Informal Law Education Series
This page contains links to articles written by Atty. Joel Rodriguez Dizon containing lessons delivered in the form of simulated lectures in a fictional section of junior law students belonging to the Alpha and Omega classes at a fictional college of law called the Layman School of Law and Justice. Although entirely fictional, all the lectures contain real and accurate legal insights. The “students'” recitations are based on his interactions with real students he has had teaching law for more than ten years in the Baguio Colleges Foundation College of Law in the Philippines.
PSF 28
Of the 19 powers given to NEA by RA 10531, the power to appoint a GM is NOT one of them… Continue reading→
PSF 29
Of the 19 powers given to NEA by RA 10531, the power to appoint a GM is NOT one of them… Continue reading→
PSF 30
Of the 19 powers given to NEA by RA 10531, the power to appoint a GM is NOT one of them… Continue reading→
PSF 31
Of the 19 powers given to NEA by RA 10531, the power to appoint a GM is NOT one of them… Continue reading→
PSF 32
Of the 19 powers given to NEA by RA 10531, the power to appoint a GM is NOT one of them… Continue reading→
PSNLA 33
Baguio-Benguet Consumers are Slowly Waking upPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 33 Ordinary people of good conscience are beginning to react to the BENECO crisis. I think it’s because the COVID19 Delta Variant reminds them of it everyday. The NEA variant behaves uncanningly similar. It did not kill the host right away. It struck a very healthy coop…. Continue reading→
PSNLA 34
As an ordinary consumer, Laarni Ilagan and BENECO make me proudPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 34 I waited three days before going public on Facebook with my minor gripe about still not having electricity despite the storm being over. At 6:30 AM, well over 2 hours before the start of office, BENECO’s Laarni Ilagan, probably still in… Continue reading→
PSNCL 35
NEA validly serving an invalid Order doesn’t make the Order validPre-Semester Non-classroom Lecture 35 My bad, I forget to mention that some of my posts are really intended for our law students that we still can’t meet face-to-face. Even bar review is via Zoom these days. I can’t tell you how limiting and annoying that… Continue reading→
PSNCL 36
NEA Cannot use the PNP to perform its rulemaking powers, only it’s adjudicating powerPre-Semester Non-classroom Lecture 36 The National Electrification Administration (NEA) is skating on really very thin ice, if it insists on its handpicked general manager for BENECO. Can NEA use the PNP or the NBI to install its Anointed One over at South… Continue reading→
PSNLA 37
I think NEA will try to seize BENECO by Fake People PowerPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 37 In this day and age of social media channeling heightened public awareness, public opinion is no longer an abstract factor in policy formulation. There remain a few holdouts, mostly in the government sector ironically, who think they can still bulldoze… Continue reading→
PSNLA 38
Why NEA CANNOT just fire anybody in BENECO by mere publication Pre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 38 Again this is for my law students preparing for the Bar—and everyone else out there who are in denial of the fact that they are good enough to be lawyers just the way they are: This is Labor Law. If… Continue reading→
PSNLA 39
Deputizing the PNP to execute a NON-JUDICIAL or NON-QUASI JUDICIAL ORDER is just PLAIN WRONGPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 39 It might be the last straw to break the camel’s back. Throwing South Drive into a military hamlet sent a blood-curdling message down the spine of peaceful and freedom-loving Baguio residents. So this is how pocket martial… Continue reading→
PSNCL 40
Why Turning South Drive into a Hamlet is UNCONSTITUTIONALPre-Semester Non-classroom Lecture 40 This is for my law students preparing for the Bar (but, of course, since it’s a public post all are welcome to read it) A WARRANT—whether it be to effect an ARREST or a SEARCH—must specifically indicate the name of the person to… Continue reading→
PSNLA 41
What even a little girl can do to help BENECOPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 41 Tito, I feel so helpless and so little, so insignificant. I’m just a kid. What can I do?” Katherine, you’re 14 but you’re not playing computer games. Instead you’re surfing Facebook and trying to understand what many adults have no hard time… Continue reading→
PSNLA 42
No one can afford to be in the sidelines in this BENECO fight, jwhen just being counted is enoughPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 42 Someone asked me today, “what can I do about this BENECO crisis, especially now that men with guns are involved?” My answer was to repeat the question, “What can YOU do? Nothing. But… Continue reading→
PSNLA 43
Why it’s crucial for BENECO to elect fresh officers or renew office termsPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 43 Back in those days of my pathetic attempts to go to the gym, one of the guys wore a shirt that said “Your workout is my warmup!” I hated the sight of that shirt but it’s the only way… Continue reading→
PSNLA 44
NEA’s Golden Girl May be Highly-achieved, but she’s still UNQUALIFIEDPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 44 Qualification is a tricky issue. To run for President of the Philippines, you must be at least 40 years old, natural-born Filipino, able to read and write, a registered voter and a resident in the Philippines in the last ten years. That’s… Continue reading→
PSNLA 45
PNB has reasons to be worriedPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 45 If I were PNB Baguio I would be afraid. I would be VERY afraid. They allowed a third party to withdraw ONE MILLION PESOS from an account of a depositor—BENECO—without even informing the depositor except after the fact. Their only basis is unilateral representation through certification… Continue reading→
