Revolutions are always difficult

It must be realized that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more uncertain of success, or more dangerous to manage than the establishment of a new order of government; for he who introduces it makes enemies of all those who derived advantage from the old order and finds but lukewarm defenders among those who stand to gain from the new one. - Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince

Two complaint-letters from the past

While cleaning up my reliable USB flash drive the school issued to me, I chanced upon electronic copies of two letters supposed to be sent to the director of patient services of a "premier" hospital here in Cebu City. These are already old letters; my girlfriend was admitted to that hospital more than a year ago. The letters were about my complaint regarding a certain guard in that hospital.

Coincidentally, just last Saturday, I was a subject of a similar discourteous behavior by a guard at the University of San Carlos - Talamban Campus, where the Cebu Science and Mathematics Teachers Association had its 6th monthly seminar for teachers. I originally planned to write a letter to the right people at my former school. But with the "rediscovery" of these two letters, I've changed my mind. Sometimes the "right" people would not do any thing at all.

Here's the first letter, to give you more information of what transpired. This is as what I wrote last year, except that I deleted and replaced with placeholders identifying information as to what this "premier" hospital is. I also deleted the name of the security agency, since it seems a bit unfair to include them here. Forgive my lapses in grammar:

Dr. [name removed]
Director of Patient Services
[hospital name removed]


Dear Dr. [name removed]:


I am Vincent S. Isles of 56-C San Miguel St., Lorega, Cebu City. [not any more; I now live somewhere in Mandaue City]

I am writing regarding a certain S/G Catigtig of [name of security agency removed], and Dr. M., who entertained me last Feb. 27, 2008.

On or around 6:45 PM of Feb. 27, 2008, I entered the premises of [your "premier" hospital] to visit my girlfriend who was currently admitted at that time. I was bringing a laptop. I was told by S/G Catigtig that laptops are not allowed inside the hospital. I said I am willing to leave the laptop with them [the guards], but they must give me an explicit acknowledgement of such receipt, and not just the number that they routinely hand out to those who have to deposit things with the guards. I thought it reasonable to demand such, considering the value of a laptop, and considering how easily it could be removed from the courtesy booth.

However, S/G Catigtig would not agree with such an arrangement. He insisted that either I leave the laptop with him and accept the number as acknowledgement that I left something with him, or not enter the hospital premises at all. I told him that I do not know any one or any where near the vicinity of the hospital with whom or where I could deposit the laptop. He reiterated my choices. It was at this point that I sensed that he really intended to have me leave my laptop with him. To be fair with S/G Catigtig, I am not certain of any criminal intent on his part. However, I was very suspicious of his actuations, and why he would want me to leave the laptop, specifically including the charger.

I told him that if the concern of the hospital is the use of electricity if I bring in my laptop, I could very well leave with him the charger of the laptop. Again, he just reiterated the choices he previously gave me. Realizing that I was wasting time with S/G Catigtig, I told him that I would like to speak to his immediate head. He told me that his immediate head is not present. Sensing that I could [not] go past S/G Catigtig without leaving my laptop with him, for whatever purpose he may put it into, I left the general admissions door and went to the emergency room entrance door. There I was told to use the general admissions door. I went back to the general admissions door, and, to my relief, S/G Catigtig was nowhere in sight. I immediately lined up along with other visitors, and when it was my time [for inspection], I told the guard doing the inspections (whose name I could not recall) that I know about the hospital's policy regarding electronic gadgets [actually, I did not], and the policy would be served just as well if I leave the charger with him but still bring the laptop inside. The guard accepted this arrangement, and I went past the door. I met S/G Catigtig in a corridor (he must have taken a leak) and, smiling, he said to me, "Aw, ibilin ra man diay." I just smiled at him.

After I visited my girlfriend, I asked some utility workers to whom could I speak to if I have complaints with the guards. They told me I could speak with Dr. M.

My overall assessment of our almost 45-minute talk is that it was just a waste of time. Instead of focusing on my concerns, Dr. M. chose to dwell on why I would not divulge my employer. [The reasons I did not divulge my employer were: 1.) My employer was not in any way related to my complaint; and 2.) I did not want to divulge the fact that the family of one of my students own the hospital. If I divulge my employer's name, the complaint would have taken a different course. But I am not one for such kind of things. Surely institutions should treat clients alike, whether they are teachers of the owners' kids or not. On the other hand, it was actually only later that I realized that the hospital is owned by the family of one of my students.]

Instead of being given attention as a client who took the extra effort to inform the hospital on how it could improve its service, I felt that I was the one being investigated.

I still don't know if the time I spent on writing this email might have been better spent on other things. What I do know is that I have the moral obligation to help, in my own little way, improve the services of a hospital which is a pride of Cebu. Whether you will act on this email or not is up to you.


