The Writ of Habeas Data

With the exigent hope of ending problems of extra-legal killings and enforced disappearance in the Philippines, the Supreme Court introduced the concept of the Writ of Habeas Data.

The Writ of Habeas Data seeks to protect the right of an individual to find out what information is kept, what is the use of such information and why these data about him are collected. The Writ gives the petitioner the opportunity to question the data and to demand for its updating, rectification or destruction.

In some countries, the Writ of Habeas Data is an excellent human rights tool against military dictatorship. It is filed to view police and military records of victims of extralegal killings which were previously made confidential and off-limits to the families of victims. And in order to establish a right to truth, some use this Writ to view government records in cases of atrocities committed by the latter.

The introduction of the Writ of Habeas Data into Philippine Justice System complemented several writs used in the Philippines. These writs which protect the rights of the individual against the state are as follows:

1. The Writ of Habeas Corpus – a writ ordering a person who detained another to produce the body and bring it before a judge or court. Its purpose is to determine whether the detention is lawful or not;

2. The Writ of Mandamus – a writ ordering a governmental agency to perform a ministerial function;

3. The Writ of Prohibition – a writ ordering a person to prohibit the commission of an illegal act;

4. The Writ of Certiorari – a writ ordering a person to correct an erroneous act committed with grave abuse of discretion; and

5. The Writ of Amparo – a writ designed to protect the most basic right of a human being. These are the right to life, liberty and security guaranteed by the Constitution.

With these writs, the Supreme Court fervently hoped that the problems of extralegal and extrajudicial killings and the disappearance of activists and other persons shall come to a halt especially in the midst of Martial Law lurking in the horizon.

The Mansion and Wright Park

Baguio City is a city of park. And here are two of them:

THE MANSION AND MANSION PARK

The Mansion house served as residents of Filipino presidents and American governor-generals. It's famous for having elegantly structured building and guesthouse. It's gate is patterned after that of London's Buckingham Palace. The Mansion has also been the site of several international conferences and a working office of the President of the Philippines during his visits to the City.

Baguio Catholic Cathedral

For Christian tourists, a trip to Baguio is not complete without visiting the Baguio Cathedral. Located on top of a hill at the heart of the City, the rose-colored Baguio Catholic Cathedral is one of the more familiar and most visited landmarks of Baguio. This beautiful structure has twin spires and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city.

Here are some pics I have taken at the Cathedral:

Gotta' Go To Grotto

The Summer Capital of the Philippines or The City of Pines is one of my favorite places in the Philippines. I often refer to this place as my second home city 'coz I frequently go to this place either for business or pleasure. As I have said in my previous post, I will be in Baguio for most of the first quarter of this year so I hope to share everything the place has to offer for tourists starting with The Lourdes Grotto.

UPGRADE U

Taken at my father's house.

What's new?
1. An entry level DSLR. Canon EOS 400D. (A holiday gift for myself. My Canon Digital Ixus 75 served me well.)
2. A super-slim secondary phone. Nokia 2630. (Lines can get busy. Nokia N95 is still my primary phone.)

What's lost?
1. Rice, rice and more rice. Doctor's order. (I am trying to lose at least 5 kilos this year for health purposes.)
2. My reading glasses. (Mom's bag got snatched and she lost her cellphone, wallet, ATM cards, passport, a couple of jewelries and my favorite reading glasses which I asked her to safe keep.

What's up ahead?
1. Work. The first quarter of the year is all about work. Lots of reports and financial statements shall occupy my time. Plus, I'll be in Baguio for almost the entire months of February and March. (Again, work related.)
2. Career Shift. I will definitely have a new job this year to practice my new profession.

What to look for in this blog for 2008?
1. Travels. Definitely more travel in 2008 but would probably start in the 2nd Quarter. I have a booked flight in Ilo-ilo and Ilocos Trip is in the works. Lot's of Baguio pics will be featured in the first quarter and if things coincide with my plans - an overseas trip will also be made.
2. Law Articles - I'll definitely go back to this blog's roots. As a neophyte lawyer, I will definitely post my adventures and (mis)adventures on that field.

By the way, this ain't a resolution but just a personal list that I have to make before I go up in Baguio. Have a great day ahead everyone!!!

Nayong Pilipino at Clark

Nayong Pilipino in Clarkfield, Pampanga has now opened its doors to tourists and travelers for free. It is located at the former Clark Expo Pilipino comprising 3.5 hectares of colonial plaza and ancient island showcasing the country’s cultural and age-old traditions, heritage and lifestyles. The outdoor museum features tribal villages of Ifugao, Kalinga and Muslim communities as well as various landmarks and crafts of Luzon.

33 Thousand Feet Above Sea Level

To "J":

Did I say that I loathe you? Did I say that I wanted to leave it all behind? I can't take my mind off you - that is - until I find somebody new...

From "N"

Tayabo Nature Park

Tayabo Nature Park, located in Barangay Tayabo, San Jose City, Nueva Ecija is a man-made park and a haven for picnics and sight-seeing. It is a gateway to Cagayan Valley and known for its hundred-step stair leading to lamp-lit pagodas nestled on hilltops and offering a panoramic view of the Sierra Madre and the northern Nueva Ecija.

TACSIYAPO

Sa mga salot sa lipunan ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga mapagsamantala at masasama ugali ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mataas kong triglyceride at mababang HDL ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa patuloy na pagtaas gastos sa lakwatsa ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga fastfood na puro unhealthy ang pagkain ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga taong unreasonable at tamad ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga pulitikong gahaman sa kapangyarihan ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga mahilig magdumi sa kalikasan ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga di marunong magbayad ng utang ... TACSIYAPO!!!
Sa mga di tumutupad sa usapan ... TACSIYAPO!!!

Gone Fishing

I love fishing. Well, not the professional one, I just love the thought of anticipation when the bob of your fishing rod is sinking up and down the water indicating that there is already a catch. I still remember in my childhood days that we used to compete who will have the biggest catch among my siblings and more often than not I always end up with the smallest - jeez.

My Top 10 Travels of 2007

Year 2007 is a great year for me. This is the year where I became a lawyer and this is also the year where I got to travel a lot. This post is a recap of ten of my most favorite traveled places in 2007. For a more detailed texts/features on these places, feel free to click the link in my sidebar.

1. SIQUIJOR - This island has it all. Beaches (Salagdoong, San Juan), caves (Canatabon), mountains (Bandila-an), churches (San Isidro, Saint Francis), springs (Campilayan), resorts (Cocogrove) and a lot more. This is truly a mystical island and rightly so deserved my top choice for 2007. (Photo above taken in Salagdoong Beach).