The Palladium May 2016 Magazine

LAW SCHOOL LEGENDS

EDITORIAL BOARD A n a I s a b e l F. C a s t e l o Editor-in-Chief

Kim L. Rances Associate Editor

Kathlyn Nadia D. B aldonado Managing Editor

K e v i n L u k e V. M i z o n Junior Associate Editor

Raymond Aljon A. Cusipag Office and Circulations Manager

Luis Alfonso S. Sena News Editor

Erica May O. Gana Legal Editor

Alyssa Hannah R. Nuqui Features Editor

R achelle Anne D. Gutierrez Arts and Culture Editor

Roslyn Bianca R. Mangaser Multimedia Editor

Roberto G. Reyes Layout & Graphics Editor

D e n i s e A n n e V. S a l e s Photo Editor

STAFF News

Kris Palmares Leo Camacho Dyan Garcia Marie Panganiban Jamie Santos Angela Feria Louise Celerio Thea Elyssa Vega Marianne Macarilay Ariane Louise Tan Kate Heceta Joben Odulio Jono Sanchez Vivien Valdez Ghelyn Gloria Naereeza Bainto Lawrence Paluro Michael Vardeleoon Kiel Leveriza

Legal

Chyna Monzon James Atienza Mudir Estrella Leo Galang Raphael Dantes Aw Lapuz Cal Ngo Stephani Pagdanganan Cam Lao

Layout & Graphics Mitch Espiritu Dar Cristobal Frankie Alba Jillian Paris

Features

Maria Pilar Lusia Elago Manolo Buenviaje III Jose Maria Santos Joren Lex Tan Vanesa Joyce Banta Kirsten Erika Casas Mariel Cristina Sadang Thea Elyssa Vega Clara Murallos Julie Jolo Fe Trampe Anjan Rosario JV Castro

Ar t s an d Cu lture Steffi Sales Leslie Po David Rosario Mon Mercado Alexandra Alvarez Xamantha Xofia Buno Janah Ribuyaco

Photos

Lina Maria Domingo Jansen Santos Philip Evardone Chelsea Ysabel Go Chloe Chrysilla Laxa Liz Angela Intia Jhansel Cuna

Multimedia

Jeah Maureen Dominguez Kenzo Miguel Rodis

The Palladium has its editorial office at the Palladium Room, 3/F Ateneo Professional Schools Building, 20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center Makati 1200. For comments and suggestions, please drop a line at thepalladium.ph. Š Copyright The Palladium 2016.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrival system, or transmitted in any manner whatsoever without the prior express written permission of the Editorial Board, except in cases of brief quotations for academic research purposes. facebook.com/palladiumALS The Palladium ALS @ThePalladiumALS http://thepalladium.ph @ThePalladiumALS thepalladiumals@gmail.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6

4

Lente: The Election Watchdog

Exploring Manila’s Last Standing Fortress

8

Going Down the Hill

10 A Doorway to Modern and Contemporary Local Art 12 In the Spotlight: Associate Justice Zaldy V. Trespeses 13 The Bold and the Beautiful

16 Justice Caguioa: Public Service & a Constant Search for Meaning 18 Commemorating the Battle of Manila 20 Living Legend: Atty. Jacinto D. Jimenez 23 Of Law, Literature and Legacy: Atty. Reuben F. Balane 26 MythoLAWgy: The Origins of the Civil Code of the Philippines 28 Atty. Ronald Chua: The Idealist-Realist 31 Bucketlist 32 Reformation: The Ateneo Way 34 How to Take Picture to Preserve your Memories Editor’s Note Two legendary professors in the Ateneo Law School grace the cover of our second issue this year: Atty. Ruben Balane, known for his expertise in civil law and European history, and Atty. Jacinto Jimenez, one of the most sought-after bar review lecturers renowned for his knowledge in political and commercial law. Just as in our first issue, we continue to explore the theme of the legacy of the Atenean lawyer, and what better way than to pay homage to the institution itself and some of its most prominent alumni? In this issue, we feature Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, Supreme Court Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, PCGG Commissioner Atty. Ronald Chua, and topnotcher and former Palladium editor Atty. Dianna Wilwayco, among others. And in line with the theme of history and legacy, here we also explore the walled city of Intramuros, remember the Battle of Manila, trace the history of the Civil Code, and discover contemporary Filipino art and pop culture. This time it’s all about legends – those who have given honor to this school, and those that form part of our identities as Filipinos.

Ana Isabel F. Castelo Editor-in-Chief

LENTE

THE ELECTION WATCHDOG

By Vanesa Joyce C. Banta

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“Ang purpose talaga ng LENTE ay mawala.” Yes. You read that right. Here is an organization whose end goal is to become non-existent. So why did they even bother to establish it in the first place?

LENTE stands for Legal Network for Truthful Elections. It began amidst the controversy of the 2004 Presidential Elections when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr. vied for the highest position in the country, as claims of massive fraud surrounding the elections were made. Lawyers fought on both sides— each for their own candidate – but no one was fighting for the Filipino People. It was formally established in 2007 and was able to be part of the 2010 and 2013 elections. LENTE is non-partisan and non-profit. Members of the network consists of law students, paralegals, and other volunteers who participate in election work.

All year round, LENTE works to expand their network by building chapters all throughout the country. As of now, there are representations in Mindoro, Puerto Prinsesa, Naga, Pampanga, Bicol, Davao, and Cotabato, among others. Training programs wherein volunteers are introduced into the legal framework of the elections are conducted. The next part is to have lectures about election offenses, campaign finance laws and evidence needed to build up a case. In addition, they are also taught how to write affidavits. With this knowledge, the volunteers will be able to secure their respective areas and report any irregularity. Re-

cently, LENTE has also partnered with the Ateneo Human Rights Center and the Ateneo Law School Student Council. Students from the law school were deployed to educate the marginalized sectors.

During the registration period for the 2016 National Elections, LENTE formed the STEP (Samahan para sa Tunay na Eleksyon sa Pilipinas) Coalition. The primary purpose of this coalition was to reduce the number of voters who have unregistered biometrics data in light of the “No Bio, No Boto” policy of the Commission on Elections. To spread their cause, LENTE tapped various media outlets to help in the promotions, showed videos, and shared posters.

Their social media channels were also active. Thus, from around eight million to ten million voters with unregistered biometrics, at the end of the registration period, it was reduced to about two to four million.

LENTE is also a member of Task Force Eleksyon, a nationwide coalition whose goal, similar to LENTE’s, is to ensure that the elections will truly reflect the will of the Filipino People. The aim is to make the elections issue-based and not personality-based. Further, the coalitions aims to bring back the trust in the process of the elections. Filipinos need to feel that their votes matter, and that their votes count.

Another coalition LENTE is part of is Bantay Karapatan sa Halalan (BKH). This is a partnership with the Commission on Human Rights and they aim to evaluate the elections using a human right perspective. The coalition introduced four (4) principles or standards that need to exist for there to be a genuine election, namely: Accountability, Transparency, Inclusiveness, and National Public Confidence. The ongoing campaign in media to raise awareness for this is #ATINangeleksyon.

It is not enough that an election is a quiet one with no violence or intimidation. A successful election means that the voting public knows that their votes are kept sacred and are counted properly. A successful election means that there is no cheating or fraud. A successful election is one where the voters know that casting their votes is a step towards the improvement of the country.

So let’s go back to the earlier statement: “Ang purpose ng LENTE ay mawala.”

LENTE is here right now to facilitate in securing a truthful and genuine elections. The real aspiration is for the truthful system to be sustained such that LENTE will be rendered moot. The country still has a long way to go but this is definitely a step in the right direction. P

Anyone can join LENTE! If you are interested, please don’t hesitate to talk to any LENTE member or visit their office at Room 303, Ateneo Professional MAY 2016

5

By Rachelle Anne D. Gutierrez

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MAY 2016

About an hour’s boat ride off the coast of Manila Bay is Corregidor Island – a historic landmark rich with tales of bravery, strength and sacrifice.

Also known as “the Rock,” it was a key bastion of the Allies during the war. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from Corregidor that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur left for Australia in February 1942, leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

At present, one may reach Corregidor by booking a trip with Sun Cruises, who offers various packages. From day tours and activities to overnight accommodations, one may pick out exactly what experience you want to have as you explore the various aspects of this historic island stronghold.

Personally, I recommend taking the day tour package as it comes with a scrumptious lunch at the Cor-

regidor Inn, and am exhaustive tour of the island’s monuments as well as the tunnel that served as a home for Filipino and American soldiers during their final stand. Don’t forget to bring your camera and a pack of tissue because the bravery and sacrifice that is embedded in every tale you hear at every stop of the tour will definitely make you tear up despite the heat of the sun.

center through which light falls on the altar during daylight hours. The altar symbolizes a wreath of victory with the following words inscribed on its rim: “Sleep, my sons, your duty done, for Freedom’s light has come; sleep in the silent depths of the sea, or in your bed of hallowed sod, until you hear at dawn the low, clear reveille of God.”

