ZERAHISM

It’s been a week since the start of the usual lawschool torture. I thought I have prepared myself in all aspects of my individuality but I guess I didn’t prepare enough.

Due to my great anticipation for the first day of classes, my first oral recitation, I believe, was within the so-called "performance level." I just love the feeling of satisfaction everytime I’m called to do something which I’m ready to do.

On the next meeting, the professor started calling those who were not previously called. I was surprised to be called again just because my recitation wasn’t recorded the last time. I was annoyed because of such circumstance that I couldn’t control, but more than that, because I didn’t expect the worst.

The moral lesson? Just like the rexona commercial (though I’m not a promoter), "You’ll never know when the Hand of God will lead you to Mr Right, so you just have to prepare ALWAYS!" In law school, expecting the unexpected is too broad and might still lead to complacency, so, I guess the right phrase should be to EXPECT THE WORST ALWAYS!

Ad majorem de Gloriam.   

Now is the right time to blog. My weather-shock is gone, my normal temperature is back and the best thing is that I have free internet access.

Where do I begin? Hmmmm lemme see…

Let me begin on the serious stuff first. The XU-Philippine Team placed in the Semi-Final Rounds of the 5th Asia Pacific Moot Competition held in Hongkong. Moreover, it was declared that we are on the top 6 out of the 18 particpating schools in Asia-Pacific. Sidney U and Hongkong U fought for the Championship rounds. Sidney U bagged the bacon as expected. If XU-Philippine Team went to the finals against Sidney U, it would have been a close match. Sour graping or Sweet Lemoning? (–,)

So much for that. Let’s go to the fun-fun side of the events. Seeing different people wearing different clothes that depict their cultures, having conversation with them in different accents and styles to get messages accross just amazed me in alike manner that my dopamine rises to a threshold level.

The bus rides after competition rounds were the best time to socialize since everyone is in a relax state. I had the chance to chat with some of the team members from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hongkong, South Korea, Beijing, and all those I forgot. I have my own style of starting a conversation which I’d rather keep to myself so it’ll remain original..hehe..It’s really no big deal, so hang-on because I might tell you in the next few lines. Now, because of that unique technique of mine which requires a littles confidence, I have befriended and befriendsterred almost all of the delegates. It’s so simple and yet really fun for events where different countries are involved. Ooops…my time is up..I’ll tell you in my next blog.=D

Source: Philippine Redcross Website

Xavier University  bested eight other law schools during the second Philippine Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law held over the weekend  at the Ateneo Professional School in Makati City.

The winning team was composed of Garret Paolo B. Nolasco, April Ann A. Uy Ang, Zerah Marie B. Absin, Jeanny Mae Rafols, Cristina Mae Quinagan and Lester S. Labiano.  They will represent the Philippines on  the 5th Asian IHL Moot Court Competition in Hongkong next year.

Three IHL experts judged the championship round:  former Ambassador Rosalinda Tirona, Dr. Umesh Kadam, Delegate for the Academe of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – Kuala Lumpur Delegation  and Mr. Johan Guillaume, ICRC Protection Delegation based in the Philippines.

The other competitors were  from Arellano University, Ateneo de Manila University, Cagayan State University, Cagayan Colleges of Tuguegarao, University of San Jose Recoletos, University of San Carlos, University of St. La Salle and University of the Philippines.

UP was runner-up while Ateneo and La Salle made it to the semi-finals round.

The Best Mooter trophy was awarded to Ms. April Ann Uy Ang of Xavier, while the Best Memorial award was given to the Ateneo team.

Philippine National Red Cross chairman Richard J. Gordon, Mr. Felipe Donoso, ICRC Head of Delegation in the Philippines and Atty. Carlos Medina, Director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, awarded the trophies during the closing ceremonies. 

Have you ever got angry with someone without knowing the exact reasons or maybe just denying the real reason? Have you ever felt that you’re in the point of no return, or in an all or none situation, or just like when all the big numbers of deal or no deal are gone and you’re left with the smaller numbers with the minimal banker’s offer? Have you ever been confused of which is which, like whether to follow your heart or your mind?…Well if you have, then congratulations! you are indeed human… But I think its times like these that we become more human than any other times because these are the times that we are vulnerable and thus, often so, in any forms of disguise, the enemy within takes advantage and comes in to lure us towards its own way of dealing with the situation. Hence, in times like these, I say, lets charge ourselves positively and combat the enemy within us.

