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A Word of Thanks from JR Lopez Gonzales (Part III)

2010 has been a fruitful year for this weblog. The blog started in April at the height of the General Elections and never did I imagine that I would still continue to blog up until this point.

With a schedule so jam-packed with studying law, working as a college teacher, being a member of an international organization, and having a very beautiful girlfriend, I am pleased to have sustained my writing passion.

At the turn of this year, this humble blog had already surpassed its 10,000 view-mark. For the past months, this blog never left the 20^th Spot in Philippine Top Blogs under the Politics Category. Last year, the blog entry, Supremely Surprising South Cotabato! Won the 1^st SCT Blog-Writing: The South Cotabato Experience.

On this third installment of my thanks, shoutouts to the Admin Nanard Navarro of the SCT website. To the judges, Book author Corie Laraya-Coutts, and to the men & women of South Cotabato Tambayan under South Cotabato Gov. Dodo Pingoy, madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo nga pagsalig.

A fellow blogger even included my blog on his Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog for 2010! Some entries are also featured in some magazines; I’ve also received messages asking for my permission for my post to be cited in their academic papers. Thank you for not plagiarizing. Lol.

To the politicians, government officials, actors, actresses, musicians, and journalists who, in any way, mentioned on this blog, thank you for your understanding.

To the thousands of readers, visitors, friends and fans (are there?) of this blog in the Philippines and other parts of the globe, thank you for reading and supporting my little space here in the net. Thank you for those enlightening critiques on my critiques, too.

I also would want to dedicate the blog’s achievement to my kababayans in South Cotabato, and in my beloved hometown of Tupi. This is humbly dedicated to my alma mater, my glorious Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology which served as my haven for six years now.

Ultimately, to all the Filipino journalists who, because of their dedication and determination, were able to bring about the news to the public. Even if it means threat to life for the sake of work and social responsibility. Maguindanao Massacre victims, you will never be forgotten.

I may be a college teacher. A law student. Yet my heart will always bleed with ink.

Kita kits sa Facebook!

A Word of Thanks Part II

Yes. A Word of Thanks Part II.

Well, this is because I’ve already made another one a few months back. But anyways, I’ve made this second entry to once again thank all of my readers.

I made this blog for my personal enjoyment while at the same time express my rants, my critiques, and my view of the Philippine political scene and the world.

I’ve started posting my entries 4 months ago and I can say I’ve had bunch of positive reactions from my readers. As of this writing, this blog had 1,000+ views from the Philippines just after four months of blogging with only 39 entries.

Thank you for those people who followed this blog; as of this writing there are thirteen; One for NetworkedBlogs and 12 for Google.

Thank you for those people who cited my blog as their reference for their academic papers.

Thank you to Nanardxz, a fellow blogger that included my blog on his Top 10 Emerging Influential Blog.













According to his blog, an “emerging influential blogger” is:

An influential blogger is simply someone who can inspire and motivate others. Someone who can make you reach your goals, someone who can make you pursue the things you want to do, and someone who can keep you moving forward with aplomb and grace of a running deer in the prairie.

Thanks Nanardxz!

Thanks also for the bunch of private message I’ve been receiving from you guys most especially about my posts. Gracias todos!















From the bottom of my heart, a million thanks! I will continue to write what I believe is right.

Panaghiusa Mindanao Rap: The Voice of Mindanao

Last week, I had the opportunity of shooting a music video with the Rapnophobia Clan (Iligan City's top rap group). We shot the video at Initao-Libertad Protected Seascape and Landscape.

The setting was just so amazing, a forest overlooking the rich Misamis Oriental shores. It was last week when we released the video but the song was recorded two months ago.

The word, panaghiusa means "unity" in Cebuano. Last dry season (not summertime); I told Spyx of my intentions of making a rap collaboration with him which he replied positively.

Then, last May, I went to their crib and recorded this song at his home studio. It was my first personal contact with the Rapnophobia Clan. Spyx was my student in Philippine History last year and, it was also last year, when I found out about Rapnophobia's cybersuccess as well as Spyx's Youtube videos that has tens of thousands of views already.

Spyx was our director for the shoot. He chose for the location of the shoot as with the concept.
The whole point of the vid was simple: Mindanaoans letting their voices be heard about the so-called "Mindanao Conflict".

The problem here is quite internal and was from age-old conflict between the Spanish and the Mindanao Muslims and Lumads. Definitely, we can not point out some of the many reasons for the wars' continuity.

The Mindanao conflict is not because of a religious issue. Of the many factors; we can blame it to the sensationalized "bombing and terrorism" news of the media (99% of TV news about Mindanao are all about bombings, terrorisms, etc. according to the UP undergrad thesis of Miss Quebee Dusaran and Rawnna Crisostomo), the inability of the government to address the basic necessities in the region, the deaf ears of the central government to the Muslims and minorities, as well as the age-old psychological biases and prejudices held off against both the Lumads and Muslims.

The video tells the world of our small voices. I, JR Lopez Gonzales, represent the voice of the Ilonggos (although, I've only two lines of Hiligaynon dialect and with the rest in Tagalog); Zeff represents the Muslims (he used his native Maranao dialect), and Spyx rapped in Bisaya-Iligan. The song was not just a simple rap song about the war, but a song that aimed to enlighten each Filipino's mind about the causes and probable solutions to this problem.

We stand against wars as aside from being costly, would never kill ideologies. We advocate peace and lasting harmony between the Mindanaoans by eradicating the psychological barriers as well as the prejudices that we have against each other.

