Remembering Still - Interns Reflection on Alternative Lawyering in the Philippines

7/22/2019 Remembering Still - Interns Reflection on Alternative Lawyering in the Philippines

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REMEMBERING STILLInterns' *"Tl",f,: ?,tffill::*' Lawvering


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Remembering Still:lnterns' Reflections on Alternative Larn4rering in the PhilippinesCopyright 2oo6Ateneo Human Rights CenterAteneo Professional Schools BuildingRockwell Drive, Rockwell Centerl2OO Makati City, PhiliPPinesI (632)8997691 local 2109All rights reserved. Any part of this publication may bereprodirced or quoted for non-commercial purposes withappropriate acknowledgment.lsBN 97.l-8899-15-4Printed with the suPPort of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation

Project DirectorMyrfi S. GonzalezProject ConsultantAmparita S. Sta. MariaEditorialTeamNelda Ethel P. TorioCecille Rose P. SabigRoland LimcacoAlexandra CuyegkengCraphic DesignCerry Baclagon


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AcknowledgementsThe Ateneo Human Rights Center wishes to thank:

- The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for supporting the publicationof this anthology- The interns who have undergone the program and shared theirtime, their thoughts, and their reflections on the internship- Veronica Jude E. Abarquez, Ramon Alcasabas, Mary CatherineA. Alvarez, Homer R. Arellano, Arlene J. Bag-ao, Elizabeth L. Benin,Lorna Rosario Chan-Conzaga, Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Chan-Conzaga,Maria Roda L. Cisnero, Jesselyn N. Durante Cuizon, Mark AnthonyC. de Leon, Mark Robert A. Dy, Ceoderick E. Carbonell, Vicente C.Dumbrigue Jr., Shyanne T. Juan, Charmane J. Kanahashi, SimonMesina lll, Carolina P. Orias, Ryan Jeremiah D. Quan, Jennifer L.Ramos, Katherine May N. Rances, Margareth P. Reyes, Joey A.Ramos, Raymond Q. Salas, Cilbert V. Sembrano, Minerva A. Tan,Roselle C. Tenefrancia, Nelda Ethel P. Torio, and Regidor B. Tulaliwho contributed their writings to this publication

- The lawyers and staff of the Ateneo Human Rights Center fortheir continued support

iv REMEMBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES V

About the AteneoHuman Rights CenterOn February 25,1986, the Philippines experienced the EDSARevolution and toppled a government intamous for human rightsviolations. lt became obvious that much work still had to be donein the field of human rights. Ateneo Law School Dean Eduardo delos Angeles and Atty. Abelardo Aportadera established the AteneoHuman Rights Center (AHRC) in July of the same year.AHRC's initial program was the Summer lnternship Program, whichwas designed to provide law students with exposure to humanrights work and advocacy. The first batch of interns was sent outin the summer of 1987.ln 'l990, two more programs were put up: Research and Education,and Litigation. The interns, citing their experiences during theSummer lnternship Program, articulated the need for training andeducation on human rights laws and issues. The Litigation unit wassubsequently integrated with the law school's legal aid program.By this time, Atty. Carlos P. Medina took over AHRC's helm.AHRC intensified its advocacy on human rights issues in the .l990s.AHRC became the Secretariat of the Human Rights Committeeof the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (LAWASIA) andthe Working Croup for an ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism, andcreated a Child Rights Desk named Adhikain para sa KarapatangPambata (AKAP). AHRC also has special desks on the rights ofwomen, migrant workers, and indigenous peoples.Today, AHRC pursues its mandate of protecting and promotinghuman rights thr6ugh various programs and services. lt is engagedin providing legal assistance, research and publication, law and


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policy reform advocary, education and training institution buildinglaw school cuniculum developmenq and values formation.

With the support of student-interns, alumni lawyers, the AteneoLaw School, and its benefactors, AHRC will continue to strive hardto enhance its work in order to respond effectively to the needsand challenges of the times.

vi BEMEMBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING lN THE PHILIPPINES vii

ForewordIt is with great pride and pleasure that the Ateneo Human RightsCenter of the Ateneo de Manila School of Law publishes thisanthology. This publication comes after I8 years of continuousimplementation of the Cente/s Human Rights lnternship Program:its flagship program which has influenced the lives of over 500lawyers and law students around the country.

This anthology chronicles the various journeys interns have takennot only physically, but also in their hearts and minds as a result oftheir participation in the lnternship Program. lt shows how much theinternship experience has changed their ways of thinking deepenedtheir commitment to be of service to poor and marginalized SrouPS,and affected their career choices.Just as the interns are products of the internship program, in asense, so is the Ateneo Human Rights Center. The Center hasevolved through the years mainly because of the interns. ln thebeginning the only component of the internship program was thesummer internship. This program now includes an immersionduring the semestral breah a one-year graduate internship, and areplication internship in various law schools around the countrylargely because interns made suggestions and helped the Centerimplement them. And it is also because of the influence of internsthat the Center now has special programs on the rights of children,women, migrant workers and indigenous peoples.Today, many of the interns are holding positions of influence andleadership in government agencies, the judiciary law firms, non-government organizations, law schools and in many other sectorsof society which enable them to continue to pursue dreams andgoals that the internship program has implanted in their heartsand minds.


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We hope that this anthology will not only serve as testimony tothe impact and importance of formation programs for lawyers andlaw students, but also encourage and inspire others to undertakesimilar journeys and set up similar programs to the end that larruyersand law students will continue to "learn the law, (and) serve thepeoplel'

To all the interns, through this anthology, we salute, congratulateand thank all of you.

Carlos P. Medina Jr.Executive DirectorAteneo Human Rights Center

REMEI\,4BERING STILL

Message of SupportThere's more than one thing I have in common with the contributorsto this anthology. Although I am not a lawyer, as a liberal I believe inthe importance of human righs. Respect of human rights stands atthe centre of all liberal aspirations for a society where the freedomof the individual is safeguarded and guaranteed.

Apart from being a human rights advocate, there is somethingelse I share with the writers of this booklet. I started out myprofessional career as an intern. I first applied for internships as agraduate student at Hamburg University in Cermany. Eventually Iwas offered work as an intern at Radio Deutsche Welle, Cermany'sinternational broadcasting corporation. While my academic studieswere responsible for my intellectualformation, my immersion intoprofessional practice and real life basically took place during thosecrucial months as an intern at the radio.I often recount those valuable times where learning and performingon the job went hand in hand. lt was because of the internship thatI eventually landed one of the few coveted jobs as a radio editor.Since coming to Manila in early 2OO2,l have had a high opinionof the Ateneo Law School in general and the lnternship programin particular. This is an excellent program. lt motivates law studentsat an early stage of their professional careers to proactively defendthe rights of the underprivileged, of which there are far too manyin this country.Equally important is the impact the participation in this programhas on the mindsets of the young lawyers. As the texts in thisanthology vividly demonstrate, working in the field has opened theireyes and widened their horizons. This I find a crucial supplement

INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTEBNANVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES iX


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to the academic training and to the practice of law in the comfortzones of highly developed Manila.With all this said, I wish to congratulate the Ateneo Law Schooland all those behind the lnternship Program for their importantaccomplishment. May this little booklet serve as an inspiration fornew generations of interns, who like their predecessors, aspire for asociety where every individual enjoys life in peace and freedom.

Dr. Ronald MeinardusResident RepresentativeFriedrich Naumann Foundation

Table of ContentsI Answering the ChallengeBumobo Ko so Bundok, Mokibohogi ot Honopinong lyong Sorili- Attributed to John BalisnomoThere is Nothing Special About Joining the AteneoHuman Rights Center- Mark Anthony C. de LeonOne Summer in a Land of Dreams and Nightmares- Mark Robert A. Dy2 Heeding the CallAng Aking lmmersion- Ceoderick E. CarbonellThe Cift of Civing- Katherine May N. RancesA New Meaning

- Vicente C. Dumbrigue Jr.Why are you in Law School, Charmane?- Charmane J. KanahashiRandom Thoughts- Ramon AlcasabasPogloyo- Ryan Jeremiah D. QuanMore Alternative Law Croups and Human Rights Lawyers,Please?- Regidor B. TulaliBuilding Relatronships

- Simon Mesina lll3 Realizing Truths

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x REMEMBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTEFNATIVE TAWYEFING IN THE PHILIPPINE$


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Iso n g Pog bo bo I k-to now- Minerva A. TanEverything Has a Reason- Lorna Rosario Chan-ConzagaA New Perspective- Carolina P. OriasLand Distribution: A Solution?

- Elizabeth [:. BeninI Learned About Service, but I'm Still Confused- Veronica Jude E. AbarquezNothing Profound- Jennifer L. RamosReflection- Shyanne T. JuanRealizations- Nelda Ethel P. TorioHuman Rights Work- Homer R. Arellano4 Committing Our HeartsOnce an lntern, Always an lntern- Raymond Q. SalasAn Alternative Larnryer- Mary Catherine A. AlvarezDelirium's Stand in the Here and Now- Ma. Ngina Teresa V. Chan-ConzagaThe Ripples are Becoming Waves- Cilbert V. SembranoComing Full Circle- Arlene J. Bag-ao

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REMEMBERING STILL

1 Answering theOhallengeThe lnternship Program is the Ateneo Human RightsCenter's (AHRC) pioneer program. lt is concerned with theformation of law students in the Jesuit educational systemand in the field of alternative law. Students from the AteneoLaw School and its partner law schools are introduced tohuman rights advocacy in the Philippines.