However, you will only fully grasp While you will need to be at the the sacrifice of our ancestors in deport early to purchase your tickets fending our nation from invaders and travel to the island, the tour when you go through the Malinta officially begins after you have en- Tunnel where an experiential tour is joyed your lunch. From here, you set-up to allow tourists to relive the will be taken to large ruins that situation our soldiers experienced used to serve as the barracks of the during the time they made their fimilitary, as well as the last few sites nal stand. where tanks and canons continue to stand as a remembrance of the battle While Intramuros continues to be Filipino and American soldiers alike one of the most popular destinations fought hard to survive. for those who wish to get a taste of Philippine history while in Manila, One of the most touching part of Corregidor Island has its own amazthis tour would be the Pacific War ing tale to tell. It talks of bravery Memorial, which was built by the and comfort, sacrifice and refuge, as United States of America in honor well as glory and nationalism. If you of the soldiers who served and died have not attempted to visit this hisduring the war. toric fortress, you have not yet seen the real price our people paid for the The major memorial structure is freedoms we now enjoy. P a rotunda in which a circular altar falls directly under the dome’s open

GOING DOWN THE HILL

By Kirsten Erika A. Casas

Two young lawyers and an underbarwho were formerly part of the Palladium share with us their lives after law school.

The workforce behind The Palladium is composed of writers and editors. As such, attention is drawn away from them and directed towards those whom they write about. Now, we direct the spotlight to former editors who, in their time, were part of the sidelines covering different stories concerning the student body. As graduates of the recent years, they share their experiences in law school, their career paths, and what they hope to contribute to the legal community.

ATTY. DIANNA WILWAYCO Atty. Wilwayco is a familiar face in the halls of the Law School because not only is she a new professor but she also placed 2nd in the 2013 Bar exams.

A misnomer that Atty. Wilwayco addressed is that after law school things will be easier. She says that law school is actually easier than actual legal work.

After graduating what you learn in school does not really prepare you for the real world. This is why when she graduated she decided to jumpstart her career in private practice to learn the basics. Another reason was that if she decided to work for the government, 8

she would not be able to contribute if she did not know and experience how it is to deal with the government.

One of the most valuable things Atty.

Wilwayco said was that being a good lawyer involves two things: first is, knowing the law and second, being upright and ethical. As a professor, she has the “power” to inspire students to do good and be good. “The legal community is defined by the people who choose that path and it starts with molding the minds of law students.”

Atty. Wilwayco shares two main experiences that made her stay in law school memorable. First: joining a sorority. She admits that it may be weird for a professor to say that, but according to her it was honestly one of the best decisions she made. Her sisters made the “entire law school experience more fun and less dramatic”. Second: volunteering for the Bar Operations. There were times when BarOps coincided with classes so Atty. Wilwayco had to prepare for class while getting only a minimal amount of sleep. In a way, maybe placing 2nd in the Bar exams was the universe saying thank you to Atty. Wilwayco for all that she has sacrificed for the previous BarOps she had volunteered for. When asked for advice for future lawyers, Atty. Wilwayco has this to say: “My advice for law students: ALWAYS READ THE ORIGINALS. Students tend to rely on digests and reviewers because (1) they say it’s easier, and (2) they allegedly don’t have time. That’s not true. When I was a student, I always read the originals. I only read digests after I’ve read the originals. It’s all about time management and studying smart.

We all have 24 hours in a day. If your classmate can do it, you have no excuse.

Your professors study and prepare before every class. The least you can do as

a student is to come to class prepared.

Another advice: Always remember the reason why you took up law. There will be days, weeks, and months, when you will second-guess your decision to go to law school. You will ask yourself if it’s worth it. I asked myself those questions every semester. The answers were not clear until I started working. My answer became clear though: “I wanted to give back to the community because I grew up privileged to have been able to study in great institutions. I enjoy the law and I think I’m quite good at it. And the best way and I can give back to the community was by being the best lawyer I can be.”

When you see your high school or college friends travelling and saving the world and you look at yourself in mirror and see your parent-dependent-self (ma, pahingi baon), you might be tempted to quit. Don’t. Reflect and think about why you’re pursuing this profession. The reason should be strong, grounded, and good enough for you to choose to stay. Law school and legal practice are not easy. It entails sacrifices. It means missing out on dates, anniversaries, family events. That is the burden law students and lawyers carry.

That’s why you need a strong anchor to pull you in if you start to drift.

Nothing is ever handed to you on a silver platter. Your grades in law school will get you a good firm, but it won’t save you when you miss a deadline or get a client into trouble. There’s no harm asking for guidance from those who have more experience and who are wiser.

Lastly: Knowledge and experience can get you anywhere, but integrity will keep your soul intact – and in this profession, not everyone has a soul.”

MAY 2016

things you learn outside the classroom are equally important.

2. Be accountable. Ginusto mo nyan.

No one can live your life for you. No one can achieve your dream but yourself.

3. Embrace the daily grind. Be thankful for teachers who work you hard because you’ll be doing the same, if not more, when you earn your A-T-T-Y. 4. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on your own journey. Not everything in life is a competition. Don’t be better than someone else, just be a better version of yourself.

5. Pray and be thankful. It’s all because of Him too.”

ATTY. ERLAINE LUMANOG Atty. Lumanog graduated from the law school in 2014 and passed the 2014 Bar exams the following year. In her last semester of law school, she was already set on a career path. She attributes this to the Remedial Law class of Atty. Tranquil Salvador. Initially, she wanted to join the government after graduation.

However, in one of their classes Atty.

Salvador said that it was essential to get basic training in a law firm first. She took his advice and is currently in private practice immersed in Litigation, Labor Law, IP law, Tax law, Corporation Law and SpecialPprojects. Atty.

Lumanog says that she wants to eventually enter the academe and stresses that aside from teaching the law, she wants to impart values needed in the practice of law.

Atty. Lumanog recalls that one of her more memorable experiences in law school was in one of her classes on her third year. She was flustered during a recitation and ended up blurting an answer. The professor passionately asked, “Is that even a sentence?”

Sometimes it is difficult to imagine that lawyers were once law students. However, once we remember this, it is a comforting fact because it reminds us that if they were able to get through it all, there is no reason for us not to. She shares the following advice to struggling law students: 1. Go beyond academics. While keeping your grades up is important, the

CARLO AGDAMAG Carlo graduated from the law school just last year and took the Bar exam in the same year. He is currently working with a law firm but since he is an underbar, most of his work involves research and helping lawyers handle their cases.

Carlo admits that despite being in a law firm he has yet to decide on a career track and is still in the exploratory stage. More than just being a lawyer and practicing law, Carlo says that he wants to “dabble in something that will give [him] a sense of purpose”. Whatever career he settles in, all he knows is that he wants to be able to leave a definite mark.

For him, it was a way to stir creative juices as the Palladium was something that he was genuinely passionate about.

ASIL was another organization that kept Carlo busy. He recalls that all the blood, sweat, and tears that came with preparing for a competition was very much worth it once he was on that podium. Late night trainings as well as oral advocacy skills also prepared him for work in a law firm. Of course travelling for free was a welcome bonus. What does Carlo advice us law students?

“The options are limitless! After taking the Bar, the common mindset is to enter private practice, especially since the money is there. But there comes a point when you’ll eventually realize that there is more to life than financial fulfillment. In my case, maybe that point came a tad bit early. Do not worry if you currently doubt yourself. Skepticism is normal, same goes with being jaded. Instead of being disheartened, use these episodes in your life as an opportunity for you to discover yourself and whatever it is that you really want.

I admit that I am not an authoritative source of any career advice given that I have been in the workforce for only a few months. But I think I can attest to the veracity of an article I’ve read about the millenials’ discontent with their jobs. Lest I sound like I’m biting the hands that feed me, allow me to defend myself. It’s not because I don’t like what I’m doing. It’s a matter of self-discovery—something about finding a career that fits your purpose in life. I feel that you will always feel discontent until you find that golden snitch, however elusive it might be.

Do not be afraid to explore possibilities. Aspire for something that will make you genuinely happy. After all, you only have one lifetime to live.” P

Extra-curricular work played a big part in Carlo’s stay in law school. Being the former editor-in-chief of The Palladium was more than just “org work”.

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A DOORWAY TO MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY LOCAL ART

By Erika Gabrielle C. Valdez

Entering Pinto Art Musem is like stepping into a postcard, a scenic memory preserved in time. In this fascinating repository for modern and contemporary local art, artwork of diverse and mixed media are showcased in six spacious galleries—airy, whitewashed, and Mediterranean-inspired.

Sculptures and other outdoor pieces adorn the lush gardens, where plants and flowers of varying hues dot the sprawling 1.2-hectare estate. Near the galleries, the Café Tan-aw and its satellite cafes serve flavorful dishes and an assortment of refreshing fruit teas. And just by the Museum Shop at the entrance, lies a charming rustic chapel filled with intricately carved statues, figurines, and other religious artwork, perfect for those quiet afternoon meditations and prayers.

Pinto was a project of the Silangan Foundation for Arts, Culture, and Ecology, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Filipino art and culture. Culled from the personal collection of the foundation’s forerunner, Dr. Joven Cuanang, a highly-accomplished neurologist and Filipino art aficionado, the museum houses over 300

paintings, sculptures, metal artwork, illustrations, and what-have-you. In fact, Dr. Cuanang has been accumulating such pieces since 1986, and beginning 2000, Pinto has opened its doors, so to speak, to the public, enabling all artists, art students, collectors, and art enthusiasts, to enjoy the priceless collection.

As previously mentioned, Pinto houses six large galleries, with pieces from painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, carvers, graffiti artists, and those who use unconventional and even interactive media. Among those artists whose masterpieces are displayed, is Mark Justiniani, who uses discarded door panels as canvas for his paintings, almost always featuring a solitary subject striking unusual poses. Another is Jim Orencio, an award-winning inhouse oil painter who also works with mixed media and nature. His works are characterized by a strong eye for detail and color, as well as the interweaving and superimposition of patterns and illustrations.

