducted by the Med-Arbiter of the Region. The contending parties obtained the following votes:

1. Union A – 70

2. Union B – 71

3. Union C – 42

4. Union D – 33

5. No union – 180

6. Spoiled votes – 4

There were no objections or challenges raised by any party on the results of the election.

[a] Can Union B be certified as the sole and exclusive collective bargaining agent among the rank-and-file workers of MNO Company considering that it garnered the highest number of votes among the contending unions? Why or why not? (3%)

[b] May the management or lawyer of MNO Company legally ask for the absolute termination of the certification election proceedings because 180 of the workers — a clear plurality of the voters — have chosen not to be represented by any union? Reasons. (3%)

[c] If you were the duly designated election officer in this case, what would you do to effectively achieve the purpose of certification election proceedings? Discuss. (3%)

XVI

The Company and Triple-X Union, the certified bargaining agent of rank-and-file employees, entered into a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) effective for the period January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2007.

For the 4th and 5th years of the CBA, the significant

improvements in wages and other benefits obtained by the Union were:

1) Salary increases of P1,000 and P1,200 monthly, effective January 1, 2006 and January 1, 2007, respectively;

2) Vacation Leave and Sick Leave were adjusted from 12 days to 15 days annually for each employee;

3) Medical subsidy of P3,000 per year for the purchase of medicines and hospitalization assistance of P10,000 per year for actual hospital confinement;

4) Rice Subsidy of P600 per month, provided the employee has worked for at least 20 days within the particular month; and

5) Birthday Leave with Pay and Birthday Gift of P1,500.

As early as October 2007, the Company and the Union started negotiations to renew the CBA. Despite mutual good faith and earnest efforts, they could not agree. However, no union filed a petition for certification election during the freedom period. On March 30, 2008, no CBA had been concluded. Management learned that the Union would declare a bargaining deadlock on the next scheduled bargaining meeting.

As expected, on April 3, 2008, the Union declared a deadlock. In the afternoon of the same day, management issued a formal announcement in writing, posted on the bulletin board, that due to the CBA expiration on December 31, 2007, all fringe benefits contained therein are considered withdrawn and can no longer be implemented, effective immediately.

[a] When was the “freedom period” referred to in the foregoing narration of facts? Explain. (2%)

[b] After April 3, 2008, will a petition for certification election filed by another legitimate labor union representing the rank-and-file employees legally prosper? Reasons. (3%)

[c] Is management’s withdrawal of the fringe benefits valid?

Reasons. (2%)

[d] If you were the lawyer for the union, what legal recourse

or action would you advise? Reasons. (3%)

XVII

Alfredo was dismissed by management for serious misconduct. He filed suit for illegal dismissal, alleging that although there may be just cause, he was not afforded due process by management prior to his termination. He demands reinstatement with full backwages.

[a] What are the twin requirements of due process which the employer must observe in terminating or dismissing an employee? Explain. (3%)

[b] Is Alfredo entitled to reinstatement and full backwages? Why or why not? (3%)

XVIII

[a] Cite four (4) instances when an illegally dismissed employee may be awarded separation pay in lieu of reinstatement. (3%)

[b] Explain the impact of the union security clause to the employees’ right to security of tenure. (2%)

-NOTHING FOLLOWS-

Heroic, Statemanly

Brilliant. Heroic. Statemanly. A true leader.

Last night, Senator Mar Roxas unexpectedly issued his decision to abandon his political ambition of running for President in next year’s elections. He said before the press that he was extending all his support for Noynoy Aquino to be the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party (LP’s). His statement was surprising, considering his and LP’s massive campaign beginning 2007 to clinch the political leadership in the country.

Who would have thought Mar Roxas would do such heoric, statemanly act? Forgoing with an ardent ambition at least for the time being in all certain terms is not an easy decision to make, considering that millions of pesos had already been spent on informercials and the campaign network has been continually growing. Especially in these political times of greed for power, the path that Mar took is the road less traveled, albeit arguably the road all must lead. Unless of course one was born of the garcic type of politician, no gloric runner would simply concede to a darkhorse probable candidate. Seen from that gloric-garcic perspective, that would be a political suicide. Said in another way, no hungry wolf already served with a bounty would eventually turn around and retreat to the forest. Well, Mar Roxas is no wolf, and definitely no gloric nor garcic kind. Mar Roxas, by last night’s standards, is his father’s son. And am not only referring to his father, the late esteemed Senator Gerry Roxas. He is who every Manuel Roxas, Benigno Aquino, Jr., Claro M. Recto, Lorenzo Tañada, Jose Diokno, Raul Roco and Jovito Salonga should be proud of. The one that every Juan dela Cruz and Jocelynang Baliwag should emulate.

