Inhospitable hospital

I always have a high regard whenever I talk of Silliman. However, for once, I'd like to speak of something I didn't like.

It was my dad's birthday yesterday but it was also the third straight day that I wasn't feeling well. I had cough, colds, headache, and stomach ache. After class that night, I went home immediately to attend dad's party. I got some lechon and a lot of dessert. Later, however, I was starting to feel worse. My cough got harder and I had shortness of breathe. Finally, I asked to be brought to the hospital.

We were at the emergency room of the Silliman Medical Center and immediately some nurses got my blood pressure, temperature, and amount of oxygen. I knew it was a standard operating procedure but still their alertness impressed me a bit. They told me to wait while a doctor was coming to check on me. So I waited... and waited...

Finally, about 30 minutes later, the doctor arrived. She did some tests on me and recommended that I was to be nebulized. I waited for another 30 minutes before the personnel prepared the equipment for the nebulization. While waiting, I observed everything that was going on in the room. There were about three patients (including myself) around at that time, while there were about 10 hospital personnel (doctors, nurses, etc). No one was really busy. Most of the time, they were just chatting and sharing some gossips. One doctor came in with a pair of Converse shoes. He tried it on and showed it to the rest. Another was busy with her Greenwich pizza. I suddenly had the feeling I wasn't in an "Emergency Room." There I was, having difficulty in breathing, but nobody even bothered to check on me from time to time. In the end, I was at the hospital for almost 3 hours!

If I thought that was bad, it was even worse a few days later. Not satisfied with the results of the several tests performed on me, and since I still wasn't feeling good, my mom wanted me to have an X-ray exam. A cousin, who was also not feeling well the past week, came with me to get X-rayed too.

So there we were at the Medical Center ER. We told the personnel there that we wanted to have an X-ray. Again, the nurses were quick to get our BP, temperature and stuff, and then we were told to wait. Somehow, I was beginning to think that the reason they immediately take all those tests on you was so that you'd not leave anymore - kinda like "once in, no out." We waited there for more than an hour. We were getting impatient. There were just a few patients and a lot of hospital personnel just talking amongst themselves. Finally, a nurse passed by. My cousin asked what we were supposed to be waiting for. She just shrugged and said that she doesn't know, and pointed to the desk. Talk about being helpful. I thought nurses are there to help and assist the patients. We felt insulted and even got more irritated. We waited another thirty minutes until a relatively older nurse approached us and asked what we were waiting for. I couldn't help but raised my voice a bit, telling her that we were there for almost two hours already waiting for someone to give us the go-signal to have our X-rays taken.

It turned out that they didn't know we were there for X-ray. It was some kind of miscommunication. But it was more of them being unsystematic.

Finally, we got the form and went to the X-ray room. In the end, the actual X-ray test took just a couple of minutes. And we had waited there for more than two hours!

I hope this doesn't happen often. It really is a bad image not only for the hospital, but the whole institution of Silliman as well, considering that most of the nurses came from the university. Silliman University boasts of a consistent 100% nursing board passing rate. Sadly though, passing the board doesn't necessarily translate into being a good nurse.

I don't mean to criticize the hospital as a whole. It so happens that a relative is the current Medical director of the hospital, and I know for sure that she's doing very well. Perhaps the incident at the ER was just an isolated case. Maybe it was just a few incompetent people. I don't really know for sure.

Now I know why someone who goes to the hospital for check-up is called a "patient." You must have that virtue to survive there.

State of the Nation

The most unpopular president in our country’s history delivered her State of the Nation Address (SONA) a few days ago. She was supposed to talk about our country’s current status, not her impossible dreams.

The SONA was more like a “wishlist.” The hour-long speech never dealt with the real issues facing the country today such as poverty and corruption. Instead, as expected, it was just the president babbling empty promises. Sadly, when we talk of promises, she’s one person who is bad at keeping them. Just remember her promise not to run again a few years ago.

At the start, she said she wasn’t going to talk about politics. But then, the whole speech itself was pure politics. She just showed how good a politician she is. Not leader, just politician. She made sure everybody that mattered was happy. Not Juan dela Cruz, but the other politicians and government officials.

She talked about our improving economy, using the dollar exchange rate as her basis. However, if we really think about it, this is the result of the strong dollar remittances from our overseas workers. It only means that Filipinos would rather go abroad and work, losing hope of better lives in the Philippines.

The SONA was a roll-call. She kept mentioning people and saying good things about them. Think of it as an early start of campaigning. Right now, what matters most to her is her political survival. And one measure was to get the support of the local government officials.

That is why she kept promising different projects for the different places in the country. Projects involve money. More money means more corruption – money straight to the pockets of local officials. Just like their boss in Malacañang.

Where do we get the money to fund the infrastructure projects planned by PGMA? We already have a 12% VAT, but still that wouldn’t be enough to finance the costly projects such as the implementation of “Super Regions.” In the end, it would just possibly mean more debts for our already poor country.

She talked so much about highways, bridges, and airports – but barely mentioned education and health. Yet, she mentioned Manny Pacquiao, the Mt. Everest trekkers, and the beauty queens. Is she trying to take credit for these achievements? Sure, this gives a message that as Filipinos, we could do anything. But those victories are really not directly related to her administration.

If you have a house and you want to make some improvements, shouldn’t you clean up your place first? That’s what PGMA should do. Clean up her own mess first before proceeding with her other plans.

The SONA was simply gibberish. The real State of the Nation Address was expressed by the people outside the Batasan. The real state of the nation is best revealed by them calling for GMA’s ouster. Filipinos are tired of empty promises and traditional politics.

The SONA took place while a typhoon was in our country. Ironically, the typhoon was supposed to be named “Gloria”, but the PAG-ASA had changed it to “Glenda” even before it entered the Philippines.