In one of the galleries, guests can admire a 480-inch long, 144-inch wide collaborative mural entitled “Karnabal” by the Grupong Salingpusa, a crowd-fa-

vorite, such work making rounds on blogs and social media for being consistently photographed by Pinto’s numerous visitors. Still another artist of note is Antonio Leaño, who created the “Room,” a large, high-ceilinged space set up like a dark bamboo forest illuminated by lights emanating from pools of shallow water. A visit to Pinto is simply incomplete without entering the ethereal “Room” designed by the museum’s director and designer.

Visiting Pinto enriches not only one’s appreciation for art, but also deepens one’s exposure to the wealth of local artistic talent available in the country.

This celebrated art gallery embodies the advocacy of Dr. Cuanang, an invitation to love Filipino creativity. Pinto, thus, serves as his doorway to modern and contemporary local art—we need only enter it. P Pinto Art Museum is located at the Silangan Gardens at #1 Sierra Madre Street, Grand Heights, Antipolo City. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 AM to 6 PM. Entrance fees cost P180 for adults, P150 for senior citizens, and P100 for students.

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IN THE SPOTLIGHT ASSOCIATE

JUSTICE ZALDY V.

TRESPESES Interview by Mitchel Tuazon

© rappler.com

1. What’s a typical day in a life of a Sandiganbayan Justice like?

JZVT: As Associate Justice of the Sandiganbayan, I am tasked to resolve cases filed against public officials accused of committing acts in violation of the anti-graft and other related laws. Viewed from the perspective of public service, the institution I serve seeks to protect civil service from unscrupulous members who violate their oath to serve government with honesty, integrity, and accountability.

A typical day for me begins with my daily commute from Makati to my office in Quezon City. As a morning person, I am up at around 5 a.m. I promptly begin preparations to leave for work so that I can be at the office at the earliest possible time. Breakfast is a must for me because there will be hearings which could last till noon. Before the hearing, I strive to read the records of the case so that I can participate and discharge my duties and responsibilities the best I can.

2. How are you handling your new appointment so far?

JZVT: Like every new endeavor, I have to adjust to it. There are new processes that I learned here at the Sandiganbayan that are different from my previous job. I also put in place some processes to be followed in my office. My social circle has further shrunk because I consciously limited my social engagements to a select few. The training I got from the Supreme Court has prepared me for this consequence of being part of the Judiciary.

Those in the Judiciary must be very prudent in their social life. This does not mean that they have to be hermits, but they must be mindful to avoid, at all costs, situations, which might comprise their integrity or impartiality.

Even before she became Chief Justice, my former boss, the Hon. Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, has set a high standard in her office that I have imbibed and now apply to my staff – that a public servant should not only be incorruptible but he should also be perceived as incorruptible, such that people 12

could not even imagine he could be corrupted. This may be simple at first glance, but applying it is difficult because one has to be on guard at all times, especially in social gatherings. I have begun to practice this edict of the Chief Justice since I entered public service, so continuing in this path now comes naturally.

3. How has your Ateneo education helped you with your new appointment?

JZVT: The Ateneo education system has instilled in me discipline and a methodical approach towards my specialization. It has ingrained excellence in my spirit, no matter how small or big the task is. It has inculcated a sense of fairness – that it is not all about the winning, but how you play the game. These traits, I believe, makes a lot of difference in my chosen profession.

4. What Atenean values do you still embody up to this time?

JZVT: I believe it is our being a man for others that sets us, Ateneans, apart from the rest. We think for others, and not just for our welfare. We strive to contribute to nation building in whatever way we can. We know that sacrificing one’s ambitions for the betterment of our country is the noblest of ideal, and that being an agent of change for the better is a way of life for us.

5. Is there a particular Atenean professor who imparted an unforgettable lesson upon you?

JZVT: I owe my legal education to all my professors in law school. I cannot single out any particular professor, but I can name a few who, for me, have left an indelible mark in my law school education: Atty. Jun Sebastian for Wills and Succession – he made the subject very easy to comprehend and there was never a dull moment; Dean Cynthia Del Castillo for Obligations and Contracts – she made a complex but very important course, manageable to understand and grasp; Justice Alex Gesmundo for Appellate Practice – he made the subject understandable by giving practical examples; Justice Escolin for Civil Procedure and Justice Re-

lova for Criminal Procedure – these former Supreme Court associate justices are intellectual giants and they made Remedial Law very interesting to learn by heart. They are reason why the school is perennially at the top of its game.

6. What do you miss the most about law school?

JZVT: I miss my classmates and the breaks in between classes. Our school campus at Dela Costa is not as plush as the one in Rockwell now, but it was fun there. However, when there is class, you can cut the tension with a knife!

7. Have you ever encountered a former schoolmate/professor in your work?

What was the experience like?

JZVT: Justice Alex Gesmundo, who was my professor in Appellate Practice (an elective), is now my colleague here at the Sandiganbayan. He is the Chairman of the 7thDivision, where I am the junior member. As expected, he was kind enough to show me how things are done here. He is very open to suggestions and willingly offers advice when consulted on matters affecting our division. I am very privileged and excited to work with him because as a brilliant professor in law, I will personally learn a lot from him.

8. What is your advice to law students of Ateneo and those aspiring to serve in the Sandiganbayan?

JZVT: Always strive for excellence, no matter how big or small the task is. Do what you think is right, and do it with all your heart, without expecting to be rewarded.

Value your time because you can never get it back. Be patient. Be fair to everyone and be always grateful to those who have helped you, especially your parents and family.

For those who aspire to serve in the Sandiganbayan, know the mandate of the institution by heart and you will be off to a good start as the rest will follow and fall into its proper place. P

MAY 2016

The

Bold and the

Beautiful

An Analysis of How We Went From Bold to Conservative Entertainment

By David Robert Jacinto K. Rosario III

Full disclosure: I’m not a diehard fan of soap operas and you will never see me at one of those concerts/promotions where the bidas and kontrabidas show up and the crowd gets so into it that even the smallest hint of affection projected by the celebrities onstage will lead to rapture and mass hysteria. However, I have seen a few episodes of a couple of shows through the years (really, who hasn’t?) and based on my impressions, I think it is possible that these big shows, while progressing with modern society, have likewise regressed into conservative tendencies. Let me explain.

Now given the prominence of the bold industry and the obvious profits that go along with it, it was no surprise that television shows became much riskier and edgier but without finally crossing the line into complete nudity.. Although primetime television never had any frontal nudity in display on any of their shows, rape scenes and sex scenes were explicity integrated into the storyline. Of course back then, rape scenes were not yet met with the feelings of disgust and offense that the society of today automatically offers up. Back then, these sex scenes, whether consensual or not, were meant to either push the plot or simply give the public I was a child of the 90’s, a time something to remember. when Rosanna Roces was one of the most famous women in PhilDespite the popularity of bold ippine society and Seiko Films films, they inevitably declined. was one of the biggest – if not the Some people say that the prombiggest – film studio in the coun- inence of bold films was a mere try. During those days, Philippine fad. Others would take a more cinema was dominated by only religious view and say that the one genre: bold (nudity). Back power of prayer had overcome then, the tabloids would always the devil’s temptations. As for have a bold star on their front more practical people, they point page, bold films were openly ad- to the decision of Henry Sy’s vertised, and beer houses with Shoe Mart (SM) to prohibit R-18 female dancers were still a staple films from their cinemas. Whatin Philippine nightlife. Bold stars ever it was, bold films are clearly were so much in demand those no longer dominating the movie days that almost every calendar industry. Instead, what modern you saw had a bold star in it. day society gets are films and television shows that are more

14

conservative than the films of the 90’s. To illustrate this, the modern day phenomenon known as AlDub went trending worldwide on social media but the story itself revolved around a painstakingly long courtship where even the holding of hands or a kiss on the cheek was such a rare and monumental achievement that people would lose their minds when it occurred. This same romantic lethargy is also found in other modern day hits such as Be Careful With My Heart and Pangako Sa ‘yo. To a certain extent, even On The Wings of Love, despite having an early marriage between the two leads, has again fallen into step with the slow courtship that seems to latch on to shows these days.

And so the question is, why there was a sudden regression back to conservative romantic relationships? Considering that society and its technological advances have been progressing in a way that makes the pace of life in general much faster than it has ever been, why is there a sudden desire for a slow, dragging courtship where time, effort, and money are needlessly wasted when there is a quicker, more practical approach to be had? The answer to this is probably that the generation of today was already

MAY 2016

born into a fast-paced world; a world that moves so quickly, that they would actually want to slow things down significantly.

on a date. They also seem to be adopting old practices which go against the hook-up culture that the world seemed to be firmly rooted in when we began the modern era. And it is probably this shift in culture which is ultimately reflected in the biggest television shows of today since in shows like AlDub or On The Wings Of Love, there is a clear emphasis on couples taking their time and not rushing into things.

Of course this slowness is not everyone’s cup of tea, in light of the added costs that taking extra steps on the road to love entails.

However, even if there are those who do not agree with this line of thinking, a slow romance is undoubtedly where the modern world appears to be heading – if it has not already reached that point.