"The internship is vital to law students likeus. lt mokes us reolize thot whot we havelearned ond whot we hove yet to mosterwithin the four corners of law school orenot enough." - Jesselyn N. DuranteSummer .l999 intern

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Bumaba Ka sa Bundok,Makibahagi at Hanapinang lyong"sariliParang kailan lang nang nakita namin ang mga salitang ito nanaka-paskel sa loob ng ating mga silid-aralan bilang paanyaya mulasa Ateneo Human Rights Center na sumali sa kanilang Summerlnternship Program.

Tumugon kami sa Paanyayang ito ng may iba't ibang dahilan:mula sa pinakamarangal na dahilan tulad ng pagtulong sa bayan,hanggang sa'di naman masasabing mababaw na dahilan tulad ngpagnanais makapunta sa iba't ibang lugar at makaranas ng iba'tibang kultura.

Habang lumilipas ang mga araw, unti-unti naming nakita at nadamana may pagbabagong nagaganaP. Mula sa isang Paanyayang"bumaba sa bundok" ay lumitaw ang isang hamon na naghihintay

ng isang taos-pusong pagtugon. Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi nagingmadali para sa amin ang tumugon. Maraming mga pagmumuni-muni, pagpukaw at pagkilala sa sarili ang kinakailangang daanan.Bagama't sa ngayon ay hindi pa namin maaaring sabihin nalubusan na kaming nahubog ng aming mga karanasan, alamnamin na hindi rin namin maaaring sabihin na ganoon pa rin kamiat walang nagbago. Dahil sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, alam namin namay pagpapalalim ng sarili na naganap. May pagsibol ng mgapanibagong adhikain, may mas pagkilala sa katotohanan, at maymga pagmumulat na nakamtan dahil minsan ay tinangka namingbumaba sa bundok.

Attributed to John BalisnomoSummer .l996 intern

While in privote proctice, John joined the child rights odvocoqr ond volunteeredto prosecute child obuse coses for the Department of Sociol Welfore ondDevelopment ot Morilloc Hills. ln 2000, he wos omong the privote prosecutorsin the impeochment triol of former President Joseph Estrodo. He joined theOffice of the Solicitor Cenerol in Morch 2001 and ossisted former SolicitorCeneral Simeon V. Morcelo in the orol orguments before the Supreme Courton the coconut levy cases, the constitutionolity of the plunder low cose, ondthe re-opening of the Kurotong Boleleng cose. He then joined the Office ofthe Ombudsmon in October 2002. He is now back in privote proctice.

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There is Nothing SpecialAbout Joining the AteneoHuman Rights CenterDon't get me wron8. This is how I feel, and I say this without anymalice. lt's not that I didn't learn anything: quite the oppositeactually. I learned more about law in two months than in my firsttwo years in school. lt's not that I didn't have any fun; in fact, Irarely found a dull moment throughout the whole internship. lt'snot because I was overuuorked, although there were moments thatcame close to it.There is nothing wrong with the internship itself. We are law studentsbecause we decided to take the extra step. After years of spendingnearly every morning wishing that classes would be cancelled, afteryears of dragging ourselves to school, and after years of crammingfor examinations, projects, and papers, we had the chance to endthe suffering we call academic life at our graduation. We could

Ir,rve chosen never to be compelled to read anything again. Wer orrld have taken a job to become self-sufficient. Our "obligation"Io be educated ended when we got our college degrees, but wet lrose to prolong our sufferings and pursue further studies. Ourwlrole law school life is based on the fact that we chose (mildlyr oerced or not) to do more than what was required of us - tol,rke that extra step.llris is why it is disheartening to see that some law students are

r ontent with simply passing. lt is dismaying to see how they camelo law school wide-eyed and ready to make a difference only tot.rrd up being satisfied with barely surviving. ls it any wonder thatllrose who wanted to become idealistic lawyers end up becomingp.rrt of the problem?I hat is why there is nothing special about joining the Ateneo Humanliights Center. As law students, we should not be content withpassing. We should be willing to take the extra step and becomelhe best we can be. Learning the law exclusively from books andfrom the classroom should never be enough. lt should take placewhere it matters most - where it affects people. This is what the

4 REMEIVBERING STILL INTERNS' BEFLECTIONS ON ALTEFNAT]VE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINI II


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Ateneo Human Rights Center offers' This is an oPportunity thatevery law student should take advantage of. There is nothing specialabout that. lt is iust being consistent.

Mark Anthony C. de LeonSummer .l999 intern

Mork hos worked in the low firms of Quisumbing Torres ondSyCip Solozor Hernondez & Cotmoiton' He is now working otPuno & Puno Low Offices. He dedicotes his life to the pursuit ofhoppiness.

One Summer in a Land ofDreams and Nightmares"When I look ot the world l'm pessimistic, butwhen I look ot people I om optimistic."- Carl Rogers

How does one even begin to talk about an experience that is soprofound, so elusive, and yet so real? How does one begin to pindown everything one has learned, when one continues to learnnew things each day? There was nothing special about my summerexperience. I say this because it was not about finding something"special." lt was about seeing reality: the common reality of pain,suffering and injustice. These things are alarming strange, and out ofplace to us who are sheltered by concrete buildings and consumewhat we need. But as I walked through the different villages, forests,jails, and other places of need, I realized that the only thing outof place was us. Did I see anything special this summer? No, Icannot say I did. The things I saw have always been there and willcontinue to be there long after I pass. But the imprint, the drive fortransformation that it left in my mind, cannot be taken away.

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The Ateneo Human Rights Center has been shaping would-belawyers for many years now. This year, I was fortunate to beaccepted into the Summer lnternship Program. lt was both a choiceand an answer. lt was a choice because I was going to have tosacrifice a whole summer break I could have spent with my familyin Cebu. lt was an answer because I wanted to know if this was theright path for me: if I was strong enough to become a student andan advocate of human rights. I was lucky to enter into the programwithout any pre-existing stereotypes of what it was going to beabout. I had little or no idea of what I had to accomplish or whatwas going to happen to me. All I had going for me was a mixture ofanxious trust and prayer. I knew that no matter what I would haveto go through, I would be in good hands. That much I was certain.I dared myself. I took the plunge into the proverbial rabbit hole andsaw what I needed to see: the law and its many faces.

Mark Robert A. DySummer 2004 intern

MRD is the president of the AHRC interns council. He is opsychologist, on ortist ond o writer. He is the vocolist, guitorist,ond songwriter of o Cebu rock bond colled Sundown Coffeine. Heolso hoppens to be o low student.

2 Heeding the OallPreparatory activities are significant in the value formation of theitttcnts. lnterns undergo a four-day Basic Orientation Seminar (BOS)arrd a week-long lmmersion. The BOS is a series of lectures aboutthedifferent human rights laws and issues, and equips interns with thenecessary skills in advocacy. The lmmersion is a live-in arrangementwlrere interns are assigned to live with families belonging to thetrtrsic sectors (e.g. indigenous peoples, fisherfolh and peasants) in,r prerdesignated area. lnterns thus have a first-hand experience oflivirrg with and learning about the grassroots community.Ior the Summer lnternship Program, interns are further assignedtt-r different partner organizations of AHRC which work for specificccctors of society. ln their host agencies, interns engage in legalre:;earch, field investigation, client interuiews, paralegal trainingr;crlinars, and litigation work.

"l storted out disoppointed with the ossignment.But despite thot predisposition, I occepted thechollenges of hoving o portner I didn't knowbefore the internship, ond of working in whot Ibelieved to be o foceless sector. And I hove seenmony foces. And the only thing that I hod to dowos to be humon. To just be myself. To occeptwhot wos given to me. To open myself to newthings ond new experiences. To work my woy toonother stoge in my life. To be oble to nurturewhot hos been plonted in my mind, my heoft ondmy soul: a feel for humon rights work."- Roselle C. TenefranciaSummer .l996 intern

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Ang Aking lmmersionKakaibang damdamin ang bumalot sa akin noong papaalis na kamipatungong Mindoro pagkatapos ng BOS. lsang linggo raw kamingmakikipamuhay kasama ang isang tribo ng Mangyan. llang piraso ngtuyo, dilrs, de lata ng sardinas, at noodles ang aming dala. Puwedena, isang linggo lang naman. lsang linggolAno naman ang gagawinnamin doon? Makikipamuhay daw kami sa mga Mangyan. Pansininnaman kaya nila kami?

Marami na akong naririnig tungkol sa mga Mangyan. Sa katunayan,ilang beses na rin akong nakapunta roon, subalit hindi ko pa rinsila kilala. Kung baga, wala pa rin silang mga mukha. Pawang mgakatutubo lang sila na walang halaga Para sa akin. lyan marahilang dahilan kung bakit meron akong mga pangamba. Natatakotakong malaman na nagkakamali pala ako sa pagwawalang-bahalasa kanila.

Araw ng pag-akyat sa bundok. lsang batang Mangyan ang sumamapara ituro ang daanan. Tatlong interns kaming magkakasama.Tahimik ang bata. Tahimik nga raw ang mga Mangyan. Sabagay,ano nga naman ang sasabihin niya, at ano naman ang sasabihinko? Pinagmasdan ko na lang siya. Ano kaya ang nasa isip niya?