But in our country, the real typhoon tormenting Filipinos is Gloria herself – the fake president. Not a typhoon destroying houses and causing floods along its way. But a typhoon destroying the institutions of our government – the courts, the COMELEC, the Congress, and even the Church, and causing floods of misery and oppression to the people along the way.

Sweet Torture

NOTE: A write-up about the life of a law student was published in the Weekly Sillimanian last July 19. It was written by a classmate, Christy Marie Cong ("Tycong") and was entitled "Sweet Torture". While reading it, we had smiles on our faces since we all related so much with what she wrote. I've taken the liberty to use that article in this post. The original write-up is the italicized gray text. The rest is just my own additional commentary.

The first question that entered my mind upon learning my parents wanted me to go there was, “What’s it like to be there?”

In my experience, my decision to enter law school was just spontaneous. Sure, I had some vague plans of taking law in the future, but I never really thought about it that much. It was just over a week before classes would start last school year when I was talking with my friend. He mentioned that one of his student assistants topped the law entrance exam at Silliman University. I got intrigued and went to see the list of successful college of law applicants at the Villareal Hall, and saw the roster of Freshmen law students was filled not only with smart individuals, but also well-rounded and fun-loving. I always thought law school was boring and too serious, but seeing the list of familiar names made me think that this endeavor could be fun with a set of classmates like those.

I inquired from the secretary whether I could still enroll and she said that they could still accept me if I just submit and undergo all the requirements. The very next day, I took the entrance exam, and got all the requirements.

Then there was the interview. To my surprise, the dean approached me and mentioned that I got the highest score in the exams. Then he left the room, leaving me with only a single interviewer. The interview went fine. She was just asking whether I would still be able to cope up with the pressures of law school knowing that I was also working. But then she told me that she, herself, was also a working student back in her law school years.

So there I was - entering law school unprepared.

As I entered my second year as a law student this school year, law school is becoming like a chamber of sweet torture. It really goes beyond how I imagined a law school would be like.

In my case, although it was gonna be my second year in law school, I was technically still a freshman, since my subjects were first year subjects. This was due to the fact that I only took a few units last year, which was the maximum allowed for an instructor at SU. This year, however, I was now a full-time student, and a little bit more prepared than last year.

I remembered how I expected the usual getting-to-know-you sessions during my very first day. But I was surprised when the professor immediately discussed the law without even introducing himself. From that moment, my day began and ended with reading law books and cases. The fact that most, if not all, law books have no pictures or even illustrations made it more wearisome. Sometimes, my eyes get glued to a certain paragraph in the reading assignment because it seemed vague and complicated, requiring my rereading it over and over again just to grasp its essence.

Law is all about reading – lots and lots of reading. I remember back in undergrad. When a teacher assigns a ten-page text to be read for the following week, we would immediately start complaining. This time, in law school, with all the text and cases assigned to us, we spent most of our “free time” reading hundreds of pages daily. But then again, IT is very much different from Law. The SU College of Law is not the country's 8th best law school for nothing. It's now all about survival. I don't care if I don't get any honors. All I care this time is simply passing.

In fact, because of the demands of tons of text to read, some of us spend the rest of the night after class in Dunkin Donuts, which is open 24 hours, and is a haven for Law and Nursing students. We’d stay up all night until we finish what is required from us, even if it means watching the sun rise the next morning.

However, the study of law is not just isolated in reading and reading and reading. We also have other activities that are significant for our survival, or else, we would grow old, older than our peers and professors.

In the law library while doing some law-related stuff, I could not help but observe the different individuals that are bound together by the goal of becoming a lawyer.

There’s one in the corner with hands on the forehead, talking to his textbooks. There’s another in front of me making a case digest while unconsciously humming the “Pacquiao Song.” A couple of students in the computer area were playing Yahoo! games. Others could not help but talk about the latest crazes, soccer games, and any other topic that could even remotely be related to the study of law. A certain group shared their corny jokes of the day, followed by a burst of laughter.

The librarian rang the bell, a reminder that silence is an “imperial decree” in the library. Then, somebody from the group jokingly announce, “Ice Cream!”

The library at the Villareal Hall is where law students “hang out.” Perhaps, it is safe to say that it has become our second home, since we spend most of the day there. Not only is it a place where students study and read cases, but it is also a place where we try to relax. It is perhaps the most fun library I’ve ever been to. Silence is a rule, but then again it doesn’t get followed all the time. Considering that we’d be there for hours, students are allowed to eat inside. Once we even brought pizzas and cakes there.

A visit to the library would show you that although the students there are seriously reading and studying, we also take time to relax and talk. I’d like to call this time as a “lucid interval,” in which we’d take a break from all the insanities of too much studying.

People share some gossips and other stories – some may be true, some are just made-up. We never really know sometimes when a classmate is serious or not. There’s also a time for all the jokes, which in spite of being corny, would still bring out a range of giggles and sheer laughter. As some would say, in a sense, we have “mabaw og kalipay” (shallow happiness). That probably is a result of all the pressures we face in law school. We always make sure to have some fun once in a while.

It goes with the saying that learning is fun, and it should be.

With the college’s support, law students even dared dancing in their diapers during cheering competitions. And during the dance sport competitions, there was a time when a guy wore a woman’s dress with make-up and wig, and tangoed with another male in the spotlight.

