atty yei is a happy name!

today, november 4, ang aking 3rd monthsarry sa public attorney’s office. (first day ko as public attorney nung august 4). sa loob ng 3 buwan na yan, i can say na ang dami ko nang natutunan. kahit mahirap dahil sa dami ng trabaho, i can say na very fulfilling sya at sa totoo lang enjoy ako.

ang na-assigned sa aking courts ay 2 RTC–isang regular court at isang drug court, officer of the day ako tuwing wednesday (client day ko din) at may hearing ako ng monday, tuesday, wednesday at friday. thursday lang ang aking free day pero yun din ang time ko naman to study for my cases. bukod sa mahigit 1,000 kong kaso ay may mga walk-in clients pa na dapat asistihan kasi we are mandated to assist the office of the prosecutor. may inquest duty din kami at jail consultation at visitation.

in fairness,  bukod sa basic pay na mas malaki sa dati kong sweldo, may inquest allowance kami, allowance na kung tawagin ay P.E.R.A, may RATA din at allowance mula sa provincial government. hindi na masama kasi pag nagsama-sama yan malaki na rin. ngayong october nga binigay na yung kalahati ng regular bonus at since anniversary ng PAO last October, nagbigay din ng anniversary bonus. bongga! mabuti na lang at nang pumasok ako sa PAO eh na-upgrade na ang salary grade ng Public Attorney I, dati daw kasi ang baba talaga ng salary grade at walang RATA. na-upgrade lang dahil sa effort ni chief acosta! thanks chief!

kung dami ng trabaho ang pag-uusapan, madami talaga and sabi nga sa akin ng mga lawyers na kasama ko, talang sa umpisa daw parang mabu-burn out ka sa dami ng pending mo, pero later on masasanay din daw ako. yes, nasa stage ako na close to saying waaaaa sa dami ng pending na trabaho at kasong dapat aralin pero i’m trying to focus sa mga dapat pang gawin, i really want to stay sa PAO kasi ito naman talaga ang gusto ko. ang sarap ng feeling na may natutulungan ka lalo na yung mga tao na nawalan na ng pag-asa dahil akala nila ang hustisya ay talagang para sa mayayaman lamang.

marami na rin akong na-encounter na pasaway na mga clients, yun bang tipong akala nila eh maid ka nila. marami rin yung ma-angas na feeling mas matalino sila sa iyo. marami rin yung nag-aattempt na bigyan ka ng pera kahit na sabihin mong bawal yun dahil walang bayad ang serbisyo namin sa PAO. may ibang client naman na sa halip na pera ang ibibigay eh mga pagkain or fruits. basta ako decline ever ako pag may nag-aabot, sinasabi ko, sige ho idedemanda ko kayo pag binigyan nyo ako ng pera at di ko na kayo ire-represent, libre ho ang serbisyo ko! taray di ba?

maswerte na rin ako na mababait ang judges ng courts na na-assigned sa akin. at kahit nung una ay marami akong worries dahil drug court ang na-assigned sa akin at 20 plus cases ang naka-calendar in one day of hearing, unti-unti na akong nasasanay. kahit napapagod ako, may excitement pa rin akong nararamdaman dahil ang every day na pasok ko sa PAO ay isang learning experience para sa akin.

mabuti na lang din at mababait ang aking mga kasama sa district. supportive sila sa bagong salta na katulad ko, hindi sila madamot na i-share ang mga alam nila, hindi mo mapi-feel na dedma sila pag nagtatanong ka o nagdadamot sila sa iyo, willing silang tumulong at sumuporta. maayos din ang mga staff and thankful ako na mabait at efficient ang aking secretary. may mga pasaway ding judges at court staffs at ayoko na lang magpa-apekto, bahala sila, mag-angas sila kung gusto nila, basta ako i’ll just do my job.

madami pang kwento, madami pang mga learnings at challenges, madami pang ma-me-meet na tao, marami pang kasong aaralin and im so open to all these. cheers to more monthsarries ahead!

at isa pa pala…..kailangan kong pag-aralang kantahin ang PAO Hym!

