My fondest memories of law school came from the grueling daily grind of recitation, and the humiliation, desperation, pride, and creativity that springs from it. Just saying the word “recitation” out loud brings me back to the classroom-my good friend, Fritz was on my leftside (for whispers of “consultation”), and the door was on my right (to exit when all hope is lost) and on the table was one man who scared the sh*t out of us all-Justice Jose Sabio, Jr.

If someone who isn’t a law student would want to know what law school is about, I would take him or her to Justice Sabio’s class. I had Criminal Procedure and Remedial Law Review under Justice Sabio. Boy, I sure did make a lot of fond memories with Justice Sabio- the humiliation (“WHAT?! THINK MR. SARMIENTO THINK!”), the desperation (“Mr. Sarmiento, you must be joking.Where did you get your answer?”), pride (“Correct Mr Sarmiento! You are the Savior of Humanity”) and creativity or utter lack of it (“Mr. Sarmiento, so you are saying that an example of technical evidence is technology? Inspiring”). I can still see myself slowly standing up trying to gain my composure in front of that table where Justice Sabio sits.

Today, roles had been reversed. Justice Sabio is the one called for recitation. The subject matter of his recitation is the easiest to recall but is, for some people, the most difficult to utter out loud- the truth. His blockmates? Everyone else around him.The one grading his recitation- the Big Guy up there.

The Filipinos have to find out and accept the cold truth that bribery in the Judiciary is a reality.(bribery everywhere as a matter of fact) Know it. Accept it. Deal with it. How do we deal with it? Let’s point out to Justice Sabio’s act of coming out in the open. He knows that bribery is a reality, he accepted it, he dealt with it.

My first reaction when I heard about the Sabio expose was “Yari kayo kay Sabio”. The heart of that man is forged in courage and as Rita pointed out (http://ritalula.livejournal.com/167568.html?mode=reply), integrity. Prayers to Justice Sabio. May he never back down from this grand recitation.


Yari talaga kayo mga hudas kayo.

Tags: law, lawschool
Current Mood: hopeful
Current Music: Missing You-John Waite