In the university annual cheering competition, one of the most-awaited portions of the activity was the performance of the law cheering team. Hilarious performances have already become a tradition for the college of law, just for the sake of entertaining the audience, and showing everyone the fun side of law school. Last year, we took it to another level. Doing away with the usual “gay” cheerleaders, this time the cheerleaders went in another direction. They wore adult diapers in front of thousands of people. The performance started with a voice recording, in a spoof of the famous “Hello Garci” conversation, which was a hot topic then. In our version, the student government president was taking bribes from the two deans of the biggest college rivals on campus, who happened to be there and didn’t seem amused at all. This was followed by the squad entering while the “Starwars” theme song was played. It was really amusing and everyone enjoyed the performance. Male justices of the court, all wearing togas, then entered as they were transported by “karitons” rented from the pier. The squad, reading from papers distributed then and there, shouted some yells. Just when everyone thought we were serious, the squad yelled “L”, and simultaneously, the first “judge” took of his robe. He was just wearing diapers and had the letter “L” painted on his tummy. The crowd began to scream and they got louder as each letter was shouted, and each judge disrobed, to form the word L-A-W-Y-E-R-S-!. The audience was entertained as they were treated with some comical dance moves together with funny cheers and yells, mostly making fun of the other colleges.

Because of that unforgettable performance, those 8 cheerleaders were instant campus celebrities, and were recognized by many during the other Founders Day activities.

I want to stress that law students even allotted time to practice for that purpose, a few hours maybe or a day, just to show to the entire Silliman community that law school is fun or even funnier beyond the pressures and challenges we have in the four corners of the classroom.

Other activities include fun-filled acquaintance parties, balls, Bingo socials, billiard tournaments, and basketball games. Each activity is fun, even more fun than most of the activities of the other colleges. Take for example this year’s acquaintance party, which featured the sophomore students doing a spoof of “Pinoy Big Brother”, complete with costumes and props. The party was so fun that we went home at past 4 in the morning.

Then of course, there are the unplanned, spontaneous activities that we do sometimes after school – partying, drinking, watching movies, and loads of other stuff.

The best thing I learned as a law student is the way I valued every single bit of my life. I realized that even a single second can make a big difference; it’s a matter of how you use it and make other people a part of it.

On my part, one of the things I learned so far, aside from learning that “dermatograph”, which sounded more like a gadget for the skin, was the correct term for what I used to simply call “highlighter, was that there’s always time for everything. No matter how busy you’d get, you should always find some time to enjoy. Otherwise, you’d simply get burned-out and frustrated.

Law school is really tiresome, there is no doubt about that. The study of law may be scary. But the sweet torture we have in Silliman University College of Law makes the study of law a lot different. It’s tough. Yet, we still manage to have fun and smile. After all, we will still be having that sweet torture in the years to come.

Sweet torture – that’s the perfect description of law school. It’s so demanding and stressful, yet it is also fun and enjoyable.

Environmental Advocacy

A few days ago, a well-known environmental advocate gave us a lecture at the SU College of Law. I expected it to be boring but it turned out the opposite. It was very interesting and, to an extent, fun. In fact, I was inspired by how dedicated he was in his advocacy. The speaker, by the way, was Atty. Antonio A. Oposa, Jr., author of the popular environmental law book "A Legal Arsenal for the Philippine Environmental". That family name may ring a bell to you. If you are an environmentalist, studied law, or have browsed through some SCRAs (Supreme Court Reports Annotated), I'm sure your familiar with the landmark case of Oposa vs. Factoran.

Just to give you an idea, that famous 1990s case was a suit asking the cancellation of all the logging license agreements in the country and to order the government to stop accepting, processing, renewing or approving new timber licenses. The ruling established the principle of intergenerational equity in Philippine jurisprudence. This means that every generation has a responsibility to the next to preserve the environment. It established that the right to a balanced and healthful ecology is a specific legal right that one can go to court with and that a timber license granted by the government to a concessionaire does not constitute a contract whose enforcement cannot be stopped.

Oposa, a Bisaya (Cebuano), is a lawyer, but he prefers to be known as an environmental advocate. Perhaps that has got to do with the fact that his biggest (and in a way, only) client is Mother Nature herself. He pioneered the practice of environmental law in the Philippines and is one of Asia's experts in this field.

He is a team leader of the Visayan Sea Squadron, an outreach group of the Law of Nature Foundation which he heads. They hope to preserve the threatened waters of the Visayan Sea. In his lecture, he explained that this area is at the apex of the fabled Visayan Marine Triangle that lies at the heart of the Sulu-Sulawesi eco-region, the richest marine eco-region in the world.

Because of this, he has waged so many battles against environmental foes such as commercial fishing syndicates and logging companies. As a matter of fact, he has even gone head to head against the government with regard to certain environmental laws. He has already sued (and won) several LGUs for failing to implement laws for the preservation of the environment. As he said, "suing the government" had become a hobby of his.

His lecture, as I said, was so inspiring, and it was for most of those who were there. His dedication and commitment to saving and conserving Mother Nature was unbelievable. I was convinced at what he said that our rich environment is gradually deteriorating. I felt that indeed it was our responsibility to ensure that future generations may also experience the beauty of our environment and the earth as a whole.

I have all praises for this guy. He is just incredibly passionate with his pro bono work of serving the farmers and fishermen. He converted his beach house in Bantayan Island into a learning center where kids and adults could learn about solid waste management, coral reef protection and terrestrial ecosystems. He even put up marine and bird sanctuaries.

He says that his advocacy and practice of this field of law may not be that lucrative, but it is fulfilling, knowing for a fact that he was fighting for something that isn't only beneficial for one or a few persons, but the entire human race. Environmental advocacy, indeed, is a cause worth fighting for.

The ball is round

Pachamba - that's the perfect word to describe the experience I had at Barefoot Bistro last night. The Silliman University College of Law Bar Operations Club, which I was an officer of, held the annual BINGO Socials & Billiards Tournament at that place.