During my second week in first year law, I was fed up with the terrorism brought by the thick books and insults from the professors. I was so vulnerable at that time. I began to hate everyone who could anwer questions I can’t, I began to act coldly towards the people I love and I became hard on myself. I lost sleep. I lost weight(which is also an advantage by the way..hehe) and I nearly lost myself. I had thoughts of quitting crossing my head until I really got hooked and decided to end it. But no. The saving grace came in just in the nick of time in a form of my mother’s words of wisdom. I’m just so blessed to have a mom like my mom who objectively saw my situation and at the same time emphatized with the pain I went through those times. So there, like a light bulb on top of my head, new ideas came in and this time its not more on what are the affirmative actions on how to combat the enemy within BUT, its more on focusing on the main stuff which is to study law DESPITE the enemy within or in other words just simply ignoring as if the enemy doesn’t exist. In psychology, I remember that’s one of the best ways to discipline a tantrumous child like me when I was in my younger years. It’s like doing nothing at all. Indeed, an economical strategy in terms of time, effort and energy. Maybe it’s one of the reasons why I survived my first semester in lawschool and my downmoments in general. More significantly, I could not have reached this far without my mother’s intervention which I attribute to the Higher Power’s intervention… So in gratitude to HIM, I’d like to share my new formula for magis. Here goes: MY POWER + THE HIGHER POWER = MAGIS! With that equation, I would like to believe that we could make it through this passing world with flying colors. God bless everyone!=)

I remembered last november of 2004, I was nominated for AYLC (A prestigious congress of selected young leaders held at Tagaytay) and bound to go to makati ayala for interviews. Among those who applied in cdo, I was the only one who was given the opportunity. such a nice thought, but then again, its pressurizing (if there’s such a word..hehe)..So there, the DSA Director gave me some intructions and the free plane ticket for makati and he concluded with these words “Make Xavier Proud!” Whew! suddenly my shoulders felt tons of blocks mountained on them. It’s like if I can’t get it, that’s the end of my world..huhu…So I went to find people who could help with the proper attire , proper gestures, proper whatever during interviews. But, each of them have different styles which made me more confused. And I myself can’t think of my own. Days passed and the moment of truth was gettin nearer. My mind was preoccupied with what ifs and I began to imagine the worst possible scenario. On board the plane, I was so absorbed by my thoughts that I missed enjoying the event. I felt I was half baked, fighting the war without arms and shield, completely helpless. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong then, but as I contemplated now, I realized so many things that I should have done and I’d like to share them with you. Here goes: 1. BE YOURSELF- Never attempt to be somebody your not. You’ll automatically be faced out for sure even before the interviews begin.Express only the things you know and don’t ever make up stories or else you’ll be making your own trap. (Yes, I UNCONSCIOUSLY made my own trap back then and I have already asked God’s forgivess and this is part of my penance.=) 2. RELAX - I tell you, you’ll never be relaxed if you’re not yourself. You got to have real Integrity from the moment you filled up your applications to the time of the interviews. 3. MAKE YOUR GOD PROUD! its ironic why making God proud doesn’t make me feel pressurized. Then I thought, well, all my God wants is for His child to be happy in whatever she does, WIN or LOOSE.=) Maybe that’s why the confidence that comes from Him is so powerful………..Back then, to cut the story short, I didn’t make it to the congress and I thought it’s the end of me. BUT when I pondered, it wasn’t the worst thing that happened. The WORST thing that happened was that I forgot to ask God’s Help.=( Remember people “… Ask and you shall Receive”… So to all AYLC nominees out there, GOOD LUCK, BE YOURSELF, RELAX AND MAKE YOUR GOD PROUD!=)

“Pressure, pressure, pressure…
Ohh how shall i love thee?

Ever since birth, you’ve been there.
And now, you just can’t afford to leave.
Like right now. I should have been spending my sembreak in paradise
but I have to change plans because you came in with a new guise(I’m talking about the upcoming moot court competition). (big sighhh….)
So, I guess I have to learn the ways of loving you.”

Well, here are some ways that work for me:
1. sanity breathing… inhale deeply to bring in oxygen (the fresh energy), exhale deeply to bring out C02(the bad energy)
2. be the sala dancesport queen..shape your body!
3. be the videoke queen..hehe..=)
4. stretch to the sides, up, down and back..and reach as far as you can.=)
5. sharing sentiments with friends who undergo or have undergone the same pressures
6. el amor! (kisspirins and yakapsuls really works)
7. and ofcourse Prayers!

There you go. My secrets are unleashed.
Now, it’s time for you to share yours.^_^

Oh I forgot! Being grateful helps too…
” Ohh Pressure, you’re not really that bad after all. I would have not known what’s “Grace under pressure without you. So inspite of all, I say, thank you very much! uhmmwaahh”