Respectfully yours,


Vincent S. Isles
56-C San Miguel St.
Lorega, Cebu City
http://islesv.net

Unfortunately, I was not able to find the email address of the director of patient services. So I planned to do it the old-fashioned way. I actually printed, signed, and put in a sealed envelope the following letter, but when I brought it to the hospital to personally give to the director of patient services, Dr. M. intervened. While I was waiting for my turn to speak to the director, she saw me. She must have realized that I wanted to talk to the director regarding S/G Catigtig's and her conduct, so before I could talk with the director, she talked with her. I did not know the content of their talk; it could have been something else and not in any way related to the state of my complaint. Nevertheless, I was disheartened at that time, so I just left.

March 25, 2008


Dr. [name removed]
Director of Patient Services
[hospital name removed]


Dear Dr. [name removed]:


I am Vincent S. Isles of 56-C San Miguel St., Lorega, Cebu City.

Dr. M. promised me that there will be an update through my email (vincent@islesv.net) of the incident I reported to her on 27 Feb 2008. As it is almost a month and I did not receive any update, I am confident now of my initial suspicion.

If you think that there are no complaints about your hospital services, please be aware that there seems to be problem with the person your clients are supposed to complain to. [not italicized in the original]

I am enclosing herewith an email I was supposed to send to you on 27 Feb. It was not sent because I could not find your email address from your website. From my talk with Dr. M., I assumed that I could get your email address from the website. I realized an hour later that I was mislead.

My girlfriend confirmed to me later that she had also complained to the same person for the way she was treated by the nurses during an earlier time, and nothing happened to her complaint. Her complaint was the differential way of the nurses when they knew that her doctor is the doctor of the employees of [a certain business in Metro Cebu]. (Actually that doctor is my girlfriend's aunt; my girlfriend is not working at [that business establishment].)

I did not ask persons other than my girlfriend for their experience with the complaint handling system of your hospital because I consider that unethical, but I think you ought to do your own investigation. [not italicized in the original]

I would appreciate if you can acknowledge this letter through an email.



Respectfully yours,



Vincent S. Isles
56-C San Miguel St.
Lorega, Cebu City
http://islesv.net

National language news around the world

In the United States, via The Houston Lake Resorter:

Most nations have a national language. Unfortunately, we do not. Since your ancestors and mine had to learn English to assimilate, we assumed that English was our national language. We are now told that it is not true and that we are not a Christian nation.

I do not like this association of non-Christians with those who find imposing a national language immoral.

Apparently they also have a problem with language policies in Ethiopia. My friends from DILFED would like the discussion on language-based federalism and geography-based federalism.

Excerpts from the Policy Paper on the Social Studies Curriculum and Textbooks of the UP History Department

Inquirer.net (part 2) published some excerpts from UP History Department's Policy Paper on the Social Studies Curriculum and Textbooks. Some excerpts from the excerpts:

How to be both factually accurate and interesting thus seems to be a monumental challenge that confronts social studies textbooks.

How true.

Several conditions in the Philippine public basic educational system inflate the reliance on social studies textbooks: the dearth of school libraries and poor access to other sources of information; uneven academic training of basic education teachers in disciplinal knowledge; and very heavy teaching load.

Agree.

How should we treat facts?

“facts, while vitally important, should serve as the beginning of historical instruction, not its conclusion.”

Facts are the indispensable raw material that historians use to interpret the past with respect to such immediate questions as causality, agency and effect; and larger (philosophical) questions of claims to truth, the directionality of human events, notions of time and space, and so on. But even before historians employ facts, they evaluate the sources, both epistemologically (e.g., in terms of new evidence or novel interpretations or perspectives) and methodologically (with regard to the source’s authenticity and, more frequently, the credibility and reliability of the evidence offered).

Why teach history?

History serves numerous purposes, from the development of citizens as meaningful members of a larger community with which they identify, to the training of the mind in critical thinking and sound judgment. A good citizen is one who, as our elementary textbooks teach our children, obeys traffic lights. A good citizen, too, is one who is able to weigh options and make decisions, including whom to believe and trust, based not on feelings of loyalty or partisan allegiance but on demonstrable grounds. The practical applications of historical skills abound in everyday life, from writing reports and accepting (or rejecting) them as trustworthy, to tracing household payments over time and tracking prices of goods at the market. Yet History as a subject is not highly valued and is best remembered as the one that requires a good memory.

(OK, this is something most of my students don't get.)

Findings of the team:
1. overwhelming emphasis on civics at the expense of Philippine history (seems to be different in our school)
2. civic values tend to essentialize the Filipino as stereotype and myth
3. some values are biases and run contrary to the curricular goal of teaching Filipino pride, identity and membership in the community, nation and world
4. "Philippine history, where taught, is approached from a limited, at times biased perspective that has the effect of sanitizing our past or presenting an incomplete picture of it."

I still have to read the entire study to get the meaning of the last statement.

Regarding competencies:

1. Training in critical and interpretive thinking is inadequate, while knowledge and retention of values and facts are highlighted.