PSNLA 46
A Day that will life in Infamy for NEAPre-Semester Non-Lecture Analysis 46 That shameful blitzkrieg carried out by NEA in South Drive on October 18, 2021 was not just a shortlived takeover of BENECO’s premises. It was the beginning of a long siege that continues to this day. NEA had hoped to build a bunker… Continue reading→
PSF 47
Why Baguio and Benguet people resent NEA’s High-handednessPre-Semester Frontier Post 47 There’s an underlying reason why the brazen attempt of NEA to takeover BENECO is generating so much public outrage, helping galvanize opposition to what many see as a naked power grab—no pun intended. For many residents, who are coincidentally member-consumer-operators (MCO’s) too, the experience is… Continue reading→
BENECO Election Postponement
I agree that what’s happening right now in central Negros is a portent of things to come in Benguet. Their electric cooperative CENECO will be taken over by a private investor, which has already announced its attrition policy for gradually replacing the rank-and-file with their own people. Continue reading→
City High Years
As long as I was re-immersing myself in retro-70s and 80s nostalgia in this series of posts about my “City High” years, I thought—why not? An era is not just about stories you can still recall. It’s really also about appreciating your reminiscences in the context of the total environment of those times—beyond the tedium… Continue reading→
National Geographic
Why are people (such as myself) still obsessing about the wreck of this “unsinkable ship” more than 111 years after it slipped into the bottom of the North Atlantic ocean? Continue reading→
MCO Regrets
I agree that what’s happening right now in central Negros is a portent of things to come in Benguet. Their electric cooperative CENECO will be taken over by a private investor, which has already announced its attrition policy for gradually replacing the rank-and-file with their own people. Continue reading→
Why Titanic Mania Lives
Why are people (such as myself) still obsessing about the wreck of this “unsinkable ship” more than 111 years after it slipped into the bottom of the North Atlantic ocean? Continue reading→
Willy’s Jeep
I looked around campus but I didn’t find it. At the last grand alumni homecoming reunion of my high school (Baguio City High School) last May, I went out of my way to look for an old white 1963 Willy’s jeepwagon that I had hoped would just be lying somewhere around the schoolyard. I felt… Continue reading→
Titan
I’m hearing so much of this “I-told-you-so” and “I-knew-it” kind of reactions to the tragedy that bookended the saga of the Ocean Gate minisub TITAN. All five of its crew and passengers died in what the US Navy described as a “catastrophic implosion” that may have occurred not too long after the Titan lost communication with its mother ship on Sunday, June 18. Continue reading→
Titan Minisub
I’m aware that three of the passengers in that stricken submersible Ocean Gate Titan are billionaires. I see no point in naming them because I doubt that you or I know any of them. Missing for five days now, optimism is dwindling that they could still be found and rescued in time before they run out of breathing oxygen. Continue reading→
Hope Never Surrenders
I’m aware that three of the passengers in that stricken submersible Ocean Gate Titan are billionaires. I see no point in naming them because I doubt that you or I know any of them. Missing for five days now, optimism is dwindling that they could still be found and rescued in time before they run out of breathing oxygen. Continue reading→
One Question, One Member, One Vote
I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative. No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments. Continue reading→
Slowly and Steadily
I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative. No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments. Continue reading→
“Alice in Wonderland”
I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative. No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments. Continue reading→
Magalong and MSL
He’d said again to a friend recently, as he had countless times before, “I never turn my back on my men in battle. I never abandon my people in the middle of a fight.” Some call it the Magalong urban legend, or the PMA “mistah creed.” Whatever, Benjie has collected shrapnel scars over the years to prove it. Throughout his active tour of duty, he did stand in front of soldiers he commands. He did take a bullet or more for them, and in the flesh too not just in the flak jacket. Continue reading→
Writing in the Dark
I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative. No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments. Continue reading→
BENECO District Elections 2023
So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel? There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.) Continue reading→
Vindication
So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel? There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.) Continue reading→
The Rise and Fall of ECMCO United
So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel? There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.) Continue reading→
“MSL is my GM”
So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel? There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.) Continue reading→
General Membership
True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA. The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself. Continue reading→
No Substitute for Elections