Although he was in my short shortlist of rightful next President of the Republic of the Philippines, Mar Roxas has never been my top favorite for the Chief Executive. I confess, my fixation has been to put a nationalist, competent, morally upright, no-nonsense lawyer to Malacañang, to lead this graft-laden, morally degenerating government. I thought Mar Roxas might be consistent in his pro-Filipino approach to economic progress but I was looking for that x-factor that my biased cerebrum poked only on law school trained executives. (Well, there had been and still are bad lawyers in Malacañang - just look behind the sitting "president" and you’d know who I mean.)

But last night dawned on us once again the kind of leader this country should have. Mar’s act is what I conceive to be part of the moral revolution that our country needs. I hasten to equate this Mar phenomenon as just an offshoot nor hangover of the Cory passing. If it is, doing such heroic act is a tall imperative order to follow the lead of Cory and continue her legacy. I’d like to think that if one Mar Roxas is capable of making sacrifice for loftier reasons, then everyone can as well. And they, we, all should. It is high time that selfless service to country, to the people and to God take primordial priority over personal ambition.

Teddy for Senator

Congressman Teddy Casiño is a genuine social reformist and one of the most dynamic young leaders in the country today. He was first swept into the politics of change when, as a high school student in La Salle Green Hills, he volunteered for the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) and took part in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution. The experience changed him so that since then, his life has been characterized by a conscious choice for the road less traveled.

The EDSA experience moved Teddy to become an activist in his freshman year at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB). He became editor in chief of the student paper, The UPLB Perspective, from 1989-1991 even as he consistently made it to the honor roll. In 1991, Teddy was elected national president of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), an alliance of over 700 student publications nationwide. He graduated from UPLB with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 1993.



After his stint in the student movement, Teddy joined the labor movement as part of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), where he deepened his commitment to serve the people, especially the working class. Teddy later joined the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), the largest alliance of progressive people’s organizations in the country. He was elected secretary general in 1999 and was catapulted to national prominence in 2001 as one of the youngest leaders of EDSA 2. He was appointed commissioner of the EDSA People Power Commission from 2001-2002. In 2002, he was accorded the UPLB Distinguished Alumnus Award for Extension.

Teddy is also an accomplished writer and journalist. After being a regular contributor to the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Youngblood column, he became a regular columnist for BusinessWorld, from 1995-2004. He also wrote columns for the tabloids People’s Bagong Taliba and Frontpage, the OFW weekly Pinoy Gazette and the online magazine Bulatlat.com. In 2002, he had a short stint in ABS-CBN’s Hoy Gising and The Correspondents.

As a Bayan Muna congressman since 2004, Teddy is proof that integrity, honor, competence, patriotism and compassion for the poor and oppressed still has a place in the political mainstream. He has proven his mettle as a progressive legislator, spearheading the fight against corruption and government abuse and pushing for fundamental reforms in the areas of good governance and justice, educational reform, the protection of the national patrimony and the environment, and the appropriate use of information and communications technology.

In his six years in Congress, Teddy has never figured in any scandal or anomaly. He has maintained his simple lifestyle and is, in fact, on record as being the second poorest member of the House. For him, public service is a public trust that should not be used to enrich oneself, one’s relatives or friends.

Teddy is married to Ruth Garcia Cervantes, herself a former CEGP president and a human rights advocate now taking up law at the San Beda College with whom he has two sons, Elian (6) and Emilio (1). They are his main source of strength and inspiration in striving for a better kind of politics that gives rise to a better government and society.

Given the chance, Teddy vows to continue bringing the issues of the common tao – youth and students, workers and employees, professionals, small and medium-scale entrepreneurs, and environment advocates – into the halls of the Senate.

reposted from http://teddyforsenator.blogspot.com

To the Bar, to the Bar

Twelve more days, and we are off to Taft Avenue once again, to De La Salle University to be exact. It is for the first of the four Sundays of the Bar examinations beginning on the 6th of September. Thousands of students, lawyers, supporters and kibitzers will troop to the site to boost thousands of law graduates as they hurdle the most difficult examination there is in this part of the earth. Banners of hundreds of law schools in the Philippines will fly along the avenue, of UP, Ateneo, San Beda, UST, lined up along with the most unknown. The atmosphere will be a mix of enthusiasm, goodwill, hope, anxiety…. It will just be the start of the six ordealsome months of waiting for the examinees. Four years (in my case, eight, altered) of studies in the law school (in my case, six law schools) – make that 1,460 days of literally burning the midnight oil - were not enough proof of fitness to enter the legal profession. The Bar Examinations is the final test to prove that one possesses all the qualifications to assist in the administration justice in the Philippines. Of course, there are continuing protests among discontented persons, usually flunkers, questioning the Supreme Court’s prerogative to shut permanently those who failed the Bar five times from taking it further. Most of these dissenters insist their “right” to be a lawyer despite the failing the exams several times. They insist on the wrong premise. That the legal profession is a matter of privilege and not a right is the basic reason for the regulation of entry into the profession through competitive examinations. Some can only question the validity and integrity of the examiners’ grading system, but what better way to gauge a graduate’s general grasp of laws and competency? Until better alternatives are set, the Bar is indispensable.

So you really want to study law and be a lawyer?

You should be very – and that’s very – serious. And your decision must not be a latent one. The idea must have been conceived years before you’d even been aware of it. The truth is, you should have prepared enough for it, from day one – that is, from the first day you stepped in college, or better yet, in high school, or better yet…. What they say is true about the troubling difficulty and even futility of plunging yourself into the ocean and learning to swim just then.

Alright, am not an expert nor an exemplary law student, but to provide some “advice” to those who opt to take up law, here’s my brief checklist of what I call the Law School Kit.

1. English grammar and communications skills. The language of the law, whether you’re patriotic or not, is English. That is because Philippine laws are written in English. Ergo, your first best weapon is your firm grasp of Standard English. A precaution: you should have at least eighteen (18) units of English in your pre-law curriculum; otherwise, most law schools require students to add English to their law subjects. Does that sound odd? Ridiculous at most. Pardon my impertinence, but should law schools be really filling this big, crucial gap? According to Bar examiners and law professors, most candidates did fail the Bar because of faulty English grammar, sentence construction, reading comprehension. You could just drop your jaw to hear students having difficulty in expressing themselves in English. If there is difficulty in the basic communication skills, could they excel in higher skills of creative and critical reasoning? Thus, the first book to grab is not any law book; rather, try to get a hold of an English Workbook. Hurdle the English communication skills tests – of active reading, writing, speaking, listening.

2. Logic and reasoning abilities. Laws are not constructed the way other disciplines are normally constructed. The meaning of words between legal provisions is not exactly the same as we ordinarily understand them to be. Study of law demands correct reasoning ability. No, it doesn’t mean we should learn how to debate or argue; it means finding the right reason for the answer to some questions however erronous the answer might be. Question, answer, but justify the answer. It must be a sound answer, based on some principles or established rulings (call that precedents), or some accepted custom. We train how to think properly in the same way that we must also train our brains to remember, and remember important provisions. In the past, and as correctly provided in the Rules, the pre-law courses had been and should be Bachelor of Arts (AB) studies, since AB is designed to train the students to think and reason out properly. Now, for as long as he/she has completed four years of college, anyone can be admitted to the LlB program. [This challenges me to make a comparative study on the Law graduates' performance in the Bar vis a vis their pre-law course; there must be an underlying connection somewhere].

3. Good health and strict discipline. If you see that there are incoherence in this piece, the writer must be suffering from mental or physical fatigue due to myriad of factors. But there are just no excuses once the recitations begin (which is the fixed call of each day). When your name is called, don’t aim to touch nor glance at your book/notes - go to the classroom aisle with only the kilometric provisions, doctrines and principles and case laws stored in your brain as your ammunition. Do not fidget nor be “onion-skinned” even if the “terror” professor hurls invectives for unsatisfactory answers, as being soaked to humiliations forms part of the training or admonitions for not doing what is expected. Cadets and seminarians hurdle similar degrees of discipline-harnessing trainings and tests. So must law students. To succeed in the jungles of legal studies, the keys are always the basics: good health and strict discipline. One is not exaggerating when you hear him say he lives a regimented lifestyle. That is, he divides 24 hours of his day into meaningful, productive endeavors and strictly following each task to the letter. No cigarettes, no alcohol, no movies, no loud music, no gossips, even no relationships. Say no to everything that will divide your attention. Remember: Lady Justice is a jealous mistress, and you should devote your commitment to her alone from the very moment you stepped into the study of law. Also, make sure that you get eight hours of sleep each day – if this sounds impossible, then find ways to catch up on it. Now that you get 8, devote at least six hours to reading each day. For us working students, this is a tall order – of getting “enough” of quality reading hours each day. What I do, I try to devote at least double the hours of the number of units in any subject. For example, give a minimum of eight hours per week of active reading for a 4-unit subject. Couple this with at least 30-minute of proper exercise each day, and a bunch of healthy food. Don’t forget to attend to daily devotions – at least it relieves your soul, which in effect calms down tired muscles and weary nerves.

4. Personal library. Never rely on books from the school library alone. What’s ideal is to stack a copy of each author for a given subject. Call this a valued investment which will not depreciate even until you have become a lawyer. While it’s good to have a laptop to store your database of laws and cases, it is still best to have hard copies of the basic documents. Books are indispensable, so invest on them. First list would be:

Legal Profession and Introduction to Law
Philippine Constitution Annotated
Revised Penal Code Annotated
Family Code of the Philippines Annotated
Civil Code of the Philippines, Book One Annotated
Statutory Construction
Legal Writing
Legal Research
Codal Provisions of Revised Penal Code, Philippine Constitution, Civil Code of the Philippines

5. (I reserve this for later discussions. Better yet, let me hear from you

Lesson on Arrogance

Arrogance may be defined as the lack of diligence in one’s speech and actions. It manifests in over-focus on the self without regard to the feelings and opinions of others. The overarching importance is placed on popularity, at whatever cost. Thesaurus provides the following synonyms for arrogance: conceit, haughtiness, egotism, superiority, pride, overconfidence, self-importance. Its opposite is humility. Integrity, on the other hand, is that moral virtue which puts premium on the speaker’s or actor’s reputation above popularity, fairness, truth and honor above fame. Its opposite is dishonesty. A gargantuan roadblock to integrity is arrogance.

Arrogance can well be given flesh by a lunchtime television variety show host who complains about presenting a video update on the ongoing funeral for a revered national icon, for the Woman of Great Integrity. To Wowowee host Willie Revillame, the funeral footage ran unparallel to the jubilant mood which the show was catering. He was aware of the implication of his statements as he said he was unperturbed of possible sanction by his network bosses or by the MTRCB. He defended his tantrum of disallowing the videos, saying his concern was to prevent presenting Wowowee as insensitive to the bereavement of the Aquino family and the nation. His end though does not justify the means. He could have been cautious, reminding himself of the pervasive impact his statement might have on the sensitive viewer. Sympathy takes many forms, but not how he said what he had said. Better yet, he could rather not have said anything at all. To say that one has no regard about other people’s reactions to his statement is to display utter arrogance. He should not have thought about its (the arrogant statement) effect to his popularity alone but on its impact on the network’s credibility and integrity. It is not an easy road to be in the defensive for dismissing an offensive, arrogant remark.

The Willie case is just one tidbit example of arrogance. What could be more glaring examples of arrogance than the selection of this year’s National Artists, the return to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) of the list of nominees for the next Supreme Court Justices, and the defense for an imeldific dinner in New York, all by Her Excellency?

The conferment of the National Artist title is a presidential prerogative. It is protected by a decree precisely so as to prevent the abuse of that presidential prerogative. As such, the process is that the President selects the conferee from a list of nominees forwarded to Malacañang by peer institutions, such as the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Center for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)—two institutions which are supposedly built by prestige and credibility. If Malacañang would insist on the President’s personal choices, the selection process would rather be abolished once and for all. Add presidential prerogative to the list of synonyms of arrogance.

Malacañang named Cecile Guidote-Alvarez (for theater) and Carlo J. Caparas (for film/visual arts) as two of this year’s National Artists (NA). Alvarez’s arrogance may not be evident as yet in defending that her title is backed by years of unprecedented commitment to the establishment of a national theater movement since the 60s. But if you look at where she sits when she says this defense, then that is where the arrogant slip shows. As the head of NCCA, she could have at least begged off the title or, if she’s keen on the “award”, leave NCCA. The issue is not Ms. Alvarez’s qualifications to the title; rather, the issue is her moral integrity, her delicadeza. Alvarez’s case is the irony of decades of committed service now betrayed by a moment of lust for recognition. Add to the list of synonyms for arrogance: lust for recognition; absence of delicadeza.

I would not have bothered to discuss Carlo J. Caparas, as to indulge in the discussion of his works would be an exercise in futility. As he says, let his massacre movies speak for themselves; let Panday and Totoy Bato save his whatever needs saving. What irks me is his remark, undermining the value of my most revered nationalist writer, F. Sionil Jose—a most deserving National Artist. The nerve of Caparas to diminish Jose’s national and international worth. The arrogance of this accidental, commercial filmmaker cum visual artist only manifests in his inadequate reading of socially and culturally enshrining works, and in his condescending regard for the academic community who, to Caparas, are the only patrons of Jose’s works. I do not wonder the condescending attitude toward the academe, to the value of education. How many of his works have made it to the Top Ten, Top Fifty, or Top 100 Filipino Films by the most respected scholarly film institutes? Not a single?

Whenever there is a vacancy in the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is tasked by the Constitution to recommend to Malacañang at least three (3) nominees for every vacancy. The JBC submitted to President Arroyo six (6) nominees from which two (2) shall be appointed to fill the two vacancies. Apparently, Malacañang’s protégées were not in the list that the list was returned to the JBC, days before the 90-day deadline. This arrogance by the President is backed by its disregard for the constitutional mandate to the JBC, the indifference to the 90-day deadline and the subsequent constitutional crisis, and the utter disdain for the competence, integrity and overall qualifications of the six nominees. She thinks of herself as the singular, most powerful constitutional figure in the government. What better term than arrogance do we have for a president who has no respect for the equal sharing of power of the three branches of government?