I had always been a billiards enthusiast. In fact, as a graduation gift in high school, my dad bought a pool table, which, although a bit in poor condition now, still exists today. There was a time when I used to play a lot. Relatives and I play all kinds of pool games - 9-ball, 8-ball, rotation, and all other variations. Our pool games even included playing cards and four or more players. That's how I got my cue stick ("taco") - from my winnings in our gambling games.

I joined the tournament just to have fun. Besides, it was free. It was only the second time I entered a billiards tournament, and although we were only four participants this time, the competition was of high quality. They were as good as the players I've played against before.

As they say, "the ball is round". Anything can happen in a 9-ball game - including the seemingly improbable. I won the first two matches against two former winners of the event. I considered myself lucky. I had some great shots, but I also had a lot of "chamba". The two wins were good enough to make me reach the finals. It was a double-elimination format, and so I had the twice-to-beat advantage. I lost the first match but won in the rubber match. These matches really showed how lucky I was and how unlucky my opponent was. Good breaks came my way. There were even a couple of games wherein the only ball I made in the rack was the all-important 9-ball. In the final rack with the two of us tied, only the 9-ball remained on the table and it was his turn. It was a difficult shot, yet, as great as he was, he made it. But then, the cue ball continued rolling, banked once and went straight to the side pocket. Scratch! I won the game, match, and tournament.

I played terribly (like I always do) and I admit I was just extremely lucky. I know I was not the best player in the field but clearly, I had all the good luck.

Quite a number of Law schoolmates watched the match, and they all knew that my opponent was the much better player. I was the undeserving winner. It was an embarrassing win. But then again, it was still a "win". I ended up going home with a mug/trophy for being the tournament champion.

City of Gentle People No More

What is wrong with Dumaguete nowadays? Incidents of crime and violence seem to get more rampant everyday. In the last few days, for example, there were at least 5 violent deaths around the city.

Dumaguete takes pride in being known as "The City of Gentle People." I guess that's not the case anymore. Over the past year or so, these are some of the incidents I've heard about. A mother was shot while on a motorbike with her kid in a subdivision. Another was killed near a public park. A friend of the mayor himself was killed at his residence. Two people were shot dead on the sidewalk near a convenience store. Another three stabbed each other to death in the same area a few months ago. An acquaintance was shot coming out of a bar. Someone was stabbed while at a gas station, a bar, and in other public places. Many other similar incidents have occurred throughout the city.

Why is this happening? Some say it's vigilante groups taking the law into their own hands. In fact, many of the victims are actually thieves and pushers. Another opinion is that the violence are acts of terrorism by syndicates coming from other places. Others also think it is an indirect result of the increasing drug addiction and heavy drinking in the city. Just about a month ago, a student was arrested on campus after a buy-bust operation.

Theft is so rampant in Dumaguete, ranging from simple cellphone snatching to actual breaking in offices and establishments. In Silliman, for example, several thefts were reported. A couple of laptops and a number of cellphones were stolen. There were incidents reported at the CBA, Nursing, Law, and AS offices, as well as the university bookstore.

It's about time our city government act on this. The rise of crimes in the city discourages potential investors and tourists from coming here. I really do not know how exactly, but one thing I could suggest is to add police visibility around the city. This was what some officials did in New York City in the past decade. About 650,000 serious crimes and murders were committed yearly from the 1960s to the 1990s. Then 2 police consultants suggested the increase of the presence of policemen in public places. Incredibly, criminality in New York City declined sharply by 65% in just a few years.

Monument of Uselessness

A local politician had once described the controversial 5 million peso overpass at Hibbard Avenue in Dumaguete City as a "monument of uselessness."

There is much truth to this. It has been months since the project had been completed and until now, it hasn't really served any purpose. People prefer not to use it. Try observing the area for once, and you'd notice that no one actually would bother to use the overpass. Many knew even before that it would be useless. A lot of groups opposed this project from the start, claiming that it was impractical. Indeed, WE were right.

Those who were supportive of the project said that it was there for the safety of pedestrians and was a way of improving traffic.

However, the area is really safer than they think. I couldn't recall any accident that has occurred in that spot. It's not like Hibbard Avenue is a wide highway. In fact, the cars that pass that street move not that fast. One could safely cross the street without much trouble. It's only a few meters wide and it takes just a couple of seconds to completely walk from one sidewalk to the other. People would not want to wasted a couple of minutes in climbing up and down the overpass, which on the contrary, is more dangerous, considering the height and the number of steps to climb. Let us remember that most of the ones who cross the street are kids with big school bags. Don't you think it would be difficult for them to be carrying all their stuff while climbing those number of steps up then down the overpass?

The overpass actually contributed to the exact opposite of safety. There were a couple of reports of theft and hold-ups occuring on top of the overpass itself. Stories say that there would be a guy and a girl on top waiting for someone to pass by. The innocent passer-by would have no choice but to give to the demands of the holduppers.

Regarding traffic, it didn't really have any effect, since people don't use it. Instead, it just robbed a few square meters of parking space, making the area a bit more crowded. However, since a week a go, you have to say that traffic has improved, but it has nothing to do with the overpass. It is a result of the one-way traffic scheme implemented in that street, an idea which I've already suggested several times in the past.

Gas-to

Once again, the prices of fuel had gone up. At 12 midnight yesterday, an price hike of 50 centavos per liter was implemented. Those who were aware made sure to fill up before earlier that evening. I was one of them. And it cost more than 2,300 Pesos for about 50 liters of gasoline.

a rare site!

Currently, the price of a liter of gasoline (unleaded) is almost 45 Pesos. That means that a hundred bucks will only get you just over a couple of liters. The price of diesel is probably a little lesser than that. I miss the days when a liter of a gas was even cheaper than a liter of bottled mineral water.

When I was working, friends ask me where I spend most of my salary, and I quickly tell them that that all my (hard-earned) money go to fuel expenses. I'm not really sure how much my daily fuel consumption is, but I spend at least 100 Pesos everyday. That's 3000 a month.

I tried an experiment once just to see how many kilometers I could go per hundred pesos. I put 1500 worth of gas in the Accord and reset the odometer. A couple of weeks later, the fuel warning LED started to light and the odometer read 165 kilometers. If my math is right, that's exactly only 11 kilometers per 100 Pesos, translating into about 5 kilometers per liter. Compare that to a Picanto, which, rumor has it, consumes an amazing 27 kilometers per liter. Maybe it has something to do also with the Accord's lack of fuel efficiency then. It has a 2.0 engine, and it's automatic, so it's more inefficient than the ordinary car. But still, the bottomline is, prices of fuel are devastatingly high.

Just imagine, I estimate the distance between the house (Pulantubig) to school at almost 3 kilometers. Thus, a round trip for that route is around 6 kilometers, or more than a liter of fuel consumption.

I've already started some measures that would hopefully lessen my gas expenses. I make sure that when I leave home each morning, I have all the things I need for that whole day, so that I won't need to go back home for stuff I may have forgotten to bring. Another measure is to park just at the house in Silliman Avenue and walk going to school (if it wasn't raining) or downtown. Lastly, every chance that I get, I'd rather leave the car at home and ride with mom and dad.

The Final Bow

Perhaps a billion people in the world, including myself, are in a great state of shock and disappointment. It was supposed to be a happy ending, the perfect way to say goodbye. Legendary football genius Zinedine Zidane was going to play his last professional match, in no less than the greatest football stage, the World Cup Final. He was supposed to lead the overachieving France team versus the three-time champion Italy.

Three hours ago, at about 2:00 AM Philippine time, I got out of bed, and went straight to where all the action is - Coco Amigos. It was the only place in Dumaguete that was alive and kicking. The place was packed and everyone was filled with excitement for one reason. The World Cup Final will be aired live. There was no entrance fee, you just have to order a drink or two.

I came there with my classmate Rommel. He was wearing a France jersey. I, on the other hand, couldn't find my Zidane shirt, so I opted to wear a shirt bearing France's primary colors - blue, white, and red. I also had an adidas (the French outfitters) cap with the same colors. It was pretty obvious then that we were on the same side. Another law classmate of ours, Nabi, was already there. And he was on the other side, wearing an Italia shirt, an Italy pin, plus a miniature Italy jersey keyholder. Quite a number of familiar faces were there too. From Tito Bing Merced to Kuya Moe Atega, high school classmates to law upperclassmen, and soccer players to basketball players. It was a viewing party that only comes once in four years.

I came there to watch the end of one of the greatest football careers ever. I was rooting for France because of one man - the man who wears France's number 10, coincidentally my favorite number. It was no other than the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Zinedine Zidane, or Zizou for short. To me, he is the greatest football player of his generation.

I was looking forward for perfect farewell picture - Zidane lifting the World Cup trophy. It was like Michael Jordan posing as he made the shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Jordan was on top when he left the game (at least we all thought - if it wasn't for his disappointing Washington comeback). Coincidentally again, that same month that year, Zidane lifted the World Cup trophy, leading France over favorites Brazil. Will he repeat that moment today? Will he have the perfect ending? We were going to find out in a couple of hours.

The match looked like what I was hoping for. Zidane opened the scoring with a seventh-minute penalty after Marco Materazzi’s trip on Florent Malouda. The football gods seemed to be smiling on Zidane. It was gonna be destiny.

That's what I thought. A few minutes later, Materazzi made amends as he headed in the equalizer from Andrea Pirlo’s corner. The match was tied 1-1 with still 70 minutes remaining.

The match was up-and-down for the rest of the half. Glimpses of football flair and roughness made it entertaining. Both teams had their chances. When France goes on a break, the pro-France group in Coco Amigos begin to scream. When Fabio Cannavaro makes a good stop, the pro-Italy side respond with their own yells. It seemed like the crowd present there were evenly distributed. But it was clear that the people there were respectful and intellectual fans. They applaud in delight for every good play - even though it was by the opposing team. I enjoy being with people who are appreciative of the sport itself, and wouldn't be swayed by personal biases for a team. You could root for a team, but that doesn't mean you have to boo or curse the opposition.

The second half was better for me. France dominated the possessions and had a lot of great chances. Somehow, shot after shot, Italy was able to thwart the waves of French attacks. There were thrilling moments, attempts that almost beat the Italian goalkeeper. But still Italy was able to hold its ground.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie, and went into a 30-minute extra time. It was more of the same in the extension period, with France getting the better shots on goal. The closest was Zidane's header that was barely tipped by the goalkeeper to divert the ball inches above the crossbar. Had that gone in, the perfect ending I envisioned would have been reality.

But then the match suddenly took a dramatic wrong turn. From out of nowhere, Zidane had another header. This time, however, it was a headbutt directed on Materazzi. Was it visions of "Running of the Bulls" from his days in ? Zidane must have seen red as he powerfully rammed his head on Materazzi's chest. As it turned out, the only red thing he saw was the card the referree showed him a few seconds later. What happened really? What was on Zidane's mind? Was he that exhausted? Did he hallucinate? What did Materazzi do to justify the unsportsmanlike conduct? Dumbfouding really. From the replays, it seemed unexplainable. Unexcusable. Zidane was disappointingly yet deservingly thrown out of his final match. Personally, I think he was provoked. I don't think Zidane would react that way if he wasn't insulted.