True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA. The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself. Continue reading→
Evidentiary “MCO SELFIE”
True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA. The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself. Continue reading→
Empowering the BENECO MCO
True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA. The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself. Continue reading→
NEA’s Conceptual Hook
The conceptual “hook” that NEA used to inveigle public opinion so that many residents of Baguio and Benguet simply acquiesced to the virtual abolition of the regular BENECO Board was “massive corruption.” Of course, any talk about fighting corruption will always get strong public support. Unfortunately, corruption is something very easy to allege but very hard to prove. Continue reading→
The BENECO Surrender 2
As far as the MCO’s are concerned, the most prominent and most cantankerous of them, you cannot count on anymore. They all drank the KoolAid. Now there’s less than three weeks—21 days—to quickly mount a countermove. Continue reading→
Legal Post Classifications
BENECO Surrendered its most powerful weapon. Continue reading→
BENECO Controversy Topics
BENECO Controversy Topics Continue reading→
The BENECO Surrender
BENECO Surrendered its most powerful weapon. Continue reading→
A photograph speaks a million words
About the Author The author is a writer and lawyer based in Baguio City, Philippines. Former editor of the Gold Ore and Baguio City Digest, professor of journalism, political science and law at Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF). He is a photographer and video documentarist. He has a YouTube channel called “Parables and Reason” About Images:… Continue reading→
Conversion and Privatization
It was not NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda’s discretion to set the duration of NEA’s intervention in BENECO’s operation to just six months. In fact, that’s what the law provides, in Sec. 21(d) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10531, “If within a reasonable period, not exceeding 180 days [there’s your six… Continue reading→
Explore Baguio with a Bike
Explore Baguio with a Bike A motorcycle is the best way to explore Baguio City if you have a limited time to do it. Unfortunately, we don’t have rental bike services in this city yet (PLEASE, somebody correct me, I’ll be the happiest guy to be wrong about this) so you have to own one…. Continue reading→
Failure of AI
The Failure of Artificial Intelligence This time they did it—they crossed the red line. Advocates for “artificial intelligence” ended up with egg on their faces after a German tabloid, the weekly Die Aktuelle, published an “interview” of former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher. It was a gripping piece of “investigative journalism,” full of colorful… Continue reading→
Preserving CJH
Preserving CJH One other undeclared role that Camp John Hay served was as an ecological preserve. In 1987 what was thought to be the last mountain cloud rat (locally named “yutyut”) was caught off “Little Mermaid” garden, below Scout Hill by a groundskeeper who thought it looked like a giant shrew. Believed to be almost… Continue reading→
Skating Rink
Skating Rink at CJH Indoor rollerskating in Camp John Hay was almost a rite of passage when we were in high school. My classmates and I from Baguio City High School (BCHS) would save up our daily allowance—don’t laugh now but back in 1979 you’d be a rich kid if you got FIVE PESOS a… Continue reading→
NEA’s Hiring Process
NEA’s Hiring Process Can anybody stop NEA from opening the selection and hiring process for a new BENECO General Manager? The better question is, WHY would anybody want to stop NEA from doing that—hire a new GM through the compliant cooperation of the 5-man Interim Board? The only logical answer is, ANYBODY who doesn’t stand… Continue reading→
BgCur
Can BENECO Complete its emergency Landing? ADVANCE DISCLOSURE: I make no claim whatsoever that everything I say here are facts. This is to save time for all those sanctimonious fact-twisters out there who I know will go through this article with a fine-toothed comb again, looking for bits to “factcheck” just to create the impression… Continue reading→
Camp John Hay Nostalgia
“Why the sudden interest on Camp John Hay? You’ve been writing about it almost as passionately as you did about BENECO the past several days…” is the most common question I’ve been asked several times lately. “By the way, what happened to BENECO??” comes in a close second. I already told you: I don’t know…. Continue reading→
Camp John Hay Mile High Memories
While Christine and I were doing our regular “cardio” walkaround in Camp John Hay last weekend, I spied on a little sign near Scout Hill that indicated the direction to what it claimed to be the “historical core” of Camp John Hay. I thought, “Could anything be more ABSURD than THAT?” They have demolished practically… Continue reading→
NEA’s Mandate
“The NEA shall immediately step-in and take over from its Board the operations of any ailing electric cooperative. Within a reasonable period after take-over, the NEA may convert the ailing cooperative to either a stock cooperative registered with the CDA or a stock corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “The NEA shall,… Continue reading→
Camp John Hay TV
The Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule for 327 years (1571-1898) and under American rule for just 47 years (1898-1946). So the joke goes we spent three centuries in cloistered convent, and less than retirement age in Hollywood. And yet look at how we turned out as a people: the most Spanish-hating (we finally got… Continue reading→
NEA and BENECO Should Come Clean
