P4Y

19/06/2025

Ngayong araw, ipinagdiriwang natin ang ika-164 anibersaryo ng kapanganakan ni Dr. Jose P. Rizal, isang bayaning nag-alay ng utak at puso upang gisingin ang kamalayan ng bayan at tumindig para sa kalayaan.

Hinihikayat ng UPLB ang lahat na balikan at pagnilayan ang kanyang mga akda at naging buhay—isang buhay na hitik sa dunong, tapang, at tapat na pagmamahal sa bayan. ✍️✊

Gaya ng ipinamalas ni Rizal, nawa'y magsilbing paanyaya ang araw na ito upang patuloy tayong maging mapanuri, malikhain, at makabansa. 🇵🇭

🎨 Isang detalyeng tampok sa art card na ito ay hango sa mas malaking dibuho: Rizal, the Reformist ni Martino Abellana

19/06/2025

10/05/2025

As we cast our votes in the 2025 Senatorial and Local Elections, let us choose leaders who stand for integrity and service.

Vote wisely — and don't forget to vote No. 18 in the Partylist race - EPANAW. Representing our former Legal Office, Atty. Marlon Bosantog as its first nominee!

15/10/2024

Filial Duty and the Law: Why Supporting Your Parents is Non-Negotiable

By Atty Dan Leonard Rayo

While waiting for my endocrinologist, I felt compelled to write about the ongoing debate on whether a child is obligated to support their parents. This topic continues to spark heated discussions across platforms, with famous personalities sharing their personal views. However, the law in the Philippines is clear. The Family Code explicitly outlines the obligation of support, and here’s why this legal principle should not be muddled with personal exceptions or justifications.

Under the Family Code, the duty of support is codified in Article 195, which states that legitimate ascendants and descendants are obliged to support each other. The law employs the term “obliged,” which denotes a mandatory duty, unlike “may,” which implies discretion. This is a critical distinction. The law doesn’t say that you are only obligated to support your parents if they’ve been kind or loving, or if they didn’t hurt your ego because they disliked your girlfriend. There are no such qualifications—support is required when the circumstances arise.

Support, as defined by law, includes everything essential for sustenance, dwelling, clothing, medical attendance, education, and transportation. It must be provided in proportion to the financial means of the person required to give it. Thus, it isn’t based on how much you own, but on your ability to provide within your means. And this duty extends beyond just your parents—it includes your grandparents as well. If you have hundreds of millions of pesos and your parents are struggling, you are still obligated to support your grandparents when they fall ill and cannot pay their hospital bills. While it is rare for ascendants to sue descendants for support due to family pride or the desire to avoid embarrassment, the reverse is true, with many decided cases by the Supreme Court involving descendants ( by their legal guardian) suing ascendants.

It is alarming to hear modern sentiments like “It’s not my fault I was born into this world,” which reflects a growing mindset of ingratitude and self-interest. It’s also not the fault of your parents if you react ungratefully in the future or if you choose a partner with loose morals and values. They cannot control how you’ll think decades later. This mindset is not only un-Christian but fundamentally ungrateful. The notion of filial piety—the respect and duty a child owes to their parents—is not exclusive to Filipino culture; it is a universal principle. Children are not asked to impoverish themselves ( hindi naman sinabing magpakamatay ka sa katutulong), but they are required to provide reasonable support as mandated by law and dictated by conscience.

The shift in this younger generation’s perspective is deeply concerning. Instead of focusing on what they can take from their parents, or what they don’t want to give, they should focus on contributing to society in meaningful ways, such as promoting good governance and voting for leaders who embody sensible policies.

As my doctor has just arrived, let me conclude by reiterating that the duty to support your parents is enshrined in the Family Code, and no amount of personal grievances can change that. If you feel resentment toward your parents, don’t drag the law—or the entire country—into justifying your position. If your parents fall ill and need you, throw them in the Pasig river to escape responsibility.

