Dura Lex Sed Lex

Even though we had a typhoon Pedring congested tour, it was really fun and educational. No matter how my parents tell how wasted their money was, I still find the tour enough with that sum of money. I can’t go to that major political institutions alone can I? It was through this tour that I was able to fulfill such dreams at a young age. Who could go to those institutions at 17? I really thank the people who initiated this tour, thanks to Sir for inviting us, and thanks for all the people who supported me and made this tour possilbe. I didn’t care about the incentives; it was experience that I was after. Incentives were just part of the package, a bonus to be exact.

Though we were pestered by the typhoon, we can’t tell that or money was blown away by Pedring, can we? There were parts of it that can never be bought by money. It was the company, fun and experience.

Thank you!

Pol.Sci's Legislative Pilgrimage - Day 4

The last day! We gotta make it the best!

Today’s the last chance of visiting the places we’ve missed yesterday. And also, we’re checking out of the BSA Tower which has been our residence for the entire tour. We fixed our things meticulously to ensure we have not forgotten anything. And to my dismay, I found out later on that I forgot the leaflets handed to us by the Ombudsman.

We boarded the bus and headed to the Malacañang Complex as our first itinerary for today. We were all in a hurry ‘coz we’re running on a real tight schedule.

It was a long walk before we reached Malacañang.

We queued up outside for security measures, placed stickers on digital cameras as a permission to take pictures in the museum. The Malacañang Complex is situated on such a beautiful and peaceful community – far from traffic, far from the huge buildings, and far from the city noise and land pollution. Even before reaching the place, I expected the road to Malacañang would be grand. But I was disappointed to see, houses and narrow streets. But when we got past that, and got off the bus, I realized it was such  nice community to live with at the heart of Manila.

We were led in a hall with seats facing a podium with Malacañan seal. There, we were told where to use “Malacañang” and “Malacañan”.  There, we were assembled and told us preliminary statements before entering the museum.

We went in various offices of the Presidents of the Philippines. We saw significant items and we knew that the building was historical itself.

Thimble used for the Philippine Flag

Marcos's table when he declared martial law

chandelier made of pure swarovski crystals

outside malacanan palace

Before leaving Malacañang, we bought some souvenir items from the shop. I was about to buy the mug with Malacañang seal on it but Geric got ahead of me. Sir Shim was dismayed about it too and even haggled with Geric to have it for five hundred pesos.

We were such in hurry for the Supreme Court was already waiting for us.

The obstructed feeling yesterday was now fulfilled and completed by merely stepping down the Supreme Court’s grounds and seeing the large seal in front. I can’t believe my eyes! The funny thing is, Department of Justice was just situated next to the Supreme Court knowing that they are under different departments.

Upon entering the country’s seat of justice, we were welcomed in its cozy reception area.

There, we were told the house rules and took pictures.

We were ushered to the en banc session hall where we were national security cases and other national issues were heard. We were lectured all about Supreme Court and the technicalities about that en banc hall. After wards we were given the opportunity to take pictures.

counsel's table

The feeling inside the Supreme Court and especially in that en banc session hall was really overwhelming that it sent chills all over my body. A bit exaggerated? Hell no. That’s exactly how I felt. Reading court dramas and imagining hearings in courts were my only pictures of a court. And now, look! The first court I’ve ever entered was the Supreme Court’s en banc hall. I was just so happy. I’ve always dreamed of entering a court and be able to present my case later on.

It wasn’t my first time with eating my meal in a fast moving vehicle. The first time I did it, I almost threw up. But I was able to hold it up until we reached a stable and unmoving environment. But this time, even we had Maxx’s for lunch, I lost my appetite. Not only because the bus was moving fast but because my food was messed up before it was given to me. The soup spilled making my packed lunch vulnerable to any unwanted movement.

Our last itinerary for the whole tour was the House of Representatives. It was such a huge and spacious building. We were allowed to enter the plenary session hall. It really looked like it is on television with the huge Philippine flag hanging at the center. There where two hundred and fifty tables and chairs below and an elevated portion just beneath the flag for the house speaker. The whole place was like a cultural center if I were to describe it.

We were lectured about the technicalities of the plenary hall and of course the House of Representatives itself. We also knew that supposedly, on Tuesday, the day we’re scheduled at the House of Representatives, Miss Universe runner up Shamcey Supsup was to be awarded the legalities of her winning. It was really disappointing! Imagine yourself seeing such beauty without exerting too much effort of mixing with other people! We were also dismayed to know that session starts at 4pm and that our flight back home was also 4pm.

Afterwards, we were allowed to take pictures. But everything was really a rash since we still have a flight to catch up.

Before heading to the airport, we were called upon Congressman Jerry Treñas courtesy. There we had a small talk about how unfortunate we are and took a picture with him.

