From MVP Cup to entry by laches :)

I woke up with a big headache. I guess it's the price that I have to pay for sluggishly watching the MVP Cup primer last night. Being a loyal and disillusioned Mrs. Kennevic Asuncion, I ignored the temptation of hitting the sack early just to get a glimpse of the famous Asuncion sibs.

MVP Cup is like the biggest Badminton tourney here in the Philippines. Team Asia made a sweeping win last MVP Cup and they’re hoping for a second trophy this year. This year, they'll be battling for 60 grand. Ten grand higher from the last MVP prize. For those who think that it was so damn cheap, you just have to convert it in peso (the moolah's in dollars). Team Asia will be having the same line up but Europe will be sending some newbies. With any luck, Team Europe will be experiencing the newbie jitters. Of course, when you get to play against Kennie and Vic, even veteran players will get the butterflies considering the combination of home court advantage, Kennie’s grace under pressure and Vic’s strong smash. For the record, Kennie and Vic’s ranking for mixed doubles zoomed to number 20 (I’m talking worldwide). With Dan Lim ranking 1st in the men's singles also playing for Team Asia, I believe it’s safe to say that Europeans are up to a very good game. But then again with Gaile Emms playing for Team Europe, I can’t say that it’ll be an easy win.

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I found this unpublished entry stored in my pc. To give credit to the apprenticeship program, I’ve decided to post it.

I got my grades last Monday. A few weeks back, my psyche’s more of “Hell, they’re prolonging my agony! I hope they’ll release it soon enough for me to be able to condition my parents’ minds that I’m just human and I do commit failures.” When I got the chance to set my eyes on my grade slip, it was more of “Yay! They just delayed my joy!”… Honestly, I expected the worst with regard to my QPI. I feel that I really blew it off for my Special Proceeding class. My grade in Corporation Law was truly unexpected and overwhelming. I guess Atty. Laserna wasn’t over with my “pa-bibo” image in International Law. Making a good first impression really works!

I just couldn’t thank God enough for His ubiquitous blessings. On the same day, I received an insider report. This time, Reig was the herald of the good news. I was one of the few lucky law students chosen for the apprenticeship program of the Office of the Ombudsman. Six weeks of integration and involvement in the drafting of decisions and orders and perhaps attending hearings (if the circumstances warrant) in the Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO). It may sound like a whole lot of work but I’m quite positive that it’ll be all worth it.

The idea of working in a government agency is really scary. More so, the idea of working in a government agency mandated to ensure public accountability on government officials and employees is terrifying!

The Office of the Ombudsman was created under Article XI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It’s an office, which can act in a quick, inexpensive and effective manner on complaints against administrative inaction, abuse and arbitrariness of government officials and employees in dealing with people. It has basically the power to look into every form of malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance of public officers and can investigate any illegal act or omission of any public official even if the offense committed is not related to the performance of his functions.

As the Office of the Ombudsman strives and advances to perform its constitutional mandate to vigorously address the problem of corruption, it likewise operates to contribute in the alleviation of poverty (but with such indirect benefits, I’m not sure if it’ll happen soon). Sadly, the massive task of ridding the bureaucracy of erring public officers is aggravated by severe lack of resources, notably, personnel.

In this regard, the Student Apprenticeship Program hopes to augment the personnel in the Office of the Ombudsman. Students shall be assigned in the participating departments of the OMB and shall assist in the investigation and prosecution of cases assigned to these departments. These law students (moi included…hehe) shall be trained in preparing pleadings, cross-examination questions, and witnesses for trial as well as drafting complaints, orders and decisions. Moreover, students shall be exposed on the extent of corruption existing in the status quo with the end view of inculcating in their minds and conscience NOT to engage in corruption when they are already members of the bar and/or public service.

You see, public office is a public trust and the notion of public trust connotes public accountability. Holders of public offices are mere agents; mind you, agents not rulers of the people. Government officials and employees are elected or appointed to public office to serve and not to be served, hence, the title “public servants”. They are duty-bound to always uphold the public interest over and above their own personal interests.

Unfortunately, there are government officials and employees who forget this constitutional mandate and these “public servants” become the rulers of the people and enrich themselves in office, to the prejudice of both the government and the people. Tsk,tsk…

Enough with my blabbering on Political Law and my bigoted idea of what a perfect bureaucracy is all about. My point is, I’m IN and I’m so psyched about it. YAY!!!

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While I’m at it, allow me to thank some of my OMB “officemates” who made my apprenticeship worthwhile.

a.) Director Amante- Atty. Amante showed me the essence of public service. She may appear as a driven-traditionalist leader but with the strong grip of corruption in our society, one Dir. Amante is not enough. What can I say, she’s a fellow tamaraw :)

b.) Atty. Golez- As my immediate supervisor, she was really supportive. A very compassionate Graft Investigator Officer who taught me everything... from formulating statement of acts to drafting a decision. Oh, she also gave me this ultra chic cup and an OMB memorabilia.

c.) The other GIPOs (lawyers assigned to JR, Tin, Cres and Yeng)- For orienting us to the “real deal” in the outside world. Super thanks also to the great Sing pasalubongs and those pm snacks.

d.) Seph, Andy and Eric- My OMB buds! Thank you for the laughters and tear-jerking moments (remember our pact as "official" friends? hehe). Not to mention those gigs outside the OMB (loved that badminton game with Atty. Parayno’s team and our nice Dampa Chat).

e.) PIAB- C staffs- Anna, for those nice chikas and for those downloadable games (I still have them with me. hehe). Ate Rona, for that uber nice dance party complete with good food and superb wine. Kuya Carlo, for telling me to calm down when I was about to cry after losing all my office files. Ernel, for all the assistance and nice sms.

f.) PIAB-C tyros- Thank you for the friendship. I hope to see you soon (this time as compaňeros and compaňeras in the open court).