Just as when the entire world, and her third world country is in dire financial crisis and food insufficiency, the President and her minions had the temerity to dine in a Ritz New York restaurant, to the tune of a million pesos. That is arrogance, plain and simple. To her defenders, this dinner is just a token gesture to an invitation by a Congressman. Not a good defense, either. The issue is not the amount of the bill in proportion to the assets of the dinner host; rather, it is the moral integrity of the public officials accepting the invitation, if indeed it was a response to an invitation. This dinner is reminiscent of the grand life, of the delusion of grandeur, of the Marcoses while the rest of Filipinos wallow in abject poverty.

What moral authority does your leader have when she says she cares for your children when she has not enough budget for your children’s education, food and medicine—while she can have the gall to party on caviar and the most expensive wines. What moral integrity does your president have when she says she emulates the honesty, simplicity and integrity of Corazon C. Aquino, while displaying her wealth and power for all the world to see? That is arrogance, pure and simple.

Looking at these public figures, it is not difficult to identify who is arrogant and who has the integrity. Their speech must complement their actions, and their actions their speech. They can indulge in self-adulation sometimes, but they cannot deceive the careful eye of the public all the time.

Thank you, Madame Cory Aquino

The entire Filipino people and the rest of the freedom-loving community worldwide mourn the passing of our great leader, former President Corazon C. Aquino.

Her death is surely a painful loss for those who have lived in the dark days of tyranny and for us who continue to fight for truth, and struggle to pursue, achieve, restore and preserve genuine democracy.

Never had the Filipino people have a great leader than Cory, the true symbol of unity, democracy and humble rise to power.

Never in the history of the Philippines had we as a people been prouder to claim to be Filipinos than under the leadership of Cory.

Cory rose to power amidst the vestiges of violence and lies of the former dictatorship. Despite the opportunity of getting even to her husband Ninoy’s tormentors, Cory offered her presidency to ensure that the Filipino people would never again suffer under a repressive government. Hence, among the first things that the Aquino leadership did was to promulgate the Constitution, the basic document that ensures the reign of democracy and respects the civil and political rights of the people.

Even long after she stepped down from Malacañang, even as she silently suffered the pains of colon cancer, Cory continuously and selflessly offered her remaining days to rally the people against threats to democracy and tinker with the Constitution. For us, the Constitution is not just a collective expression of the Filipino people’s quest for a just and humane society; the Constitution is the symbol of Cory’s visionary leadership. We then as a people who fought great battles that cost the lives of thousands of Filipinos should not let any move to tinker with the Constitution. We should unite, under the spirit of People Power and by the inspiration of Cory, to quell any self-servient move to amend the Constitution – at least not in the proximate time.

Cory will be remembered for People Power. And as long as the flames that sparked People Power keep burning, the spirit of Cory will never die. As long as every individual clamors for truth, justice and peace, Cory Aquino will live as an inspiration for generations and generations.

We are grateful to Cory for all the fruits of liberty and democracy that we so enjoy now in our land. As Cory leaves this temporal world, we pray that God receives her in His kingdom. God is truly marvelous for giving us Cory as His instrument for restoring peace and faith in our land.

May you rest in the arms of our Lord, Madame President Cory C. Aquino. Thank you for sharing your life with us, for us. Thank you too, to your family for selflessly sharing you and Ninoy with us.

The Real State of the Nation

Expect lies to honk from the speakers as your president delivers her version of the State of the Nation before the month ends. As usual, she would highlight her government’s “achievements” throughout the past fiscal year. Expect a report of economic growth inspite of global economic crisis, contained unemployment threats (thanks mainly to business process outsourcing), sufficient food supply and productivity, winning anti-terrorism mechanisms, etc. Expect glossy graphs and tables from an economics expert, to bloat the positives and hide the real statistics. Expect a handful of “outstanding” Filipino acheivers like Manny Pacquiao to be given recognition by the government. Expect a runway of solons clad in signature barongs and gowns and jewelries. Expect a showcase of wealth and prosperity as the real state of the nation. Yes, expect a spectacle of lies in the grand cinematic tradition. Expect as well public agitations and uproars. It won’t be a special day. Only a realization that we had been toyed for five long years, and we just sat and watched, letting all the lies to run our lives. The choice is ours. Let the whole world know of the real state of our nation.

Just a glimpse of the conditions gripping our nation today:

We are still hounded by massive graft and corruption, and the government agencies fail miserably in eliminating this chronic vice basically because it is rooted from the very government bureaucracy itself. All the laws are the there supposedly to arrest the manic situation, but the people who are tasked to implement these laws can even be guilty of the crimes themselves. Years in and years out, we had been treated to corruption scandals like the ZTE- NBN deal that probably points to the Malacañang as the culprit. Unexplained multi-million government spendings like the trips abroad (either “official” or the whimsical “support” trip to the Pacquiao bouts) at the expense of public coffers – remain unchecked; the responsible officials remain unaccountable to the public.

