Aegean Prayer

Heavenly Father, you are the Father of all nations, the Father of all race, and the Father of all ages. Although we differ in calling you names, as we worship you in different ways, only you could unite us all. You are the Omniscient, the Omnipresent, and the Omnipotent. You are the creator of the universe, the light that guides us all, and the savior that rescued us from darkness. We worship no other being but you, for you are the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the one and only, true God.

Father, bless our tribe and let it grow, that it reaches every corner of the earth, and that it win more souls for your kingdom. Clothe us with your armor wherever we may be. Instill in our hearts the conscience that would guide us in doing only that which is right, just, and equitable. Remind us to prosecute the culprit for retribution, not vengeance, incarcerate the felon for reformation, not punishment, and defend the accused for his innocence, not his wealth. May our every act, word, and deed give glory to your most precious name, we pray. Amen.

Love Passed Me By

I
I see lovers cry
I see lovers smile
I see them grow
In each other’s arms

I see lovers fight
I see lovers love
I see them live
With each other’s warmth

Refrain 1
Then I asked myself why
To love, I’ve been unkind
And I asked myself when
This heart will learn to throb
I let love passed me by
Afraid to lose someone
I’m falling out of love
Before I even find

II
I see lovers fail
I see lovers win
I see their hopes
In each other’s hand

I see lovers frown
I see lovers grin
I see their souls
In each other’s eyes

Refrain II
Then I asked myself why
That love, I couldn’t find
And I asked myself when
This mind would heed my heart
I let love passed me by
Afraid to lose someone
I’m falling out of love
Before I even find

Our House On Christmas Day

I
The mistletoe hangs by the door
The lantern rests on the window
The Christmas tree is in the living roon
Gifts are scattered all over the floor

Refrain
A yearly sight I love to see
A house that's adorned so beautifully
The only place I'd like to be
A house that's a home where love is free

Chorus
That's our house on Christmas day
Remembering the birth in Bethlehem
That's our house on Christmas day
Everyone's rejoicing, the coming of the King

II
The door is open all day long
The visitors here they come and go
With smiling faces and warm embraces
Kin and friends they exchange wishes

Oh Ninong at Ninang Ko

I
Maligayang pasko
Ninong at ninang ko
Ako po’y napadalaw
Upang bumati sa inyo
Sana po ay maghari
Sa tahanang ito
Ang pag-ibig na dala ng pasko

Refrain
Oh ninong at ninang ko
Pwede bang sa inyo’y magmano
Kahit pa walang aguinaldo
Sapat na ang bendisyon ninyo

Oh ninong at ninang ko
Sana’y huwag kayong magbago
Nawa’y manatili ang pag-ibig
Sa inyo kahit hindi na pasko

II
Maligayang pasko
Ninong at ninang ko
Sana’y ‘di nakaabala
Ang pagbisita kong ito
Sana po’y mag-umapaw
Sa tahanang ito
Ang pagpapalang dala ng pasko

Bar Matter 1116 (Five-Strike Rule) - Discriminatory

Bar Matter 1116, issued in 2004, otherwise known as the “five-strike” rule, limits to five (5) the maximum number of times a law graduate may take the bar examination. It also provides that such candidate, after failing in three (3) examinations may take a fourth and fifth examinations if he successfully completes a one (1) year refresher course for each examination. Said rule provides further that upon its effectivity, those who have already failed in five (5) or more bar examinations shall be allowed to take only one (1) more bar examination after completing a one (1) year refresher course.


The above resolution has been the subject of three petitions in the Supreme Court, and lately was challenged by one Feliciano Olivares. According to Associate Justice Antonio Nachura, the high court has ruled against those petitions. Olivares on the other hand is impugning the same in his desire to take the bar exam the seventh (7th) time. The last time he took it (his sixth time) was in 2006.

I have not read the aforementioned petitions, neither that of Olivares, so I do not know on what grounds the resolution was attacked. I cannot figure out how to question the same on grounds of unconstitutionality, as regards the limiting to five the times the exam may be taken. I, however, wonder whether the State has the power to do the same.

That notwithstanding, I am disturbed by the resolution’s differentiating the law graduates who are yet to take the exam, at the time of its effectivity, from those who have already taken the same. The former is given five chances of passing the exam, while the latter is left with a lesser number of times, the number of which depends on how many times he had taken the same, at the time of the effectivity of the rule.

A candidate, therefore, who has taken the exam at least once, is allowed to take it again for a number of times, depending on the number of instances he had taken the examination. The previous examination shall be deducted from the five time limit, and what remains is the number of times left of him to take the said examination. Hence, at the time of the effectivity of the rule, anyone who has taken the examination three times already, has two more times to take the same, and those who have taken it four times, is allowed only one more time.