2. Competencies particular to historical thinking, such as gathering information so as to form an opinion as well as the use and analysis of primary sources are not developed.

3. Training in writing is woefully inadequate since the assessment exercises lean toward objective, multiple type tests at the elementary level, and enumeration in first year high school.

Hmm...

Recommendations:
1. history as core subject
2. devise history-based content standards and historical competence standards
3. consistency of curriculum from grade 1 to fourth year
4. simplification of the textbook review procedure
5. “Open up” the textbook with primary sources.
6. Strengthen the disciplinal content of teacher training while maintaining the importance of pedagogical knowledge. The choice is not one or the other, but that teachers are trained in both.
7. Hold regular discussions among academic historians, Department of Education curriculum specialists, and elementary and high school Social Studies teachers in order to improve the curriculum and set standards.

I'll wait and see.

WebQuests

Wikipedia's article on WebQuest does not seem much; the original page (not maintained any more) seem better.

The model is explained in detail in its own website, with a database of WebQuests.

QuestGarden.com looks like a good place to start looking for one.

Kathy Schrock has a list of useful WebQuest resources. Also read this thirteen.org introduction.

TechTrekers.com has a listing of WebQuests (although some links are already dead).

(Admittedly, I seem to be a late one to this.)

Dictionaries for improving basic education?

From MB.com:

While many think that the future of Philippine education lies in new technologies like computers and the internet, New York-based Filipina Nina Patawaran believes a solution can be found in something as simple as a dictionary.

Patawaran, a former banker, is the founder of The Philippines Dictionary Project, a grass-roots movement with the goal of distributing well-designed children’s illustrated dictionaries to public elementary schools across the entire Philippines in a manner that promotes transparency, accountability and sustainability.

I find some sense into this. And the ownership model is truly innovative:

Rather than giving the books directly to the beneficiary schools, the project hands over the dictionaries to “dictionary bank” schools like Silliman University, which in turn lend out the books to the public schools that need it for a nominal fee. The fee is used to cover operational expenses.

“Ownership is never transferred to the public elementary school. This is critical. If ownership is transferred, no one could ever go back and rescind the donation,” explains Patawaran. “It is a different matter if ownership is retained by Silliman. When books are lent, the loan can be cancelled and the books withdrawn in the event of abuse.”

Apparently the project was launched just last year.

Here's a write-up on this from Ayala Foundation USA. (There's a picture there which shows a beautiful Nina Patawaran.) Quote:

As a reaction to the arrival of dictionaries for 28 schools, the Department of Education Negros Oriental Provincial Division designed a program to train teachers how to build students' pre-dictionary skills. This is but one of the positive changes triggered by the project!

It's good practice to not just give them the tools, but give them the skills to use tools.

Another write-up from the same site. (More pictures of Nina.)

From GoodNewsPilipinas.com:

In a country where more than half of the population can’t live a day without texting, and thousands more are Facebook addicts- finding books in the dustbin of Filipino households will surely come as no surprise.

Of course, it will be easy to just give up on encouraging kids to read, when books are not as accessible as the more costly television sets, celphones and internet.*

But for retired banker Nina Patawaran, there just can never be any excuse for kids not to read and learn.

Now you know that The Philippine Dictionary Project is not a project to make dictionaries of Philippine languages.

(Unrelated project.)

(*But: "But others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading, one that schools and society should not discount. The Web inspires a teenager like Nadia, who might otherwise spend most of her leisure time watching television, to read and write.")

Japanese crossword puzzle game

ACROSS 5 General who administer the military government 6 Reforms in the 7th century aimed at centralizing the government 8 Model for the first permanent city of Japan 11 Seppuku 12 Honorable suicide 14 Third shogunate of Japan 15 Present-day Kyoto 18 Feudal lords 19 Japanese dance theater 20 Capital of the second shogunate of Japan 22 Capital of the first shogunate of Japan 23 Retainers of feudal lords 24 Japan, 710 to 794 AD 25 Only port opened during policy of isolation 27 Japan, 300 to 720 AD

DOWN 1 Feudal estates 2 Former enemy vassals who surrendered and subjected to restrictions 3 First permanent city of Japan 4 Military governments of Japan (Japanese term) 7 Japanese three-line poem 9 Second shogunate of Japan 10 First shogunate of Japan 12 Military governments of Japan (English term) 13 Policy of isolation from 1639 to 1854 16 Divine wind 17 First Japanese emperor 21 Code of honor of the samurais 26 Capital of the third shogunate of Japan

Created using the free crossword puzzle maker from Variety Games, Inc.

Solution:

Isles Tech

Two days after I've decided to to "retire" Isles Tech, I changed my mind. Whether I like it or not, Isles Tech had already been part of my online existence for the last two years. So I am reactivating that blog.

The blog will still cover computer, technology, and Internet-related issues. If there is a doubt whether the post should belong here or there, the doubt would be resolved in favor of there.