Stephen Patrick David Gately (17 March 1976 – 10 October 2009) was an Irish pop singer, songwriter and actor, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone.

Gately’s body was discovered on 10 October 2009 in the apartment which he owned with Cowles near Port d’Andratx on the western tip of Majorca in Spain. Spanish police were alerted at 1:45 pm. It was reported that he had “gone out for drinks, returned to his accommodation and fallen asleep, but never woke up.  He was found squatting in an awkward way on a sofa, dressed in his pyjamas.

Police said they had no reason to believe the death was related to abuse of substances such as drugs or alcohol and no suicide note or signs of violence were located on the corpse.

Gately’s bandmates flew out to Majorca on 11 October 2009.^[23][30] Louis Walsh is expected to join them soon. The surviving members of Boyzone, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating and Shane Lynch, issued a joint statement:

We are completely devastated by the loss of our friend and brother, Stephen. We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more. Stephen was a beautiful person in both body and spirit. He lit up our lives and those of the many friends he had all over the world. Our love and sympathy go out to Andrew and Stephen’s family. We love you and will miss you forever, ‘Steo’.

An investigation into the circumstances of Gately’s death was underway, with police concentrating on a night out he had with Cowles.A post-mortem and toxicology tests took place on 13 October and this examination showed that Gately died of natural causes due to pulmonary oedema^. On 16 October, his body will be brought from Majorca to Dublin where his funeral will take place at the Church of St Laurence O’Toole the following day.

rest in peace Stephen!

news source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Gately

remembering lola sinte…..

today, october 3, ang 12th death anniversary ni lola sinte, ang mother ng aking mudra. we had a simple dinner at kwentuhan ng mga moments namin with her. hay 12 years na pala yun. nakakamiss talaga sya but i know she’s in a better place now. i miss you gwahmah!

i hate you ondoy!

monday, september 28, lumabas ako ng bahay para pumasok sa opisina at isang depressing na sight ang tumamban sa akin. ang bayan ng sta maria——grabe ang pinsala dahil sa bagyong ondoy.maraming mga daan ang may tubig baha pa at yung wala nang tubig ay puro naman putik. maraming gumuhong pader, marami ding mga establishments ang sarado dahil pinasok ng tubig ang kanilang mga tindahan at ang kanilang mga paninda ay nabasa at nasira. may mga sasakyan na tinangay ng malakas na tubig, mga bahay na nawasak, mga daan na nabitak, mga tulay na halos magiba, ang palengke ng sta maria na parang nalunod dahil sa taas ng tubig baha, mga ospital na pinasok ng tubig, hay hay talaga.

karamihan sa mga biktima ng bagyo ay nasa covered basketball court sa likod ng munisipyo ng sta maria at marami rin ang nagtiis na lang na pansamantalang tumigil sa kalsadang malapit sa itaas ng sta maria bridge. i hope bukod sa local government ng sta maria ay may iba pang magbigay ng tulong sa kanila. sana hindi naman sa NCR lang ang focus ng relief operations ng channel 2 at channel 7, sana naman ay tulungan din nila ang mga kababayan ko sa sta maria.

(mga larawan ay mula sa facebook)

Pinas, nasa state of calamity!

Nung byernes ay may-i-declare si panggulong GMA na ang pinas ay nasa state of calamity na at go signal na rin ito para magamit ang lahat ng available na  government resources sa pagtulong para sa mga biktima ng bagyong ondoy. i hope lang may natira pa sa resources na yan ha at hindi naubos sa mga travel ek ek at expensive dinner ng panggulo. nakakatawa lang kasi nung padating na ang bagyong pepeng eh nag-announce sa tv si presidentiable gilbert teodoro at GMA na inutos na daw ang paglilikas sa mga pamilyang nasa pasig at cainta para safe sila pagdating ni pepeng. eh di ba yung majority ng mga taga cainta at pasig eh nasa evacuation centers na. sino ang ililikas nila? flood waters? anu va!????