The number of extra-judicial killings of journalists and political activists continues to grow by the day. And we have their executors-perpetrators being rewarded with seats in the halls of Congress. Convicts of heinous crimes are being given summary pardon by the chief executive, presumably for possible political favors or for popularity from the masses. The drugs maze remains a no-brainer for the government task forces – they try and try formula solutions.

Hail to our English-speaking Filipinos! Global employment is no problem. We send our heroic domestic helpers, nurses, teachers, doctors – name them, we have them – abroad. Or, we don’t even need to leave our shores since the BPOs (business process outsourcing companies) grow like mushrooms right in our neighborhood. Learn some net-surfing and neutralize your accent, and, presto, you’ll have a seat in the call center for a pay that is equivalent to a regular local supervisory job. This has been the flagship of the Arroyo government, thank you. The Philippines will soon become the BPO capital of the world. Ergo, the Philippine educational system should have geared the curriculum towards training the students to be efficient, submissive call center agents. These BPOs not only reflect the Filipino workers’ commendable ability to multi-task; these BPOs represent the Philippine economy as a mouthpiec of global capitalism.

By and large, the Philippines remains a neo-colony of the superpowers (The United States and the rest of the G7) and its creditors (the International Monetary Fund, etc.). Our primarily agricultural lands are being transformed into golf courses, real estates, economic zones, and techno-hubs of foreign investors. The best of our produce goes to the global market, while the tables (if any) of the Filipino masses remain servient to leftovers and under-nourishing food stuffs. The dumping of excess products into our shores, care of the much-in-placed trade liberalization policies, has left the growth of the local industy stunted. Our economy has remained dependent to foreign and domestic loans (read: grants, aids).

The Philippine political and social set up remains a semi-feudal one. The seats in the executive and legislative branches of the government, from the national down to the municipal levels, remain occupied (read: reserved) by the few monied clans, the oligarchs. From this reality, we expect the laws and policies they pass to be servient to their and their cohorts’ interests, while apathetic to the plights of our people.

Despite all the socio-political and economic ills pervading the nation, the Filipinos remain as the most patient, persevering, jubilant people among the Third World countries. Historically too, Filipinos collectively act to oust a system that is no longer serving the purpose of public good. We will see tomorrow how the nation will react to another sets of lies. One thing for sure, we know the truth and we are at the helm of taking the necessary steps in the name of truth and justice.

Puno for President

[THIS ARTICLE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION]

I support the move to have Chief Justice Reynato Puno run for President. At this stage of our nation's history, we need a leader with the vision, expertise, experience, moral integrity -someone who earns the respect and admiration of the Filipino people and the international community. Chief Justice Puno is the perfect fit. No only does he have the stellar educational qualifications; CJ Puno has the untarnished, exemplary character and reputation required of the leader to correctly push a corrupt government and crisis-laden economy into a glorious destiny.

(from http://www.mb.com.ph/)

CURRICULUM VITAE

OF CHIEF JUSTICE REYNATO S. PUNO

I.PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

a. Born on May 17, 1940 in Manila;

b. Married to the former LUZVIMINDA T. DELGADO, former Clerk of Court, Supreme Court;


c. Blessed with three children:

Reynato, Jr., male, born on June 21, 1970, finished college at De La Salle University in 1992 (BSBA Management), an independent businessman, married to Cherryl Mae H. Yap;

Emmanuel, male, born on December 25, 1974, finished college at De La Salle University in 2003 (Human Resource Management), an independent businessman, married to Rachelle Catherine Fabreo, have three children namely: Alessandra Isabelle F. Puno, born on January 22, 2001; Laticia Raquelle F. Puno, born on July 19, 2003; and Elijah Rey F. Puno, born on October 30, 2004;

Ruth, female, born on April 15, 1981, finished college at Ateneo de Manila University in 2003 (Management Economics), currently pursuing Masters in Business Administration major in Marketing at Graduate School of Business University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.


II. ACADEMIC DEGREE:

a. Undergraduate:

1. Finished Bachelor of Science in Jurisprudence, U.P., 1962;

2. Finished Bachelor of Laws, U.P., 1962.


b. Graduate:

1. Finished Master of Comparative Laws, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, U.S.A., 1967;

2. Finished Master of Laws, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A., 1968;

3. Finished all academic requirements of the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science, University of Illinois, Champaign, Urbana, U.S.A., 1969.

c. Honorary:

1. Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, given by the Philippine Wesleyan University, April 1994;

2. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, conferred by Angeles University Foundation, April 20, 2005;

3. Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, conferred by the Bulacan State University, August 30, 2005.