“The NEA shall immediately step-in and take over from its Board the operations of any ailing electric cooperative. Within a reasonable period after take-over, the NEA may convert the ailing cooperative to either a stock cooperative registered with the CDA or a stock corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “The NEA shall,… Continue reading→
John Hay’s Top Soil
When we were young Boy Scouts in Baguio Central School in the 70s, my schoolmates and I looked forward to October Scouting Month with much anticipation and excitement. Only once a year do we ever get to see what Camp John Hay looks like from INSIDE. Only during Scouting Month do we get to pitch… Continue reading→
Big Screens at John Hay
The last movie I watched in Camp John Hay Theater was “Mommie Dearest” starring Faye Dunaway. It was a screen adaptation of actress Joan Crawford’s biography, as retold by her tormented adoptive children Christina and Christopher Crawford. It was one of the worst movies ever made in Hollywood. But it started the genre of visceral… Continue reading→
The Browning of Camp John Hay
There were a lot of ‘back stories’ surrounding the complete withdrawal of US forces from the former American military bases in Subic, Clark and Camp John Hay that never made it the front page of newspapers, both national and local. Mostly, the suppression of those stories was the handiwork of p-r operators, some say funded… Continue reading→
Putin
It cannot be just “play warrant of arrest” Few will dispute that Russian President Vladimir Putin committed crimes against humanity when he invaded Ukraine. But as horrible as the Russian war against Ukraine has already been, in terms of civilian casualties, it is nothing compared to the spectre of a wider conflict among the world… Continue reading→
The Beginning of the Age of Brainwashing
September 21, 1972: The Beginning of the Age of Brainwashing September 21, 1972 was a day like any other in my carefree childhood years growing up in a peaceful city like Baguio. I was in the Grade Two, Section 2 class of Mrs. Esther dela Cruz, our homeroom teacher in Baguio Central School, which was… Continue reading→
Baguio shouldn’t build skyscrapers
Baguio shouldn’t build skyscrapers The jolting earthquake on July 27, 2022 is causing residents to revisit concerns about survivability in the nation’s summer capital in the event of another ‘killer quake.’ Specifically, it is reviving the question should Baguio City have high-rise buildings—meaning those that have more than six floors? This is my opinion: NO…. Continue reading→
The MURDER of pine trees goes unabated
The MURDER of pine trees goes unabated The practice has NOT stopped. Land developers (there’s another contradiction in terms) wanting to eliminate a big hindrance to their plans are still killing PINE TREES in Baguio City the same effective way they invented: by drilling holes in these trees’ trunks and injecting poison to slowly destroy… Continue reading→
We were “toy soldiers” in 1979
We were “toy soldiers” in 1979 I experienced Citizens Army Training (CAT) in high school in 1979 in Baguio City High School (BCHS). I can’t remember if my batchmates and I ever understood that it had anything to do with martial law. We were not very well-informed politically at that age, most of us were… Continue reading→
S1E70
S1E70 – Redeeming the Institution: BARANGAY The myth of this “Golden Age” of the martial law years has been so thoroughly debunked in social media even the Marcos campaign has virtually dropped it. Instead of a vote-magnet it became a deadweight to carry around. Everytime they mentioned martial law, it always triggered a blizzard of… Continue reading→
S1E69
S1E69 – How dare you doubt PAGASA’s weather forecasts? Good evening class. Please bring out your umbrellas, if you brought one. I am going to go around the classroom and inspect your readiness to cope with inclement weather–like some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the early evening…perhaps when you leave this building after I dismiss… Continue reading→
S1E68
S1E68 – The true essence of the “Rule of Law” Where is Miss Carla Adaawan?” I picked out a particular student because I knew she is from Tabuk City, which is in Kalinga province. This province was particularly significant during martial law because of the Chico River Dam controversy. “I’m present sir!” the spritely girl… Continue reading→
S1E67
S1E67 – Exploiting the confusion created by the “fog of war” The action of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in appointing Ana Maria Rafael as general manager of Benguet Electric Cooperative is illegal because it violates Section 26-B of P.D. 269. That provision prescribes the mandatory qualifications for general manager. Rafael lacks those qualifications. There… Continue reading→
S1E66
S1E66 – I respect your opinion because it’s your God Good, evening class. Tonight I want to talk more about the freedom of thought and of free opinion. You read about it all the time on social media. Everybody demands that you respect their opinion. Now, where does that come from? Did you ever wonder?”… Continue reading→
S1E65
S1E65 – You want a TRO? Show me the money! What is the meaning of freedom?” I began the evening’s lecture by asking my students a question for which there is no universal answer. “Imagine this class—we keep saying that laws exist to guard our freedom. We rarely stop to think about what we mean… Continue reading→
S1E64
S1E64 – Was there really a Golden Age of Philippine agriculture? Miss Joanna Pis-o…from the land of the stonewalled rice terraces of Barlig, Mountain Province, in the central Cordilleras, are you present?” “Yes, sir, present! I certainly correspond to that long geocultural resumé you just gave hihihi!” the bubbly girl from the ‘BaNaPa’ tri-municipality responded…. Continue reading→
S1E63