Kaunti lang ang nadatnan naming mga Mangyan sa itaas ng bundok.Nagkakaingin ang karamihan sa kanila. Habang nag-aayos kami nggamit, may mga dumadaan-daan sa labas at nagmamasid. Madungisang kanilang itsura. Hindi na yata nila nilalabhan ang kanilang mgadamit. Subalit kapuna-puna na silang lahat ay nakangiti. Buong galaksilang bumati sa amin. Humingi ang iba ng paumanhin dahilwalana silang ibang maibigay maliban sa PanSSatong. Matagal pa dawkasi ang anihan. Bakit ganoon, kung sino ang walang maibigay, siyapang gustong-gustong magbigay? Canoon pala ang mga Mangyan'Unti-unti na siyang nagkakamukha sa akin.

I lakrs buong linggong umuulan. Dahil hindi kami makalabas, angnrg,r ManSyan na lang ang dumadalaw sa amin. Tinatanong nilakrlrg nalulungkot kami at inaalam kung meron pa kaming ibangkail,rngan. Hindi ko malilimutan si Mang Junior, ang dating pinunorrpl lribo, na maya't-mayang nakikipagkuwentuhan sa amin, at siM,rrtg Juan, isa sa pinakamatanda, na palaging dumarating sa tuwingkarrri'y kumakain. Pinagmasdan ko sila. Custong-gusto nila angp,rgkain na malapit ko nang mapagsawaan. Mahilig magkuwento siM,rrrg Junior. Mahirap daw ang buhay doon. Ngunit sa kabila noon,nr,rpdpansin pa rin sa kanyang mukha ang kanyang kaligayahan."rgrrro dahil hindisiya nanghihingi ngawa mula sa amin kundingp,r6lmamalasakit. Si Mang Juan naman ay tahimik lang. Naroonl,rrrg siya. Ano kaya ang nasa isip niya? Siguro wala. Pero buti pa,,rya tahimik. Matagal-tagal ko na ring ninanais makaramdam ngl,|r)oong kapayapaan.Arrcl kaya kung ako ang naroon sa katayuan ni MangJunior o niMang Juan? Ang hirap siguro. lisipin ko na sana kaawaan ako ngrlrang tao at tulungang makaangat sa kahirapan. Mabuti na lang atlrirrdi nangyari sa akin ang ganoon. Mapalad ako.

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Patuloy ko silang pinagmamasdan. Kilala ko na ang mga Mangyan.Hindi pala iba si Mang Junior sa akin, hindi iba si Mang Juan.Kagaya ko sila. Masuwerte lang ako at ako'y nabiyayaan ng masmasaganang buhay. Ngunit hindi ba kasabay ng kasaganaang ito ayang responsibilidad ng pangangalaga? Ang mga taong nakaaangatsa buhay ang siyang pag-asa nina Mang Junior at Mang Juan, atlahat ng mga dukha at inaapi, hindi bilang Mesiyas kundi parangisang kaibigang taga-akay. Kay hirap makita kaagad ang ganitongkatotohanan. Dulot siguro ito ng aking kawalang-pakialam atmakasariling pananaw. Pinalalabo nito ang aking paningin. Sinasabina wala akong responsibilidad sa ibang tao. Marahil dahil dito, isapa ako sa umaapi sa kagaya nila. Hindi pala dapat ganoon. Ngunitpaano? May mga taong piniling "bumaba'l Tumugon sila sa tawagng mga nangangailangan. Totoong kahanga-hanga. Ako kaya, kayako bang tumanggi?

Ceoderick E. CarbonellSemestral break 1996 intern

Oeo is now with the Philippine Deposit lnsuronce Corporotion (PDIC). Exceptfor o few sightings, he hos been in absentio after groduating from law school,but he assures everyone thot he will olwoys be on intern by hean ond thothe will not ceose being on advocote for human rights in his own woy withinhis sphere of influence.

12 FEN/EIVBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 13

The Cift of Civing*You give but little when you give of yourpossess/bns. lt is when you give of yourselfthot you truly give;' - KohlilCibran

How much of your self shall you give? How much of your self canyou Bive? Sometimes, it just did not feel that what I should or couldgive was enough. lt came to a point when I felt useless, like I waswagting my time at Kabanabahan and doing nothing productive.Leah and I were not really helping with any of the communityftlembers' chores, farm duties, and daily activities. We were simplyteaching the kids songs and dances that I thought would meannothing to them when we left. I was worried they were beginningto think we were lazy, spoiled brats from Manila who wanted toget out of the city for some adventure. I felt out of place. I askedmyself why I was there, and what I was supposed to be doing. Wedid not prepare an itinerary precisely because we did not knowwhat awaited us. The moment we set foot on Kabanabahan soil, Ifelt misplaced. lt was not until the last night that everything made5er"lse.

I'he kids sang beautifully on the last night. Their voices were louder.1'heir faces beamed with pride, and they were very eager to showeveryone they knew the songs and actions by heart. They sangmedleys of "Balay ni Superman," "Chikadee," "Ogakgakga(" "KuyaJess," and "Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad" tirelessly and withso much fervor. lt broke my hebrt to tell them we were down tothe last round of songs because it was beginning to get dark anddinner was ready. We prepared a small solu-solo (gathering) forthem. Leah and I asked one of our neighbors to help us cook allthe food we had left. There were about seven packs of sardines,


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eight packs of noodles, two packs of dried fish and nruo kilos ofrice left. lt was not much, but amidst those happy faces and highspirits, one could not have asked for anything more.Just when we thought that the night had ended, a few of ourneighbors knocked at our door for some late night chitchal Theystarted joking around about singing songs for Leah and me sinceit was our last nighq and it was their only chance to do it. Theysang songs I had never heard of before. lt was simply beautiful.Their deep and moving voices sung of love lost and found, hunger,hardships, bliss and contentment. They also asked me to sing forthem. I gladly did. We all wanted to stay and carry on with our littleconcert underneath the stars, but they insisted that I rest since Iwas leaving early the following day. I agreed, and that was whenthey started thanking me. Their thanks felt inappropriate. I keptthinking, "Why thank me? I really did not do much. I have all ofyou to thankl' But finally I found myself saying, "Wolong onumonot lubos kong ikinolulugod no moging bohagi ng inyong buhoy."(You're welcome, and lfeel fortunate to have been a part of yourlife.)I walked back to our kubo (hut) my heart filled with genuinehappiness. I knew then that I came to Kabanabahan to experiencethem.l was not asked to bring money, to feed anyone, or to dospecific things. I was not asked to live exactly like them or to dothe exact same things they did every single day. I was there to bea part of them and for them to be part of me. fhe Mongyons, thenatives, the indigenous people - whatever we may opt to call them- they do not ask for money or for material possessions. They arecontent with the kind of life they live. They need something morepermanent. They need to feel the permanence of being part ofour society: that they are not and will not be isolated for beingdifferent, for being a minority, or for continuing their old ways andbeliefs. They need to feel that there are people who care, whounderstand their plight, and whom they can trust.

They have the simplest of all needs, and yet it is the most difficulttu fullill. lt is a need beyond the material and the physical. The fiverlay= rniglrt or might not have made an impact on the Kabanabahanr.errlrrnrrnity, but I believe it was a start. I know in my heart thoughthat tlrt-.y have made me a different person. For that, I shall beetem.rlly grateful. Sano, bolong orow mokobolik oko ot mulingttto.;iktyctrr ong mgo moniningning no ngiti(l hope that, one day,I will be able to go back and see their smiling faces.)

Katherine May N. RancesSemestral break 2005 intern

Krrt torsiders being paft of the Ateneo Humon Rights Center os one of thetlrtriest things thot hos ever hoppened to her. She is the botch heod of the.)005 Semestrol breok lmmersion Progrom, and is on incoming junior in theAtutao Law School. To Kol the fomily she hos found in the AHRC will olwayslrve o very speciol ploce in her heot.

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A New MeaningOne of the most difficult decisions I made a year ago was to quitmy job and to choose either to enroll in law school or to join theJesuit Volunteers of the Philippines (JVP). I chose law school. Ithought this was an equally important calling.

ln law schobl, things were different. I was bombarded with so manytasls: reading thick law books and cases, answering very difficultexams, and participating in the dreaded dai$ oral recitations. lt wasmurder. Cradually I began to seek something more relevant. I joinedthe Ateneo Human Rights Center as a replication intern.My immersion gave me a different perspective on contentmentand existence. The experience made me appreciate my simplecomforts. lt took me days to absorb the thought of being contentwith what you have simply because you don't have a choice. I leftmy immersion site with so much guilt. lt pained me to leave thefamily I had stayed with for several days and return to my comfortzone. But then extending my immersion would have merelylessened my guilt; it would not have solved their problems. lndeed,being an observer was excruciating.

it i-. a vcry difficult job to empower the grassroots by teachingthenr tlreir rights and the enforcement of these rights. Oftentimesit rart bc very frustrating. lt entails so much patience, time, andr'rrrrrrrritrnent. But as difficult as it is, I think this endeavor is oneof the rnost powerful tools in solving our worsening human rightssiturrtion.

I f irrl r.arne face to face with jurisprudence that shook my adherencetrr llrtr rloctrine of store decisis during my immersion. This was a bigIrrrrrirrg point. Before my immersion, I used to read cases merelytrr lc,rrn the issues my professors wanted me to know. I neverrealizcd how these resolutions actually affected people's lives - in..onxr instances even disenfranchising them. For example, I firstrearl l'ortich vs. Corono during my Constitutional Law I days. Myirr',rrrsitivity at the time caused me to view this case simply as arerltrirement for passing a subject. I did not understand the socialrehvtrnce. Now when I read decisions, I get flashbacks from myrrrrrrrcrsion. Reading cases has now become a reality check.I ,rlso had so much fun during all the trips I took. I met peopleIrorn all walks of life and visited places I'd never seen before. Butrrrost importantly, I was able to see the true face of life and society.

