How to survive Atty. Amurao

Before you actually look for tips or ways on how to survive in Atty. Amurao's class, I have to tell you, I cannot give you any. But hold on, hold on. I got 92 as final grade in criminal law 1 under him. I hope that is enough reason to continue reading.

Like everyone else who, for the first time heard the name of the legend, and who, according to sources is the terror-est professor in San Beda, I was really nervous during our very first day. I did not know his face or what he looks like. A blocmate told me he is tall so as we were waiting for our professor in crim, (the classroom door has some kind of a glass where you can see people at the other side. The glass is situated in such a way that people's faces, atleast those with an average height, can be seen) he was joking that if we would not see the professor's head or face behind the glass in the door, for sure, we are doomed because that is Atty. Amurao. And true enough, we haven't seen the prof's face, and true, it is Atty. Amurao.

He told us that there was really no formula for a student to pass in his class but, study, study, study and study. At first, I was still very hopeful because I have had also terror professors way back in UP and I have survived in all of them. But Atty A was really different.

We were actually lucky because for the first time in our class, he allowed us to open his book. His book was first released in time for the first semester. Prior to our batch, he only allows hand written notes during class. On top of that, i believed he liked our section.

I can still remember the tension during our first recitation class under him. But it was not entirely difficult to look back because for the rest of the semester, the tension and the uneasiness that i have felt during the first day was in the same intensity up to the last. My first recitation grade was 85. The first question he posed for me was about the justification regarding the imposition of punishments. Tuesdays and Fridays were really the most dreaded days for me. I cannot even say thank God it is Friday during Fridays because it is an Amurao day. I remember also praying that if typhoons or floods may disrupt classes, it must do so during either Tuesday or Friday. But typhoons never hit the Metro during those days. That is how strong Atty. A is.

I used to tell my classmates that if ever I will have my own child and he is diagnosed of having a heart ailment, I would not let him take law.

Until now that I am having my semestral break in the province, I can still see Atty A in my dreams.. no, that is an exaggeration.

For all the heartbreaks, frustrations and momentary self assessments during the whole semester, i am very proud to say, i survived Atty A.

I have my own formula in studying: hard work, intelligence and luck. Luck is something that you cannot really control. Intelligence is a tool so that you may know in which subjects you need to exert extra effort and in which you think your forte. You have to maintain the balance between these three. If you think the subject matter is your water-loo, you have to exert much more effort and probably look for bling blings to bring good luck, haha. If you think it is your forte, you still have to work hard but the extra you, give to the other subjects which you think are your water loo. That was how i handled criminal law and the other subjects. On top of that, of course you need to ask for Divine Guidance.

I survived Atty Amurao, you can too.

NO TO CHEATING

First I would like to say hi to one of my masugid na tagasubaybay (yesss), DK. He told me he wanted to be mentioned in my blog. You got the first line my friend. Haha

Today officially starts our one week sembreak. Everybody loves sembreaks but one week? That sucks. But before going into that, I would like to reiterate my position on a very important issue—cheating. You see my dear readers (as if there are really that many huh) I personally consider cheating as malum prohibitum, that is, the mere act of doing it already considered unlawful. Good faith is not a defense. Intent is not a defense.

Cheating starts in very little things until you actually apply it to bigger things and you never notice but it is already your way of life. Look at these greedy politicians seating comfortably in the Congress, when do you think they start cheating? Of course they started that in little things. Maybe even in simple murmuring with their seatmates during classroom exams in 2nd year high school.

As a rational being, we can always rationalize things to our advantage. We can always justify why we did or did not do something. But in the case of cheating, this must be absolute. No matter how small that may be, it is still considered cheating. If I become a lawmaker, my landmark legislation will be a law on cheating in schools, that’s how passionate am I about this.

Anyway, here’s the back story. Last October 22, we had our final exams in Persons and Family Relations under Judge S. I was one of those exempted to take because my midterms standing is already quiet high (well, at least to the Judge’s standards) but I opted to take though it will no longer affect my grade. I just want to look at the exam questions as it might help in the future. A few minutes after we started, Judge told us that he will go out for a while and get a drink. As soon as the door closes, my not so honorable blocmates at the back started whispering with each other to the point of actually distracting the other takers. I looked back and momentarily hold my gaze hoping that if they see me looking at them, they have the shame to actually stop. But they never did. What’s worse is that C, a son of a former lawmaker, put out his iphone in the middle of the exam, Y beside him is also looking at the iphone. This triggered me to do something no one ever thought of doing—telling all these to the Judge.

I waited for him outside and the first line that went out of my mouth was “Sir I do not actually want to tell you this but I really cannot contain it. This is not an honorable thing to do.”

Really not an honorable thing to do. But for those involved, I’m still mabait as I did not name names.

When I was still in UP, cheating is never a problem. There are exams when Tita Lorns from the department will just give us the exam questions, walk out from the classroom and go back to get our papers as the time’s already up. In UP, when the professor or proctor started distributing the exam questions, not a single noise will be heard. I have never caught someone looking at another’s paper or whispering with the other, either they’re too smart to get caught or no one really cheats. I remember my professor in PolSci 1 during my freshman year saying, “in UP, cheating is not a problem”. According to her, it is just about pride. If you are a valedictorian or an honor student way back in high school, will you look at the other’s paper? Or will you give your answers to your seatmate? I think this set up applies for the freshmen. But for the higher years, a different reason is applicable, when they already grasp the University motto, Honor and Excellence, they will apply that. Honor first before excellence that’s why they (we) don’t cheat.

One might ask why I’m very passionate about this. Simple. Training. If you have been trained that cheating is inherently immoral, you would not. If your University would not let cheaters go away unpunished, you would not cheat. If you came from UP, you will not cheat. Well, this is a generalization but there are of course isolated cases.

I really wish San Beda has a strict policy about cheating. Let us not tolerate it. We all know it is wrong. Speak up. We all say, NO TO CHEATING.