S1E3 – Studying all the Queen’s Gambit Moves for Sara There’s so much talk about Sara Duterte becoming president if Bongbong Marcos is disqualified. There’s even a conspiracy theory that this is the reason why the COMELEC is delaying the decision in the disqualification cases still pending. Accordingly, if they would just allow Marcos to… Continue reading→
S1E62
S1E62 – Mandatory military training for all citizens, anyone? Miss Carla Adaawan?” The girl from Tabuk City looked up from oogling at her smartphone at the start of the evening’s class. I don’t know what startled her—that I suddenly called on her to recite without even shuffling their classcards, or the fact that I finally… Continue reading→
S1L61
S1E61- What would Jesus say about electric cooperatives? I walked into the classroom holding nothing in my hands—no classcards, no index cards or lecture notes on yellowpad. I even left my chalkbox and blackboard eraser in the faculty lounge. Instantly I could hear my Alpha Section class heave a collective sigh of relief. “No graded… Continue reading→
S1L60
S1E60 – Again I predict BBM will NOT be disqualified For the second time, I will go out on a limb again and say, NO they will not disqualify BongBong Marcos—not even in the three remaining disqualification cases pending before the First and Second Divisions of COMELEC. The first case for “cancellation of certificate of… Continue reading→
S1L59
S1L59 – The Paradox of Loans Tonight, class, I want everybody to get a firm grip of their understanding of the concept of a LOAN. And I don’t just mean your ordinary ‘commodity loan’ like some money you borrow from a bank to pay for the purchase of a new car, or to construct a… Continue reading→
S1L58
S1L58 – Breaking down the Myth of Super-Untouchable Regulators Why is it not possible to sue the State? This is a question I have often been asked by my students, both in Political Science in the undergraduate program and in the College of Law. The short answer is because of the “Social Contract Theory”—which, in… Continue reading→
S1L57
S1L57 ; Public office is a public trust, fake diplomas don’t count Good evening, class…” “Good evening, sir!” my Alpha Section class seemed totally refreshed by the long Christmas break, they looked ready to recite. I, on the other hand, was ready to launch 2022 by centering their attention on what I feel would be… Continue reading→
S1L56
S1L56 – COMELEC will not disqualify Bongbong Marcos Of course the COMELEC will not disqualify Bongbong Marcos. He is one of only two viable presidential candidates and, arguably, the front-running one. Yes, there is ground to disqualify him. But I don’t think the COMELEC will be swayed by ordinary grounds alone. Like any constitutional body,… Continue reading→
S1L55
S1L55 – No such thing as a ‘one-man- BENECO Board Hellooo Professor! Happy Three Kings! We didn’t know you liked playing billiards!” I was greeted by some painfully-familiar faces from Alpha Section when I thought I’d try some pool games at a golf resort just outside of town. I was pretty sure I would never… Continue reading→
S1L54
S1L54 – The Al Capone Lesson: there’s more than one way to skin a cat Helloooo there, Professor!! Happy New Year! We didn’t know you liked boating!” Déjà vu? This can’t be happening—Deema, Kata, Laarnee, Juan and Jack together again?? And I just happened to run into them AGAIN?? And what is this, their number… Continue reading→
S1L53
S1L53 – Learning what a “valid appointment” is on a ferriswheel Hello, professor! Happy New Year! We didn’t know you liked riding the ferriswheel!” What are the odds I would find five of my students in the same place, lining up to buy tickets at an amusement park near the mall to take a ride… Continue reading→
S1L52
S1L52 – Is it still safe to do banking in Baguio? Some banks have completely lost their bearing and have forgotten many fundamental elements of the contract between them and their depositors. What are some of these basics? To start off, a contract is the PRINCIPAL LAW between the parties. The only persons who can… Continue reading→
S1L51
S1L51 – Overseas Absentee Voting Mommy Dionisia! Fancy meeting you here in the mall! Merry Christmas po!” I was so happy to see my oldest student gallivanting around the mall, enjoying the holidays like everybody else. “Merry Christmas, Prof! Are you here to line up with the kids to have their selfies taken with Santa… Continue reading→
S1L50
S1L50 – “The Thirteenth Month Pay” Law Miss Deema Niwala, on your feet…” After looking around the classroom and making sure there was no possibility of any other person answering to the same name, this girl from Tublay finally rose her feet, “are you sure, sir?” “Am I sure of what??” “Nothing, sir…uh…it’s just been… Continue reading→
S1L49
S1L49 – The “Political Question” Doctrine Miss Carla Nalukay-nalipit?” “ADDAAWAN, SIR!!!” “I’m sorry, Miss Addaawan. I keep forgetting…” This is my student from Tabuk City, Kalinga whose name is structured after the Korean ethos of “yin-yang” –her name connotes both presence and absence. Unfortunately, it’s only the “yin-yang” trait of her name that stuck to… Continue reading→
S1L48
S1L48 – “Social Activism” introducing Miss Laarnee Iwasan Things didn’t go so bad the last time I used my new ‘policy’ of calling students for recitation LAST NAME first. So I think I’ll stick to that policy. “Is Mister or Miss Iwasan around?” I read from a half-covered classcard. I have a very strong feeling… Continue reading→
S1L47
S1L47 – The danger of compulsory SIM card registration There’s a grain of truth in the common criticism that congressional investigations done “in aid of legislation” have little to show for real accomplishments in the end. Congress justifies these investigations by saying that you just don’t legislate in a vacuum. You need to maintain utmost… Continue reading→
S1L46
