IN MY MUNDANE THOUGHTS

  “Objection, your Honor!” I never thought those words would ever come out of my mouth… at least not in real life. I used to imagine myself saying it in front of the mirror, holding a hairbrush like a microphone, just to see if it would sound dramatic enough. But lo and behold, lately I found myself blurting it out inside the courtroom—for real—while fighting for my client’s cause! Finally! After more than a year of postponements, my trial proper had come. Direct and cross-examinations! But… between you and me… those postponements were secretly a relief! Why? Because honestly, I didn’t know how to do a direct examination. Moreso, a cross-examination! In short: lutang. For context, I passed the bar three years ago. Yes, technically I’m a “young lawyer.” Young because… well, I want to believe I still look young. (Insert laugh). But seriously, I’m new in practice and still inexperienced. When I passed the bar, I was exhausted. Imagine: 8 years in law school, 1 year bar review, bar exa...

  Every year, as floods submerge our cities and countryside, Filipinos are left to wonder: Where have the billions of pesos allocated for flood control projects truly gone? Despite massive budgets and grand promises, the suffering persists—especially in Luzon, where many wade through chest-deep waters while a privileged few remain untouched by the crisis. This stark divide raises urgent legal and moral questions. The Constitution and our laws demand that public funds be managed with integrity, transparency, and accountability. Yet, when flood control projects fail or are marred by allegations of overpricing, substandard work, or outright “ghost projects,” the public’s trust is eroded. Under the New Government Procurement Act, all government infrastructure projects must undergo transparent, competitive bidding, with strict penalties for collusion, undue influence, and other procurement violations. The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the PPP Code further impose criminal, civ...