16 REN/EIVBERING STILL INTERNS' FEFLECTIONS ON ALTEBNAT]VE LAWYEBING IN THE PHILIPPINES


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I really do not know if the purpose of the whole program was toattract me into becoming an alternative lawyer, or whether thesewere simply joys that formed part of the whole commitment.

After all my experiences and realizations, I think the most difficultthing for me to do was to pretend I saw nothing that bothered me.lndeed I was bothered. The experience Save my law studies themeaning I was searching for from the beginning: how to make lawrelevant to society. The seed of alternative law has been plantedin me. Even if I eventually end up joining the "mainstream," I thinkmy way of thinking and my perspective will always be alternative'My immersion and this internship experience will always be mysource of stren$h and will have a persuasive effect in whateverdecisions I make in the future.I'd like thank Ateneo de Davao Legal Advocacy Wor( the AteneoHuman Rights Center, and Kaisahan for making this summer ameaningful and fruitful one. Law school will never be the sameagain.

Vicente C. Dumbrigue Jr.Summer 2002 intern

Nuj is o student of low in the Ateneo de Dovoo ond o student of life'

Whv are vou in LawSchbol, Charmane?"Learn tlte law serve the people...." When lfirst read this line, Idiei nert give it much thought. I did not expect however, that this*tatenRent would echo in my mind after my internship.My it rter r r,l rip experience was not full of adventure. lnstead of goingto rlifferent places, I was usually at the office browsing throughttunlerous tiles, getting nervous whenever the "counseling phone"rng, or at the Quezon City Hall filing and serving pleadings of allc6ft=,, llrcsc activities may have been small and effortless; however,It wa., lhrough these activities that I realized how great thingsln lt.rvc humble beginnings. Since I filed and served pleadings;rtopetly,rrrd fixed case files, the cases could not be dismissed dueto tet trnrcalities. The lawyers also had more time to prepare theirrgLlnrenls. I was happy but not that content.flren llrc irrevitable happened: a client came to me. I was nervous.I felt like I was up for recitation with Fr. Bernas, Justice Sabio and

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Attorney Quimson all rolled into one. She was a 1O-year-old rapevictim. The interview went well. I got all the information I needed.I felt good. I felt as if I got a ,I.0 recitation grade.My "adventure" did not stop there. I prepared her affidavit andaccompanied her when she filed her complaint. Her long waitwas over. Her case was now with the Proper authorities' I wasrelieved. I was happy. I was content. I will not forget that day' Iwill not forget her voice when she said "thani' you" for the smallthings I did for her.I actually forgot to thank her back. lt was because of her that I wasable to appreciate what I have, especially my family. lt broughtback my focus. She gave me my direction. I was able to answerthe question, "Why are you in law school, Charmane?" I want tobe a real lawyer: not an 'Ally McBeal" type, but one with the heartto indeed learn the law and serve the people.

Charmane J. KanahashiSummer 2002 intern

The proud mom of 6-yeor-old Corlos Miguel, Mone monoges herfomily-ownedbusrnesses while working os on Associote in Lozoro Low Firm in Ortigos. Sheis olso o volunteer lowyer in the legol oid office of Socred Heort Porish inQuezon City.

Random ThoughtsI cannot summarize my human rights internship experience in aId er two. One of my co-interns said during the evaluation phased the Summer lnternship Program (SlP) that she didn't cometffth erpeetations so she would enjoy the whole experience. Myappreaeh was contrary to hers. I came to the SIP with expectations.I Epplied to the internship program instead of joining a law firm. Ihad deeided to better myself in terms of my spiritual and emotionalgfwth and not in terms of my career. For unknown reasons, ltookthe path less traveled. Five people in my batch chose the internship,lwgs one of them.At flst I thought I was taking part in a crusade - a crusade forthe poor, I indicated I wanted to help the marginalized during myinteruiew at the Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC). I neverthcught it was more than that or that I was entering a covenant= a bond with the people of AHRC.fre Basic Orientation Seminar (BOS) was intriguing. lt was strict andleid'back at the same time. lt was filled with rules. For example: wehed to be up by 7:00 a.m. sharp or there would be penalties, weeeruld not leave the premises even to buy food at the store oppositethe hr:tel, and we had to tell our "deepest and darkest secrets"during the trust walk. However, there were also many icebreakers,Edrnes and even a cultural presentation. I found these hard toreconcile. I expected a series of lectures and other activities, but Idtd rrot expect charades. I admit I am quite serious and not used toperforming charades with people five years my junior, but I guessthe SIP had its reasons. We were taught, encouraged, and evenpersuaded to mingle with each other from the very beginning.

20 REMEMBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTEBNATIVE LAWYEFING IN THE PHILIPPINES !


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The immersion part of the program was very enjoyable. It was thebeautiful scenery nice townsfolh and great co-interns that madethe six-day experience worthwhile. lt was not a hard adjustment forthe three of us who were assigned to a community in Bulacan. Weweren't picky;we were fortunate that simple living came naturally tous. We also weren't given any special treatment, and it was fine. Weeven cooked for the host family. We were proud we never intrudedor burdened them in their daily living. Although we weren't able toreach out to most of the people in our area, we befriended someof them, including the kopiton (community captain) andTotong,who became like a father to us.

The people in our assigned community had a role-oriented society.The men were "bolo-carrying" farmers who were out in the fieldsmost of the day while the women stayed at home. This made thecommunity a ghost town during the day. Nevertheless, it had life.We felt it when we treated most of the residents to arroz caldo(rice ponidge). ln turn, they gave a party for us: a night of culturaland contemporary dancing. My co-intern Lea and I volunteered todance the Chickodee and teach charades to the kids. This cameas a surprise to me as I considered myself a shy guy.

22 REN/EIVBERING STITL IN II IINS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 23

lf there wa-. c Llad experience during our immersion, I admit it wasEur rule=bieakirrg shopping escapade. lt seemed fun back then,lpecially wltt:n we got to see the wonderful scenery during ourhtke, But I realized during the evaluation phase that what seemedlikp a small infraction became a breach of the trust betweenAEerney [ltoclroy Medina and me. lt would have been fine if theblame ley solely on me. However, after I learned what the locals saidte Attomey Chochoy, I felt that it was too much. I had to apologize.I was very llrankful that Attorney Chochoy was gracious with us.I was lrr.rgrirrg to be assigned to the labor sector aI Sentro ngAtternatittoncl Lingap Panligol(SALICAN) for the internship partef tny prr.rgmnr. I indicated during my interview with AHRC that Irileflted ter trc assigned to the labor sector since I was exposed tothe plight nl factory workers in the past as an industrial engineer.Ithcn ackr:rl if I wanted to do environmental law, I replied that IherJ ltRle irrlerest in it. Little did I know that I would win a free tripiEr etlt-rrr, l)alawan to do environmental work for Environmentaltegal A=.,i.;ta rrce Center (ELAC).My erpericrrce in Palawan was very different from what I expected.I ws nrore involved in environmental work than in legal tasks.Altlrrlrglr I am more comfortable with office assignments, therewere.r()nt(,aspects of my work that I really enjoyed. I did radioFrngrdrn,; with Attorney Regi Tulali and my co-intern Ryan, and wewprrl orr n(rtrrre trips around the Calamianes group of islands. Workwrtlr I lA( was fun and a unique experience.lf tlrere", orre thing that struck me during this month long internship,it wa: llr,rt alternative law was not only about being idealistic, butiliat rl al,,o about being realistic. Practicing it is a struggle. lt is a=ltup1k, trot only to fight for a greater cause, but also to earn moneyirr nrr lt,r lo raise a family. lt also involves accepting the fact that thereere rurl rncrny opportunities to advance in your career.


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The question now is whether I will venture into the practice ofalternative law in the future. One of the employees told me beforeI Ieft that I shouldn't promise that I would return to coron. All thepast interns did that. I told her that I still didn't know because itwould be difficult to tell if I could make this big sacrifice. Alternativelaw is definitely an option, and lwill approach itwith the knowledgeI gained this summer.

Ramon AlcasabasSummer 2005 intern

Mon is o techie who loves his music like fish love the oceon; he cloims thotAHRC continues to moke him think criticolly qbout his volues even ot thisstoge in his life.

24 REMEMBERING STILL

PaglayaSummer lnternship Program (SlP) 2005 marked a lot of 'firsts"in my life. The immersion experience was new. Well, not exactly.l've been through immersions before, but this one was somethingelse. I consider it a first because for six days I lived a life completelyremoved from what I was used to. The night before we left forTarlac, I had moments of uncertainty and doubt. I was not surewhat I was getting into. I am not adventurous, and neither am Isporty. However at that point I had to bear in mind that I chose todo this so I might as well try something new.lmmersion was not so bad after all, despite the fact that we tookbaths only once every two days and had to walk up and downthe mountains through the lahar-covered areas. ln the end, I mustadmit I enjoyed the immersion. Well, most of it.Just when I thought I had enough "firsts," fate suddenly whispered,"Yeah right, dream onl" The send-off dinner came, and wewere given our assignments. When I learned I was assigned toEnvironmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) in Coron, I hadmixed feelings. I was apprehensive of leaving home and familyagain, but I was also jubilant. I was assigned to the sector of myfirst choice, plus I was going to travel outside Manila."More adventures," I thought and I was right. tt was my first timeto take a boat trip for 12 hours. Once in Palawan, it was my firsttime to ride small boats. lt was also the first time I did not mind atall how I dressed or how I looked. I did not care about these thingsthat were so important to me in Manila.I found Coron boring the first time I set foot upon it. lt was a smallprovincial town. I could explore it in 30 minutes. Little did I knowmy month-long stay in Coron would pave the way for me to ponder

INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE TAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 25


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many things, such as the question of why I was in law school. Istill haven't fully answered this question, but it's getting clearer aseach day passes.

