The Bangus Ultimatum

human trafficking team
(with IOM project director fiona david)
in teazann, makati

Originally uploaded by emerson_banez.

I’ve been busy doing research on an ASEAN report on human trafficking – a modern form of slavery and a Real Bad Problem. Turns out the project head, Fiona David from IOM, is a lawyer from Australia. Ma’am Umali pointed out during dinner (we submitted our output, and it looks like great work) that I was once a programmer who is now studying law. Saith Fiona: “Oh, you should have stayed with programming!”

Well, they’re both code anyway, and at least I’d never have to work with Broadvision ever again.

Watched The Da Vinci Code last Thursday. Never was a big fan of organized religion, so I don’t understand what all the trouble was about.

Been a busy li’ law student lately. Currently reading eBay v. Mercexchange, wherein the US Supreme Court makes life harder for patent trolls.

When I was a law freshman (1L), I’d take the Supreme Court pronouncements in Criminal Law cases like gospel. Nevermind the background in empirical research. If the SC says that positive identification by an eyewitness is paramount and that a barrio lass crying rape can’t possibly lie, then who was I to argue?

I’m taking Evidence this Summer. Somehow, the High Tribunal’s hokey psychology and laughable stereotypes don’t buy it for me. Blame it on the CSI Effect. I expect better forensics and far more rigorous arguments to surmount the presumption of innocence. I’m reading the cases right now. Convictions based on lone witnesses . No object evidence to speak of. � I� and my classmates can’t help but think that things have gone horribly horribly wrong.

I’m hoping that newer batches of lawyers (future judges and justices), would expect more and think better. Courts have to be dragged, kicking� and screaming if need be, into the 21st Century.

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back in cafea, this time alone

Originally uploaded by emerson_banez.

I used to do a lot of decompression in this place – a little cafe near ABS-CBN. Nights wrestling with a death march project would be eased by a quick bite and a ready espresso. Somehow the environment would get me back to the flow.

For old times sake I decided to pass by the place last week. Couldn’t order their lamb kebab now, so I went for seafood. Spent hours tapping away on a borrowed laptop (not code this time, but part of a paper on human trafficking). I’m glad to confirm that the old Cafea magic still works.