For a world where people can easily connect with one another, the levels of connection do not appear to be as deep as they were before. To give an example, you may be greeting more people on their birthdays these days but how many of those were because Facebook reminded you? Yes, we may all be a lot more accessible to each other than we were before, but it is this same ease of access that makes interacting with people a lot less personal than it used to be. In fact, most people will not notice, but online group chat is slowly making meeting up with friends less and less necessary especially for those people whose sole purpose for meeting their friends is to catch up on the To end, the shift of modern latest gossip. television shows from the days of bold stars to the more conservaAnd so the slow, simple lives tive plots of today is a reflection that we all used to lead have of what has been happening in become a sort of luxury in the society over the past two or so modern world. With regard to decades. During the days when love, this translates to a desire for bold stars reigned supreme, evmore of those moments which, ery television station was ready a decade or so ago, would have to break the bank in order to get been dismissed outright as wast- the top bold stars of their time to ing time. People want a longer appear on their shows and spice courtship, written love letters, things up. Now that we have reand complete attention when out turned to a more conservative

society, television stations are ready to break the bank in order to get the wholesome youngsters to appear on shows and carry out dragging courtships. Whether this is good for society as a whole is still open to debate, and given the fast paced lives and short attention spans of today, there is really no telling how long this shift to more conservative entertainment will last. P

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Justice Benjamin Caguioa What would make a top-notch lawyer give up a lucrative private practice? Then Justice Secretary Alfredo Benjamin S.Caguioa was asked a similar question by the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) when he applied for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He answered, “I am at that point in my life where I’m just listening to where God wants me to go.” His seemingly nebulous answer might not impress the cynical law student. But Justice Caguioa has no need to impress; his curriculum vitae speaks for itself.

A Flourishing Private Practice Justice Caguioa holds an Economics degree (Honors Program) from the Ateneo de Manila University, which he earned with an Honorable Mention in 1981. In 1985, he graduated from its law school ranking fifth in his class. After placing fifteenth in the 1985 Bar examinations, he joined SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan (SyCip).

He was a partner therefrom 1994 until 2007, when he founded Caguioa & Gatmaytan with other SyCip attorneys.

Justice Caguioa spent 27 years specializing in litigation and arbitration. He has extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation before courts and quasi-judicial bodies, and in arbitration before various arbitration bodies. He has also acted either as a private prosecutor or defense counsel before the regular courts and the Sandiganbayan. In addition, Justice Caguioa has handled a diverse range of cases involving contract disputes, corporate restructuring and rehabilitation, expropriation, conflicting mining and real property claims, debt recovery, infrastructure and engineering disputes, intra-corporate controversies, medical malpractice claims, product liability, and tort. He also has considerable experience in international and domestic arbitration dealing with commercial and construction disputes. His credentials earned him a citation by Chambers & Partners in its 2010 and 2011 Asia-Pacific publications as a leading Philippine lawyer in the Dispute Resolution field.

In January 2013, Justice Caguioa was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and withdrew from his law firm. In October 2015, he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Justice. This was followed by his appointment as Associate Chief Justice in January 16

Public Service and A Constant Search for Meaning

by Korin Aldecoa 2016 after garnering the unanimous approval of the JBC. The Path to Public Service Curiously, Justice Caguioa, son of the late Eduardo P. Caguioa, former Justice of the then Intermediate Appellate Court, had a mindset fixed on private practice. He had observed how the assent and fortune of his father in the judiciary depended on factors other than personal merit.The younger Caguioa decided that he would not let other people have the same power over him. “I did not want to become part of a bureaucracy, I wanted to be my own man,” he disclosed.

However, Justice Caguioa’s mindset gradually changed as he found himself grappling with existential questions.He explained, “From when I became a lawyer and 27 years thereafter, all I did was to lawyer and to make money as a private practitioner. If there’s anything that you imbibe from the Ateneo, it’s always posing the question ‘What is life all about?’ . . . ‘Who am I?’‘Why was I placed in the world’. . .

The normal things you take up in Philosophy, they became real. . .” The questions became even more significant in 2007, when he and his son Leon suffered major injuries and nearly lost their lives in a car accident.

Having spent 27 years of his life making money and with his children grown-up, Justice Caguioa became very open to things other than private practice. When his friend President Benigno Aquino III asked him in 2013 to join the government as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Justice Caguioa thought that things were falling into place.

He felt a call of duty he could not refuse.

The decision was not difficult to make.

A Call of Duty While saying yes to the President was not difficult, working for him was an entirely different matter. For one, Justice Caguioa had to sacrifice the freedom he so valued.

Since he became a partner in SyCip and founded his own law firm, he answered to nobody. However, when he became Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, he was at the beck and call of the President. Even on a Friday or Sunday evening when he was about to have dinner his family, if the President called, he would run.“I was no longer my own man,” he remarked.

And there’s the money. As pointed out in his interview with the JBC, his net worth saw a tremendous drop in 2013 when he entered government service. Suddenly, he earned a fixed amount per month. The reduction in his income was significant. The upside, he points out, is a better appreciation for the value of money. From simply buying whatever he wanted, he now asks himself if he really needs something before spending.

Another challenge he had to hurdle was adapting to the issues that confront the government, which according to him, are vastly different from those that confront the private sector. In the private sector, the problems he had to solve were based on his clients’ needs. In government, however, the problems involved “everything under the sun.” He realized that despite his 27 years of experience as a private practitioner, his world view was in fact very narrow. It was as if he was wearing blinders, which he had to remove in order to see the entire landscape of problems. He described the problems in government as “malawak, malalim, at may pinaghuhugutan sa nakaraan.” Every problem had a history that he had to study carefully before proposing a solution.

Amidst the obvious challenges of his work as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Justice Caguioa found fulfillment in seeing that his counsel, when accepted by the President, actually worked. His duty was to give the President a level of comfort in the legality of his acts, as he did when the President, acting on his legal advice, finally approved the P16.59 billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project. It would connect the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway and aims to decongest traffic and to stimulate the growth of trade and industry in Luzon. The project hit stumbling blocks, including right of way cases and issues with the water, power, and communications utilities firms. Justice Caguioa sorted out the legal issues, and now, the project is under construction. The experience of seeing the project being built was very gratifying for him.

When Justice Caguioa took over the Department of Justice in October 2015 after former Secretary Leila de Lima, he knew he had only 8 months in his term. So, instead of coming up with a grand plan for the Department, he focused on addressing its immediate needs, such as the lack of proseMAY 2016

cutors and of facilities. As it turned out, his tenure lasted only until January 2016, when he was appointed as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Then only on his fourth week as Justice when interviewed for this article, Justice Caguioa is still in the process of adapting to his new responsibilities. He is discovering how exactly he can bring his talents to bear on the issues he would face as Justice of the Supreme Court.

Advice to Ateneo Law Studentsand Alumni “Get the best of both worlds.” Justice Caguioa revealed that he is not encouraging his son Leon (who graduated from the law school and took the Bar examinations last year) to enter public service right away. He believes that there is a time to enter government. He wants his son to first experience the rigors and demands of working at a law firm, where a lawyer either makes it or fails.

On the other hand, one can get a job and keep it for the next 30 years in government.

In that sense, those in government tend to stagnate, while those in private practice improve. He wants his son to take the latter route first.

However, he is quick to point out that entry-level salaries and benefits for new lawyers in the Office of the President and in the Supreme Courtcan compete very well with those offered in the private sector.

More importantly, a good position in government, like in the legal staff of the Office of the President, could give a lawyer very good exposure, describing it as “probably a million times bigger than in the private sector.” A private practitioner’s exposure is limited to what his clients need, making it very narrow. A private practitioner would spend most his time and talents on cases that pay, which are mostly commercial cases and corporate projects. To that extent, he gets “pigeonholed,”and before he knows it, he would be doing the same thing for 10 years. That is specialization, but the problem with specialization, according to Justice Caguioa, is “you get to know more about less and less.”

In contrast, a government lawyer “is required to know everything.”A young lawyer in government will getexposed, and that exposure is a “thrill.” “Ang sarap maghanap ng solution,” he said. It is frustrating when your proposed solution could not work because of unforeseen obstacles, “but your gray cells get pushed like crazy.” He stressed that a lawyer entering government should aspire for the right position lest his talents be wasted. The choice to join government or not depends on what the individual is looking for. If he’s looking to contribute to the country, Justice Caguioa believes that there’s more contribution in government as it directly affects the people. Ultimately, it is a personal decision. P 17

Commemorating the Battle of Manila

By Erika Gabrielle C. Valdez

At the ornate main gate of Fort Santiago, the air is thick with white smoke twirling languidly in the dark Manila skies. It is difficult to breathe amongst the burning candles and incense, but tonight, the citadel’s grassy fields are aglow with fires that do not destroy. Instead, they burn to commemorate the souls of the 100,000 civilians who perished during the infamous Battle of Manila, which ran from February 3 to March 3, 1945.

evening. Guests picnicked while listening to a medley of Filipino classics performed by The Executives band, with DJ Ill Primitivo spinning Filipino disco and kundiman later on in the evening. There was also cuisine by XO 1946, La Cocina de Tita Moning, and EAT Café, among others, as well as drinks from Juan Brew and Ralph’s Wines.

preyed on women like wild animals in a frenzy, a cruel fate similar to that of the Pearl of the Orient Sea herself, who was snatched from her shell and powdered to the ground.

The American forces, in their efforts to recapture Intramuros from the Japanese army, would leave the Walled City in great devastation, laying unparalleled ruin in every Manileño and Manileña’s spiritual, educational, and cultural identity.

Centuries-old infrastructures were completely destroyed and lost forever, and in a single month, the City of Manila was reduced to ash and bone, never to regain the heritage it lost to the smoke of gunfire.