My ELAC internship is so far the best experience of my life' lt wasan internship, and yet I didn't feel as though I was actually doingwork. I enjoyed preparing visual aids, talking with ihe people in thecommunity, and being with the ELAC staff who became my familyfor one month. lnvolvement in NCOs is not something new to me'Yet, it was only in Coron where I fully understood the hardshipsand sacrifices of NCO work. ltruly admired the people working atELAC. They have so much talent. They could be in more lucrativepositions, yet they chose to take a job most people would considerodd because it does not Pay well. I have a very high regard forthem because of the spark of idealism they still possess, whichsadly most people todaY have lost'It was such a humbling experience to live in Coron and to work forELAC for a month. When I first anived, I thought that I knew manythings. I also felt that I could do a lot to help. I was wrong. Mostof my knowledge was theoretical. I actually had much to learn' I

26 REN/EI\IBEBING STILL

also realized I could only do so much. NCO work and alternativelaw practice is about teamwork because there is strength innumbers.After my stay in Coron, I felt far better about myself. I feltindependent not because I was away from home, but becauseI learned a lot more from the internship than from classroomsor books. I wasalso able to break free from my "usual" life andbroaden my horizons. But most importantly, lfeltfreedom becauseI experienced life.

The entire month I spent in Coron went by swiftly, but the lessonsand memories will stay with me forever. SIP 2005 may be over,but this is the start of a new chapter in my life. I know there willbe a lot of ordeals along the way, but I know that this is part of myquest to gain more "freedoms" in my life.

There is such a thing as a simple life. lt's just a matter of youchoosing to live it.

When I was asked if I wanted to go back to Coron to work forELAC, my answer was, "l'm honestly considering it." I am actuallyconsidering it (but the next time I go back there, I'm going to makesure to bring an air-conditioning unit).

Ryan Jeremiah D. QuanSummer 2005 intern

Ryon is on incoming third yeor low student ot Ateneo' Feeling lost in unfomiliorblue ,grounds, this green-blooded Losollion found o home ot the AteneoHumon Rights Center. His summer internship experience mode him morepossionote about his principles ond convictions. Despite envisioning himselfos on environmentol odvocote, he cloims thot his true colling is to become otopnotch medio personolity onstoge or off-com... or both.

INTEBNS' FEFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYEBING N THE PHILIPPINES 27


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More Alternative LawIroups ald Human RightsLawyers, Please?When I left my province to join the Ateneo Human Rights Centerinternship program, I had no idea what it involved. rjoined becauseof my ardent desire to better understand the concept of humanrights advocacy and to acquire new experiences.My assignment to the Legal Resources Center-Kcsomo soKolikoson, Friends of the Earth philippines (LRC-KSK) was asurprise. I would have preferred to have been assigned either tothe labor sector or to the environmental sector. However oncethere, I didn't have any reservations. I enjoyed my relationship withmy co-workers. The thrilling experiences I had during my fieldworkwere unforgettable.The troubling peace and order situation in Mindanao, the mallbombings, the incineration of public utility buses, and the taking ofpassengers as hostages, allthese happened while we were in LRC_

KSK Davao. There was social unrest in the region. We were only ableto push through with some of our field visits because we receivedwarnings of hostilitiesin certain areas.My experiencesduring the internshipProSram Save menew perspectives. Iwas both awed anddismayed. While Iwas astonished bythe beauty of thedistant mountainsand the oceans of ricefields along the wayto our assignments,I was discouragedby the potholes andunpaved roads thatconnected DavaoCity to its adjoiningprovinces, not to mention the massive forest denudation ofsome areas. I was also horrified to learn about the eviction of theindigenous people from their ancestral domains, and the apatheticattitude of the government to their needs. My exposure to fieldworkenabled me to see the gloomy side of life in Mindanao'The testimonies of the people I met enhanced my concern forhuman rights and its advocacy. The paralegal training sessions weconducted were all exhausting yet enjoyable. The preparations wemade, the travels from one boro ngoy (community) to another, andthe presentation of assigned topics were all indeed tiring. Howeverthe warm welcome, the active participation of the people, theirwillingness to learn, and the joy in their faces brought relief to us.

REN/ENIBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 29


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The abundant food and the fresh air also helped to revitalize usand gave us strength to go on with our mission.I realized that society needs more alternative law groups and humanrights lawyers to fight for the rights of the oppressed and to bringabout change. My experiences have inspired me to strive harder inmy studies so I can help bring about the needed change.

Regidor B. TulaliSummer 2000 intern

Atty. Tuloli is fondly colled 'Kuyo Regi" by ELAC interns. He went into olternotivelow practice ofter possing the bor ond continues to passionotely work forthe couse of the indigenous people ond the environment of polowon to thisdoy-

REMEMBERING STlLL

Building RelationshipsIt has been two months since the last day of my internship, yet itwill not be so difficult to reflect on the experience. I carry it withme everyday.Bobby Chan, a former summer intern and now a supervisinglawyer at one of this summe/s host agencies, once told me, ,,youwill never know what it's really like being in the Center until yougo through the summer internshipl' Having been with the AteneoHuman Rights Center (AHRC) as a paralegal for almost two years,I was intrigued by his remark. I applied for a slot in the internshipprogram with that in mind and for many other reasons.The Basic Orientation Seminar (BOS) was not new. I had gonethrough that before as a paralegal. The immersion though was ameaningful experience. lt was my first time to trek though muddyrice fields to live with the most sincere, humble, and simple peopleI had known in my life, in living conditions that were difficult toa Manila resident. The internship proper was an altogether new

INTEBNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTEBNATIVE LAWYEBING IN THE PHILIPPINES 31


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experience. Laguna wasn't that far from Manila, l)ut it still meantIiving away from familiar surroundings. I could not slcep in myown bed, could not watch TV, could not watch a de*:nt movie,could not talk with friends (most of whom were lellow interns),and could not do a hundred other things. I was not cornplaining. Iknew all this when I applied for the internship, Elesielt:s, tltese thingsonly scratched the surface of the difficulties I lttttl urtcounteredlast summer.

My partner and I were assigned to an agency which was a bitdisorganized. Fortunately, it gave us the flexibility to do what wewanted on our own time. Laguna was a place where the concept ofhuman rights often meant radicalism and communism. Some of thepeople were apprehensive of our going around different barangays(communities) offering to hold seminars on human rights. Othershowever, were just not that interested. So there I was, away fromhome, fighting bouts of loneliness, and dealing with people whowere either apprehensive or apathetic to what we were doing.Questions of sincerity and intent popped into my mind during daysof preparation and during the work itself. There were times whenthese people did not even offer to give us a ride when it was late,

REN/ENIBERING STITL

and we were a long way from our office-home. I guess these thingsmake what we went through all the more meaningful.It is a reality I might as well face now. The hardest part of doinghuman rights work is that most of the time, you will be dealing withpeople who either do not know they need help, or do not wantto be helped. lf you want to be an agent of change you'd betterbe sure you know what you are doing. A lot of times people donot know or even realize the things you go through for them. lt isthe most beautiful sacrifice - to work without being appreciated.That is the time you really know you are doing these things for noother reason than it is the right thing to do. When stripped of allthe romantic notions of people looking up to you and thankingyoufor "saving" them, you are left with nothing but your own decisionto be there:to help out in the smallest way you know.This is not to say we wereunappreciated all the time.We did experience thegratefulness of people.We did see the smileson their faces and didfeel the warmth of theirhandshakes. What I amtrying to say though, isthat the downsides ofmy story sum up myinternship experience. ltmade me focus on themore important questionssuch as: why was I there,what did I want to do in thefuture, and was I really cutout for such work. I wouldbe lying if I said "yes," but I

INTEFNS' FEFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYEFING IN THE PHILIPPINES 33


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am also sure the answer is not an unequivocal "no.'ln the end I would like to say the most beautiful thing about thewhole program was building relationships. Not only with those wetried to help, but also with the others who shared the same vision.Duringthose lonely days and nights I drew stren$h from my partnerand my fellow interns. My partner and I would spend almost everyafternoon walking around the UP Los Baf,os field. There weretimes when we would run out of things to talk about and wouldjust keep silent. But I was comforted simply by the fact that shewas there with me. The summer internship gave me one of themost valuable things in life - something that cannot be acquiredquickly but only through time - the gift of friendship.

Simon Mesina lllSummer 1996 intern

After groduoting from low school, Simon went stroightto workfor EnvironmentolLegol Assistonce Center (Palowon) from Jonuory 1999 to March 2003 osLegal Stoff, then ELAC (Cebu) from August to December 2003 to work osco-author on 'Mending Nets: A Handbook on the Prosecution of Fishery ondCoostal LowViolations." Significontly Simon hos spentthe lastyear-ond-o-holfos o house husband in the LIS (Mossochusetts) to support his wife while shetook odvonced studies. Cunently job-hunting, he is likewise o volunteer forthe New York Legol Assistance Croup.

