I did not announce this to the world, because I am shy like that, but two weeks ago, I was on national TV. The reason for the appearance: debate.

For people who know me personally, this would not be that surprising, because in my undergraduate days, debate consumed my life. When I talk, and talking is something that I often do, I feel like I’m in my element because of the natural high that I get each time I am confronted with a proposition.

The topic was actually quite interesting. It was about censoring an artist who recently showed his exhibit to the general public via the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Because the majority’s moral sensibilities were bothered by the picture of Jesus Christ with a penis attached on the face, the country was divided with the question of where freedom of expression ends, and where freedom of religion begins.

We were tasked to debate against censorship — and at first, it was a hard feat, but through time and with sufficient research, we were able to put up a good fight against the other team. In the end, and by a slim margin, we won.

While watching the replay though, one thing stood out for me: I looked so fat on TV! I know this sentiment may be verging on narcissism, but I was seriously disturbed by how I looked on TV. I know that the camera adds ten pounds, but I just need to ask: how many cameras were actually on me? lol.

Anyway, here is a snapshot of what happened during the debate:

Did I, or did I not gain? You be the judge! Because I am vain like that and we will be going back to Manila for the quarterfinals, I vow to lose weight lest the camera distorts my face again. I shall do everything that I can to appear more presentable on national television, even if it means looking for the best natural weight loss pills to do this.

Wish me luck, earthlings!

This week I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.

I know that I’m enjoying what I am doing right now — law schooling — but during pensive moments when I am confronted with my thoughts and I muse about the future, I can’t help but think:

That I am already 27 years old. I know that for most people, being 27 brings with it the presumption of a certain degree of stability and maturity, and that during this age, the individual should already be able to stand on his own.

But clearly this is not the case for me, because I have chosen to pursue my childhood dream — of course, this is not to say that I regret my decision, because I know that this is the best decision I’ve made so far.

The only lingering reservation that I feel about the four years or so that lies ahead of me is the condition of my parents. Although I am thankful that they are in the best of health right now, I can’t help but wish that instead of constantly working 24/7 at their ages now, they should be reading up on active adult health information.

I have a lot of aunts and uncles right now who have since resigned from their jobs, and have become frequent travelers to different countries — venturing from one adventure to the next. Several of them who are in the States even frequently go to Florida active adult communities – just whiling the time away relaxing in the awesome amenities,  basking in nature treks, and just enjoying other worthwhile activities.

However, instead of wallowing in self-pity and being debilitated by this realization, I intend to make this part of my motivation to do well in school. With the proper frame of mind, a resolute spirit, and hopefully, a determination that is incapable of waning, I will be able to weather law school, and make my parents proud.

Wish me luck!

Just quite recently, my mother visited me and my sister in Cebu, and during the short time that she spent with us, I felt reinvigorated to continue doing well in school. Mothers, I think, are universally adept at pushing us to go beyond our established limits and challenge ourselves more, with the end view of making us better individuals.

Because I was feeling burned out from all the midterms preparations, her presence was a refresher that reminded me why I am enrolled in law school in the first place. Of course, our pantry had seen its replenishment, and I think, my sister and I will be happy, fat, and full for the next two weeks or so.

Another reason for her visit was because she checked whether she had complied with all the attendant requirements to her doctoral studies — because if everything goes according to plan, and by the grace of God of course, she will be obtaining her Ph. D. title by this year.

I personally feel that this is a good thing, because at her age right now, she ought to be resting already, instead of slugging it out at the academe. Her designation as Dr. Nora Gregorio, in the future, will allow her to retire and just apply for part-time teaching jobs in the universities and colleges in Dumaguete.

Next year, she is bent on applying for retirement, and it’s a good thing also that the annuity rates that she will be getting after she retires is sufficient to sustain her, even without the constancy of getting paid twice a month from having a regular, 9-to-5 job.

Annuity, in a nutshell, is the amount that a person pays once a month for the security of his/her pension after retirement. Most insurance companies offer these deals, but I’m glad that my mom’s rates are quite higher than what most insurers offer, because let’s face it, financial security is an indispensable need for practically all people nowadays.

I love you mom, and I hope your post-retirement life treats you well!

In some weird way, now that all of my days and nights are devoted to being a conscientious (I try to be, cut me some slack here) law student, I somehow miss the life that I used to have. Pre-law life, in a nutshell, was one juvenile adventure after another — not much responsibilities, always on the go, and just living the life of a bum.

Although I would not say that I was happy all the time when I clearly had no life goals, and I was driven simply by impulse. It was a happiness that was fleeting, and even when my constant exploits afforded me a different kind of high, I always knew, deep within my heart, that the euphoria would subside just as quickly as it appeared.

The only ‘adult’ thing that I did during that time was being employed by an online writing site. And mind you, they paid me big bucks — but the only down side was, I had to write about random stuff, talking about random products, and patronizing certain brands of bras, briefs, and other items that I cannot mention here (kidding).

But seriously though, I personally think that the internet has become the modern world’s virtual office. If you have the minimum qualities, and you just allot certain parts of the day being a ghost writer, then you don’t need to leave the confines of your home, purchase office uniform, nor be compelled to socialize with slobs, because everything that you need is well, just inherent.

I would have to say that the copywriting jobs that I took on the side, and my exposure to being in an online writing lab, had given me a crash course on online technical writing. Although my verbosity rebelled during the first few days of my online employment, subsequently, I was able to learn how technical writing is. Learning how to write in a tempered and restrained manner can be quite helpful — especially now that all my writings mainly consist of legal argumentations and what-not.

But the thing that I miss most about my short-lived online employment stint was the home environment and the accessibility of my cyber-office. Perhaps, when I will not be as busy and when I am in the mood for technical writing again, I might just go back to online writing — I just hope I won’t be writing any more stuff about people’s underwears.

Hey there friends!

I am so sorry for having been silent for the past few weeks or so. If truth be told, the only time when I can visit the internet and check is when I peruse through cyber law firms to look for cases. Breathing, as a matter of fact, and if I am to be completely honest about it, has become a mere luxury — because for the past two weeks and in the coming week, I have been and I will be swamped with a lot of schoolwork and other law school-related stuff.

But anyway, I have been having fun in reading all the cases that were assigned to us, and perhaps one of these days, and when I’m up for it, I will share some of the things that have been keeping me busy lately. Criminal Law is particularly interesting for me, because the cases that we are assigned to read seem to be drawn from CSI or NCIS episodes. We are given details of murder scenes, rape incidents, and what-not — and as ‘lawyers’, we are supposed to look for clues, elements, and other pertinent details in order to rule out what the committed crime was. Moreover, we are to look for attendant circumstances that may either aggravate or mitigate the offenses that have been committed.

Anyway, enough about the geekiness. Now, for the good part.

Next week, once the mayhem settles and our sanity will be afforded back to us again, my blockmates and I have decided to loosen up, and we plan to do so big time. A friend even suggested that after the last midterm examination that we will be having, it would be cool to have funny tshirts that would chronicle the travails that we have endured during exam/hell week.

I also hatched a plan for an all-out drinking binge, if only to make our brains breathe for a momentary time, before the second half of the school year makes us tired and desolate souls once again.

But in any case, law school is a beautiful dream. Even when I sometimes I feel as though I am submerged in water and the pressure can be so suffocating, I am still grateful for where I am right now.

Law school rocks. And yeah, I don’t care if you think I am a geek.