2013 year end

AHRC Internship Program

From the lush enclave of Rockwell, to the dirt trail of Mindoro, I spent two months in Luzon for the Ateneo Human Rights Internship Program. I was assigned in SALIGAN or Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap panlegal housed in Ateneo Loyola Campus. It was one meaningful experience. I did not only immerse in the simple life of the Mangyans, I also managed to live two-rides a day to work and an almost one hour jeepney ride to the nearest mall - unheard of in my part of the Philippines. The experience also allowed me to polish the reason of my legal studies and more importantly, to see how a legal NGO operates in the ground.

Local Politics

My political activism has evolved since I started getting into electoral engagements in my first year of college. I started as non-partisan in NAMFREL. But now, I decided to to go partisan in a people’s parallel campaign with a focus in local politics. Kagayanons for Good Governance, the umbrella organization I am affiliated with supported Team Moreno against the political juggernaut of the Emanos. I did not actually operate in CdeO during the elections since I was in Manila so I channeled my efforts through social media.

Local Governance Engagements

With the Moreno victory, civil society has easier access to city hall. The mayor made sure that partnerships with the academe would be a hallmark in his governance. In our end, we had several engagements with him starting of with the youth forum followed by our talk on the youth sector in their strategic planning workshop. This was my first ever exposure to an LGU and helped me shape a perception about how they operate.

Appointment to the School Board

A significant break through in our governance engagement efforts happened when the mayor appointed me as youth representative in the local school board. This entry point is a rich opportunity for the group not only to engage in public policy making, but actually mobilize youth organization to augment the needs of public education.

European Trip

Ah, the trip that opened new worlds for me. My Italy and Amsterdam explorations made such a lasting impact in my soul. Seeing and touching the world’s artistic and architectural treasures sits perfectly in my soul. Walking the cobbled streets of the greats and touching the ruins of the once glorious Roman Empire are too much for my senses that even after my 2-week trip, I still keep on absorbing and processing the whole experience.

Yolanda

I was not in the country when it happened. Even then, I know it was big news when even the Italian local TV keeps on featuring it every night. I felt helpless just seeing the images on screen. I felt immensely guilty. How can I keep on enjoying the trip when half of the country was in its knees? 

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Balaod Atenista

The creation of this law school organization is hopefully something that endures. This inclusive organization hopes to facilitate the creation of a culture in law school that sees the study of the law as a tool to build bridges in the gaps of our society be it in legal recourse, institutional reform or issue advocacy.