Mind Readers in the Ivory Tower

Prior to reading the now much maligned Supreme Court ruling on the power of the incumbent president to appoint the new Chief Justice when the present one retires on May 17, 2010, I stumbled upon the column of Ms. Patricia Evangelist in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. After going through her piece, I dare say it took one non-lawyer to blow to smithereens what is turning out to be a decision that dwells more on conjectures and mindreading than true interpretation of the law.

For a collegial body that has most of the time, if not always, been articulate, coherent and consistent, we read a ponencia* that not only is inconsistent but drives us around in circles as to what it actually means. It just proves my point that an indefensible position is just that, indefensible.

I truly admire Ms. Evangelista for her to-the-point, no mincing of words dissection of the High court's ruling. It reminds me of the story of the "Emperoro's New Clothes". While all of the articles I've read held their punches, owing in large part to the awe and high esteem the Supreme Court, though now in danger, enjoys from the people in general, this columnist said it as it is, a decision that defies logic and reasoning, this from an institution that is supposed to be the last bastion of reason.

Yes, indeed, "the sky will not fall should there be a vacancy" for the Chief Justice position. But more than that, the things that really impressed upon me about the Bersamin ponencia was that the Court took it upon itself to be read the minds of the members of a Contitutional Commission that was convened fourteen years ago. Even Superman could not have that power to go back in time and determine people's thoughts. For try as you might, read it as many times as you can, the wording of the 1987 Constitution is clear: the president cannot make any appointments two months before the holding of a a national or local elections. It does not exempt the judiciary and the framers of the constitution would not have intended it so for the simple reason that if that was their intent they would have included/written it into the constitution. Exempting the judiciary is a significant provision and the framers would not have relied on mere structuring of the constitution to put that point across.

Much ado is made of Justice Florenz Regalado's opinion, but his word is not that of the Court or that of the Con Com. As empasized, the Court, and the ConCom, is a collegial body and a single vote does not a decision make. What was decided and what won by majority rule is the view that the ban is total with the minor exception being only of temporary appointments for vacancies that might endanger public safety or public welfare if unfilled.

Indeed, these are most trying times for the judiciary, a male-dominated branch of government where recent events has shown that it is actually the women who has the balls: Judge Tolentino, for accepting the Ampatuan case without hesitation, and Justice Carpio Morales with her highly incisive dissenting opinion. Now I know why it is a woman depicted as holding the scales in the symbol for justice.

Caution: Escalators Bite!

People flocking to the mall on Valentines

Last February 14, the hubby and I together with our unica hija went to Robinsons Tacloban with the idea of dining out in one of its restaurants to celebrate Hearts Day. That idea was quickly scrapped with the mob that greeted us as we entered the mall. So many people at a given time in a given place, I bet the restaurants there were making a killing with its sales. Me and the hubby, however, decided to go someplace else more, uhmm, less populated to escape the maddening crowd.

Just as we were about to go outt by "the Mang Inasal exit", we noticed people gathering at the foot of the escalator and looking upwards towards its top that was manned by blue-shirted mall engineering personnel. A few questions thrown here and there gave me the info that a boy's clothing was caught somewhere between the steps just as the escalator was brought to a stop for reasons not disclosed. It took the engineering guys almost an hour to break him free.

Boy trapped in escalator is surrounded by engineering personnel

Angels and Demons, the Movie- What I think

(Photo credits www.allmovie.com)

What is it with Mr. Brown, has he got an axe to grind with the Catholic Church? This question one is almost tempted to ask in the middle of the movie adaptation of the novel of Dan Brown with the same title.

But I would like to give the author the benefit of the doubt and review this movie absent my own personal views on the religious aspect of it. Why? Because the movie took me for one hell (no pun intended) of a ride and left me gasping for more.

It is basically a whodunit in an unconventional way and Mr. Brown weaves his tale amidst the backdrop of the Vatican with its age-old rituals and traditions. (Warning: spoiler alert). Compared to the Da Vinci Code film, this one is indeed several degrees higher, both in action, pacing, and style. Its tightly edited putting just the right amount of action in some scenes while placing emphasis on the dialogue that makes it so much more than just a plain action thriller. While it may not grant you ephiphany it does provide food for thought long after the credits has rolled in.

The movie starts with the death of the Pope, the highest official in the Roman Catholic Church symbolized by the breaking of the Fisherman's Ring, a ring worn only by those who seat as head of the Church. Following tradition and canonical law, a conclave is convened composed of the Cardinals of the Catholic Church from all over the world tasked to choose the successor to the post first held by St. Peter. The rituals and rules of the conclave really got me fascinated and here in the movie it is central to the plot as would be revealed in the ending.

Upon the start of the conclave all the cardinals are ushered into a big room in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican and the door is both physically and symbollically sealed. No one is to get in or get out until the purpose for which the conclave is instituted is served: that is, to elect the new leader of the Church and for whom a new Fisherman's Ring will be made and molded. Once a vote is taken, the ballots (I don't know what it is actually called) are burned and depending upon the result, two kinds of dust is burned along with it that would produce either black or white smoke. As any devout Catholic would know, black means the cardinals has not reached a consensus and the Church remains in sedente vacante, without a Pope, while a white smoke would mean that a successor has been chosen.