S1L46 – “Place of birth” The debut of twins Glad and Gladys (Joy and Joyce) Why not?” I thought. Alpha Section is a small class, only 25 “survivors” by the midterm, 5 had dropped out since Prelims. I can certainly call the rest who have never recited. I’ve already called eleven: Deema, Kata, Juan, Jack,… Continue reading→
S1L45
S1L45 – “Intellectual Property” The debut of Miss Julyrain Arpeggio I decided to pull a classcard “blind” just to really be able to call on someone with the highest degree of randomness. “Miss Julia Regina Arpeggio?” Wow, I thought, at last a PROPER name! When I read the name, a chubby cute girl stood up… Continue reading→
S1L44
S1L44 – “Legitimization through adoption” The debut of Miss Grippa Baligtaran I’ve been thinking—it’s almost midterm and I still have only called about eight people to recite. The rest have been able to “escape”—but not for long! I looked for the classcards of those eight people and put them in the bottom of the classcard… Continue reading→
S1L43
S1L43 – “Critique of E.O. 156” – Ms. Kata Explains False Syllogism Miss Kata Ngahan, are you in?” “Present in body and spirit, sir!” “Miss Kata, you taught creative writing before didn’t you? I read it in your Facebook…” I braced for the predictable response. “You stalk me also, sir?” “No, I don’t! I mean,… Continue reading→
Break01
Deema’s Birthday! – International Human Rights Day is Miss Deema’s birthday The United Nations general assembly created the High Commission on Human Rights and started celebrating December 10 as International Human Rights Day in 1948. That’s the summary of my lecture for the evening, so I wrote it down on an index card. Now I… Continue reading→
S1L42
S1L42 – “Leni and the Android Operating System” Signs that the future has arrived Mr. Jack Makataruz, are you present?” “Present, sir!” my punk -hairstyled student sprung to his feet. “You know, Jack, you give a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘acquired taste’ with that Mohawk hairstyle of yours,” I chided him. “It’s only… Continue reading→
S1L41
S1L41 – Meaning of a Simple Contract, feat. Miss Joanna Pis-O from Barlig When you’re a 58-year old law professor and your students are millennials HALF your age, it can be a challenge to keep up with their language and mannerisms. But it can also present creative opportunities for bridging the generation gap while making… Continue reading→
S1L40
S1L40 – “What’s a lucid interval?” as distinguished from temporary insanity Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our class tonight. I will be your instructor and it is my honor to impart some useful information to all of you tonight that, hopefully, would help you fulfill your destiny as future lawyers and officers of… Continue reading→
S1L39
S1L39 – “Solutio Indebiti” Miss Deema is a Nurse! I moved to Baguio City in 1967 when I was 3 years old. My mother was a single parent—or not exactly a single parent, I just had a “non-resident” father who came up to Baguio quite regularly, like the Halley’s comet. But fittingly he DIED in… Continue reading→
S1L38
S1L38 – Petition for Change of Name, feat. Miss Joanna Pis-O from Barlig There are times when I’m not so prepared coming to class but I’ve learned the trick of how to deal with that. Have a short lecture in mind, call on a student you’ve never called to recite before, because students who have… Continue reading→
S1L37
S1L37 – Grilling Lessons from Deema: How to crossexamine without tricks Mister Cabo Buhan, are you alive?” This is my only student with a premed background. He comes from Dagupan City, Pangasinan. “I am over here sir, quietly metabolizing glucose…” He also has a reputation of being some kind of class clown who loves to… Continue reading→
S1L36
S1L36 – Ethnicity, Nationality, Citizenship, Identity and Domicile, feat. Miss Hannah Maala from Buguias Miss Palindrome, are you around?” Hannah Maala sprung to her feet, she knew right away I was referring to her. “Present, sir!” “Hehehe…Miss Maala, your middle initial written here on your classcard is ‘N’ what is that ‘N’ for?” “My mother’s… Continue reading→
S1L35
S1L35 – Women Empowerment, feat. Miss Carla Addaawan from Tabuk City A law class is an ideal environment to immerse yourself in current events and issues, something I encourage my students to do. Law is dynamic, you don’t study law in a vacuum. You study it in relation to everyday facts that impact your own… Continue reading→
S1L34
S1L34 – The “Regalian Doctrine” and the Modern Colonizers of the iBenguets Juan Dimacaawat, are you present?” “Yes, sir!” “Let’s talk a little history, Mr. Dimacaawat. Imagine that you were already a lawyer in March 16, 1521…” “Sir, no imagination is necessary, that is REALLY his birthday!” “Shut up, Miss Deema. I will call you… Continue reading→
S1L33
S1L33 – “Conflict of Interest” Involving a Public Prosecutor This evening class I want to discuss a very controversial and contentious topic: judicial independence and the integrity of the criminal-justice system.” The whole class went, “Ooooooh…!” “Facts—a judge in Cawatan City, which is somewhere in the Philippines I’ve never been to, was seen in a… Continue reading→
S1L32
S1L32 – The UNCLOS Ruling in favor of the Philippines, introducing Miss Hannah Maala from Buguias Mister Jack Makataruz, tumakder…!” “Yes, sir!” “Facts—three Chinese coast guard vessels intercepted two Philippine boats on the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese boats used high-pressure water cannons to force the Philippine boats to turn around. The boats were supposed… Continue reading→
S1L31
S1L31 – “Surveys are Self-serving Predictions”, feat. Miss Deema When I’m alone in my office in the afternoon (about 90% of Zoom hearings are held in the morning) I use the “me time” to catch up on the news on the internet. Another app I use called Adblocker Vigilante Premium will, for just 3 US… Continue reading→
S1L30