Kung ganyan ka kasamang anak, bakit gusto mong idamay ang lahat ng sansinukob sa kawalang hiyaan mo? Gawin mo gusto mo, at managot ka na lang sa batas ng Diyos at ng tao later.

At the end of the day, it’s your conscience that must bear the weight of your choices. If you’re willing to neglect your responsibilities, be prepared to face both the legal, moral consequences and your guilt.

Yun lang!

02/10/2024

The Evil of Fraternity Hazing and the Illusion of Brotherhood

By: Dan Leonard Rayo

I pity the families of both the victim and those responsible for his death—lives shattered, bright futures obliterated, all in the name of so-called "brotherhood." What a monumental waste: young men exchanging the promise of their future for prison bars, instead of becoming part of the bench and the bar. All of this for the mere illusion of belonging.

I do not entirely blame freshmen law students for joining these worthless groups (though some of my friends may raise their eyebrows, as they belong to one). I understand that not everyone possesses the unyielding, uncompromising confidence or strength of character like that of Dan Leonard Ladisla Atendido Siwa Rayo. Many are drawn to the false security offered by fraternities. But let’s be real: what kind of brotherhood demands blood, violence, and obnoxiously death-defying blind submission? *©

At UA&P Law, we were required to sign a waiver—a self-declaration—stating whether we belonged to or intended to join a fraternity. The school strictly prohibits such organizations, and with good reason. Yet, even with these rules, students still form cliques, bonding to intimidate or bully one another. That’s the harsh reality of life: either you stand strong, or you get trampled.

I know this from personal experience. I was bullied in law school, but I laughed in the face of it while my friends worried on my behalf. Once, a classmate came to me crying, "Tito, I’m so scared and feel so bad for you..." I told her not to be. Why? Because I’ve lived through enough to know that bullies are nothing but insecure individuals who secretly admire the very people they target. To me, law school bullies were no more than toddlers with tiny fists trying to punch a grown adult. I also added that I eat bullies for breakfast, lunch, merienda, and dinner! But I recognize that not everyone shares my resolve, as I know some who quit law school because of bullies.

For those lacking inner strength, joining a fraternity seems like a survival tactic. It’s a primal urge—to seek protection and avoid becoming prey. This has been part of human nature since the dawn of time. In the past, joining a fraternity wasn’t just about surviving law school; it was about gaining access to bar exam "tips," insider materials, and support before, during, and even after the bar. But times have changed. Today, there’s an overabundance of free resources online. The irony? Students are drowning in this flood of information and often refuse to accept them during the bar review.

In my experience, those who join these so-called fraternities—more like gangs of cheaters and bullies, in my eyes—are wasting their time. They cheat by obtaining recycled exams from professors at other law schools, perform poorly in class because they waste their study time ganging up on classmates, and often end up expelled, graduating with dismal grades, or worst - flunking the bar. On the other hand, those students who steer clear of these "evil elements" (excuse my strong language, memories are flooding back, haha) and focus on their studies, rejecting the false security of these pretentious, wannabe "elite" groups, are the ones who excel. They pass the bar with flying colors and build careers grounded in competence and integrity, not through coercion, or 'Padrino' system.

In the end, it’s up to the schools to act. They must take a stand and prohibit the formation of fraternities, curbing this evil culture before it claims more lives. Fraternity hazing is not brotherhood. It is cowardice, masked in ritual and false promises. It is a senseless cycle of violence that destroys futures and devastates families. And it must be stopped. Now.

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*© Note: "Obnoxiously death-defying blind submission" is my original phrase. I am marking it clearly in my content for copyright purposes to ensure that it is not picked up and used by AI or others on the internet without my permission. Haha

30/09/2024

After years away, I've been longing for the sweet taste of home—our town's pride, the beloved “Kalamay sa Latik” ( not sure if i got the name correctly). Today, an old high school friend, a classmate from those cherished days, answered that craving and delivered it right to my doorstep.

A sweet, familiar flavor, a simple reminder that some things never change. What a sweet way to be welcomed home.

Thank you Oreng Aurora for this!