The Senate of the Philippines Library Catalog

One can access an electronic catalog of the holdings of the Senate of the Philippines library here. I am not sure how that would be useful for you, except if you are a particularly inquisitive person :)

Perhaps I'll create one of these days an exhaustive list of all publicly-accessible online public access catalog (OPAC) systems of libraries in the Philippines.

Rizal on Spain-Philippines relations

"Espana esta allí, alli donde deja sentir su influencia bienhechora, y aunque desapareciese su bandera, quedaría su recuerdo, eterno, imperecedero."

(Spain is there, there where she lets us feel her beneficent influence, and although her flag has disappeared, she would be left in our eternal memory.)

27 classic Tagalog film quotes by islesv

Despite my vehemence against the official imposition of the Tagalog language on the Filipino people, I do watch Tagalog films now and then. Here are my 27 classic Tagalog film quotes, arranged chronologically:

1. "My brother is not a pig! My brother is not a pig! Ang kapatid ko ay tao, hindi baboy damo!" - Nora Aunor, Minsa'y Isang Gamugamo (1976)

2. "Hayop... Hayuuup... Hayuuupppp!" - Nora Aunor, Ina Ka Ng Anak Mo (1979)

3. "Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! Nasa puso nating lahat!" - Nora Aunor, Himala (1982)

4. "Once, twice, thrice, gaano ba kadalas ang minsan?" - Hilda Koronel, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan (1982)

5. "Simple lang naman ang hinihingi ko. Kung hindi mo ako marespeto bilang asawa, respetuhin mo naman ako bilang kaibigan. Kung hindi naman, respetuhin mo ako bilang tao." - Vilma Santos, Relasyon (1982)

6. "Ikaw pala. Ikaw pala ang sinasabi ng asawa ko na asawa mo na asawa ng bayan!" - Laurice Guillen, Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi (1983)

7. "Ayoko ng tinatapakan ako, ayoko ng masikip, ayoko ng mabaho, ayoko ng walang tubig, ayoko ng walang pagkain, ayoko ng putik" - Maricel Soriano, Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit (1984)

8. "Kung hindi tayo kikilos sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?" - Vilma Santos, Sister Stella L. (1984)

9. "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!" - Cherie Gil, Bituing Walang Ningning (1985)

10. "Para kang karinderyang bukas sa lahat ng gustong kumain." - Vilma Santos, Palimos ng Pag-ibig (1985)

11. "Oo Ate! Oo Ate!, puro na lang ako oo Ate! Daig ko pa ang makinang de susi. Nakagapos na nga ang paa at kamay ko, pati ba naman puso ko, nakagapos pa din?" - Sharon Cuneta, Nakagapos Na Puso (1986)

12. "Si Val! Si Val! Palagi na lang si Val! Si Val na walang malay! Si Val na ang tanging kasalanan ay maging anak sa labas!" - Vilma Santos, Saan Nagtatago ang Pag-ibig? (1987)

13. "Gutay-gutay na ang katawan nyo... Pati na ang kaluluwa nyo!" - Sharon Cuneta, Pasan Ko ang Daigdig (1987)

14. Alice: "Mamamatay ako, Ate, pag kinuha mo sa akin si Alex!"
Lorna: "Ipalilibing kita."
Alice: "Ate, please!"
Lorna: "Nung inagaw mo sa 'kin si... muntik na rin akong mamatay. Puwes, ikaw naman ngayon ang mamatay" - Lorna Tolentino and Alice Dixson, Nagbabagang Luha (1988)

15. "Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan." - Rudy Fernandez, Markang Bungo (1991)

16. Maricel: Get out of my house! Oo, bahay ko ito dahil ako ang nagbabayad ng ilaw, ako ang nagbabayad ng tubig! Get out of my house! I don't need a parasite!
Edu: And I don't need a part time Wife. - Maricel Soriano and Edu Manzano, Separada (1994)

17. "Ikaw ang maganda. Ikaw ang matalino. Ikaw ang paborito ni Itay. Malandi ka! Haliparot!" - Maricel Soriano, Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin (1995)

18. "Libog ka lang, Bobby!" - Rosanna Roces, Ang Lalaki Sa Buhay Ni Selya (1997)

19. "Mayroon akong lupa... tinatamnan... inaararo..." - Rosanna Roces, Ligaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin (1997)

20. "Akala mo lang wala.. Pero meron! Meron! Meron!" - Carlo Aquino, Bata, Bata... Paano Ka Ginawa (1998)

21. "Nakakita ka na ba ng tsubibo?" - Rosanna Roces, Curacha: Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga (1998)

22. "Oh yes, kaibigan mo lang ako, kaibigan mo lang ako! And I'm so stupid to make greatest mistake of falling in love with my bestfriend!" - Jolina Magdangal, Labs Kita, Ok Ka Lang? (1998)

23. "Iniwan kita para mag-isip, hindi para ipagpalit ako hayup ka!" - Maricel Soriano, Soltera (1999)

24. "Nakikita nyo ba ako bilang Lena, o nakikita nyo ako bilang anak nyo?" - Claudine Baretto, Kailangan Kita (2002)

25. "Breeding, breeding! Aanhin ko ba yang breeding na yan? Ano ba ako? Aso?" - Assunta de Rossi, Jologs (2002)

26. "Talent ba yung kaya kong sumubo ng dalawang t*** ng sabay?" - Klaudia Koronel, Live Show (2002)

27. "Mahal mo ba ako dahil kailangan mo ako, o kailangan mo ako dahil mahal mo ako?" - Claudine Barreto, Milan (2004)

This post was inspired by my research into the early history of Philippine television.