At about 10:15 PM, Celdran, wearing his trademark bowler hat ensemble, and accompanied by a This is Manila Transitio 1945, an woman who fashioned herself the annual multimedia art event which ghost of Manila, walked solemnly Carlos Celdran, Filipino tour guide, across the candlelit bridge leading cultural activist, and performance to the main gate. One by one, guests artist, launched in 2009. Borne from offered prayers for Intramuros and his desire to “give back” to the city those who had died, releasing floatwhich had been very kind to him, (a ing lanterns which glittered against Or is it? Like the delicate lanterns belief he admits isn’t true for many the dark waters of the moat. offered for our beloved capital, hope others), Celdran, with the Intramurfor her restoration, no matter how os Administration and VivaManila, Nearby, a video installation by Tad fragile, exists. For truly, it is she who has been commemorating the histo- Ermtano showed photographs from holds the heart of our national idenry of Old Manila by staging a ritual the historic battle, reminding us of tity, and these flames, no matter how at the end of each Transitio event. the men who were coldly butchered small, that we should guard against Last February 27, 2016, around in their homes and in the streets, the winds. We must remember and three hundred people attended the and the babies who were hurled never forget the glory that was Old non-profit, non-commercial en- into the air before being pierced by Manila, and the lives that she lost. P deavor, which opened at 6:30 in the bayonets. There were soldiers who

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MAY 2016

LIVING LEGEND

By Diego Santiago

A “Living Legend,” quite simply, is a living person with legendary status: somebody who becomes very famous during his or her own lifetime. Because of that person’s greatness, heroism, intelligence, and other sterling qualities, he or she is treated as an icon, a shining example of utmost excellence.

These days however, the label “Living Legend” gets thrown around a lot, easily and quickly conferred on anyone and everyone.Thus, the term loses a bit of its shine, and people quickly forget the significance of what it means. However, there are still those who legitimately and unequivocally encapsulate what it means to bear the status of being a living legend, these precious few serving as a source of admiration and a beacon for all to follow.

As an Ateneo law student, Atty.

Jack was bright and well-respected by professors and peers alike. Repeating his college feat, he graduated cum laude from the law school.

However, aside from his academic brilliance, he also had the distinction of being a uniquely active student in various extra-curricular activities. While many law students would shy away from the burden of taking on extra work, Atty. Jack plunged into the challenge. He knew that his innovative skill was needed to enable these young organizations, still in their infant stage, to reach their full potential.

Tough work, yes, but someone had to do it. And that someone was a young, promising, eager law student who, quite simply, could not rest until he was satisfied by what he saw. A legacy had begun.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Atty. Jacinto D. Jimenez is one of “Do not let your studies get in the them. way of your education. There are many things you learn outside the Atty. Jacinto, fondly known as classroom – administrative skills, Atty. Jack for short, knew that he organization skills, and a whole lot wanted to be a lawyer at a very ear- of other lessons.” ly age. A primary reason for this is his fondness for reading, a trait This was Atty. Jack’s answer that he has carried throughout the when asked why he deeply imyears. He excelled in his academ- mersed himself in organization ics at the Paco Catholic School in and extra-curricular work, a habManila, and graduated with hon- it that has lingered even up to the ors, which allowed him to enter present. A quick perusal at the Ateneo de Manila University and yearbooks during his time as a stueventually graduate in 1964 with dent will show Atty. Jack present a degree in Political Science. Atty in nearly all of the black and white Jack’s choice to enter the Ateneo photographs – leading and rallying Law School for postgraduate stud- others. The school newspaper, the ies was as clear as his early choice law journal, the Bar operations, to be a lawyer. For him, he was and the yearbook (of which he was already familiar with the system, Editor-in-Chief) are just some of and, as he was living in Manila at the school organizations that he the time, this would be the most steered, with manning the yearconvenient in terms of location. book committee specifically men21

tioned as an arduous task. “I inherited a headache,” he quips with a laugh.

While today’s generation was unable to witness Atty. Jack at work during his law school days, we are fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of that passion through his guidance and involvement with the organizations at present. Atty.

Jack is especially proud of his current run as the faculty advisor to the Ateneo Law Journal, beaming with delight as he mentions how several articles have been quoted in jurisprudence and other legal avenues. He is also one of the primary mentors and supporters of the Ateneo Society for International Law, the St. Thomas More Debate and Advocacy Society, and a host of other student groups. Atty. Jack is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when it comes to extra-curriculars, precisely because he believes that involving one’s self in these is indispensible to personal development.

Aside from the above, Atty. Jack’s legacy will necessarily include his plethora of achievements in the academe. His first run as a professor began when he was invited by then Ateneo Law Dean Justice Pompeyo Diaz to teach. Back then, Dean Diaz was lamenting the fact that the current professors were already getting up there in years, and he was on the lookout for new blood who could train the future Ateneo lawyers of tomorrow. Atty.

Jack, the wunderkind, was first on his list, and in S.Y. 1970-1971, he officially began his tenure as a professor of law.

The past forty or so years have MAY 2016

seen Atty. Jack starting out by teaching Negotiable Instruments and Torts and Damages, to the present, where he teaches Political Law Review as well as Commercial Law Review to the seniors.Students are often intimidated by his gruff and stern methods in class – until he cracks a joke and his smile makes all their anxieties vanish.

He draws people in with sheer force of personality and charisma. When he talks, people listen, because they know that every single word he says is substantial and needs to be ingrained in memory.

This has proven itself most particularly during bar exam season.

Dubbed the “walking bar tip,” his Bar and pre-week lectures are by far the most sought after in the country, with non- Ateneans even coming from far places just to hear him lecture on the law. More often than not, what he teaches comes out in the Bar, adding to his repute as a true scholar of the law, as well as his mystique within the various legal circles.

Asked about this uncanny ability to “predict” the questions, Atty.

Jack chuckles and says: “Some topics are always a source of questioning, such as Double Sale, Judicial Review, and many others. Current events are also a popular source of queries, so it would help the student to always keep abreast of the law. In fact, this should be a habit, even in practice.

You cannot explain to a client that you lost a case because you were unaware of new jurisprudence or missed a recent update in a statute.

Thus, you must constantly read and inform yourself of any new 22

development.”

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Atty. Jack pausSeeing how Atty. Jack has also made a mark in the corporate es for a good ten seconds before world as one of the top lawyers in uttering one word. the country, a partner in the presti“Grammar.” gious Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and de los Angeles Law I stare back, uncertain. I reply firm, and the head counsel in several landmark cases known to law after what seems like a decade of students everywhere, such as Brit- silence, “Sir?” ish American Tobacco v. Camacho “Grammar,” he intones. “Syntax! and Office of the Solicitor General Writing skills! These are the things v. Ayala Land, Inc., it would be best which I feel are lacking with stuto follow this mantra. dents nowadays. They have beThe theme of this specific issue come simply technicians, only is “legacy.” Precious few can boast knowing how to play the computof the legacy that Atty. Jacinto er. It is a shame that technology Jimenez has carved out for him- has been emphasized over humanself. Quite simply, if you can think ity. I wish our law students would it, he has most probably already see that mastery of language is key, done it – excelled in academics, that in law, words are the best tools led many organizations, authored one can use.” many critically-acclaimed books In a strange way, Atty. Jack’s final both here and abroad, and many, statement perfectly encapsulates many more. He is by unanimously considered one of the best law who he is and what he has meant professors and law practitioners to the people who are fortunate in the Philippines. Through it all enough to get to know him. He is however, Atty. Jack has remained a man who understands people, humble and low-key, relishing the prizes knowledge, and at the core time spent with his books and his of it all, has the utmost concern for various interactions with friends, his students, wanting them to sucstudents, and peers. For him, in ceed in life. He truly is a living legfact, understanding the human end, one who will go down in the mind is the true key to becoming annals of history as a true renaissance man, someone with substana successful lawyer. tial contributions to almost every As he says, “Law is a social sci- aspect in society. ence. It deals with human beings.

When you know that even an You will be able to do well in evoffhand, seemingly random and ery case if you know where you and the parties involved are com- humorous statement is tinged with ing from. The legal aspect is only much wisdom, you can be sure one of the factors, others have a lot that indeed, you have left one hell more weight, oftentimes the ones of a legacy. P we take for granted.”

MAY 2016

OF LAW, LITERATURE AND LEGACY:

The Story of Atty. Ruben Balane and His Love for the Written Word

By Mariel Cristina B. Sadang

21

Atty. Ruben Figueroa Balane is regarded by many as the best civil law professor in the country. His knowledge of and passion for the subject matter is beyond doubt. He knows civil law not only as it is written but in its entirety.

He knows its history as it is traced back to ancient Rome, its evolution and development over the years, the rationale behind the provisions, its applicability in the modern-day setting, and how it can be further improved to fill in the gaps that have yet to be resolved.Truly, his mastery of the subject matter is both intimidating and awe-inspiring. Consequently, being his student is both a torment and a privilege. As a professor, he expects his students to answer with precision and graciously compliments them with a “Very Good!” remark when they do. But woe to his students who miss the mark.

Early Beginnings Atty. Balane is an only child to an UP civil engineer father and a Thomasian pharmacist mother. Although a native of Sorsogon, he grew up all over Manila. The demands of his father’s work compelled his family to live in several places. He spent some of his early years in Padre Faura, Santa Cruz, Sampaloc, and Cubao. At one point, his family even stayed for two and half years in the Diliman campus of the University of the Philippines when his father was project engineer of the UP Library.

