MAMARIL, JOANNE KRISTINE M.

REACTION PAPER

SEMINAR 2 November 24,2010

Thru God’s Will

As I was reading the speech delivered by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban, I

can not help but question myself why I was not there to hear these words coming
straight from the Honorable Chief Justice. I was so moved and inspired as I was
reading the contents that it did not feel like it was already coming to a close. All of
us will not deny that we are used to reading his decisions and his speech was at no
difference at all—simple but straight to the core.

His three core values that have become the cornerstones of both his
professional and personal life, specifically , the three Es of life worth living:
excellence ,ethics and eternity.

First is for excellence and ethics. True enough, excellence was a value that
demanded the best performance from all of us all the time and that excellence
connotes not merely competence, but also dedication to duty and hard work put
together. We all wanted to be excellent with all the praises and awards that come
with it, who would not want to be called one? No one would deny that it is so
rewarding to be recognized by your efforts that is why we study hard, we give our
academics our all that we sometimes fail to realized that we might have sacrificed
our ethics in the process. Because we started to always think of being the best
amongst others that we sometimes stepped on others to the point that we are
doing does not fit the correct standards set by our morals and the society’s. Justice
Panganiban is right that excellence would mean nothing if we sacrifice our ethics,
we must and always live by our principles as we were thought when we were
younger.

Next is for eternity. When I was ten years old, I saw my Dad lying on the floor,
mumbling on words which to me are incomprehensible, my Dad got stroke. At two
in the morning , I had to rush outside and beg for help to bring my father to the
hospital. I felt so helpless in this most trying time that my father’s life is on peril. I
was so naïve and fragile then that I almost questioned God’s will, that why of all the
millions of people, if not more sinned than my Dad, why has it got to be my father?
At that very second, right outside the door of the ICU of the hospital, at that little
circular window where I peeped and saw the status of my father, I turned to God.
Girls at my age then would have wanted all the dolls in the world, the newest
collection of Barbie I suppose, but at that very moment, I let go of my shallow
wishes and begged for my father’s life, all I wanted is for my father to keep on
breathing, live long enough for me, his little girl. And God did not fail me, he did not
fail my family and I could not ask for more. True enough God ALWAYS know better
than we do, He knew what we wanted better than we do. I came from a poor family
and it always frustrates me then when I don’t get to play dolls that I wanted but it
was on that moment that I realized that God had better plans for me and He would
give me something better, something I might not have wished for before but
definitely something I would always be grateful for and that is to have my father
beside me, not only that he provided me a complete family.

It is also inspiring to not how the Chief Justice recognized the importance of
unity in action. The world is currently at faced with several dangers and we can only
achieve that change when we work hand in hand. It might sound cliché with others
but no one could disagree that we would achieve better if we would act together to
achieve that change that we aspire for. We can not only believe we should be the
first to act and take that first step for the betterment of our society and the rest of
the world.

The dream of achieving these goals does not come in a blink of an eye or a
mere snap of a finger, it should be founded with hard work, perseverance and
determination. I too am not perfect and never will be but I will forever try to be the
best that I can be to the full stretch of my potential not only for the sake of having
an achievement but more so to glorify our Creator. He deserves to be glorified for
his devout time and guidance at our most pressing times even if we fail to thank
Him most of the time. Through God’s will sooner or later we would receive not what
we have wanted but definitely what we needed.
MAMARIL, JOANNE KRISTINE M. Vision- Mission

SEMINAR 2 November 24,2010

Vision

 A society where people would have access to knowledge on the laws of

our land and its application so one would know how to protect
themselves

 A society free from people who infringe on other peoples rights

Mission

 To learn and abide by the laws of our land and educate others who do
not have access to it

 To be a pioneer in finding easier and faster ways to deliver justice to

those who deserve it.

 To lead by example by inspiring other youth to abide by the law

 To serve other people to the greatest of my potential by sharing what I

learn at San Beda Law School so everyone would know how to use the
law to protect them
 To provide service to my fullest capacity and render service to those
who can not afford them.

 To be one of the lawyers of our land and protect those who are unable
to protect themselves.