S1L30 – The Right of Suffrage and the Duck in the Cockpit, introducing Mr. Hilong Talilong As I’m shuffling classcards for another recitation, I noticed a few classcards that look very new—I suppose there are some students that I have never called for recitation. “Mr. Angelo Talilong, let me see you…?” “Hello, sir!” I know… Continue reading→
S1L29
S1L29 – Blind Items and the law on Libel Blind items are an item again nowadays after President Duterte exploded his “bomb” about a presidential candidate snorting cocaine. In Ilocano there’s a saying “nu sino mangan sili isu magasangan” (or maybe it’s a Cordilleran adage, I just happen to know only the Ilocano translation?) Therefore,… Continue reading→
S1L28
S1L28 – The Inherent Defects of Republican Democracy that sent Miss Deema crying Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, will you please count how many of you are here?” After a minute Juan reported, “We are twenty, sir.” “Alright, listen class. I prepared four lectures for tonight but I couldn’t decide which one to deliver, so I will… Continue reading→
S1L27
S1L27 – The 3 D’s in Estafa: Deceit, Damage and Discovery, feat. Mommy Dionisia In Baguio City, law classes meet in the evening, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm although I once famously “punished” a class by lecturing until 11:00 PM. Evening classes favored working students. I had quite a few fulltime professionals, some even older… Continue reading→
S1L26
S1L26 – The Doctrine of Forgiveness, feat. Miss Kata Ngahan Miss Kata Ngahan, are you around…?” “I’m present, sir. I never miss your class, it’s a pleasure and a signal pride for me to be sitting here and learning from a consummate advocate of blind justice!” The way the whole class instantly burst out laughing… Continue reading→
S1L25
S1L25 – Lawyers are cool and fashionable, feat. Mohawk-hairstyled Jack Makataruz from Bauko A law class is not always about discussions of legal doctrines and principles. A law class is a dynamic mini-society which is really a microcosm of the community itself. Some of the best memories I have of my law teaching years are… Continue reading→
S1L24
S1L24 – Why Lawyers love to say things in Latin, Juan Dimacaawat hits on Miss Deema Niwala Law is general education. That’s why there is really no such thing as the most ideal pre-law preparation. My students come from diverse under-grad backgrounds. I have yet to see one of them enjoy any real advantage over… Continue reading→
S1L23
S1L23 – Admissions and Denials, feat. Miss Deema Niwala Miss Deema Niwala, are you around?” “I’m here, sir. I’m always present. In fact, I always sit in front and you barely take notice of my presence.” This is one of those great mysteries of the universe. Whenever I do a roll call, male students usually… Continue reading→
S1L22
S1L22 – Basic Criminal Law concepts, feat. Mr. Juan Dimacaawat Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, stand up please…” “Yes, sir!” Something I always admired about this particular law student of mine is he never comes to class with tons of books or notebooks in his arms. The most he would have with him are 3 or 4… Continue reading→
S1NCL21
Why banks betray smaller clients over bigger ones Semester 1 Non-class lecture 21 Truth be told, not all of my teachings happen in a classroom situation. Sometimes law students ambush me in the cafeteria and ruin my lunch, or merienda, by asking impertinent questions. I put up with it because there’s no telling what these… Continue reading→
S1L20
S1L20 – Natural and Juridical Persons Mr. Juan Dimacaawat, are you present?” I surveyed the classroom looking for my favorite law student. He just barely managed go barge into the classroom, sweating like a pig from running to make it in time to say, “I’m here, sir!” “Oh, you just got here. Take your time,… Continue reading→
S1L19
S1L19 – Can a bank just freeze your account? I do legal education in my Facebook account, and on my webpage, but not legal counselling. So for those who have asked me if they should close their bank accounts with BPI, PNB, Land Bank and Rang-ay Bank because these banks are reported to have frozen… Continue reading→
S1L18
S1L18 – BENECO Lawyers go up against NEA over “Rule of Law” If you ask me what was the first critical blunder of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in its ill-fated effort to takeover BENECO, it would be this: it underestimated the feistiness of the Baguio-Benguet people, especially that small intrepid army of member-consumer-owners (MCO’s)… Continue reading→
S1L17
S1L17 – How the public is being hypnotized into surrendering BENECO In the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king. What this old adage means, to me, is that men obtain power because they see what others cannot. A more cynical expression of this is men obtain power by preventing others from seeing. In… Continue reading→
S1L16
S1L16 – How to guard yourself against cyberlibel, introducing Juan Dimacaawat Mister Juan Dimacaawat, are you around?” My favorite law student is a stocky fellow from Mankayan, Benguet, the son of a retired miner who now owns a welding shop fabricating “ball mills” for neighborhood pocketminers. I like calling him during recitations because he is… Continue reading→
S1L15
S1L15 – Everything that “Persona Non Grata” Resolution means or does not mean One of the myths that law students are able to dispel quickly is the popular impression that their law professors know everything. They hold them in such high esteem that many become disillusioned when they realize their favorite teacher didn’t really walk… Continue reading→
S1L14
S1L14 – The Difference between “power of control” and “supervision”” This is potentially boring stuff unless you’re sick and tired of people who talk like they know everything about electric cooperatives, BENECO, and NEA—but are actually bluffing and just trying to impress you. This might “empower” you for that next encounter. In other words, this… Continue reading→
