Law and ICT

Sunday, January 3, 2010

There's a zombie on your lawn..

After almost three weeks of vacation, here’s a summary of what I’ve accomplished during the times that I was at home:

- enjoyed the latest episodes of my favorite series
- watched about ten movies that I missed in 2009
- googled new recipes for my baking hobby
- updated myself with (read as stalked :D) my friends’ lives via Facebook
- finished Plants vs. Zombies and all its mini games and puzzles

And oh, of course I wrote 3 blogs for ICT and 10 pages for my SLR. Haha.

Did I not spend A LOT of time in front of my computer during those three weeks! Thank God for computers, technology, and the Internet. They make life a lot more fun!

But it’s a new year and vacation’s almost over. Got to hit the books and forget about zombies attacking my lawn (Boy, the game is really addicting that I actually dreamt of it several times haha)

Happy new year everyone! :)

- Glaisa PO
(entry no. 8)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

It's customary to write about your Christmas break

Attending about nine Christmas parties, reading two fictional books I wanted to read since about four months ago, catching up on five foreign TV series including Glee and Grey's Anatomy, downloading the latest episodes of Bleach and Naruto, and organizing my few remaining law books that was chaotically disarranged due to the rush when my family was evacuating them during the Ondoy floods. That's about the only things I planned to do the past December. But I was able to make it only to seven parties, and was only able to watch the Bleach and Naruto episodes. Most of it was spent writing a paper and attending some meetings.

I'm not really complaining, but I can't ignore the feeling that I was robbed of my vacation. Oh well, some endeavors are really more consuming than others. I was so into reading materials and typing this paper that my family found it preposterous that I yelled "Five more minutes!" when they called to me for Noche Buena. I did so because I was so afraid to forget a certain point I wanted to add.

In any case, I still had fun. It was a fruitful intellectual exercise, and I think I was helpful to those who were co-writing the paper with me. I am happy also because I was able to use the internet to at least watch the Bleach and Naruto episodes I go gaga over. I was also able to download the anime "Code Gres", which definitely rocks. The only thing I really felt bad about was not being able to sleep long hours and hopefully regain my weight. In addition, I'm not impressed by the fact that I was sober for most of the days that recently passed by. I also don't feel happy about not being able to write on how the internet also celebrates Christmas. I prepared for it but didn't have the time to compose the blog. In any case, I still have a picture.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Weapon of Mass Distraction

I never knew what arresting beauty meant ‘til she arrested me with hers. If she read me my rights, I didn’t hear it as I was too mesmerized by her eyes. That same moment, some part of my brain’s CPU hanged and my thoughts were always: her eyes, her lips, her smile…

Things would have been just fine had it not been the “busy season.” The “busy season” is that part of the year when auditing firms get really busy (duh!). Not that we weren’t busy the rest of the year. It was just that during “busy season,” O.T. (overtime) was early and O.N. (overnight) was the norm. There was much work to do and absolute focus was required.

But focusing was a challenge with her around. How could it be easy when she was the first thing I see at the office and my last thoughts for the night (or dawn, usually) were on those dimples that quote her lips? It would be quite difficult doing analytical review procedures when one keeps ending up analyzing the color of her eyes. It was not easy to examine those revenues and expenses when one keeps being drawn to examining her face.

Then, in the midst of the busy season, LAE results were released. I was happy that I passed but was a bit sad when I realized that my powers are too puny for the combined demands of full-time work and law school. I had to choose one.

Leaving her was hard. But I knew that I must sever our ties before I get drowned in her eyes. I guess, law school saved me. (Or so I thought at that time but that’s another story.) I’m much more careful now. I make sure I only get the ugliest, the most hideous or the most boring wallpapers.

Blind risk.

by desmayoralgo (entry #6)

[I forgot that images add to x-factor points. I just want to share this. LexisNexis is one of the most beautiful things in the world.]

I was chatting with my friend online when she suddenly disappeared. Three minutes later: Sorry, my neighbor switched off his wi-fi, I had to look for my modem.