The French were reduced to 10 men and would eventually be defeated in the Penalty Shootout. Italy went on to claim their 4th World Cup trophy.

As for Zidane, it was a major disappointment, and not because of the defeat. A loss would still have been respectable since he played a decent last game. It was that moment of shame that would be etched in every football fan's minds from quite some time. How sad is it for an athlete to build up his legendary career for so many years and to lose it all in a few seconds? It was like Mike Tyson biting off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear. Zizou ruined his valedictory with that one second lapse of judgement. The fairytale ending has to be rewritten. The farewell song ends in a sour note.

To the very end of his career, Zidane still displayed his elegant control of the ball. In the World Cup Final, he lost control of his temper.

Instead of Zidane lifting the trophy, it was the referee who lifted the red card. Instead of Zidane's entry into record books, it was a disgraceful early exit in his final game. Instead of replicating Jordan's farewell, Zidane did a Dennis Rodman.

The parting image for the France captain will forever be him rearing back in anger, lowering his head and launching his balding crown into the chest of Materazzi after the two exchanged heated words while walking down the field in extra time.

When shown the red card, Zidane barely protested. Slowly, he turned toward the exit leading to the locker room and began the long walk. And so the closest he would come to the World Cup trophy on this night was passing within arm's reach of the pedestal where it sat on display a few steps ahead of the exit.

For all the trophies he hoisted, all the glory he brought France, all those sparks of magic that flew off his feet game after game, year after year - all of a sudden, it seems like they never happened. All because of one moment of uncontrolled temper.

It's a shame. He's final bow on the world's biggest sporting stage turned out to be one directed to the chest of an opponent. Such a disappointing end to a fabulous career.

Law Acquaintance Party

"All work and no play makes John a dull boy."

I've just been to the best acquaintance party last weekend. It was an experience more fun than any getting-to-know-you gathering I've been part of in high school and college.

The annual Law Acquaintance party last Saturday was held at a classmate's place near Valencia. Tradition calls for the Freshmen class to organize the event. They are tasked not only to prepare the place, food, and games, but also to pay for the whole activity! It's kinda like the JS Prom back in high school wherein the Juniors treat the graduating Senior class. The first year Law students did an excellent job! (fyi: I'm considered a sophomore since I've already paid my dues last year - hehehe).

The theme of the event was "Children's Party." Everyone has to wear a costume related to the "young child in all of us" - cartoons, superheroes, mascots, etc. Unlike other costume parties I've been to, the Law version is more serious, more competitive. People make sure that they're in the appropriate costumes as what was required. Ladies came in school girl outfits, short skirts, long stockings, and all. The three-time and defending "Best in Costume" winner dressed up as Tinkerbell. Men came in their boyish get-up. One classmate wore tucked-in checkered polo with bow tie, khaki shorts, high socks, rubber shoes, and a colorful cap. He even brought a toy car with a string attached to it, which he pulled along as he came in. The united Seniors all came in their bully/rockstar costumes. They were all in black, complete with tattoos and all the bling-bling. Aside from their own costumes, the Sophomores unveiled their class shirts displaying a sexy lady of justice at the back and the legal maxim "Ignorantia Legis Non Excusat", meaning "Ignorance of the Law Excuses No One".

The place was perfect. It so happened that it already had a playground. There was a basketball court, a ping-pong table, and a videoke and disco area. The yard was so huge you could even have a makeshift soccer field.

Since it was a "children's party", there were balloons, toys, lute bags, and parlor games. Other free goodies were plastic balloons, torotots, lollipops, gum, and candies. Even one of our distinguished professors, assisted by his own kids, performed a magic show for all of us.

The program exhibited talents from each year level, except for the Seniors who weren't able to prepare. The Sophomores did a play "Pinoy Big Brother Law Edition" that was quite entertaining, and even had a video presentation on the projector screen. If you think all law students do is read and study, you're certainly wrong. We could also sing, act, and dance.

The food included the kinds you'd usually see in children's parties, and a lot more. Not only were there lechon, spaghetti, hotdogs, sandwiches, lumpia, chicken, puto, and one tube of Panda ice cream, but also kinilaw, dinuguan, steak bits, sugbang isda, sashimi, and all kinds of nuts - perfect for the late night pulutan.

Since we're on that topic, one of the coolest things in the party was the never-ending flow of alcohol - beer, rhum, and tequila. Everyone was getting drunk and the super cold bottles of beer just kept coming. We never finished the 10 cases of beer that was prepared by the host.

Everyone was tipsy and started heading to the dance floor. Even the faculty joined in. The dean showed his own moves, and even the city legal counsel did some breakdancing. Everyone was getting along, the freshmen and the upperclass, and even the students and the faculty.

We were stuffed and getting wasted so we figured we needed to burn some of the calories. We then spent the next hour on some 3-on-3 halfcourt playground basketball. In between games, we'd consume a few gulps of beer and some pulutan.

Others played ping-pong and did some videoke singing. We played on the swings and the jungle jim at the playground. We even had a hide-and-seek game within the expansive front yard.

In the end, we went home past 4 in the morning, and we brought with us some fun memories along the way. It was a perfect break from the stress of law school. After the weekend, it will be back to normal - books, SCRAs, cases, and all.

Overall, the party was incredibly fun. Good place, good food, good friends. As the speaker, a Bar topnotcher and a professor from the University of the Philippines, commented on the occasion, the SU Law school is unique in every good way. The camaraderie and closeness of everyone is a breathe of fresh air. For us also, it certainly was a breathe of fresh air, from the weeks of hardship and stress.