While many would think that he was goody-two-shoes growing up, he readily says otherwise. “I was impossible as a kid. I ran my mother ragged. I was very hard-headed. I was extremely naughty,” he quips.

Atty. Balane’s fascination with the written word started in his formative years and credits it to his wise father.

He shares, “Every night, my father would read me stories first of fairytales, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella. I was very small then. Later on, he would read me poetry. He had a good library. I think I just turned seven, when I started to read detective stories. I read Erle Stanley Gardner books, particularly his Perry Mason series. My father also had a collection of stories of Leo Tolstoy, Bertrand Russell, Franklin Dixon, and other authors. I was awakened to those things quite early. I started to read quite early because, thank God, there was no TV at that time, no social me24

dia, no texting. I was an only child, so my companions were my books.”

Apart from reading literary works, Atty. Balane also learned different languages growing up. “Peculiarly, I learned about four languages at the same time. When you’re a child, you’re a sponge. You learn anything. My father spoke to me in English, my mother in Bicol, my classmates in Tagalog, and my aunts in Spanish. I grew up learning all of them at the same time, with varying degrees of fluency, of course.”

Eventually, Atty. Balane learned three more languages in school - Latin, German and French. It comes as no surprise anymore that his first aptitude exam in college showed that he was excellent in linguistics. He goes on to say, “I had an Anthropology professor, a Jesuit, who was really pushing me to go into linguistics. Maybe I should have, because I’ve always liked languages, the development of languages, and the relationship among the languages. In short, the science of linguistics. I have always liked it. It always interested me.”

Education Atty. Balane completed his primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ateneo de Manila. As a young student, he was constantly on top of his class, graduating as salutatorian both in grade school and high school.

He opines, “I do feel that the Ateneo Jesuit liberal education was and is the best. It is the best preparation for life in general. I remember what Leon Maria Guerrero, one of Ateneo’s most distinguished alumni, said when he was guest speaker during the 1977 graduation. He referred to Rizal as the boy who was nothing and therefore could be anything because he was given the Ateneo liberal education. Look what happened to him. He became a physician, a poet, a dramatist, a novelist, a surveyor, and an essayist. I think he owed it to the Jesuit liberal education which the Ateneo gives to an excellent degree.”

Subsequently, after finishing Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Atty. Balane took engineering classes at the behest of his engineer father. He shares, “My father wanted me to be an engineer. I did not want to be an engineer. So then

my father told me, ‘You have to prove to me that you could be an engineer if you wanted to. You have to pass all your subjects in engineering school for the semester, and then you can go to something else. I do not want it to be said that you quit engineering because you flunked.’”

Faithful to his father’s wishes, Atty.

Balane passed all his engineering subjects and finally got the go-signal from him to venture into something else.

Like any other freshman, however, he was unsure what to pursue. “What did I want to be? I did not know. I was thinking of many things. I was thinking of medicine. I was thinking of accounting. I’m not bad at figures. I was thinking of advertising. Further on, I did advance graduate courses in literature, so literature was always an option.”

Law School Eventually, without any pressure from anyone, Atty. Balane decided to pursue law studies at UP. He says of his experience in entering a new school: “UP was a new school for me. Law was a new discipline for me. I told myself, ‘Will my best efforts and whatever intellectual capacity I have be enough to pass law?’ I don’t know, so I had to find out. I really studied very hard and very diligently during my first semester of first year, because I did not know if that would even be enough just to pass. For all I knew, I would flunk out of law school. The only way to learn is to do it.

I went on high gear. When the grades came out, it was good enough for me to be on the Dean’s List. It showed that: one, I could battle law studies, and two, I could be equal to the challenge. I did well in law school because I worked.”

While in law school, Atty. Balane went into law apprenticeship. “After my second year in law school, I apprenticed in a small law firm in Manila. I stayed in that law office after passing the bar. I liked the culture and the interrelationships.”

Having maintained his excellent grades, discipline and work ethic, Atty.

Balane graduated from the UP College of Law as class salutatorian and cum laude in 1966. He placed second in that year’s Bar examinations.

Professorial Career Atty. Balane started to teach right after he became a lawyer in 1967. He did part-time teaching in a private school while working in a law firm. Three years later, the then newly-appointed Dean of the UP College of Law, Dean Irene Cortes, who was an authority on political law and would later on become a Supreme Court Justice, offered him a full-time teaching position.

He recalls, “My first assignment was Political Law 1. I could not choose, I was just coming in. But I wished she (Dean Cortes) had given me Civil Law. In fact, I did say that it would have been my first preference, but she did not give it to me. But as fate would have it, after about one week, the semester had not yet started, I got a call from the Administrative Assistant of UP Law. He told me they had a little problem: the one who was supposed to teach Property suddenly backed out, so they had no one to teach Property.

She told me the Dean was asking if I could teach Property. I accepted it.

That’s really what I asked for. I wanted to teach civil law. I went into Property. Since then, she kept me there. Dean Cortes had the wisdom and the vision to train young faculty members in specific fields already, so when I started on civil law, I was kept in that field.”Later in his career, Atty. Balane also taught in Ateneo Law School and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Civil Law. During his career, Atty. Balane was the holder of the Justice J.B.L. Reyes Professorial Chair in Civil Law from 1977 to 1984 at the UP College of Law, and Ramon Avanceña Chair in Civil Law from 1999 to 2003 and Justice J.B.L. Reyes Professorial Chair in Civil Law from 2003 to 2010 at the Ateneo Law School. In 2007, he was awarded the Roman Ozaeta Award for Academic Excellence in Law by the Philippine Bar Association and the Outstanding Professional Award in the Field of Law by the University of the Philippines.

Publications Atty. Balane has shared his legal knowledge and literary prowess not only within the four corners of the classroom, but also through his published works.

Atty. Balane authored Jottings and MAY 2016

Jurisprudence in Civil Law (Succession) (now on its fourth edition), edited and compiled JBL Ipse Loquitur: A Collection of Essays and Lectures by Justice José B.L. Reyes Civil Law Florilegium (2002), andEssays on the Philippine Variant of the Civil Law Tradition (2012). He has written numerous legal monographs for the Philippine Law Journal from 1975 to 2007 (Preterition: Provenance, Problems, and Proposals; The Spanish Antecedents of the Philippine Civil Code; Donations Characterization and Other Problems, A Harvest of Eighteen Years: A Survey of Jose B. L. Reyes’ Leading Supreme Court Decisions on Civil Law Part I, A Harvest of Eighteen Years: A Survey of Jose B. L. Reyes’Leading Supreme Court Decisions on Civil Law Part II, The Reserva Troncal: Prospect and Retrospect, Does the term “Relatives” in Article 992 of the Civil Code include the Legitimate Parents of the Father or Mother of the Illegitimate Children?, Adoption and the Right to Succeed: A Brief Overview; and Literature and the Law: Some Reflections),for the Journal Integrated Bar of the Philippines from 2001 to 2004 (Family Courts and Significant Jurisprudence in Family Law; Legitimes: Concepts, Problems and Solutions; and Defective Contracts in Philippine Civil Law), and for a few other journals.

Even after Atty. Balane became a lawyer, his love for literature never waned or ceased. He wrote a verse entitled The Day the Vultures Came, and several short stories, includingInterstitials (A Collection of Short Stories), Terza Rima, Echoes of Evensong, Nocturne, The Victor, Departure from Nazareth, Farewell Present, Dirt Road, and Rondo Allegretto. He was awarded second prize twice by the Focus Literary Awards for his short stories entitled Agua de Mayo in 1975 and Isla de Gusanos in 1978.

Apart from poems and short stories, Atty. Balane has also written essays entitled Letters To Manolito (Essays and Reflections), Reflections on the First Encyclical of Pope John Paul II, What is Literature?, and Women of Tammuz

by Azucena Grajo Uranza: A Review.

Legacy When queried on how he wants to be remembered, Atty. Balane humbly answers,“Being remembered sounds

glorious. What have I tried to do?

Maybe that’s a safer question. I started teaching in 1967 in a private school and continue to do so for almost half a century now. I tried to impart knowledge of civil law, my chosen field. Not just facts and articles and cases. More than just reading the articles, you have to apply them, because that’s what you do in practice. Your client comes to you and gives you a raw problem and you have to be able to organize the jumbled set of facts that he or she presents to you, and determine the applicable provisions, say, in civil law. But you have to know how to apply the articles. That’s what I tried to impart.

Successful or not, I don’t know. Cases are good because we have features of the common law, the law of precedent.

How the courts decided in the past supplied to lead us, to help us, and to use the words of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, to help us predict what the courts will do in the future. But more than that, I tried to impart a sense of an integrated knowledge of civil law.

Why are the laws like this? Why are the concepts like this? How did they develop in the matrix of history through the experience of Rome, through the experience of Spain, which it inherited from Rome, and our country. I tried to vitalize the subject matter, to make it come alive, to make it meaningful and interesting, to situate it in the context of history. It’s a simple thing. That’s all I try to do. And beyond that, I just teach according to my own likes and to my own skills. I don’t want to use overarching concepts. Do you need to have a brilliant mind to be a good teacher?

No. Having a brilliant mind helps, but you could have a brilliant mind and be a poor teacher. It’s a skill. It’s like the ability to sing or to speak languages. It’s the ability not only to impart knowledge, but to make it come alive. That’s all I’ve tried to do. It’s a small thing, it’s a small contribution, if it is any contribution at all.”

As he approaches the twilight years of his professional life, many keep asking if he has any plans of retiring. Atty.

