Bummer.

The only consolation that I have is the fact that I made the most (out) of my time during the break — I was literally in three islands in a span of three weeks.

I soaked up under the sun, danced the nights away with alcohol and friends, and just absorbed the breathtaking views of the different place that I’ve been to.

Anyway, now that school is back, I need to make sure that I adjust my body clock to be in sync with my schedule. You see, I suffer from insomnia, and sometimes, the stress takes its toll on my health.

If you’ve read my past posts, you must probably be aware by now that I am vain, and that my vanity is in its extreme variety. As a matter of fact, I used to have various skin care products during times when my zits would break out and I would look like a zombie from all the annoying pimples.

Anyway, wish me luck guys, and I hope I make it out alive when the semester ends.

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!

Because my life for the past two months have been consistently taxing, and due to the fact that my social activities as of late have only taken place during Saturday nights, we (with my other classmates) have made it imperative upon ourselves to make Saturday nights our cheat nights from all the studying.

Here are some pictures of us letting loose and momentarily breaking free from the trappings of law life:

bryce, me and chix.

with angging.

with the mighty rollaine.

we are 407, and we shall conquer law school.

If truth be told, my first few weeks in law school have been a blur. I do not recall anything significant that stood out from the entire thing, but I do remember feeling tired, excited, anxious, wary, at one point or another.

In just a span of two weeks, I have been taught that as much as we are led to believe in the absoluteness of relative truth, and that standards need to be governed by their connections with other standards that are equally-binding, we are governed by a system of laws — and that in this compacted world where everything has corresponding labels, consequences and repercussions, we need to concede to the need for a governing body, or a binding document, just so we can live within the confines of a humane and just society.

I have learned for example, that a Bronx medical malpractice lawyer is someone that you can go to if in case an operation goes bad, or that you can opt to file for civil damages, once your basic human rights have been transgressed. I have even read in a particular case, and much to my fascination, that a woman who has been lured to have sex with a married man, under the pretext of deceit, can collect for damages, because apparently, her virginity (as the case may apply) is a cherished possession that ought to be dealt with delicately and with much respect.

That, in a nutshell, has been my law school experience so far.

I am in for a ride, and I can’t help but get excited for the next few readings, cases, and cherished possessions still waiting to be uncovered.

Today, June the 19th, is Father’s Day, and there are so many things that I wish to say, and share, about my dad — but each time I start to describe how awesome he is, I realize that words do not give him justice.

Anyway, the other day, I was thinking about what to give him, because I know that he often gets excited about receiving gifts — don’t get me wrong, my dad is not materialistic, but he just appreciates the gesture behind the act of gift-giving.

And after contemplating on what the best gift for him would be, I settled with a motorcycle navigator, because if you must know, my dad is not one to admit that he is unfamiliar with where he is when he is driving. Perhaps you can charge it to arrogance (just kidding dad, I love you, hehe), but he never owns up to his driving blunders.

Anyway, I know that this will be an awesome gift for Father’s Day, but just the same, and even when it is cliche, I feel very lucky to have him as my dad. Because even when my present state (read: a beggar) is very financially-taxing, he has constantly assured me that he will help me sustain.

Happy Father’s day Dad, and I will never tire of telling you LAVO!

They’re so fluffy, I’m gonna die!

Right now, the world is bracing for the so-called wedding of the century: that of crowned Prince William of England and Kate Middleton, the bride to be who is of working class descent, and the lass who had ensnared the heart of the royal prince.

As a matter of fact, there is a burning frenzy among most television networks right now as they show snippets of the planned celebration — the invited guests, the wedding dress, the solemnity of the church, and other enticing details — but if you ask me, I think that the novelty of this union, which is hinged on the unrequitedness of love (think Notting Hill here), is a little overrated.

If you ask me, monarchies have since dissipated from the collective consciousness of modern democracies, because come to think of it really, people no longer believe in the ancient concept of predestination when it comes to rulers.

Yes, yes, I know that this is a purely romantic thing, but at the end of the day, we also need to remember that in today’s modern society, monarchies have become a thing of the past. The political power, after all, has considerably shifted to the laypeople, and in some parts of the world, there have even been clamors to dismantle the monarchical institution as a whole.

Lest I end up sounding like a grinch who has motives of sabotaging the royal wedding and dampening people’s moods altogether, I better end here. And oh, they actually look cute together. That, at least, is my only consolation.

Normally, I feel excited each time my birthday would come up, because I always associated this with more life experiences (hopefully) and a new lease on life — but as of late, I think I feel more jittery than I am excited because obviously, I am nearing my 30s.

I am not saying that there is something wrong with turning 30, but it’s just that I often feel undeserving to turn 27. Why, you may ask?

It is simply because I used to have all these grand dreams for myself when I was in high school — for example, profession-wise, by the age of 30, I would be a lawyer, and a good lawyer at that, and I would already have carved my own niche in the legal profession.

But nay, little did I know that my path had a lot of crossroads along the way — and sadly, I sometimes chose the wrong path. I cannot claim for certain that I did not know that I was treading the wrong path, but I feel that at times, I just wanted to know what the other side of life tasted like. I wanted to break free from my comfort zone, and just try to have a taste of the indulgent lifestyle.

Anyhow, I hope my 27th will be a better year. I’ve got so many things lined up for me this year — most prominent of which is my law schooling — and I just hope that it’s not too late yet to realize what I aspired for as a young kid.

Wish me luck!