(photos shall follow soon)

Sudoku

In the 2006 MTV Movie Awards, they did a spoof/parody of the Da Vinci Code. Jessica Alba finds a body on the ground with a Sudoku puzzle on his stomach. And she begins to take her pen out and tries to think quickly.

I've heard of this game for quite some time already. But I've never really knew how it worked until last week. I had some extra time while reading the Philippine Daily Inquirer, and I noticed this puzzle beside the usual crossword one. I read the instructions and it seemed challenging. And that was it. Since then, I try to find time each day to solve the daily puzzle.

Sudoku, also known as Number Place or Nanpure, is a logic-based placement puzzle. The aim of the puzzle is to enter a numerical digit from 1 through 9 in each cell of a 9×9 grid made up of 3×3 subgrids (called "regions"), starting with various digits given in some cells (the "givens"); each row, column, and region must contain only one instance of each numeral. Completing the puzzle requires patience and logical ability. No math necessary.

The PDI Concepti Sudoku puzzles gradually get tougher each day of the week. I tried my first puzzle on a Saturday, so the difficulty level was 4 out of 5 stars. It took me almost 3 hours to complete it. But it was really fun. I've always loved puzzles, word games and the like. This is something new and I love it. The next day, 5 stars, it took me under 2 hours to finish. And on Monday, 1 star, it was a piece of cake - less than 20 minutes.

I'm still getting the hang of it so I guess my "solving time" will eventually improve. There are some tips available online, which I haven't gone through yet. It's tempting to know the techniques to solve the puzzles quickly, but I think I'd prefer doing it my way, since I've started to develop my own set of procedures.

I was able to download a PC game, Sudoku by GameHouse. At least now, I could play as much as I want to.

10 favorite everyday desserts

I admit I'm an addict when it comes to sweets. Those who know me knows for a fact that I love chocolates. Everyday, I make sure I have my daily dose of anything sweet. Here's a list of my top 10 favorite after-eating sweets, not arranged in any particular order. This list doesn't include chocolates and takes into consideration the accessibility (near the house) and the affordability (relatively cheap) of the dessert.

1. Cookie Monster (Bethel's Cafe Felomina)

- We always take our snacks here, where the it's always cold. Everyone in the family loves their Halo-halo, but that's just not my type. I love their cookie monster cake. There's something about the icing that's really delicious.

2. Concorde Cake (Sans Rival)

3. Brazos de Mercedes (Sans Rival)

- Back when I was a kid, this was my ultimate favorite. I still love it now, but not as much as I did before.

4. Sans Rival (Sans Rival)

5. Cookie Monster (Cafe Antonio)

- It so happened that the one who bakes this is my college classmate's mom. Back then, we used to hang out at their place, so we got them for free then.

6. Oatikins (Tsokolat)

- I'm not sure of the spelling but one thing's for sure. This is really good.

7. Leche Flan (Jo's Inato)

- It's not really the best I've tasted, but since it's just a stone throw's away, it has to be a favorite.

8. Silvanas (Sans Rival)

9. Cookies & Cream Polvoron (Goldilocks)

10. Mocha Java/Freeze (Scoobys)

- I'm not really sure if this could be considered a "dessert", but the bottomline is, I have it after lunch, since Scooby's is quite near.

Déjà vu

The whole football world was stunned as the referee blew the final whistle. The score read: Brazil 0, France 1. Rarely could one witness a squad of Brazilians held scoreless for an entire football match. But that's exactly what had happened to the current World Cup, Copa America, and Confederations Cup champs as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the winners in 1998. The superstar squad were the odds-on favorites to repeat, even though they were underperforming in their first few matches.

I've written about this match and I mentioned that this could be either Ronaldo's or Zidane's last World Cup match. In the end, it was Ronaldo, the new record-holder for most goals in the tournament's history, who was beaten.

To be honest, I expected a much better game by both teams. With the likes of geniuses Ronaldo, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Henry, Robinho, and Kaka, I thought the game would be a display of flair and entertainment. Much to my dismay, it was dull and boring.

The game was much more physical, as the French defense stifled the celebrated Brazilian attackers. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka were very much contained. I'm especially disappointed with Ronaldinho, the 2-time and current FIFA World Player of the Year. He struggled the whole tournament, held scoreless, and never really was a big influence in any of the matches. Kaka, too, apart from that goal against Czech Republic, had not done much. At least Ronaldo scored thrice, but still, he could have done better. The fourth of the "feared" Brazilian magic quartet, Adriano, who for some reason did not start in that match, had a poor showing in the entire tournament. As a matter of fact, I couldn't think of one player in the Brazil squad who played well in this year's World Cup.

Against France, the Samba boys were out of sync. They never threatened to score as they only recorded one shot-on-goal, and it was late in the game. That's unheard of. They were lethargic. Anemic. They lacked the passion that we would normally expect from Brazil. They were lax through out the match. Their passing was average. Their teamwork was horrible. I saw signs of disunity within the squad even in their match against Ghana. As I recall, Ronaldo was wide open with no goalkeeper to worry, but Adriano selfishly tried his luck. The same thing happened with the streaking Ronaldinho, who was ignored by Cafu in a Brazilian attack. No better example of their lack of cohesiveness was during the most crucial point of the match against France. Zidane took the free kick. Five French players were in the penalty area, and there were only three Brazilians who marked them. No one even bothered to mark France's leading goal-scorer Henry as he delivered the winning strike. As replays showed, Roberto Carlos, who was closest to Henry, never even moved an inch. A perfect pass by Zidane, completed by Henry. This kind of Brazilian performance (or lack thereof) was a portrait of the kind of tournament they had. Underachieving. All talk and no walk.

Everybody saw that they struggled at the start of the tournament. They got better with each game and we probably assumed they were gonna peak at the right time. For some reason, when France beat Spain to arrange a quarterfinal meeting against Brazil, I immediately had doubts. My gut feel at the time was for an upset.