34 BEMEMBERING STILL INTEBNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 35

3 RedizingTruthsThrough the lnternship Support and Alumni Activities, interns aregiven the opportunity to keep in touch and take part in activitieseven though they are not directly engaged in the practice of humanrights law lnterns continue to participate in the development ofnew programs and activities for AHRC.

"Feeling the hurt will not be enough to mokeme o humon rights lov,ryer. I must olso havethe desire to leorn how I om going to oct anthe poin. There ore no hord ond fost rules inleorning how to become on olternotive lov,tyer;you only leorn it from experience."

- Margareth P. ReyesSummer 2003 intern


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'

lsang Pagbabalik-tanawMategal rla rin dng nakakalipas mula nang sumali ako sa lnternshiprrg Aterreo Human Rights Center, subalit mananatiling sariwa atbuhay ang alaala't karanasan na naidulot nito sa akin.Nakakatawa, kasi nag-umpisa ang lahat sa isang napaka-alanganingpagloo" na sumali sa lnternship. Naiisip ko kasi noon na wala panaman akong makukuha na credit sa practicum, at wala pa rinako gaanong alam sa "legal matters" na maaari kong maitulongsa internship. Pero ... sabi ng mga kaibigan ko, medyo mababawdaw ang mga dahilan ko. Panandalian akong nag-isip ... sabagay,baka nga may magawa rin naman ako kahit papaano.Natuwa ako, dahif sa bandang huli, ay nakasali rin ako. Subalit angmas lalo kong ikinagalak ay ang pagkakadestino ko sa malayonglugar. Sagot na ito marahil sa marami kong panalangin. Unang-una,matagal ko na talagang gustong matuto na mag-Bisaya, subalit alamkong matutupad lamang iyon kung pupunta ako sa isang lugar ngmga Bisaya. Sa awa ng Diyos, medyo natuto nga ako. pangalawa,matagal ko na ring pangarap na mapalayo nang kahit sandali man

36 REIVEMBEFING STILL IN II IINI i' III I I I ()Il( )NI ] ON ALTEFNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 37

lamang sa aking pamilya. Hindisa gusto ko silang iwasan, peronais ko lamang subukan angmapag-isa. Nais kong maranasanang buhay na wala sila sa akingtabi. Nais kong matikman angbuhay ng nagsasarili. Kung anomang paghubog ang naidulot ngdalawang buwang pagkalayo kosa aking pamilya ay malalaman kolamang sa panahong tuluyan nanga akong magsasarili. Pangatlo,nariyan na rin ang mga mumuntingpagpukaw sa sarili tungkol sanapakalawak na hiwaga ngbuhay.

Mahirap ipaliwanag dito. Perosiguro sapat na munang banggitinko na may mga katanungan ako sa buhay na, sa totoo lang, hindiko alam kung saan hahanapin ang mga kasagutan. Subalit, isangaral ang aking natutunan: hindi ko naman kailangang hanapinlahat. Sapat na ang maging bukas lamang at maglaan ng "munting"panahon para sa isang pagbabaliktanaw, at marahil doon, marahillang naman, ay matatagpuan ang tagpi-tagping kasagutan. Kagayana halimbawa ng pagmumuni sa area assignment ko nitongsummer.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maisip kung bakit sa PRODEMako na-assign. Pero hindi na mahalaga sa akin ngayon ano manang naging pamantayan ng Center sa pagpili ng area na ito. Sapalagay ko, kinailangan ko rin ng ganong klaseng "trabaho":isang pakikisalimuha sa mga politiko na walang kinalaman saaking pagkatao. Na kailangan ko lamang humarap sa kanila, atbilang panimula, ay magpakilala ng aking sarili. Na hindi rin nila


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kilenpng mealalc kung saan eko galing, kung kaninong pamilyaaE ncpapebilng,,,ganeon lang ka"sirnple,Slya nga rin pala, lalong napagtibay ang aking paniniwala na kailangantalaga ng tao ang madalas natin tawagin na "empowermenti' Hindiko alam kung pagmamayabang, pero naniniwala ako na kahitpapaano ay nakapagdulot kami ng kahit na munti man lamang na"empowerment" sa bawat barangay na napuntahan namin upangbigyan ng human rights awareness seminar. lyon din ang sinasabing ibang participants pagkatapos ng seminar. Pero hindi mansabihin, makikita rin naman iyon sa kanilang mga reaksyon.Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ito ipinamamalita. Siguro dahil naiisipko na baka may isang makabasa nito na kagaya ko ring naghahanapng kahulugan sa mga bagay-bagay na ginagawa't nararanasan sabuhay. Nalulungkot lamang ako dahil hindi ko maikukwento ritosa kanya ang lahat ng gusto kong ikuwento. Sana na lang, mabasaniya ang mga pagmumulat na nakasulat sa likod ng mga letra ngmaikling sanaysay na ito.

Minerva A. TanSummer 1996 intern

Beloved internship director of the AHRC from 20Ol -2002, Minnie is now oneof the Heod Coordinotors of the newly constituted core group of olumni interns.Though she groduoted in 1999, she worked in the judiciory from I gg7-200I.She then moved on to become the ELAC oreo monager (Eostern Visoyas)from Jonuory 2OO3-July 2004. She rs currently working os legol stoff to theExecutive Secretory in Molocofiong.

REMEIVBERING STILL IN]'FI]N[J' I']I]I I I C IIONI'] ON AT.TEFNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 39

Everything Has a Reasonln September 1995, I excitedly told my friend I was going to jointhe summer internship proSram. I babbled about riding a boat,going to Davao or Palawan, meeting people, and living away fromhome. I wanted to do something worthwhile. I wanted to live anadventure. For months, it was all I could talk about. I couldn't waitfor the summer to begin.Somehow things didn't turn out the way I imagined them tobe. Dealing with the disappointment was not easy. Words ofencouragement could not comfort me. Worse, the internshipproper had just begun, and I was already losing interest in carryingout my work. "Everything has a reason.' lt took a few days beforethese words even got through my head. When it did, acceptanceof my fate followed.Paralegal work became therapeutic. I began to forget my owninterests and became more concerned about the people who


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llrtencd t ffiE talk ebcut their fundamental rights, on many$Entr indiffercnee was vFy apprcnt, tatching their attentionRd igstrhing thElr lntErcst was a difficult task, Out of necessiry Ihad tc vrtrmE my shyness and my tendency to go into a stateeJ internal panie in the face of questions or rynical remarks.I will always look back at my internship as a series of struggles:a strugSle against disappointmen! a struggle against indifferencefrom my audience, a struggle against my own limitations, a struggleagainst boredom during idle hours, and a struggle against losingenthusiasm for topics I had repeatedly discussed. These were allstruggles I somehow overcame.I am not sure what Cod's plans were when He sent me to Laguna.l'd like to think that maybe part of it was to show me I had strengthto endure. Koyo ko po polo (t can still take it.)

Lorna Rosario Chan-ConzagaSummer 1996 intern

Lorno is now in Cenevo, living out the odventure of o diplomot's wife.

FEIVEMBERING STILL INTEFNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINE:] 1

A New PerspectiveI was definitely disappointed upon learning I was to be assignedto a labor federation. First, I never really expected the assignment;I was sure I made it clear I wanted to work with either childrenor women. Second, I never liked labor as a subject in law schooland never really considered venturing into it. Third, I had thispreconceived notion I would be working with men who aremoskulodo (muscular), borumbodo (scoundrel), modumi (dirty),oktibisto (activist) ot ibo po (etc.), which was not my cup of tea.With these biases and stereotypes I had about the labor sectolI could not help but cry. When I learned I could not change theassignmen! I told myself I should not make things harder by sulkingand try to have fun instead.I guess it is true Cod gives you something you need and notsomething you want. ln my case, my experience with my hostagency allowed me to put aside my biases and to learn firsthandthe sufferings and joys of the workers' lives in this country. I nolonger have just a vague idea about the labor sector; it now hasmany names and faces for me.


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r The internshtp prtrgrenr cllowed nle to .,ee how miserable anddtffteult life Is for our leLrorerq, l)esprte tlre goverrnment's effortste upllft ther live=, there seerrr: to be .r lack of earnest zeal in thelmplementation of perlicy, ln fact, I agree that the Philippines hasgome of the most numerous labor laws. However, the problemdoes not lie in the laws themselves but in their implementation.I am quite sure our lawmakers intended what was good and justwhen they passed the Labor Code. However, there seem to be toomany loopholes that allow abuse. The laws are there to protect thelabor sector, but no one checks whether it is indeed protected.My short stint with {he labor federation gave me an opportunityto see firsthand how the "real" profession of law is practiced. Thelaws, when learned in school, seem so clear and straightfonruard.I was wrong. I have learned that in the real world, a lawyer mustalso weigh a lot of factors and sometimes has to use meta-legaldevices.

lndeed, the six-week internship program gave me a whole newperspective on the law, the labor sector, society, and myself. lt mademe realize the inadequacy of how the law is implemented when

42 REIVEMBERING STILL lNTEl"lNf l' lll l l t o lloN{i oN At lL::llNATlVE LAWYEFING lN THE PHILIPPINES 43

protecting the labor sector, and the difficulty in effecting changewithin society if we ourselves do not even know what is wrong inthe first place.

Carolina P. OriasSummer 2OOO intern

A self-confessed child ot heort, Corol worked ot Boterina Tobio Boterinaond Nerpio low offices for tvvo yeors ond is now legal counsel for oninsuronce company. She hos been involved mostly in civil, crimino[ andlobor litigotian.