We believe that any ethnic group is capable of loving and caring. We aim for love to reign in the Mindanao Island. We are advocates of cultural understanding and equal treatment. We despise how the media treats the whole island of Mindanao as the place where evil terrorists lurk. We love our heritage; we need the government to work for peace and development here in the place where we're born. We firmly believe that unless understanding be fostered; there will never be genuine peace

As such, we ask for your support; we ask for your participation for change. This video may be a small contribution yet we aim that our message would get across every viewer's heart and soul. (If you're with us, we would be happy if you'd share the video to other people).

We are the voice of Mindanao. The key that would open up understanding and peace lies in our very hands. One Mindanao, One Philippines. Love and faith has no religion. We all want peace and we are one.

A Word of Thanks

I wanna thank you all for reading my blogs and I hope you find it sensible.
Yesterday, the rank of this very blog you’re reading is 104 in the Political Blogs Category of Philippine Top Blogs.

But obviously, as you can see below, it skyrocketed to rank 61, just after one day. This is due to the multitude of people who viewed and read my articles, most especially the article, “The Best Man for the Job: JRGon’s President is…”.














Thank you so much for your time. I would not want to promise anything but I just want to say that I appreciate your effort in reading, commenting whether here or in Facebook, or even voting for my polls. (Comments in Facebook keep on coming, thanks!)

I am not a paid hack, I don’t earn anything from this blog. Thank you for making me want to blog more and share insightful ideas with you. God bless the Philippines. There is still hope. Kayo ang aking lakas. (Oops, that was Noynoy’s line. Hahaha.)

The “Art” of Judge Abundiente: A One-on-one Interview

JR's Personal Note: This was the article I have written in reference to my interview with the professorial lecturer, Judge Arthur L. Abundiente. I hope my publication of this article will be beneficial most especially to the students of MSU College of Law in Iligan City.

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From being a practicing lawyer and a professorial lecturer, the now “Judge” Arthur L. Abundiente, adds his latest appointment as the Presiding Judge for RTC Branch 25 to his long string of stellar achievements.

The Nexus travelled 88 kilometers to sit and chat (over a cup of coffee), with Judge Abundiente in his new office at the Hall of Justice in Cagayan de Oro City. He talks about his life as the Presiding Judge, on his first upcoming book, and on leaving it to the “Fortune-teller”…

Congratulations Sir, now “Judge Abundiente” on your latest feat. So, how did it all start?

Thanks. First, I applied for three RTC branches; Branch 25 and 40 (in Cagayan de Oro) and Branch 4 in Iligan City. I’ve submitted my application on the later part of 2008, then took the screening exam in Davao City. Of all the applicants for the certain branch, only three will make it to the shortlist that would be presented to the President of the Philippines by the Judicial and Bar Council.

JBC called me up and notified me that I was nominated in all three branches where I applied for. Of the three branches, I accepted the nomination for RTC Branch 25. I confirmed the nomination at the Malacanang Palace as such that on November 18 of last year, I was chosen by the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) of the three applicants.

I received the information last January 19. I took my oath on January 20 and I reported to my office five days after.

You mentioned that of the twenty applicants for Branch 25, it was shortlisted to only three, what do you think was your edge?

Kay lupig nako sila [chuckles]. I have been a practicing lawyer for more than 10 years; I’ve been a practicing lawyer since 1988. I have appeared at trial courts and even at the Court of Appeals.

So was this really your plan even before?

Yes, definitely. My “original”plan was, before I reach the age of 50 I will be a judge. I believe that at fifty, I am already matured and experienced enough to “decide on the fate of fellow human beings”. But it came a little “earlier than predicted” – I’m currently 49 [grins].

Regarding work ethics, what’s the difference between that of a lawyer and a judge?

Now I say it’s easier. I only appear on trials. Compared to a lawyer, there is a need for a lot of work like preparing cases, etc. but the work that I do now is studying the case, reading the stenographic references and records.

How would a typical office day go?

From my apartment, I wake up early in order to report to my office thirty-minutes before the office hours start. I am always here from seven thirty in the morning up until five in the afternoon. I can breathe easier now and I have free time to spent for a project that I’ve wanted to do a long time ago.

Which is?

I am in the process of finishing my new book entitled, “The Fundamentals of Criminal Law”. Right now, I’ve already finished 80% of Book I and 40% of Book II of the Revised Penal Code.

Wow. The people from College of Law badly want you to answer this next question: Would you stop teaching now at our college given that you’re already occupied as a presiding judge?

No. As I always say, “teaching is my therapy”. Since 1981, I was already teaching. I was given teaching offers here in CDO, like in Liceo (de Cagayan), but I turned them down. I would still teach at MSU College of Law in Iligan but for not more than eight (8) units of law subjects on Saturdays.

You mentioned in our past interviews that you wanted to be a judge because “you’re ready”. Now that you’re a judge, it seemed you were correct with your forecast. So what is next for Judge Abundiente in the near future?

You know I can’t be a judge for 21 more years [chuckles] (because 70 is the retirement age for RTC judges). Next would probably be promoted to the Court of Appeals or even to the Supreme Court. “I can only pray for something else but it’s all up to God. I would just happily leave the fortune-telling to “The Fortune-teller”.

*Interview by 1^st Year Law student, JR Lopez-Gonzales, at the office of Judge Arthur L. Abundiente at Hall of Justice, Branch 25 in Cagayan de Oro City last March 18.

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Today in History:

Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) Holiday in the Philippines. April 9.

"In line with the elections, I hope that we will be able to vote the people that should really be trusted. We need credible and experienced leaders."

Who is JR Lopez Gonzales?

Check out http://politikalon.blogspot.com/p/about-politikalon.html