Indeed the upset did realize. The last time Brazil lost a World Cup match was 8 years ago. And who do you think defeated them? You guessed it! France, in the finals 3-0. It was simply déjà vu.

For all the World Cup trophies won by Brazil, the most successful soccer country will always be remembered losing to France. Sometimes, there's just that team which you couldn't seem to beat. If I'm not mistaken, in the four times the two teams have ever met, Brazil had only won once, and it was decades ago. In Brazil's book, France will be known as their tormentors.

And the one who led the tormenting? The great one himself - Zidane, all 34 years of him. The man of the match. He played magnificently, as he dazzled the crowd with his spectacular ballhandling wizardry. Playing what was expected to be his last game before retirement, Zidane came up with all his trademark touches, his twisty runs past defenders and expertly timed first-time passes. The 3-time FIFA World Player of the Year made Ronaldinho look like an amateur. It was the master getting the better of his student. He was classic Zidane as he masterminded the biggest upset this year - just like he did 8 years ago. Déjà vu indeed.

Empty Streets Tomorrow

Finally, the much-awaited Pacquiao fight is just hours away. Dubbed the "Thrilla in Manila 2", in reference to the Ali-Frazier match decades ago, our very own Manny Pacquiao will be taking on another Mexican in the name of Oscar Larios, at around lunch time tomorrow at the Araneta Coliseum.

This is the first major fight in which Pacquiao will be in front of his countrymen. There was the "Yanig sa Taguig" a few years ago, but it was more of a tune-up fight against a hardly-known opponent. This is different. It's for the WBC International Super Featherweight belt. It is internationally sanctioned, and it is aired worldwide (that's why the fight begins morning, Manila time; so that it would be featured in a prime time slot in the US). Well-known boxing journalists and commentators from all over the world are in the Philippines to cover the fight. They even brought in Michael Buffer (familiar with the line "uhhhh let's get reaaaaddddy to rumbbbbllleeee"?). Just a quick add-on: according to some reports, the fight organizers are paying around 1 million pesos just for that introductory line before the fight. Apparently, he has already made a fortune in just doing that, and has sued (and won in all cases) a lot of imitators.

Now back to the fight itself. Unfortunately for Manny, homecourt advantage also has its disadvantages. First, there's the pressure. 80 million Filipinos will be following the fight. That's a lot of weight to carry on your shoulders. Another problem could be overconfidence or being overzealous. Manny might wanna put on a show. He might perform instead of fight. The adrenaline and the roars of the crowd may drive him into thinking of finishing the fight early. That could work against him.

All signs lead to a big upset tomorrow. Remember Barrera in San Antonio (which is regarded as his hometown) in 2003. Well, Pacquiao, the heavy underdog, shocked the boxing world in one of the biggest upsets ever. Will the tables turn tomorrow?

According to reports, Larios is in top form. Pacquiao, on the other hand, seems to have a lot of distractions. All the advertisements and endorsements, TV and movie appearances, album sales, cockfighting, the civil suit against him, and of course the movie that just came out about his life.

As one journalist put it, a movie about Pacquiao's life is already out (starring Jericho Rosales as Pacquiao) in a time when his career is still rising. Usually, movies about heroes are done towards the end of their career or even when they retire. Could this be a sign that his career is on the decline?

We will all know in a few hours. People will be glued to their TVs or radios tomorrow. Where will I be? Well, I plan to wake up at 5 a.m., go jogging at the boulevard, attend mass at Immaculate Church by 7, go home and freshen up, then be at Macias Sports Center with law classmates by 9 a.m. The fight won't be there, but there's a big screen for public viewing. It will be televised on TV but the commercials delay the coverage by so much. I remember, during the last Morales fight in Las Vegas, an aunt who watched the fight live, informed us Pacquiao already won, when the TV broadcast showed it was still the first round. The one in Macias is live without commercial break. Although it costs 20 Pesos, it would be nice to witness the fight with other sports fans. Plus, the undercard fights feature a number of Filipinos led by Jimrex Jaca and Gerry Peñalosa. Unfortunately, one of the Pinoy rising young boxers, Boomboom Bautista, had withdrawn due to some injury.

As for my prediction, it's hard to say. It has been shown through reports that Larios is in excellent shape. I don't know if the organizers (ABS-CBN and others) are doing this on purpose to build up the fight. Months ago, people think that Pacquiao will breeze by Larios, and some do not wish to spend as much as 1000 Pesos (reportedly the lowest ticket price, the highest being 50000 Pesos) for a fight that would finish early. It has been reported that ticket sales are low. That's when the media (led by ABS-CBN of course), did their thing by conditioning our minds that Larios is a great fighter.

If this is true, then they did a good job. I now think Larios is capable of beating Pacquiao in the latter's own turf. However, patriotic as I am, I don't think it will happen. Larios is a hard-worker, but I believe hard work is not enough to overcome raw power and skills. Even a 100% Larios could not beat an 80% Pacquiao. If Pacman is not overconfident and overzealous, then I think he'd knock out Larios inside 7 rounds. Otherwise, he'd win via split decision in 12 full rounds. If Manny would be careless in the later rounds, a late knockout by Larios is possible. The key there to me is the first couple of rounds. Manny should not come out firing and attacking immediately. An open defense may lead into a Larios power punch - and he has that powerful punch. He should feel him out first with jabs and then start the barrage perhaps on the 4th round, when he could already gauge the skills of his opponent.

I know my so-called predictions are play-it-safe. Actually, it's not much of a prediction. The best I could foresee is this: the streets will definitely be empty tomorrow morning 'til after lunch.

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