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r Land Distribution: ASolution?I used to believe that land redistribution was the only solution to theproblems afflicting farmers. lt was my conviction that all problemswould be solved if each farmer was given his own piece of landto toil. For me, it was "land redistribution or nothing," because thatwas the only equitable thing to do. That was my view while I wasin high school.ln college, the equity argument was weakened by the efficiencyargument. Doubts began to surface. Would it still be efficientto redistribute considering that the land available could notbe increased while the population continued to expand? Thepie was not growing but the number of people was, and thiseffectively reduced each individual's share. A farmer, no matterhow hardworking he might be, could only produce so much withina limited parcel of land. lf the plot were used for commercialpurposes, more could benefit from the linkages and employmentopportunities that such an arrangement could produce. Wouldn'tland redistribution then lead to the further misery of farmers insteadof their well-being? With reallocation, society as a whole cannotbenefit and cannot take advantage of the economies of scale. Eventhe argument that reallocation would help guarantee food securitybegan to lose its magic. With the trend towards globalization, theemphasis was not on being self-sufficient (producing all goodsand services needed) but in specialization (producing what one isgood at and importing the rest).Could it be also that some people assumed too much: that thefarmers would like to be farmers all their lives? A tendency toromanticize the simple barrio life seems to pervade people'smentality. This tendency doesn't take into account the difficulty of

REMEIVBERING STILL INTFF]NIJ' I-II I I I OIIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 45

farming, and the possibility that some farmers whose families havebeen tied to the land all their lives would like to live a differentlife.

ln other words, my four-year college stint made me think along linesentirely different from my previous beliefs. lt's not that I no longerbelieved that the farmers needed help or that land redistribution(agrarian reform included) had no merit to it altogether. lt's just thatI had begun to consider the element of timing. Land reallocationcould have been the most effective recourse then but with thechanging times, it might not be the perfect choice now.I was in this mindset when I had my first Basic Orientation Seminar(BOS) in 1997.I was still in a similar frame of mind when I had mysecond BOS this summer. Then came the internship proper, andirony of all ironies, I was assigned to a non-government organization(NCO) that advocated agrarian reform. I met with farmers inCalatagan, Batangas, and interacted with them day in and day outfor one week in Negros.


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I wegldn't say that the thrce=and=a=half weeks of experienceglgcther chcnged the pasitien I hec1 formed over the span offeur yeam, but it made me reeonsider many things. Maybe equityand efflcieney arc not eompletely opposed to one another. Maybesnc n still strike a balance.ls'land reform the solution to our farmers' problems? My answeris "it dependsl' I met farmers who really felt strongly about theland they toiled, but I also met some who were willing to foregotheir land in exchange for cash and the opportunity to pursue adifferent livelihood. I believe the farmers should be given the option.Let there be genuine land reform, and let those who believe thattheir life is with the land benefit from the fruits of their labor. Asfor those who want to pursue a different vocation (provided suchchoice was made intelligently), let them be. What is important isthat they be given the choice and the opportunity to take controlof their own lives.

Elizabeth L. BeninSummer .l999 intern

Presently, Beth is on ossociote at Puno ond puno Low Offices. prior toloining Puno, she hod a two yeor stint ot the Senqte, os o legislotive staffmember for one of the senotors.

46 REIVEIVBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 47

I Learned About Service,but I'm Still ConfusedI have to admit my reasons for joining the Ateneo Human RightsCenter Summer lnternship Program were entirely selfish. I wantedto join while lwas still a freshman so that:: 1) my mistakes inthe internship would be forgivable since I had the ready excuseof being just a freshman, 2) next year when required to work forthe summer, I could work in a law firm, and 3) I would at leasthave experience in legal work * enough to impress the law firmI would be applying to next year. I am not sorry for my reasons.I do not think there is anything wrong with them. But I forgot toinclude "service" in my list. After the internship, "service" was theone thing I learned.The first hurdle of serving was the immersion. I had alreadycompleted one immersion when I was in college, but that wasquite different. My immersion in college was with the urban poor


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F

sector in Caloocan. We were in the city. There were no problemswith food, water, or shelter. There were sori-sori(variety) storeseverywhere, and the families that welcomed us had small butdecent houses. Though we stayed in a squatters'area, I never reallyfelt what it was like to be poor because they treated us as guests.I felt as though I was only on vacation. lt was different from myexperience in Mindoro.I felt helpless in'Mindoro. I could not get out of our place to buyfood or water. We had no vehicle. We didn't even have a bathroom.I remember during the second day, I kept thinking "What have Igotten myself into? What was I doing? Was it all worth it?" I hatedthe place where I was assigned. I soon realized that sulking wasn'tgoing to do me any good. So I tried, with the help of my partners,to accept the situation. Slowly, I forgot about my previous questionsand started to ask new ones. 'What would it be like to be stuck inthis situation as long as I lived?" I guess that was the turning pointfor me. I began to see the immersion in a new light. We weren'tthere just to /ive with the Mangyans. lt is easy to live with themand then leave at the end of the week without giving them anotherthought. We were put there so we would know how it felt to be

FEN/EMBEBING STiLL INTERNS' I'II I I I () I IONIJ ()N AI.I FI':INAT'IVE LAWYEBING IN THE PHILIPPINES 49

like them, and how it would feel like to be helpless. Let me tellyou, it didn't feel good.I cannot help but feel sorry for the Mangyans and the other peopleI met in Mindoro. I am lucky I only experienced what they aregoing through for a week. I also wondered if it was really a goodidea to come visit and live with them. Whenever we told them wecouldn't really promise anything, and that we were only there for awee( they looked disappointed. They seemed to say, "ls that all?"One even commented that lots of people have come to live withthem but nothing ever happened to them. Nobody even botheredto help them when a storm hit, not even the mayor. So what wasthe point? And up to nory I still don't know the answer.As I have said, the immersion was only the first hurdle. The secondwas the internship proper. What I knew about the internshipwas that we would all be assigned to a certain non-governmentorganization (NCO). I wasn't too apprehensive about this since Ididn't know anything about NCOs. I never really bothered to findout what they did or what they contributed to society. I just knewthey were non-government organizations. Period. So I didn't knowwhat to expect.Having no expectations was a good thing. After every intern hadshared his or her experiences, I realized that I hadn't really donemuch this summer. I didn't blame my host agency for that becauseit just so happened that not many activities were lined up for thesummer. I did not do much legal work. I only translated some ofthe lecture materials for the paralegal trainings (PLTs), observedmeetings and PLTs, and did clerical work. Nevertheless, I felt thatin one way or another, I was serving other people. That fact alreadymade me happy.I cannot say that joining the summer internship has answered allthe questions in my head. ln fact, it even left me more confused.


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rI would like to be of service to the less fortunate, but I would alsolike to live in style, Qur batch of interns had this discussion aboutthe financial situation of lawyers in NCOs. The majority concludedthese lauryers were relatively poor, while others maintained theyearned just enough to have a decent life: a nice home, three mealsa day, and quality education for their children. The problem wasthat, either way, I wanted more. I wanted to travel the world, drivea Jaguar, own a big house...the list goes on. However, I realizethat what I want materially might not coincide with my other wish,which is to help others. But no matter;there is still enough timeto think things over. I just hope my experience during the summerwill help me make the right decision.

Post Script:Three years after law school, I realized that the Ateneo HumanRights Center mattered greatly in my life. The principle for whichthe Center stood for - a life dedicated to helping others - was nolonger an abstraction, but was given a concrete face. One couldhardly believe that only a weeklong immersion could hold a lifetimeof lessons and memories. Beyond the blisters and the sunburn,all the hardships we faced brought self reliance, compassion andunderstanding. I finally understood: there is life outside of lawschool, and it needs my involvement.

Veronica Jude E. AbarquezSummer 2000 intern

Nikki worked with Alompoy Aotholion Mowis ond Alompoy Low Office fortwo yeors. She is now with KMPA Phils. Loyo Mononghayo & Co. working inits Tox ond Corporote Seruices division.

BEMEIVBERING STILL INTERNSI' IiI .I I I,O IIONS ON AI.|EBNATIVE LAWYEBING IN THE PHILIPPINES 51

Nothing ProfoundI can still vividly remember the defining moment. I was in fourthyear college majoring in legal management, and my teacher inenvironmental law was engaged in an apocalyptic discussion onillegal logging. I thought it too superficial compared to our discussionin Haribon; thus, I didn't bother to listen and turned instead tothe more delightful preoccupation of daydreaming about a crush.I guess the reverie about that crush wasn't that engrossing' I stillheard my teacher loud and clear when he thunderously proclatmed,"...but not one illegal logger has been convicted!"Those words reverberated in my ears. I felt a strange calmnesssettling over me. lt was eerie. I had goose bumps. Suddenly, I knewexactly what I wanted to do with my life.I enrolled in law school not just to become a lawyer, but tobecome an environmental lawyer. I had the right background' Ireceived good training on environmental education and advocaryat Haribon-University of Santo Tomas. I also did my practicum atTanggol Kalikasan (TK). Though already a freshman law student


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r at Ateneo de Dav,ro, I still went all tlre way to Quezon City forttre TK internship, Ihat's how clehrrnined I was to prepare for myealling,

I thought I knew environmental lawyering well, that is, until myinternship at Environmental Legal Assistance Center-Cebu. lt wentas I expected, until the fateful trip to Samar. I got sick after that trip.It was probably the combination of the oppressive heat outsideand the coolness brought about by the air-conditioning unit insidethe van that did me in. I had a fever.The next day I was back to my exuberant self and off for paralegaltraining in Consolacion, Cebu. I was surprised to find the venuevery humble. Based on my past experience, this type of trainingwas usually held in a hall with a sound system. This site had only acanvas tent for a roof. lt was kind of cute anyway, with open air anda good view of the sea. I didn't mind until I noticed the heat abovemy head and the cold and hot sea breeze on my back. I panicked.I was so terrified of getting sick again. I wanted to leave as soon asI finished my part. I stayed, but what shameful thoughts I had.Then it dawned on me. This is the reality of an environmentallawyer. There would always be the heat, long travels, sleeping onthe floor and other inconveniences. Coodness knows what elsethere was in store.Friends working law firms came to mind. Their comfortscontrasted with my canvas tent existence. I was never attracted toamenities and a huge paycheck before. I was ready to embrace alife of bare necessities. ln fact, when I received a scholarship fromone of the firm's partners, their lawyer in Davao told me that Iwould be "invited" to the firm after law school. lnstead of baskingin the flattery of that inchoate invitation, I heard myself tactlesslyblabbering about environmental law, as if to say, "no thanks."

52 BEI\IEMBEBING STILL INTERNTJ' I]t:I I t O]ION.C] ON AI-IEI]NATVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 53

I thought I had it all planned: the internship in TK and mycommitment to singlehood. Besides, the pay could hardly put achild through medical school, and above all, I wanted to take careof the earth with the same tenacity as the nuns who pursue theirreligious life. I never lost sight of the dream, and had nurtured it foryears in law school where alternative lawyering was more foreignthan the Latin maxims. What about that dramatic earth shakingmoment in college? Was it all for naught? For all my fervor andpreparation in pursuit of that dream, it was humbling to realize thatI actually entertained the thought of giving it up because of somediscomfort - discomfort to me, but reality to other people. I wasashamed of myself.I would like to believe everything was merely triggered by feverishaftershocks, delayed delirium, or maybe sheer vulnerability. lt isconsoling to note that I have had more outrageous thoughts.The last time I got sick outside my turf, I contemplated suicide.Abandoning a future career and waxing philosophical on trivialitiespales in comparison.


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That experience allowed my convictions to mature, convictionswhich had initially been based on a romanticized view of theprofession, Most of all, it gave me empathy for those who are notsimilarly inclined, As I assured a fellow intern: "lf you left becauseyou can't stand alternative lawyering, don't feel guilty. Many arecurious, but few are chosen. I myself wavered on persevering whenI got sick. But when I recovered, I realized I still preferred to workwhere my heart was no matter what. Kohit umiitim oko (even if Iam getting darker), kahit nogkoko-acne oko (even if I am gettingacne), I've arrived at a point where I have no choice but to followmy heartl'

Jennifer L. RamosSummer .l999 intern

Jenny founded the Ateneo de Dovoo Advocoq Legol Work after her replicotioninternship with AHRC. After working for more thon three yeors with Environ-ment Legol Assistonce Center, she hod o stint as the provinciol legol officerof Sorongoni Province. Hoving recently returned to olternotive lowyering oslegol stoff of Bolay Alternotive Legal Advocates for Development in Mindonovt4lnc., she feels thot she is truly bock home.

REMEMBERING STILL INTEFNS' BEFLECTIONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 55

Reflection'Whg is thot girl I see. Storing right bock otme? Why is my reflection someone I dontknow? Somehow I connot find who I om, soI try. When will my reflection show who I ominside?'

-"Reflection," Mulon

I had a lot of apprehension and doubt before the program evenstarted. Would a city-bred girl like me survive the whole immersionprocess? Would I be able to make a difference during the internshipproper? Would I be able to make and leave a good impression inthe minds of the people I would eventually meet? I don't come fromthe richest or the poorest family in town, and my life is ordinary.But I know myself well enough to admit that I have my limitations.The question is, 'Would I be able to transcend them?"It was pretty much the self-centered junk from the precedingparagraph that occupied my mind during the BasicSeminar (BOS) and the first few days of the immersion. I woulcjnotice the "bad stuff' and constantly compare it with the "goodstuff' l've had all my life. I admit I complained silently most of thetime during the immersion. Don't get me wrong. I was seriouslyand constantly telling myself to open up to the experience. Ithought I did. I did what I thought was expected of me: unwaveringparticipation during the BOS, chores during the immersion, etc. Butsomehow everything felt pretentious. Something was wrong. I wastrying to be part of something I couldn't quite fit into.I came to Palawan carrying the same turmoil within. Then somethingamazing happened. During a particularly difficult and confusing timefor me (exactly halfway through my internship), everything fell into


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rplace, lwas bawling my eyes out and confiding my inconsequentialhang-ups to my co-intern when she said the most humbling thing,"Shy, never in this internship program did I ever say to myself, 'l'mhere to helpl Look'around you. They don't need us. We need themmore. We're here to learn from themi'It cut deeply. lt made sense. lt was true. I exhaled and let myself go.I realized that it's really all about perspective. ln the confines of lawschool, we were taught that excellence is not about being a superhuman being. lt's about having the heart to absorb everything andanything the good and the bad, the task that has to be done. lt isabout humbling yourself enough to realize that you are merely apart of a bigger picture, and that you can never ever do everythingalone.

Looking back, the internship program was a wonderfultime in mylife. From the grueling BOS, to the eye-opening immersion, to theself-stretching internship proper, everything became a learningexperience. On a selfish level, I have to admit I gained more thanI gave. But I thinh at the end of the day, that's the whole idea.We're not here to save the world. We can only hope to be part ofthe solution.

56 REMEMBERING STILL INTEFNS' REFTECTONS ON ALTERNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 57

Beyond the many unforgettable sunsets I saw everyday fromdifferent parts of Palawan, beyond the different species of beautifulfish I swam with in the crystal-clearwaters of Coron, beyond the richand unique culture of the kotutubos (ethnic groups) of Palawan,lies the problem of sustaining this beauty. lt was a privilege to beable to gain that experience and be part of evefihing. I know it'sa cliche, but words are truly not enough to encompass everythingI've learned - all of which I am eternally grateful for.The song I quoted at the beginning of this piece sums up myfeelings before and during the internship program. I can answer itfinally: the girl I see is a mixture of the people I've met the foodI ate, the culture I was welcomed into and the environment I wasable to become more conscious of. This lost city-bred girl has foundthe most important thing she could ever find - herself.

Shyanne T. JuanSummer 2OO3 intern

Shy is the botch heod of One Poct (Summer Internship 2003), o rebellious(but loving) doughter ond on ote (older sister) who spoils her sisters rotten.She worns others thot the AHRC is oddiaive ond cloims thot it is the reosonwhy she is currently in love.


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FRealizationsI initially thought that I did not have any expectations when I didmy internship with the Women's Legal Bureau (WLB). I thoughtthat I did not carry any biases. At the end, I realized that I did haveexpectations, and that I was disappointed when these were notmet. However, my expectations were largely from the perspectiveof working relationships within the office. This is not to say theexposure to feminist advocacy was equally disappointing; thecontrary holds true.I was able to realize some of the things which were important tome. Some of them might just be details, but they were significantenough for me to hold on to them. I recognized that it was importantfor me to receive clear instructions so I could produce, at the veryleast, satisfactory results.

58 RENIEIVBEFING STILL INTERNS' FEFLECTONS ON ALTEBNATIVE LAWYERING IN THE PHILIPP1NES 59

I also realized I expected people who work in non-governmentorganizations (NCOs) to have no biases and to be fair whenanalyzing issues. This was naive of me; if it were true, then wewould have an idealworld. I soon understood the shortcoming ofmy belief; an NCO is supposed to take a stand on certain issuesand work from that position. Clothing other people with biases isan inevitable part of the job.

I learned too that non-government organizations are not exactlynon-government. ln many cases, NCOs support the governmentin areas where the government does not have the resources ormaybe even the political will to do anything. lt is because of thisthat NCOs have learned how to pander to the interests of politicians(i.e. to show them how a proposed bill will translate into votes sothat the NCO's advocacies might be articulated into law).I also now understand that though everything is far from perfect, thefact that there are a lot of people striving to reach their definitionof perfection (e.g. a woman-friendly world in the case of WLB) fills


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rfire wifh hope lor the tuture, I know that I am not alone in thinkingthat this world is far frorn perfect and that there is still a lot of workth.rt needs to be done.

Nelda Ethel P. TorioSummer 1999 intern

Ethel worked part-time in o low firm while she was in law school. Aftertoking the bor, she hos since worked in the judiciol ond legislotive bronchesof government. She considers herself o hopeful reolist.

RFMENiBERING STILL INTERNS' REFLECTIONS ON ALTEFNATIVE IAWYERING IN THE PHILIPPINES 61

Human Rights WorkI always try to simplify things. I was not gifted with a photographicmemory or a sharp mind. Although most people would disagree,I am actually a bit slow I have trouble following directions andcannot think clearly when faced with complicated matters. I amnot capable of deep intellectual conversations, especially those thatdelve into the human soul and spirit. I learned to simpli{y things tocope. However, as much as I managed to turn the act of simplifyingideas and thoughts into a gift, it is also turning out to be one of myweaknesses: I tend to oversimplify.As I went through the summer internship, I observed that humanrights work involves huge and complicated issues. There are issueson labor, environment, children, women, urban pooq indigenouspeoples, and even on the human rights institutional mechanismitself. Nonetheless, I realized the driving force behind all of theseissues was the desire to help people l

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Remembering Still - Interns Reflection on Alternative Lawyering in the Philippines

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