ang damage to property ng bagyong ondoy was so far pegged at 5.5 billion pesoses kaya ang haba na naman ng pila ng mga tao sa GSIS kiosk at PAG-IBIG Fund offices para mag-avail ng calamity loan. pero since loan yun, poproblemahin pa rin ng mga pinoy ang pagbabayad nito. wala kayang tulong na hindi utang? wala bang contingency funds na pwedeng makuhanan ng cash gift or anumang pwedeng ibigay para matulungan silang makabangon mula sa trahedya?

pero kilala namang survivor ang mga pinoy. at kahit pa nga mahirap at masakit, hindi susuko ang pinoy. and with God’s help, we will definitely survive this tragedy and wish ko lang na sana after this struggle, we come out stronger and wiser.

pahabol na birthday greetings!

happy birthday (relatives at friends)

abi natividad, joy laud at jared joaquin (october 1)

chico bermejo at laiza joaquin (october 2)

atty. ernie espino at honey espino-mendoza (october 3)

hindi kita kilala ng personal pero katulad ng maraming taong nagmamahal sa iyo, isa rin ako sa nananalangin na nawa ay makamit ng iyong pamilya ang hustisya para sa iyong kamatayan.

salamat kay diane gole cruz sa larawan.

ang newsclip tungkol kay karen: basahin dito.

The remains of soldiers killed in recent encounters with Abu Sayyaf in Basilan will arrive in Manila on Saturday, a military spokesman said Friday.

The remains were originally scheduled to arrive Friday at the Villamor Air Base.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to fly to Zamboanga City Saturday morning for a command conference with top military officials.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr. said ceremonies honoring the 23 fallen soldiers, including two junior officers from the Philippine Army, have been prepared in Zamboanga City.

Air Force chief Major General Oscar Rabena will also be flying to Zamboanga City for the meeting with Ms Arroyo.

Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Zamudio said that they have no official report yet as to how many of the killed soldiers will be transported to Manila via a C130 cargo plane.

Aside from the 23 killed soldiers, at least 22 government forces, including one police officer, were wounded in the series of encounters early Wednesday morning.

AFP identified the casualties from the Philippine Marines as Staff Sergeant (SSg.) Nilo Yu from the Marine Landing battalion 10, SSg. Roberto Gamboa, SSg. Aguido Casiano. SSg. Reynaldo Torejas, SSg. Johnny Corpuz, Sergeant (Sgt.) Elmer Miranda, Sgt. Ramon Encila, Sgt. Randy Vacaro, Corporal (Cpl.) Ronald Bayos, Cpl. Rey Guanza, Cpl. Crisanto Simtim, Private First Class (Pfc.) Richie Estrada, Pfc. Daryll Dave Toroy, Pfc. Ernie John Marquez, Private (Pvt.) Jefferson P. Callao, Pvt. Jomar Trompeta, Pvt. Redentor Bactotoy, Pvt. Elfie Igcalinos, Pvt. Enrico Roxas, and Pvt. Lemuel Dela Cruz
.
The Philippine Army, on the other hand, identified the two junior officers as 1st Lt. Chester Barela and 1st Lt. Dhenjun Evangelista. Also killed in the clash is enlisted personnel Corporal Renato Dindin.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20090814-220308/Soldiers-remains-arrive-from-Basilan-Saturday

Picture from allvoices.com

The economic downturn hasn’t persuaded everyone to pinch pennies. Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was at Le Cirque the other night with a large entourage enjoying the good life, even though the former comptroller of her country’s armed services, Carlos Garcia, was found guilty earlier this year of perjury and two of his sons were arrested in the US on bulk cash-smuggling charges. Macapagal-Arroyo ordered several bottles of very expensive wine, pushing the dinner tab up to $20,000.

- an article from NY Times