But my favorite Tagalog quotes are actually from the TV opera Maging Sino Ka Man:

• "Yes I'm a slut but im the best slut in town." - Celine Magsaysay (Anne Curtis) to JB Berenguer (Sam Milby)
• "Anong gusto kong marinig huh? gusto kong marinig na sabihin mo na ayaw mo, na ayaw mong mawala ako, na ayaw mong magpakasal ako, dahil gusto mo ko, dahil mahal mo ko, dahil ako mahal kita Eli, pero ako lang naman yun eh, ako lang ang nagmamahal." - Jackie Madrigal (Bea Alonzo) to Eli Roxas (John Lloyd Cruz)
  
• "Ikaw ang puso ko... Ikaw ang buhay ko... Ikaw lang Jackie..." - Eli to Jackie
  

(More quotes from Maging Sino Ka Man here.)

You may also be interested in Critic After Dark's list of the best 100 Tagalog movies.

Philippine TV links

A few minutes ago I finished "Philippine TV and Quirino", detailing the relationship between the reelection bid of Pres. Elpidio Quirino and Philippine television.

This is just a short note on some links about Philippine TV that one can find on the Net.

Perhaps the most comprehensive is Ellen Joy Anastacio and Janine Natalie Badiola's companion website to their thesis on Philippine TV (updated link). These two ladies were former students of the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines, Diliman. The Wikipedia article on Philippine TV is primarily sourced from their website.

For current TV schedules in the Philippines, check out telebisyon.net. For online streaming videos of past TV shows, check out pinoytvonline.com.

ABS-CBN has an obituary of James Lindenberg. Romy Carballo, one of the pioneers of television in the Philippines, also has an article on his relationship with ABS-CBN.

Of course, don't forget the two big stations: ABS-CBN and GMA. Wikipedia has a list of TV stations in the Philippines.

Philippine TV and Quirino

After the Second World War, surplus equipment from the U.S. army were left in the Philippines and sold to private entities. An American engineer, James Lindenberg, who had married a Filipina from Bolinao, Pangasinan, began assembling transmitters from these surplus materials. On June 13, 1946, he established the Bolinao Electronics Corporation.

The operative laws then regulating the use of radio (and television; TV was then simply radio with a "vision") were Act No. 3846 ("An providing for the regulation of radio stations and radio communications in the Philippine Islands, and for other purposes"), Act No. 3997 (the Radio Broadcasting Law), and some provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146 (the Public Service Act). Lindenberg applied to Congress for a franchise, which was granted on June 14, 1950, through Republic Act No. 511, entitled "An Act granting the Bolinao Electronics Corporation a temporary permit to construct, maintain and operate stations for international telecommunications and stations for television in the Philippines." Bolinao Electronics Corporation was required to pay a PHP 50,000 bond.

Actually, it was not James Lindenberg who first wanted to get a franchise for television. It was Pres. Elpidio Quirino's brother, Judge Antonio Quirino. Unfortunately, the Congress was anti-Quirino, and many thought that Antonio would use such franchise to help his brother win the presidential election on November 10, 1953. Thus, they opted to grant the franchise to Lindenberg instead. But Antonio found a way: he bought stocks in the Bolinao Electronics Corporation. By 1952, he owned 70% of the BEC. He changed the name from BEC to Alto Broadcasting System (thus ABS), after his wife's name (Aleli) and his. But Lindenberg remained as the general manager of the TV station.

At this time, dollar use had to be explicitly allowed by the Central Bank, and again the Congress used its power to make it difficult for Antonio to get the required dollar funding for buying materials from outside the country. Marvin Gray, who was close to the owners of Radio Corporation of America (RCA), had to intervene.

The first 120 units of television imported to the Philippines were practically given for free. Lindenberg himself realized the chicken-and-egg problem, and accepted the fact that TV will not be profitable in its early days. Nevertheless, the first TV broadcast in the Philippines occured on October 23, 1953, from station DZAQ-TV Channel 3. The event was a garden party from the Quirino residence. Unfortunately, Pres. Elpidio Quirino was there, adding to the suspicion of many people, not the least the politicians and Magsaysay's allies, that TV was just for the political ambitions of the Quirinos. Despite the use of TV, however, Elpidio lost.