We are all now good to go still with slacken hearts because of how this tour ended up. It was such a real disappointed not having to watch a session and seeing Shamcey! At that time, I really blamed Pedring for all the casualties it has inflicted in the Manila area and our tour.

Pol.Sci's Legislative Pilgrimage - DAY 3

If it wasn’t because of Pedring, this day must have been the greatest day of the tour.

SUPREME COURT!!!
NATIONAL MUSEUM!!!
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH SHAMCEY SUPSUP!!!
COURTESY CALL JERRY TREÑAS!!!
HOUSE TOUR!!!
PLENARY HALL FOR SESSION!!!
MALLING!!! TRINOMA!!!

These words in the itinerary were shouting in my mind telling me how worthless this day was.

We were all prepared to go to our first stop, the Supreme Court. The bus took a little while in fetching us which made us run on a very tight schedule anew.

While waiting for the bus

                                                 
Just staring at the Supreme Court’s facade was really overwhelming. Imagine yourself standing outside the seat of justice in the country. But that feeling was obstructed when the coordinator broke to us the bad news that the offices were closed today. We were so disappointed. We thought we could never go to the Supreme Court or any other places in the itinerary. Each and everyone’s faces were ashen with disappointment.

Supreme Court's photo from the bus

The coordinator decided to let us have our lunch at Robinsons Manila. Yet, another awful news broke in – streets where flooded and not to mention the flood, we were also stuck in the traffic. We decided to stay on the bus and not have our lunch for we don’t want our shoes get wet, but the coordinator and Sir Shim insisted that we should get off the bus.

We’ve got no choice by then but to get our shoes wet. I tried my best to make my feet dry. I rolled up my pants, tiptoed, hopped, ran in a very funny motion as if by doing that, I wouldn’t get my self wet. It was too late by then to take off my shoes so there was nothing I could do now. Water has already seeped in the deep recesses of my shoes! Hah!

took off my shoes after getting it soaked - FUTILE!!!

With shoes soaked and squeaky, we can’t just walk to the mall with that, can we? So we walked towards our dining place inside the mall barefooted.

everyone walking barefoot. (except KAYLE)

The demand for slippers rose drastically as we can’t take to be barefooted any longer. We dispersed and bought slippers at Human and some at the department store.

It’s time for lunch now. And it’s eat-all-you-can. There were lots of food to choose from – soup, main dish, side dishes, and desserts. Another meal wasted for me, because my developing wisdom tooth was really aching.

Eat All You Can!

When we were about to leave, and were already waiting outside Robinsons, we were informed that we can’t go at that time. We’ll stay at the mall until 1:30. Everyone headed back, and decided what to do to buy time.

And we’ve decided to do the following:

We got back at Cabalen on the designated time but then another news broke out that we can’t go back until 4pm. So we decided to talk for a while and later agreed to watch a movie. The power was down so we’ve got no choice but to climb up the useless escalator. It was pretty tiring. By the time we reached the cinema, we asked how much and when we knew it was one hundred eighty pesos (PhP180), we backed out and consoled ourselves, that we would just watch that movie at Iloilo.

We roamed around and found a bowling place. We entered but Jessa Apiado and I went down to look for a loading station. That’s the time where Sir Shim told us that we were all good to go. So, we immediately head upstairs to break the news. By the time we reached the place, Nong Carl was already there and was just waiting for them to finish the game.

We headed back to the bus where we waited for ages for the others to come. There was no signal with Smart users at that time so it was hard to communicate. Luckily, I am also a Globe user and, so is my twin, Yvonne. That way, people at the bus and people waiting for other people at Robinsons were able to communicate.

It took us ages before we were able to jump off and head back to the hotel. Well of course, we rested our exhausted bodies and prepared to have dinner at Greenbelt particularly at Lorenzo’s Way.

Dinner at Lorenzo's Way

To tell you, the food was awesome, scrumptious and mouth watering. That was the best meal for the whole duration of the tour. The Mongolian rice was the best. Even Sir Shim loves it too! Just thinking about the food makes my mouth water.

The dinner was really fun. Imagine yourself talking about some private stuff with your professor listening. My classmates really had guts to talk about stuff like that. All we could do was laugh. We even invited Sir Shim to have a couple of drinks at our place along with our classmates and some fourth years.

We rearranged the room suitable for the upcoming bonding where everyone would be comfortable. We bought and prepared tequilas and other paraphernalia for this evening.

slicing up lemons for the drunkards

Despite the fact that I was one of the excited ones to have our Professor join us, and was also one of the people who prepared most for this evening, I wasn’t able to join them, because I got some calls from home and at Iloilo. So, I was stuck at the room for hours talking and blabbering about stuff happening to me. Some of my friends don’t even know I was in. By the time I got out, Sir Shim already left, and that was the time I started drinking and made up for my losses.