Balane jokingly answers, “Yes, when I die. As long as I can still function, and my eyes hold, and my health holds, I will continue teaching, if the school should continue to have me. Maybe I’ll get out of this school feet first.” P

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MythoLAWgy: The Origins of the Civil Code of the Philippines When Paris declared Aphrodite to be the most beautiful goddess on Olympus, he probably had no idea that this simple act would have consequences that would be felt more than two millennia later in a group of islands located in the yet to be discovered Pacific Ocean.

All Paris, prince of Troy, was thinking about at that time was Aphrodite’s promise that he would be able to have the most beautiful woman in the world, a married woman named Helen. And so, with a few words, Paris set forth a chain of events that would eventually culminate in the Civil Code of the Philippines being created.

Yes, I admit, this sounds like a stretch. But please, do indulge me.

After Paris was able to seduce Helen, wife of Menelaus, to run away with him, all hell broke loose. The Greeks, spoiling for a war against the Trojans, used the pretext of a stolen wife in order to launch a full scale attack on Troy 26

that lasted over a decade. Long story short, the Greeks left a huge wooden horse filled with soldiers that the greedy Trojans decided to bring into their city by dismantling a part of their walls, and as a consequence of their greed, the entire population of Troy was slaughtered, save for a handful of people.

As Troy was razed to the ground and salt was sprinkled over the land, the handful of escapees sailed down the Mediterranean on a rickety boat towards a new life. This group now had a certain Aeneas as their leader, and he managed to steer them from the Black Sea, where Troy is located, to Carthage, or what is modern day Tunisia. At Carthage, Aeneas has a rendezvous with the Dido, Queen of Carthage. As is often the case, love was unrequited, and as Aeneas sailed away from Carthage, he looked back and saw black smoke rising over the city, not knowing that its source was the funeral pyre of Dido who had committed suicide.

Aeneas and his crew eventually reached a land marked by seven hills. These hills would eventually be known as the Sette Colli di Roma or Seven Hills of Rome.

To speed matters up, Rome as we know it came about because of two rapes: the first rape was what gave birth to Romulus and Remus, with Romulus eventually founding Rome; the second rape was done by a descendant of Romulus on the housewife Lucretia, and this felled the monarchy and gave rise to the Republic. Rome the Republic is best remembered as the time when Julius Caesar took charge. But what most people do not seem to realize is that Rome as a Republic also witnessed the birth of the Leges Duodecim Tabularum, or the Law of the Twelve Tables.

The Leges is undisputedly the mother of all modern day laws under the civil law tradition. By the time it fell into the hands of Justinian, Emperor of Constantinople,

in 530 A.D., the laws themselves were already accompanied by the writings of the most esteemed legal luminaries of the Roman Empire such as Scaevola, Gaius, and Papininan just to name a few. With all these legal treasures before him, Justinian embarked on a massive project of codification that ultimately culminated in what came known to be the Corpus Iuris Civilis or the Body of Civil Law. This work of Justinian would go on largely unnoticed and unappreciated until a copy of it was found in Florence a couple of centuries later. This sparked a sudden desire to know more about law, the basis of which being the work of Justinian that was an enhancement of the Leges. At this point in time, legal commentators would again flourish as they had in the days of Rome, and an overall spreading of what was essentially Roman law took place all around Western Europe. Eventually, the desire to study, understand, and even use these laws found their way to what is now modern day Spain.

As time passed, Spain became filled with different kingdoms which included Aragon, Castille, and the Moors in Granada.

Isabella, Queen of Castille, and Ferdinand II, King of Aragon, would eventually marry and join forces to remove the Moors from Granada. Isabella, being a risk taker, would then finance an Italian cartographer named Christopher Columbus who, with his trusted pal Amerigo Vespucci, found the Americas.

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Back in the East, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks. This all but made it necessary for the Europeans to find a new way to the East where their spices could be found. Portugal found and monopolized the route that went around the southern tip of Africa.

As for Spain, they took a chance on a certain Ferdinand Magellan and ended up being rewarded with a new route to the East. In that same expedition, the Spaniards set foot on what would someday be the Philippine Islands. Long story short, the Spaniards set up shop in the Philippines, staying for around 333 years until they were forced to cede their last remaining colony in the East to the Americans. However, before they left, the Spaniards gave the Philippines a gift that lasted until the modern era. This was the Civil Code of Spain, which was largely patterned after the Roman Civil Code, and was made the law in the Philippines because of an order requiring there to only be one civil code in all territories of Spain.

And so the question now arises as to how much of this tale is fact, and how much is fiction. Was there really a Troy? Did Paris, and Aeneas, and Romulus really exist? Was Aphrodite really the most beautiful goddess of them all? To this, I would answer that the same does not matter, for if we are to separate the fact from the fiction, we will undoubtedly water down the grandeur of this story, a grandeur that is befitting to the oldest and most enduring tradition of laws in existence: the Civil Law tradition.

[The material for this article was taken from the lectures of Atty.

Balane who is a much more capable narrator of such events than I will ever be. In the event that he stumbles upon this, I would like to convey to him my gratitude for the knowledge he has imparted, and my apologies in case I have butchered his most remarkable discourse.] P

The Spanish Civil Code, despite the Spaniards eventually being forced to cede the Philippines to the Americans, continued on in the Philippines, until eventually a commission was formed that created what is now known as the Civil Code of the Philippines. And it is this Code, which traces its roots back to Ancient Rome, which we have and study today. Were it not for the decision made by Paris to declare Aphrodite the most beautiful among the goddesses, perhaps there would not have been a Rome and we would have been studying a whole different Code altogether.

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Atty. Ronald Chua, the Idealist- Realist

By Thea Elyssa Vega

On a usual Saturday morning, as Atty. Chua steps out of the classroom, students waiting along corridors immediately go up to him and start joking “oy Chuey wag ka na nga magparecit.” He kids back saying “’wag ka na lang pumasok sa next class mo.”

Atty. Ronald Chua, who prefers to be called “Chuey”, is known for being the friendliest member of the faculty. Atty. Chua tries to get to know each and everyone of his students. He states that, “I like interacting with students because you keep yourself updated and you also learn a lot from them.” He adds, “I treat all of my students like my own children.”

But even with this light candor outside the classroom, his students are still greatly scared for recitations during his classes. His students say that he calls as many students as possible every meeting. Also, he’s the professor responsible for having his students wear formal attire on Saturday mornings… just for kicks.

But despite all these funny antics, we realize that Chuey is really more than just the funny professor. Atty. Chua balances his work with the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and teaches in three law schools – Ateneo, Far Eeastern University (FEU), and San Beda.

He is currently an Associate Dean in FEU Law. He teaches a whole range of subjects from Constitutional Law 1 and 2, Criminal Law,

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Legal Writing and Special Proceedings. “Public service and the academe are really my passions. I would get bored if I only work in the academe. I would get bored if I only work in government. It has to be both,” he states.

Atty. Chua also shares that he takes pride in Ateneo Law since as a school, it really does help develop the students’ potentials.

“From a student who was perhaps a 70% in first year, Ateneo helps the student reach his potential and can be a 90% in senior year. “ Atty. Chua adds that, “Teaching depends on the capabilities of the students. You have to learn how to adjust. There will be schools where it’s better to challenge the students and push them to limit.

There are schools where you have to guide the students to reach a particular standard.”

his mother what the requirements were for joining the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) back then. And at the same time, his love for the academe also developed back in high school. He would already teach advanced math to public school students during weekends.

His first job after taking the Bar exam was with the Office of the President as Presidential Legal Counsel back in 2004. He has never worked in a private firm and never intended to do so. He already knew that he would be unhappy there. After a year at the Office of the President, he transferred to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Regarding his work at the PCGG, he has had three different positions in the Commission.

Atty. Chua worked as Special Legal Counsel at first. The position Atty. Chua, as a teacher, even handled legal matters as referred goes the extra mile and helps in to by the Chairman. the students’ extracurricular activities. He helps coach the AteAs Commission Secretary, his neo Volleyball team for Conflicts function was similar to that of a of Law. He also helps the Ateneo board secretary. He was in charge Central Bar Operations. He states of the minutes of the meeting for that he was a member of both or- En Banc decisions and also preganizations back when he was a pared opinions for the Commisstudent. So he still tries to help sion. whenever his work schedule permits him to do so.

As a Commissioner now, he is tasked to handle two departAtty. Chua says that it was his ments – the Asset Management childhood dream to be a lawyer. and Finance Administration.

But on top of that, he also realized that he wanted to do public For Asset Management, he hanservice early on. He recalls asking dles all the sequestered and surMAY 2016

rendered assets and makes sure to preserve and privatize them.

He also fixes the bidding for certain assets that should be sold.

For Finance and Administration, he fixes the Commission’s compliance with COA together with HR or administrative services. He also oversees the sequestered corporations. Sometimes he sits in board meetings as an adviser to make sure that there are no excesses to bonuses in the corporations.

Atty. Chua accepted the appointment as Commissioner knowing that it would end in June 30 since the job is co-terminus with the President. However, he still delights in his work. He states that, “the past six (6) years

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of PCGG has even equaled to the amount recovered during the past thirty (30) years of the existence of the commission.” That’s one of the things he is most proud of.

When asked what his future plans are, he said that “Not sure what is in store but surely I will still be working in the government. I am also willing and looking forward to working in the Judiciary in the future. Or maybe study and get Masters abroad after this term.”

in an appointive position.”

When asked about what his advice is to future lawyers, he said that “you have to remain idealistic but also be realistic, you have to learn to adapt to the situation.