4. Doctor of Philosophy in Law, honoris causa, Hannam University, South Korea, October 26, 2005.


III. ACADEMIC AND OTHER DISTINCTIONS:

a. As an undergraduate student:

1. Editor-in-Chief, The Philippine Collegian, official weekly student newspaper, U.P., 1960-1961;

2. Chairman, Editorial Board, The Law Register official student newspaper, College of Law, U.P., 1960-1961;

3. Recent Documents Editor, The Philippine Law Journal, official law journal, College of Law, U.P., 1961-1962;

4. Asst. Editor-in-Chief, the 1962 Philippinensian, official graduate annual, U.P., 1961;

5. Recipient, Outstanding Student Award for Excellence and Leadership given by the Alpha Phi Beta fraternity of the U.P. College of Law, 1960, 1961, 1962.


b. As a post graduate student:

1. Grantee, full scholarship given by the Academy of American Law to study the Degree of Master of Comparative Laws (M.C.L.) at the Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas;

2. Grantee, full scholarship given by the Walter Perry Johnson Foundation to study the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M) at the University of California, Berkeley, California;

3. Grantee, tuition scholarship given by the University of Illinois of Champaign, Urbana to study the degree of Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.);

4. Finished the degree of Master of Comparative Laws (M.C.L.), with high honors and as valedictorian of a class consisting of 23 graduate scholars from various parts of the world;

5. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in Comparative Private International Law given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., of New York and the Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co., of California, 1966-1967;

6. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in U.S. Constitutional Structure given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., of New York and the Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co., of California, 1966-1967;

7. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in International Organization given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., of New York and the Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co., of New York and Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co., of California 1966-1967;

8. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in Problems of Doing Business Abroad given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., of New York and the Bancroft Publishing Co., of California, 1966-1967;

9. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Prize for excellence in Commercial Law given by the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., of New York and the Bancroft Whitney Publishing Co., of California, 1966-1967;

10. Granted honorary citizenship by the State of Texas, U.S.A. in 1966.


c. As a professional:

1. Chosen as one of the Outstanding Men (TOYM) of the Philippines in the field of law, 1977;

2. Chosen as one of the Outstanding Alumni of the Alpha Phi Beta Law, Alumni, U.P. College of Law, 1975;

3. Elected Co-Chairman of the World Section of Prosecutors, 8th Manila World Law Conference of the World Peace Thru Law Center;

4. Represented the Philippines in the legal Congress on the Court Defense of the State Administration sponsored by the Advocate General of Italy in Rome, Italy, 1976;

5. Delegate, International Law Association Conference, Manila, 1978;

6. Lecturer, U.P. Law Center, Institute of Judicial Administration; Professor of Law, F.E.U., 1969 - 1973;

7. Special Lecturer on Constitutional Law, Philippine Judicial Academy;

8. Bar Examiner in Criminal Law, 1979; Bar Examiner in Mercantile Law, 1989; Bar Examiner in Taxation, 1993;

9. Recipient, Araw ng Maynila Award as Outstanding Jurist, June 24, 1987;

10. Chosen as one of the Distinguished Citizens of the Philippines, 1980;

11. Chosen as one of the Outstanding Residents of Quezon City and included in its Honor Roll, 1979;

12. Recipient, Certificate of Recognition, Province of Pampanga for Outstanding Public Service in the Judiciary, 1987;

13. Recipient, Sunburst Award, Arellano High School; Outstanding Alumnus, 1995;

14. Ten Outstanding Masons of the Philippines, April 26, 1990;

15. Chairman, Committee of the Supreme Court digesting its Decisions for distribution to Members of the Judiciary;

16. Chairman, Committee on Revision of the Rules of Court, 1999 up to the present which drafted the Rules of Criminal Procedure (2000), Child Witness Rule, Rules on Rehabilitation of Corporations; Rules on Intra-Corporate Disputes; Rules on Family Courts; Rule on Commitment of Children; Rule on Adoption, Rule on Declaration of Nullity of Void Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages; Rule on Legal Separation; Rule on Provisional Orders; and Rule on Violence Against Women and Their Children;

17. Chairman, Raffle Committee (En Banc cases) 1999 up to the present;

18. Working Chairman, First Division, Supreme Court up to May 29, 2002;

19. Chairman, Court Systems Journal of the Supreme Court;

20. Editorial Consultant, Journal of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines;

21. Outstanding Alumnus, UP College of Law, 1996;

22. Grand Cross Award, (March 1998) highest award of the Supreme Council 330 Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of the Republic of the Philippines;

23. Grand Lodge Gold Medal, (April 1998) highest award of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Republic of the Philippines;

24. Grand Cross of Rizal, (1998) highest award of Order of the Knights of Rizal;

25. UP's Most Outstanding Law Alumnus 1997;

26. Delegate, UN Judicial Colloqium on the Application of International Human Rights Law at the Domestic Level, Vienna, Austria, October 27, 1999;