The New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary

Summary: The New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary is based on the 2002 Bangalore Draft, as amended, which was intended to be the Universal Declaration of Judicial Standards applicable in all judiciaries. Promulgated on April 27, 2004, it consists of six canons (independence, integrity, impartiality, propriety, equality, and competence and diligence).

This New Code supersedes the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct, but the latter may still apply in a suppletory character in case of deficiency or absence of provisions in the New Code.

The Code took effect on June 1, 2004.

A.M. No. 03-05-01-SC

ADOPTING THE NEW CODE OF JUDICIAL CONDUCT FOR THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIARY

WHEREAS, at the Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices held at the Peace Palace, The Hague, on 25-26 November 2002, at which the Philippine Supreme Court was represented by the Chief Justice and Associate Justice Reynato S. Puno, the Bangalore Draft of the Code of Judicial Conduct adopted by the Judicial Group on Strengthening Judicial integrity was deliberated upon and approved after incorporating therein several amendments;

WHEREAS, the Bangalore Draft, as amended, is intended to be the Universal Declaration of Judicial Standards applicable in all judiciaries;

WHEREAS, the Bangalore Draft is founded upon a universal recognition that a competent, independent and impartial judiciary is essential if the courts are to fulfill their role in upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law; that public confidence in the judicial system and in the moral authority and integrity of the judiciary is of utmost importance in a modern democratic society; and that it is essential that judges, individually and collectively, respect and honor judicial office as a public trust and strive to enhance and maintain confidence in the judicial system;

WHEREAS, the adoption of the universal declaration of standards for ethical conduct of judges embodied in the Bangalore Draft as revised at the Round Table Conference of Chief Justices at The Hague is imperative not only to update and correlate the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Canons of Judicial Ethics adopted for the Philippines, but also to stress the Philippines’ solidarity with the universal clamor for a universal code of judicial ethics.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Court hereby adopts this New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary:

CANON 1
INDEPENDENCE

Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and exemplify judicial independence in both its individual and institutional aspects.

SEC. 1. Judges shall exercise the judicial function independently on the basis of their assessment of the facts and in accordance with a conscientious understanding of the law, free of any extraneous influence, inducement, pressure, threat or interference, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.

SEC. 2. In performing judicial duties, judges shall be independent from judicial colleagues in respect of decisions which the judge is obliged to make independently.

SEC. 3. Judges shall refrain from influencing in any manner the outcome of litigation or dispute pending before another court or administrative agency.

SEC. 4. Judges shall not allow family, social, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment. The prestige of judicial office shall not be used or lent to advance the private interests of others, nor convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge.

SEC. 5. Judges shall not only be free from inappropriate connections with, and influence by, the executive and legislative branches of government, but must also appear to be free therefrom to a reasonable observer.

SEC. 6. Judges shall be independent in relation to society in general and in relation to the particular parties to a dispute which he or she has to adjudicate.

SEC. 7. Judges shall encourage and uphold safeguards for the discharge of judicial duties in order to maintain and enhance the institutional and operational independence of the judiciary.

SEC. 8. Judges shall exhibit and promote high standards of judicial conduct in order to reinforce public confidence in the judiciary, which is fundamental to the maintenance of judicial independence.

CANON 2
INTEGRITY

Integrity is essential not only to the proper discharge of the judicial office but also to the personal demeanor of judges.

SEC. 1. Judges shall ensure that not only is their conduct above reproach, but that it is perceived to be so in the view of a reasonable observer.

SEC. 2. The behavior and conduct of judges must reaffirm the people’s faith in the integrity of the judiciary. Justice must not merely be done but must also be seen to be done.

SEC. 3. Judges should take or initiate appropriate disciplinary measures against lawyers or court personnel for unprofessional conduct of which the judge may have become aware.

CANON 3
IMPARTIALITY

Impartiality is essential to the proper discharge of the judicial office. It applies not only to the decision itself but also to the process by which the decision is made.

SEC. 1. Judges shall perform their judicial duties without favor, bias or prejudice.

SEC. 2. Judges shall ensure that his or her conduct, both in and out of court, maintains and enhances the confidence of the public, the legal profession and litigants in the impartiality of the judge and of the judiciary.

SEC. 3. Judges shall, so far as is reasonable, so conduct themselves as to minimize the occasions on which it will be necessary for them to be disqualified from hearing or deciding cases.

SEC. 4. Judges shall not knowingly, while a proceeding is before or could come before them, make any comment that might reasonably be expected to affect the outcome of such proceeding or impair the manifest fairness of the process. Nor shall judges make any comment in public or otherwise that might affect the fair trial of any person or issue.

SEC. 5. Judges shall disqualify themselves from participating in any proceedings in which they are unable to decide the matter impartially or in which it may appear to a reasonable observer that they are unable to decide the matter impartially. Such proceedings include, but are not limited to, instances where

(a) The judge has actual bias or prejudice concerning a party or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceedings;

(b) The judge previously served as a lawyer or was a material witness in the matter in controversy;

(c) The judge, or a member of his or her family, has an economic interest in the outcome of the matter in controversy;

(d) The judge served as executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or lawyer in the case or matter in controversy, or a former associate of the judge served as counsel during their association, or the judge or lawyer was a material witness therein;

(e) The judge’s ruling in a lower court is the subject of review;

(f) The judge is related by consanguinity or affinity to a party litigant within the sixth civil degree or to counsel within the fourth civil degree; or

(g) The judge knows that his or her spouse or child has a financial interest, as heir, legatee, creditor, fiduciary, or otherwise, in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceedings;

SEC. 6. A judge disqualified as stated above may, instead of withdrawing from the proceeding, disclose on the records the basis of disqualification. If, based on such disclosure, the parties and lawyers, independently of the judge’s participation, all agree in writing that the reason for the inhibition is immaterial or unsubstantial, the judge may then participate in the proceeding. The agreement, signed by all parties and lawyers, shall be incorporated in the record of the proceedings.

CANON 4
PROPRIETY

Propriety and the appearance of propriety are essential to the performance of all the activities of a judge.

SEC. 1. Judges shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of their activities.

SEC. 2. As a subject of constant public scrutiny, judges must accept personal restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. In particular, judges shall conduct themselves in a way that is consistent with the dignity of the judicial office.

SEC. 3. Judges shall, in their personal relations with individual members of the legal profession who practice regularly in their court, avoid situations which might reasonably give rise to the suspicion or appearance of favoritism or partiality.

SEC. 4. Judges shall not participate in the determination of a case in which any member of their family represents a litigant or is associated in any manner with the case.

SEC. 5. Judges shall not allow the use of their residence by a member of the legal profession to receive clients of the latter or of other members of the legal profession.

SEC. 6. Judges, like any other citizen, are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association and assembly, but in exercising such rights, they shall always conduct themselves in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of the judicial office and the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.

SEC. 7. Judges shall inform themselves about their personal fiduciary and financial interests and shall make reasonable efforts to be informed about the financial interests of members of their family.

SEC. 8. Judges shall not use or lend the prestige of the judicial office to advance their private interests, or those of a member of their family or of anyone else, nor shall they convey or permit others to convey the impression that anyone is in a special position improperly to influence them in the performance of judicial duties.

SEC. 9. Confidential information acquired by judges in their judicial capacity shall not be used or disclosed for any other purpose related to their judicial duties.

SEC. 10. Subject to the proper performance of judicial duties, judges may

(a) Write, lecture, teach and participate in activities concerning the law, the legal system, the administration of justice or related matters;

(b) Appear at a public hearing before an official body concerned with matters relating to the law, the legal system, the administration of justice or related matters;

(c) Engage in other activities if such activities do not detract from the dignity of the judicial office or otherwise interfere with the performance of judicial duties.

SEC. 11. Judges shall not practice law whilst the holder of judicial office.

SEC. 12. Judges may form or join associations of judges or participate in other organizations representing the interests of judges.

SEC. 13. Judges and members of their families shall neither ask for, nor accept, any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be done or omitted to be done by him or her in connection with the performance of judicial duties.

SEC. 14. Judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to their influence, direction or authority, to ask for, or accept, any gift, bequest, loan or favor in relation to anything done or to be done or omitted to be done in connection with their duties or functions.

SEC. 15. Subject to law and to any legal requirements of public disclosure, judges may receive a token gift, award or benefit as appropriate to the occasion on which it is made, provided that such gift, award or benefit might not reasonably be perceived as intended to influence the judge in the performance of judicial duties or otherwise give rise to an appearance of partiality.

CANON 5
EQUALITY

Ensuring equality of treatment to all before the courts is essential to the due performance of the judicial office.

SEC. 1. Judges shall be aware of, and understand, diversity in society and differences arising from various sources, including but not limited to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, caste, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, social and economic status and other like causes.

SEC. 2. Judges shall not, in the performance of judicial duties, by words or conduct, manifest bias or prejudice towards any person or group on irrelevant grounds.

SEC. 3. Judges shall carry out judicial duties with appropriate consideration for all persons, such as the parties, witnesses, lawyers, court staff and judicial colleagues, without differentiation on any irrelevant ground, immaterial to the proper performance of such duties.

SEC. 4. Judges shall not knowingly permit court staff or others subject to his or her influence, direction or control to differentiate between persons concerned, in a matter before the judge, on any irrelevant ground.

SEC. 5. Judges shall require lawyers in proceedings before the court to refrain from manifesting, by words or conduct, bias or prejudice based on irrelevant grounds, except such as are legally relevant to an issue in proceedings and may be the subject of legitimate advocacy.

CANON 6
COMPETENCE AND DILIGENCE

Competence and diligence are prerequisites to the due performance of judicial office.

SEC. 1. The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over all other activities.

SEC. 2. Judges shall devote their professional activity to judicial duties, which include not only the performance of judicial functions and responsibilities in court and the making of decisions, but also other tasks relevant to the judicial office or the court’s operations.

SEC. 3. Judges shall take reasonable steps to maintain and enhance their knowledge, skills and personal qualities necessary for the proper performance of judicial duties, taking advantage for this purpose of the training and other facilities which should be made available, under judicial control, to judges.

SEC. 4. Judges shall keep themselves informed about relevant developments of international law, including international conventions and other instruments establishing human rights norms.

SEC. 5. Judges shall perform all judicial duties, including the delivery of reserved decisions, efficiently, fairly and with reasonable promptness.

SEC. 6. Judges shall maintain order and decorum in all proceedings before the court and be patient, dignified and courteous in relation to litigants, witnesses, lawyers and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity. Judges shall require similar conduct of legal representatives, court staff and others subject to their influence, direction or control.

SEC. 7. Judges shall not engage in conduct incompatible with the diligent discharge of judicial duties.

DEFINITIONS

In this Code, unless the context otherwise permits or requires, the following meanings shall be attributed to the words used:

“Court staff” includes the personal staff of the judge including law clerks.

“Judge” means any person exercising judicial power, however designated.

“Judge’s family” includes a judge’s spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-inlaw, and any other relative by consanguinity or affinity within the sixth civil degree, or person who is a companion or employee of the judge and who lives in the judge’s household.

This Code, which shall hereafter be referred to as the New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary, supersedes the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct heretofore applied in the Philippines to the extent that the provisions or concepts therein are embodied in this Code: Provided, however, that in case of deficiency or absence of specific provisions in this New Code, the Canons of Judicial Ethics and the Code of Judicial Conduct shall be applicable in a suppletory character.

This New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary shall take effect on the first day of June 2004, following its publication not later than 15 May 2004 in two newspapers of large circulation in the Philippines to ensure its widest publicity.

Promulgated this 27th day of April 2004.

Rules for a savings association for teachers

In our school we have a savings association for teachers. It is a completely voluntary association, and I am the one handling the funds. Here are our rules:

1. The savings association is open to all employees of our school.
2. A member can deposit any amount in increments of 100 pesos. Cash deposited before the 10th of the month is credited to the current month; after that, it is credited to the next month.
3. The computation for the dividend is as follows. Each “share” of 100 pesos is given the following weight, based on the month it was deposited in: January – 11; February – 10; March – 9; and so on. On or before December 15, 2009, all shares are counted, and the total dividend is divided by the total number of shares. A member will receive his original deposit plus his dividend.
4. A member may stop contributing to the fund any time he wishes, however, his contribution will not be refunded until at the end of the year. This is also true for any member who may leave the school any time within the year.
5. A member may borrow from the fund, subject to 5% interest. For those who had deposited 800 pesos or less, the maximum loanable amount is twice that of the deposited amount; for those who deposited more than 800 pesos, the maximum loanable amount is 2.5 x that of the deposited amount, provided that no loan shall be more than 5,000 pesos. The loan must be paid within two months. A member may not loan any amount while he has still a pending loan. The maximum loanable amount is 5,000 pesos. If after two months the member fail to pay his loan, he shall receive a penalty of 2% on the remaining amount to be paid, for every month or a fraction thereof that he fails to pay.
6. If, in the case that a member leaves the school without paying a loaned amount, his contribution to the fund shall be deemed as payment to the association. If after deducting his contribution to the fund the member still has something to pay, the association will try to get the payment by any legal means. If the association fails to get the payment, the remaining amount shall be deducted from the total dividend. If after deducting from the total dividend of the assocation there is still a remaining amount to be paid, it is understood that this shall be borne equally by all members, according to the number of shares each one holds.

Here's how our point system works:

God’s MySpace: the Bible

(via NJ.com)

USC DOLL error

Apparently there are still some webmasters who fail to put an index page in every directory, or an .htaccess directive on how to deal with direct folder access by users:

Cebu stage play on September 12, 19, and 20

The University of San Carlos Department of Languages and Literature Speech 108 (Play Production) class in partnership with the English Majors Association presents My Fair Lady, a stage play based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. The venue is at the CAP Theater, Fuente Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City.

Ticket price is at PHP 90.00 and play dates and times are the following:

September 12 and 19 (Saturday)
10:00 AM – 12:00 NN
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
03:00 PM – 05:00 PM
05:30 PM – 07:30 PM

September 20 (Sunday)
12:30 PM – 02:30 PM
03:00 PM – 05:00 PM
05:30 PM – 07:30 PM

For queries and further details about the production you can contact these numbers: 0916-781-1930 and 0920-211-2860, or look for Hannah Aranas at 0915-911-2274. Please inform them that you got the info from islesv.net

[To the organizers: can i has a free ticket? ]