S1L13
S1L13 – The Courts: Where trolls and bashers cannot prevail I am biased for litigation, but on a practical level I would do everything to try to avoid going to trial. It’s too costly, stressful and time-consuming. And you never really attain closure until you’ve finally reached the Supreme Court usually SEVERAL years down the… Continue reading→
S1L12
S1L12 – How BENECO’s valiant MCO’s are like Masadans, outnumbered but not outfought The siege of Masada was one of the final events in the First Jewish–Roman War which raged from 73 to 74 A.D. On a high plateau above the plains of modern-day Israel, a small community of about 900 Hasmonean Jews took their… Continue reading→
S1L11
S1L11 – Rebellion has no penalty if the rebels win I’m shuffling classcards again for today’s class recitation….Juan Dimacaawat? “Present, sir!” Alright, Mr. Dimacaawat. Please read Art. 135 of your Revised Penal Code. “Any person who promotes, maintains or heads a rebellion or insurrection shall suffer the penalty of reclusion perpetua.” So tell your classmates,… Continue reading→
S1L10
S1L10 – Desperate NEA Resorts to Red-tagging Mia Magdalena In July 2018, the Philippine government deported 71-year old Australian Missionary nun Sister Patricia Fox, oblivious of the fact she had lived in the Philippines for more than 27 years. She spoke Cebuano, Ilonggo, Waray, Hiligaynon, Chabacano and Tagalog more fluently than even President Duterte himself…. Continue reading→
S1L9
S1L9 – Quantifying the Enormous Voting Strength of MCO Power This is an interesting number to ponder: 138,000. That’s the number of member-consumer-owners (MCO’s) of BENECO as of the end of September 2021. Baguio City has 164,125 registered voters. In other words, there are only 26,125 more registered Baguio voters than BENECO members. If you… Continue reading→
S1L8
S1L8 – “Trapos” panicked by the rise of MCO Power Now, it’s giving shifty politicos a migraine—this belated awareness that the BENECO member-consumer-owners (MCO’s) just might be an even bigger bailiwick than the INK and the Catholics combined. Politico A: “Naku, patay tayo ngayon, padli. Ang laki palang boto ng BENECO members!” Politico B: “Oo… Continue reading→
S1L7
S1L7 – The Most Potent Basis of Consumer power: OWNERSHIP When American Idol Season 1 Champion Kelly Clarkson sang, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” she could very well have been singing about what’s happening in BENECO today. Before NEA launched its campaign to terrorize local consumers with a “SEAL Team Six” type of… Continue reading→
S1L6
S1L6 – How to interpret law using “Ejusdem Generis” To my law students in the college of law and in the Facebook School of Law: What is meant by “EJUSDEM GENERIS?” It’s a rule in statutory construction—which, by the way, has nothing to do with engineering. It’s the activity of construing (interpreting) what a statute… Continue reading→
S1L5
S1L5 – NEA is Applying the Doctrine of “Presumption of Regularity” Totally wrong January (Bar Exam) is just around the corner. We have very little time to cram as much information as we can into our law students’ heads. So for those who are asking, this is the reason why I “sneak in” some basic… Continue reading→
S1L4
S1L4 – The Failure of Diligence of PNB over BENECO’s Money This is for my law students preparing for the Bar. This is on Banking Laws and Procedures (Debit Transactions): QUESTION: Can BENECO recover the one million pesos withdrawn from its account by strangers? Yes. It will take some doing, of course, because law-abiding citizens… Continue reading→
S1L3
S1L3 – Senate Probe of NEA will expose its Derelect Relevance So there’s going to be a Senate investigation into this worsening anarchy that the National Electrification Administration (NEA) is fomenting in Baguio and Benguet in its hungry grab for BENECO. When all the chips start falling where they may, NEA may yet realize that… Continue reading→
S1L2
S1L2 – NEA’s red-tagging strategy will backfire and spook the business community Everyone in Baguio should be alarmed by the red-tagging strategy that NEA has unwisely decided to include in its arsenal of weapons against BENECO. The business community, in particular, should be very concerned. In a recent religious gathering attended by NEA sympathizers, the… Continue reading→
S1L1
S1L1 – How the “Rule of Law” is perverted mimics a pro-wrestling match The best way to understand how the “rule of law” is perverted is to watch any professional wrestling match on YouTube. Pick any match where the two opponents wear ridiculous costumes that look more inspired by Halloween than by athletic design. They… Continue reading→
PSF50
Pre-Semester Frontier Post 50 (Facebook’s “Artificial Intelligence” Failing to Protect MCO Accounts) Artificial intelligence” (AI) is another one of those contradiction in terms you will inevitably have the pure annoyance of running into these days. All social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google Search) use it to power these protocols that recommend what videos you… Continue reading→
PSF49
Pre-Semester Frontier Post 49 Persona non grata” literally translates to “an unwelcome person” in Latin. It’s not a crime, so it has no penalty. It’s neither a judgment nor a decision handed down by a court, so it cannot be executed. It is always contained in a resolution, never an ordinance, so there is really… Continue reading→
PSNL48
“Dura Lex Sed Lex”Pre-Semester Non-classroom Lecture 48 Laws would be meaningless without courts. Laws tell you what your rights are. But your rights end where my rights begin. It is the court that draws the line between us. Without that clear separating line telling both of us what’s yours from mine, I would claim the… Continue reading→