27. Delivered Paper on Role of Courts In Protecting Environment in UNEP sponsored conference, Bangkok, Thailand, January 31-February 1, 2001;

28. Headed the Philippine Delegation of Judges to observe Commercial Courts in Sydney, Australia, March 2001;

29. Headed Philippine delegation to the Symposium on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Litigation sponsored by the European Patent Office, Munich, Germany, September 10 to 14, 2001;

30. Read papers on (1) Jurisdiction, Categories of Cases and Standing to Sue; (2) Standards and Scope of Judicial Review; and (3) Remedies, ADRs and Access to Information at the Conference on Administrative Law and Environmental Protection, sponsored by the Office of the Administrative Courts of Thailand and the US-Asia Environmental Partnership held on December 7-8, 2001 at Bangkok, Thailand;

31. Delegate to the First International Forum for Training of the Judiciary, Jerusalem, Israel, March 2002; and the Second Forum, Ottawa, Canada, 2004;

32. Participated in Judicial Administration and Reform Course held in Sydney, Australia from June 2 to 21, 2002 sponsored by the International Development Law Institute (IDLI);

33. Participated, together with Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr., in the Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices to Review the Draft Universal Declaration of Judicial Standards under the auspices of the United Nations Center for International Crime Prevention held at The Hague, Netherlands last 25 to 27 November 2002;

34. Presented Philippine Paper in First Regional Seminar of Asian Constitutional Court, September 8-9, 2003, Jakarta, Indonesia;

35. Centennial Awardee in the field of law given by the United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary, Philippine Wesleyan University, 1999;

36. Certificate of Recognition, 90th Founding Anniversary of the UP College of Law, January 12,2001;

37. Chairman, 1994 Board of Judges TOYM;

38. Voted as the Most Outstanding Jurist Activist by the Consumers Union of the Philippines, July 4, 2003;

39. Delivered Paper on Election Disputes: Waste of Means or Constitutional Necessity in the Second Regional Seminar of Asian Constitutional Court Judges, March 31-April 2, 2004, Bangkok, Thailand;

40. First Filipino Recipient of the Distinguished Global Alumni Award, 2003-2004, given by the Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, March 31, 2005;

41. Ulirang Ama Awardee 2005 given by the National Mother's Day & Father's Day Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.;

42. Delivered the Philippine Paper on the subjects Problems between Constitutional Courts and Politics and Legal Basis for the Election/Dismissal of Constitutional Justices at the 3rd Conference of Constitutional Courts Judges held in Mongolia from September 6 to 8, 2005;

43.Has written numerous legal articles published in law journals.


IV. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:

a. Assistant Attorney, Gerardo Roxas and Abraham F. Sarmiento Law Office, 1962-1963;

b. Tax Attorney; Joint Legislative and Executive Tax Commission, 1963-1967;

c. Partner, Puno Law Office, 1969-1971;

d. Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General, 1971-1974;

e. Acting City Judge, Quezon City Branch II, 1972-1974;

f. Assistant Solicitor General, 1974 to November 28, 1982; and on several occasions, Acting Solicitor General;

g. Appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, June 20, 1980;

h. Reappointed Appellate Justice of the Intermediate Appellate Court (First Special Division), January, 1983;

i. Appointed Deputy Minister of Justice, November 7, 1984 and on several occasions as Acting Secretary of Justice;

j. Acting Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Parole, February 1985;

k. Appointed Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, August 1, 1986;

l. Appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, June 1993;

m. Member, House Electoral Tribunal, 1998-1999;

n. Member, Senate Electoral Tribunal, 1999-2002;

o. Member, Presidential Electoral Tribunal;

p. Chairman, House Electoral Tribunal, May 30, 2002;

q. Chairman, Third Division of the Supreme Court, May 30, 2002;

r. Chairman, Second Division of the Supreme Court, November 2003;

s. Chairman, Senate Electoral Tribunal, November 2003 to present;

t. Chairman, Committee of Zero Backlog of Cases.



V. CIVIC AND CHURCH AFFILIATIONS:

Church:

Puno United Methodist Church - No. 33 Holy Spirit Drive,Don Antonio Heights, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City

Congregation:

Morning Congregation
Vesper Congregation
MASA Mission

a. Lay Preacher, United Methodist Church; present Chairman of the Administrative Council, Puno Memorial United Methodist Church; past Chairman of the Administrative Board of the Knox United Methodist Church, the biggest and oldest Methodist Church in the Philippines;
b. Elected Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council of the S.G.I.G. of the thirty-third and last degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Philippines (1991-1994);
c. Elected Grandmaster, Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the Philippines, (1984);
d. Knights of Rizal;
e. Integrated Bar of the Philippines;
f. UP Law Alumni;
g. Alpha Phi Beta Alumni.