As a young lawyer and you end up fighting with your bosses right away, then you would end up not being able to contribute change at all.” He adds, “you should learn not to be disheartened, because if it can’t happen now, it will still He states that, “whatever work I happen in the future.” end up having in government, it would always be against corrupAtty. Chua adds “you need not tion. I want to work in govern- do something really big for you ment, but never in politics. For to have a sense of fulfillment. It’s all my eleven (11) years in gov- in doing your job and doing your ernment, I have never involved job well.” P myself in politics. I want to be in government but perhaps always

B.U.C.K.E.T.L.I.S.T.

By David Robert Jacinto K. Rosario III

SEE

LISTEN

One of the things that not many people get to see in the Philippines is a live performance of the Opera. Luckily, you can do so now because a select set of opera performances recorded live and in high definition from New York is being screened in Greenbelt! As of the time of writing, George Bizet’s Carmen will be shown on March 8, Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow will be shown on April 12, and Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth will be shown on May 10. If you’ve never seen the Opera, now is your chance!

While everybody knows who Kanye is, not everyone knows that he has just released a new album entitled The Life of Pablo. One of the more controversial figures of our time, there is no denying that Kanye is also one of the best musicians today. Kanye’s music is so good that his music is probably what ought to be playing on your phone if you are looking to get pumped up before an exam. And so for fans of his music and people who just want to try something new, do check out Kanye’s new album The Life of Pablo.

EAT

EXPLORE

There is a new French café near Apartment 1B in Salcedo called La Vie Parisienne. How awesome is this place? For starters, they import their croissants from France and the butter they serve is also French. Other pastries?

Also imported from France. Not to mention that despite the high standard of quality they employ, the prices are actually reasonable considering how good the food is. If you’re ever in Salcedo, particularly San Agustin Street, keep an eye out for this café which is on the right side of the street, a few paces before you get to North Park.

For those of you who cannot wait for Halloween, Breakout Manila has just opened a new horror themed room which makes escaping the room much harder than it already is. Not only do you need to figure out how to escape the room within the allotted time, you also have to do so while the room tries its best to scare you into submission. Although this is probably not the smartest thing to do if you are easily frightened, it is definitely a challenge that those who like being scared will relish. P

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Reformation The Ateneo Way

By Aira Marie M. Andal

Dichotomy. All concepts inevitably involve dichotomy and contrast. The very passage of time is constitutive of the juxtaposition of change and consistency. Advancement itself has two faces – the incessant wave of transformation partnered with the rigidity of the constant turnover of novel ideas.

Even the law, for all the conception of its hardness and harshness, can be amended. Interpretation and construction nuances the application of the law; supervening events can alter defenses and motions. Pleadings can be amended, supplemental complaints may be filed. In the end, nothing remains stationary, not even the law.

Makati. With the passage of time, the school and its community, not to mention its “contiguous bodies”, have also changed and adapted with the many effects of globalization and advancement. From being an unknown, underutilized area, Rockwell has gradually become a hotspot of high-rise condominium units, popular restaurants, and numerous offices. The law school itself has changed noticeably – from the facilities to the school’s curriculum, modifications are ostensibly ostensible.

And like every thing under the sun, these changes brought about both good and bad consequences.

Law School has now developed a tracking system that has made it easier for students to specialize in the track they are interested in pursuing. The curriculum provides for an easier categorization of subjects that are important for each stream, thus organizing the related classes for each track or stream, and making it easier for students to choose electives and target the legal area they want to focus on. This scheme is supposed to consequently simplify enlistment, assessment, and enrollment.

2. LCDs and CCTVs (and blinds) With the endless development of new technology, ALS tries to THE GOOD keep up with the advancements The evolution of society and the 1. The tracking system world is not unnoticed by the AteFrom simply choosing electives and changes in both teaching neo Law School in Rockwell Drive, that one may take fancy in, the and studying, and thus the man-

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agement installed LCDs in classrooms. This gives professors the option of lecturing using PowerPoint presentations and videos.

CCTV cameras are also recently installed, heightening and improving the security of the campus. (Also, please notice the more sophisticated blinds used per classroom, members of themaintenance and staff sure do appreciate them. ;)) 3. The Bernas Center The Bernas Center in the 4th floor of the ALS building has also undergone changes and development over the years. From moving the faculty room to the opening of San Francisco Coffee in this floor, the 4th level of our building has seen improvements over time.

4. Young Blood Literally, the Law School has evolved and regenerated. With the passage of time, both the faculty and staff, and the students (of course), have continuously reorganized and expanded. Younger professors were recently hired, invigorating the indubitably already brilliant line-up of educators in the school.

5. All the new infrastructures, basically 17 years ago, the Power Plant Mall conveniently across us is non-existent. 8 Rockwell is just recently finished, and Dean & Deluca is quite a new addition to the available study places we can utilize. Several offices from Maka-

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ti have relocated in Rockwell and new condominiums and apartment buildings are constructed in the area, making our lives easier and more convenient. Everything, from Zara to Bizu, not to mention the ever-reliable National Bookstore, is within reach. Every thing.

the school and Rockwell have changed over time. The inescapable waves of globalization and development have reached us. As all other matter, the advancement and changes brought both benefits and disadvantages. If we are a corporation, various amendments have already been issued with regard to our articles and by-laws.

The incessant forming and reforming of both our internal and external environment continually restructure our practices and jar our routine. Hopefully, however, our culture for excellence will still persist through this century and the next. And the next. And the next.

THE (not so??) BAD 1. TRAFFIC Of course, with the new infrastructure development in the area comes the inevitable consequence of a heavier traffic flow. Accordingly, more cars translate to fewer parking spaces. (Thank Heavens for Power Plant Mall parking, at least.) If 3 years ago, Marikina to Special thanks to Sir Roy (you Rockwell can be traversed in 45 the best), Mang Nats, ate Anminutes, today, it takes 1 hour to gel Hernandez of San Francisco 1.5 hours to travel.

Coffee, Ms. Beth San Pedro of 2. Pollution and trash (talk) man- the Dean’s Office, Mr. Reginald Calica, Ms. Marete Nogaliza, Mr. agement Another disadvantage of the on- Joseph Deswasido, Mr. Rodolfo going development is the resulting Gangay, Mr. Aldrin Olivo, and pollution and volume of garbage. Mr. Jason Lusuegro for the inMore cars mean more exhaust sights in helping the author write smoke. More students and em- this article. P ployees in the area translate to more garbage. 5 years ago, a single garbage truck does not even get fully leaden with the trash collected from the area. Today, garbage trucks notably return for a second round to complete collection.

(Not to mention a larger crowd means a more uncontrolled chismis mill.)

Thus, it is undeniable how much

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How To Take Pictures To Preserve Your Memories: A Guide To Taking Awesome Instagram Photos

By Leslie Ann L. Po

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Growing up in the 90’s meant film cameras, dropping off the film to your nearest Kodak store for developing, and waiting for the films to develop. Opening those envelopes and looking at how our photographs turn out is definitely one of the things our generation misses the most.

dustry is now left to the artists and the so-called hipsters. Although the pleasant surprises of looking at our prints are all but gone, we now have convenient device on our hands that could take a photo anytime we want. Digital photo albums and today’s social media capabilities make photo sharing possible online. We still hunt for the Fast forward to the new millen- old photo albums that we had in nium: the photographic film in- our lola’s baul for this week’s #TBT,

1.) The Rule of Thirds.

This is a technique that even our lolo used with his film camera. Imagine spaces broken into three horizontal and vertical sections: you get a grid. The key is to keep the subject out of the dead center. Keep your subject (or yourself) in the lines of the imaginary grid, to keep the photo well balanced.

2.) Use natural light.

No one finds a grainy photo appealing. Natural light always registers better. So for indoor shooting, however, take your photo snapping away from the dimly lit corners of a coffee shop.

3.) Keep the Background simple A clean background would let the viewer focus on what’s important: your subject. You can save a photo by blurring the background, or cropping out the unnecessary.

4.) Look for Strong Colors and Shapes A strong color or shape will draw the viewer to right subject on the photo. The right combination of colors and shapes, as well as a little touch of editing here and there will convey strong emotions.

In the end, it really boils down to what you like. Not every photograph has a universal appeal.

It is your feed after all. Take pho-

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but as for ourselves we teach lola to take photos on the phone during family reunions and upload them to Facebook.

For the little snippets of life however, we have Instagram. Photographs and short clips can be posted and archived. A little scroll down could take you as far back as 2011. So how could you make a photo that is shareworthy?

5.) Add variety Yes, we get it. We all are a little narcissistic when it comes to choosing which selfies to post. After all, we can take multiple shots and a number of those shots would actually appear fairly decent.

Limit those selfies. Add in some still life or group photos.

6.) Saturate or Desaturate A desaturated photo will make your subject hazy and mysterious while heavy color saturation will give you that hippie 70’s I-just-came-from-theBeatles concert vibe. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with editing and adding filters if it conveys your images better.

7.) Soften your features As our camera phones are getting better and better at capturing the minutest details, it takes a little toll on how our faces will appear in the photographs. Suddenly, our pimples and pores become too visible, much to our disliking. Luckily, there are some photo editing applications and some built-in features of photography applications that could remedy the situation and actually do the reverse of High Definition. Sometimes, soft and a little blurry is a little better.

tographs, post them, and enjoy. ago. After all, photographs can Scroll down a little while later. track how our interests and tastes Smile, smirk or laugh at the pho- change over the years. P tographs that you took four years

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