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)