I laughed at first. And then: Oh, wow. Is that...theft? Is it theft when you're stealing, I don't know...bandwidth? It's so unquantifiable, and no really suffers any damage (to the degree we're familiar with), so no one really cares. One more illustration. Recently I joined this competition that allowed me access to certain research databases -- but only for specific purposes (it came with a warning that should I research out of the scope I should be legitimately researching on, they'd notify the Dean). But how are they gonna monitor what I click on? And would they know if I gave someone else my password? The propensity of violating/observing these rules/suggestions depend on how much blind risk you're willing to take. Because you don't physically see its enforcers. (You just assume that they're there, ready to jump out at you from the back of some MERALCO pillar, like the MMDA.)

Theft takes on a new meaning these days, don't you think?

Moro Self-Determination and the Internet

The Internet is slowly becoming a potent tool for repressed social and political communities. In the Philippines, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), now one of the longest insurgencies, has official websites too. Its websites are http://www.luwaran.net and luwaran.com.

Whenever you view luwaran you get an alternative take on official acts of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). From the stalled signing of the Memorandum Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) up to long term policy issues involving the Moro struggle for their right to self-determination, the luwaran websites provide illuminating views on the peace process. Interestingly, when Datu Unsay Ampatuan accused the MILF as the perpetrator of the gruesome Maguindanao massacre, the MILF media wrote several articles on warlordism and the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

Gone are the days when government has the monopoly of authoritative information on security concerns. After the junking of the MOA-AD, I am hoping that both the Government and the MILF had learned their lesson. There can be no peace in negotiations without consultation.

In the Supreme Court Case of Province of North Cotabato vs. GRP Panel (October 14, 2008), the Supreme Court held that consultation is a condition sine qua non to any peace agreement. The SC however, did not say how consultation should be done.

In my view however, the use the official websites of both peace panels to give the people an opportunity to participate in the Mindanao peace process, is a step in the right direction. A final peace agreement must be the result not only of a transparent negotiation but also a negotiation with genuine opportunities for participation.

My friends here in General Santos City are not so optimistic of the peace process in 2010 in light of the upcoming Presidential elections and for many other reasons. I cant blame them since they, like many other stakeholders, have been alienated from the peace process.

Amid developments in communication and technology, I do not see any reason why stakeholders should still feel alienated. The government and the MILF can resolve to open up opportunities for participation of every stakeholder in the peace process.

Bryan A. San Juan
7th Entry
(last entry from General Santos City)

**the picture shows some consultations conducted by the MILF in Muslim communities. but again, broader consultation is key. (luwaran.com)

Belated "Scrooge"-ing

Sunday after Christmas, the gospel during the mass was about Jesus being lost when He was 12, Mary and Joseph not knowing where to look for Him, when He was just in the temple where he should have been. The priest said that parents are lucky now because we have cellular phones. If they had phones back then, Mary could have just texted Jesus, "Anak, weru n?"

But are we really so lucky?

Our cellphones were probably flooded this past Christmas and New Year's eve with greetings from everyone you know. Family, friends, classmates, even persons you just met once in your life (or for some, not even once). But was it real, was it genuine? Or just a formality that was made more convenient with the unlimited text messages promos by the cellphone networks?

If before, families used to gather at one place and be together enjoying the celebrations of the season, now there's Skype, there's the cellphone, there's chatting. You don't really have to leave your house, you can stay put then greet them a Merry Christmas - even through an e-card.

Yes, technology can make it easier for us. But there's nothing better than some personal touch to make our love felt by those who matter to us.

Belated seasons greetings everyone. (haha, and here I am greeting you all through the blogsite. Hypocrite. :p )

Disclaimer: I do love technology and the benefits we get from it. I have spent almost my entire vacation downloading episodes of Glee and Gossip Girl and have enjoyed every downloaded byte of it. But with vacation ending, you can't help but be gloomy sometimes. See you all soon! :)

Seventh Entry: Starting the Year

My mother believes that whatever you'll do during the first day of the year reflects what you’ll be doing for the rest of the year.

As for me, I did the following this first day of January: Began the day by waking up late after the midnight buena noche. Ate like there’s no tomorrow. Tried in vain to start my SLR, but fell asleep right after reading one journal article. Woke up late for my high school barkada reunion. Went home and ate for the nth time. Thought of my SLR and OLA pleadings, but unfortunately all the thinking did not progress into doing. Sang videoke all night with family and friends.

So much for my New Year resolution to start dieting and stop procrastinating. At least I was happy. And I hope to stay happy for the rest of 2010.

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For the past couple of days, I enjoyed reading Time.com’s year-ender special on the Top 10 Everything of 2009. Of them all, my favorite is: