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.
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→
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→