A person who has taken the exam five times already is allowed only one more time to take it, but a candidate who is yet to take it for the first time, is allowed five times to do the same.

This does not put on equal footing all graduates of law, as it discriminates against those who have taken the examination prior to the enactment of the law. While those who are yet to take, and those who are fresh graduates are given fresh five (5) times to take the exam, those who have taken the bar examination prior to the rule, are given a lesser number of times to take the same, depending on the number of instances they had taken the said exam. Laws, whether civil or penal in nature, must be prospective in application to be reasonable. This rule is retrospective, and oppressive, as it treats the previous examination as part of the five time limit. It makes a previous act a violation, or a part of a prohibition, when it was innocent at the time of its performance.

Having taken the bar exam in 2006 for the sixth time, I would assume that Olivares had taken the same five times when the rule was released in 2004. Had the five time limit been a law that is prospective in nature, Olivares should have been given a fresh five (5) times then, and by now, must have four chances left of him to hurdle the grueling bar examination.

As previously stated, presently, I do not know how anyone may attack the constitutionality of this rule as regards the limitation on the number of times a person may take the bar exam. In the meantime, however, and if I were similarly situated with Olivares, I will assail the law on the ground that it is discriminatory, and oppressive. I wonder how the high court would rule on that.

Nature So Deserves

I thank the sunlight each morning
For waking me up from bed
I listen to the birds chirping
As they welcome the new day

I enjoy the bright, sunny day
As I walk and run the fields
Then play water with friends later
As we bathe in the afternoon rain

I like the colors of the sunset
Pink, scarlet, orange, and red
And thank the moon for lighting
What could have been a dark evening

I thank God for all these things
All these beauty that life brings
I pray that people would preserve
The balance that nature so deserves

Away Bati

Hindi magkabagay sa maraming bagay
Magkasalungat ating pananaw
Mga hilig ko'y 'di mo maintindihan
Mga lakad ko'y hindi mo masakyan

Panay tampuhan, minsa'y hiwalayan
Sigurado namang magbabalikan
Tuwing magkikita, sa simula ay kay saya
Hanggang magaway sa maliit na bagay

O bakit kaya tayo pinagtagpo
Nagmamahalan nga ngunit 'di magkasundo
At bakit kaya kahit anong gawin
'di mapigil ang pagaaway natin

Away bati, tayo'y away bati
Kahit pa ganyan, 'di kita maiwan
Away bati, tayo'y away bati
Wala nang bago pa, puso'y nasanay na
Bukas makalawa'y mahal pa rin kita

Paano kaya, maiiwasan ang gulo
Ako'y litong lito, saklolo, Kupido...

Minsa'y mabait, biglang magsusungit
Minsa'y magiliw, pagdaka'y galit
Pag naglambing ka, dibdib ko'y kumakaba
Baka maudlot pa, napipintong romansa

Isang Alaala

Isang alaalang kasama sa tuwina
Isang pagsuyong maulit pa sana
Ang sumpaang nagbigkis sa'ting dalawa
hanggang ngayo'y, bihag niya, puso ko't kaluluwa

Isang alaalang aalo sa lumbay
Isang pag ibig na walang kapantay
Ang tadhanang nagwalay sa 'ting landas
Kanyang bakas, ang tanglaw, sa 'king paglalakbay

Hanggang haplos mo'y madamang muli
At mahagkan ka sa bawat sandali
Hanggang doon ako mangangarap
Magdarasal, na pangako mo'y matupad
Tanging kahapon, na nagiwan ng pagasa
Alaala mong naging pangarap pa...
Alaala mong naging... pangarap pa...

Noynoy for President

If Noynoy Aquino believes that shifting to a parliamentary form of government is worth a try, he should run for the presidency. Should he win, I hope the lure of power wont overtake him; he must not finish his 6 year term as president, instead, use the first year in leading this nation to changing its form of government. I expect him to do, what his mother term as... "the supreme sacrifice". Well, let's see....

EDSA to Corazon Aquino Avenue

Senator Mar Roxas filed a senate resolution seeking to rename portions of EDSA to Corazon Aquino Ave. While naming a place or a street in honor of someone who has contributed much for the country is laudable, caution, however, must be exercised in doing the same. You do not drop a historical street name like EDSA, just like that. EDSA is edsa, as CORY is cory. PEOPLE POWER is Edsa, so as is Cory.

Willie Revillame

I have seen "share your views" kind of questions in my Facebook account like, Ateneo or La Salle (which one is the better school), Jollibee or Mc Donald (which one is the better fast food chain), etc. If only I could program such kind of application, I'll do the same, and have Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon as my subjects. I'd ask "Who is more "mal educado"? I bet statistics wont give us close results – one is but the tactless guy, and the other one is the worst "palenquero" Philippine media has ever known.