I don’t know until what time they were up still drinking. All I know is that I was already bagged down and slept heavily to be prepared for the last day of the tour!

Pol.Sci's Legislative Pilgrimage - DAY 2

The long and exhausting sea voyage has been done, and we’re ready to embark on our next journey. However, the weather wasn’t so good that we can’t see much of the Manila area. In addition, we were so tired of the whole duration of the travel.

Moving on – day 2! September 26, 2011

The 7107 islands bus took us to our designated residence for the entire duration of the tour – the BSA Tower residence at Makati. We were given keys to our respective rooms to wash up and get ready for our next stop – Wendy’s for breakfast! The room was nice and cozy. I didn’t expect it to be that big. In fact, we knew later on after comparing rooms with my other classmates that our room was better than the others.

After having breakfast at Wendy's, we jammed with the Manila traffic as we set on our course to Ombudsman. The tour guide was rambling stuff about Manila, which I have not taken into consideration because I can’t see it anyway. For your information, I was sitting at the special chair at the center where all you can see are your companion’s faces.

We reached the Ombudsman safe and sound. I tried to take a picture of it from the bus but all that was taken was a vague picture of the building’s facade with drops of water blocking your view.

Anyway, I lost hope and proceeded to the building jogging and covering my head as if that would protect me from the rain. We went under security measures and proceeded to the conference room to have our lecture.

Unfortunately, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio- Morales was too busy to meet us up, however, the Assistant Ombudsman was there to welcome us and a lawyer was there to conduct a lecture. We tackled up about the office’s mandates, functions and importance. They also handed us reading materials before proceeding to our seats. During the lecture we were given a paper where we would write the things we have learned and our comments about the office. I pointed out their measures on their anti-graft advocacy.

By the way, the room temperature was so low, it must have been meant to freeze our brains up!

Lunch is coming up next. Actually we were already running late of schedule. The ombudsman has also prepared us snacks which we kept for a while for we are on a tight schedule and we're having lunch anyway.

Chef’s Quarter Restaurant was great. I was really wondering by then how the 9,600 was enough for all the places we’re going. Thinking and writing about this stuff makes me hungry and regret why I didn’t consume the food served.

I didn’t expect that a body of water and an under developed piece of land was there to welcome us, in front of the House of senate compound. Too bad I wasn’t able to take a picture of it.

I still can’t believe that I’ve set my foot on the birthplace of laws. I was quiet the whole time as we trudged the stairs and until we reached the session hall where I could only see on the television until now.

We were seated and were waiting for the session to commence. During the wait, we’ve seen senators walk past us and proceed to their respective tables.

By the way, Sen. Bong Revilla was really handsome though he’s a bit aged. Senators Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano were also gorgeous rich ladies. I was waiting for my idol, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, but I don’t think she came.
The session was suspended for a while and we grabbed the opportunity of meeting Sen. Angara for his courtesy call. We were gathered at the Senate's Conference Hall and waited for the Senator to arrive.

"Why did you take up Political Science?" That was the question he shoved to us. The three best answers for that question shall be awarded a scholarship. When he said that I was a bit hesitant for a while but due to the need of having a scholarship, I fought down my fear and answered dumbly! I don't know. I just don't wanna think about that anymore.

After the courtesy call, the Senate prepared us some snacks. It's funny how we manage to eat at THE SENATE. Imagine yourself eating and messing around senate. It was such a nice feeling.

                                                         This is where your taxes go!

                                                                  Messing around Senate!

After eating, we proceeded to the Senate Museum and took some pictures. Various significant items were kept there.

The tour at the Senate museum was over and we are going back to the session hall to witness a session. When we came, only four (4) of the senators were left, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano and Tito Sotto. Senate President Enrile was debating Sen. Cayetano regarding the Reproductive Health Bill, and Sen. Estrada was the presiding officer at the moment.

It was nice to listen to the actual lawmaking procedure. There was complete order in the senate. Cell phones must be in silent mode, complete silence, and no sleeping (a classmate of mine was caught sleeping and was confronted.) And also, the debate was going smoothly as if they were only having a mere conversation.

At 6’oclock, the session ended. We went to Sky Dragon Sea foods and Restaurant to have our dinner. By then, I was not in the mood to eat because of some circumstances at home which I wouldn’t mention, so I ate a little and decided not to talk for a while to ponder over matters came running in my mind.

The 4th years were supposed to visit Ocean Park but great thanks to Pedring, who has just became signal no. 2, the trip to Ocean Park was canceled. That brought us to head back to the Hotel and have a luxurious rest.

End of day 2!