What makes this conclave so different from other conclaves? Well, Mr. Brown decided to put a touch of terrorism to the plot and had four of the cardinals kidnapped right from their quarters in the Sistine Chapel. And they are not just any ordinary cardinal, they are the preferiti, the strongest contenders to be the next Holy Vicar. Here, the clue is already provided as to what the movie is all about. To add spice to the story bringing with it a Tom Clancy/Die Hard touch, a newly discovered anti-matter is threatened to be used to wipe the Vatican off the face of the earth, literally. All signs point to a centuries old enemy of the Church, the secret society of the Illuminati as behind the abduction and the terrorist threat. Here enters Robert Langdon, played to perfection as before by Oscar winner Tom Hanks, the protagonist in the Da Vinci Code. He had authored a book on the society and the head of the Vatican police, Commander Olliveti, believes he could help greatly in the investigation. Racing against time, the Swiss Guard (the Vatican's equivalent of the PSG and the Secret Service), the local gendarme and Mr. Langdon work through clues provided by symbols and archives of the Catholic church to find the kidnapped cardinals before they are murdered, one by one by the hour in different fashions so sadistic this blogger cringed when watching. This is the part where I really felt uncomfortable, as to why I leave you to find out for yourself.

Ewan McGregor, as usual delivers a most impressive performance. As Carmelango, the Church official entrusted to perform the functions of Pope during sedente vacante, he is most believable as the orphan adopted by the recently dead Pope bent on protecting the Church for the ideals he believe it should fight for. The nuances and emotions he displays can be done only by an actor with a depth such as he has. I cannot give you what that particular emotion is without revealing the twist at the end so its better left unsaid. In this movie it is his character that lingers, and through no fault of Mr. Hanks (it is just that the role of Carmelango is more meatier), Ewan overshadows the academician-protagonist.

The focus on the conflict of the Illuminati and the Church brings to fore what at first seems to be the irreconciliable differences of the Church and science. If you follow closely the dialogue, it is here, in this conflict, that what is perceived to be the anti-Church stance of the author is shown. But upon the end of the movie, I changed my mind. As the Grand Elector said: "Religion is flawed only because men is flawed.."

Didn't I say in the beginning that this was basically a whodunit kind of movie? Oh, yes, because just like any whodunit, red herrings are a plenty and you would think convictions, right or wrong , and beliefs are the moving force that drives these terroristic acts in the movie. Who would have thought that one of the most common of human frailties is behind it all.

Can't Get My Groove

Its been almost two months since I lasted posted to this blog of mine. Why oh why? Blame it on the mundane requirements of life which has all but snuffed all creative juices in me. I'm at a loss on an interesting topic as subject and putting my social life on hold (indefinitely) is not helping any. Am I turning into a social hermit? My eight to five routine has not seen any deviations for the past two months, its home-office-home everyday of the week. Two people really, really like this development (clue: one is no more than three feet tall and the other has been subject of an article I wrote in a women's magazine). To give them credit, they would want me to enjoy a few nights out with girls in a month its just that they seem to be loving the undivided attention (second clue).

So, rather than bore you with insights taken from an involuntary self-exile, I would much rather keep the posts few and far between in the meantime. Should inspiration strike, then, mabilis pa sa alas kwatro, yours truly shall post again.

Massacre in Maguindanao

Yesterday, 41 people were believed killed with 21 confirmed dead in a brazen attack in the the province of Maguindanao in what may turn out to be the deadliest single poll-related incident of violence in the history of the Philippines. Not even the presence of media men deterred the broad daylight abduction and eventual murder of the female relatives of a political family as well the media persons themselves who accompanied them to cover the filing of candidacy of a scion of the clan. Majority of the victims were women and unarmed and some were raped according to eyewitness accounts of those who came to the place where some 21 bodies were found.

The impunity, done in broad daylight, and the sheer number of victims has gotten this blogger all riled up. Has the lawlessness in Maguindanao reached the point where attacks of such a massive scale can be carried out without fear of justice finally catching up? Are those people responsible for the attack so confident of their power and immunity that killing 13 journalist as well was a risk worth taking?

I am shocked, I am sad and I grieve for the families of the victims, but more than anything else I fear for what has become of our country.

Raging waters of Tinago Falls


View from the rocks

Deep in the forests of Biliran, in the town of Caibiran is a spot worth taking the less-travelled road for. Its called Tinago Falls and this blogger, unfortunately, has not had the chance to visit. However, judging from friends and colleagues raving reports who have been to the place, its a worthy 3 hour trip from the city. The sound of the raging waters can be heard a kilometer away and so far it has remained untouched by the crass of commercialism (going by the guise of of the great sounding term: development).

For now I will just have to content myself looking at pictures and cross my fingers that I have the time and great company soon to see for myself this beautiful falls. If you are within the area and would want to go there, just ride a van from Tacloban City to Naval, Biliran, a 2 and a half hour trip, then hire a motorcycle or vehicle for hire to get to Tinago Falls which is an additional 30minute trip.

Pearl Island of Guiuan, Eastern Samar

I learned about this island from a colleague in the office. It is actually an experimental pearl farm operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). I wish I could visit it soon, from the picture, it seems to be a rather bucolic place.