On Playing your Part, Self-righteousness and Freedom of Speech

When you do your part, you don't earn the right to judge people on the basis of what you do. Why? Because that is YOUR part. You don't go around making yourself the standard. Their part, no matter how seemingly insignificant to you, may be most significant to another. When you volunteer for something, and when you feel so selfless helping strangers, you do not become better than people who choose to take care of their family, or their friends. You choose your part. No one imposes it on you.

Everyone has the right to say their piece. There is no blame per se, there is a discussion. An analysis of what could have been done, an expression of what one feels. This is why the Freedom of Speech is a right, not a privilege. There is no prerequisite but yes, there are limits.

And this is not to say that we know better, it’s just that when things like these happen, you rely on people who specialize on resolving these kinds of situations. When they don’t deliver, you resort to discussions not because you want to put them down but because you want an explanation. After all, everyone’s accountable for their actions.

They need to explain because they were the ones who had business there. I just follow this logic, If you’re a lawyer, would you expect the police to do your pleading for you? No. And when you fuck up, can you prevent them from saying that if only you wrote your Complaint more meticulously, the case couldn’t have been dismissed?” NO. Why? Because that is your turf, and they expect you to deliver.

Self-righteousness is a slippery slope. Being affected by a tragedy that killed people is not self-proclaimed patriotism,  nor is it an instant acquisition of crisis management knowledge. It's instinct. When someone dies, you care... not because of anything else, but because we all are here to live and we should be able to do EVERYTHING to ensure that we live. This is not being accusatory, this is probing.

Let people talk. Let everyone do THEIR part. Anyway, you're talking too. Who are you to judge?

On the Manila Hostage-taking Tragedy

First, this whole taping someone who's dying / who died has got to stop. Seriously. Second, I still don't understand why the police had to focus on their conspiracy theory re: the hostage taker's brother. Third, if only they watched Denzel Washington's The Negotiator, they could have at least known that CALCULATED and ...not POINTLESS PATIENCE is the key. Fourth, it seemed like they didn't take the threat seriously and tried to intimidate someone, who obviously was ready to die, by harassing his brother. Fifth, from experience, pag may galit, BAWAL MANG-AGIT! Today is a sad day.

Let's all pray for the souls of the victims and pray harder that everyone learned a lesson or two from this unfortunate event. Please, please, please try to train our Crisis Management Teams more thoroughly. Oh and media, how do I start?

YOU KNOW what I MEAN (The Pacquiao-Hatton Fight.. err, Sleepover)

Ewan ko sa'yo Hatton, at mas malaking EWAN KO sayo MAYWEATHER Sr. You're better than Roach" YEAH, in the Ho-hum department!

Anyway, the fun part was Pacuiao's new obsession with the phrase, "I mean..." There really wasn't much to explain about what he meant, the bottomline is.. Pacquiao kicked Hatton's sorry ass if YOU KNOW what I MEAN. :p

Mayweather, please please give us a way better fight! At least reach the 3rd round or uhmm, fight or something.

BOOK MOOCH

I read this article in Manila Bulletin by Blooey Singson about the site www.bookmooch.com. It's an online book exchange site wherein you give away your books so you can get books from other people. I am looooving it. The idea is brilliant. People who are looking for books should check it out.

SORRY 2007 Barristers. =(

You still have to wait for a day because the SUpreme Court announced that the list of bar passers will be released tomorrow. They still have to finish encoding and checking the names and id numbers daw.

I hope everyone passes. *keeping fingers crossed*

Mr. Law School 2008

But it was moved to the 29th of February. Fun.
Will be hosting it too... Yay!

PASSPORT: DESTINATION MUSIC

Passport: Destination Music
Ateneo Law School's 1st Night of the Arts

Featuring Ateneo Law School Choir, SALSA, Forte, and other members of the law school community.

Music revisited. Talents rediscovered.

02.23.08. 8pm.
The Blue Leaf Events Pavillion.
Fort Bonifacio Global City.
Tickets at P100.
Get a chance to win roundtrip tickets courtesy of SEAir.

------------------

Author's Note: I am invoking my right to compel my friends into watching.
Calling my high school, college and law school friends... Please do watch.
I'm dancing [SALSA] and hosting the thingie.

PASSPORT: DESTINATION MUSIC

@ the NBC Tent [tentative]: Feb. 23, 2008

Ateneo Law School's 1st Night of the Arts Concert.

Ateneo Law School Choir. SALSA. Forte.

Showcase of talent. Showcase of unity.

Yay! SUPPORT US FRIENDS!

SAGIP-BATA FEEDING PROGRAM [from Ona]

The program is currently assisting 36 children ages one and a half to six years old. The children are provided morning snacks of milk and biscuits and are fed lunch from Mondays to Fridays. In between meals, they are taught to pray, sing, write, draw and dance. The children are also given vitamins and undergo regular medical check-up at the Payatas Health Center. They are de-wormed every six months.
Most of the children in the program stay on for about three to six months depending on when they are able to achieve normal body weight based on their age.
The Sagip Bata Feeding Program accepts check, cash, milk or rice donations. You may send these to the John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues, 2/F Benigno Mayo Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, QC.
Cash donations may also be sent to John J. Carroll, S.J. through Bank of the Philippine Islands Account Number 3085-8066-36.

Eunice's Choice of Electives

Law and Economics	Carmona	Friday, 4 - 6 pm
Tax Reforms and Policy	Bañez	Friday, 4 - 6 pm
Clinical Legal Education II	Atty. Sembrano	Friday, 7 - 9 pm
Int'l Eco Law 2	Attys. Abad/Gatdula	Friday, 7 - 9 pm
Collective Bargaining Agreement	Atty. Cadiz	Friday, 7 - 9 pm
Clinical Legal Education II	Atty. Vallente	Friday, 12 - 2 pm
Corporate Practice	Atty. Ceballos	Friday, 2 - 4 pm
Securities, Public Offerings & Stock Exchange Listings	Ozaeta	Saturday, 3 - 5 pm
Special Penal Laws	Judge Pimentel	Saturday, 12 -1 pm
Special Penal Laws	Justice Peralta	Saturday, 2 - 3 pm
Special Civil Action	Diokno	Saturday, 1 - 3 pm

FEEDBACK anyone?

It’s that Time of the Year AGAIN

We shall wait in agony as we watch our future unfold in front of us. Let’s all have faith and keep our fingers crossed. We may cry or laugh or become suicidal after but I say…

Grades… BRING IT ON!

Cine Europa Day 2: A Sort of Reunion

My second Cine Europa day for this year was planned a week before it happened. My long lost cousin, Jeff and I got in touch after what seemed like ages and decided to meet up for a sort of reunion / bonding / catching up. The plan was to watch from 12nn until 12 mn, but it didn’t push through because first, I wasn’t able to wake up in time to catch the 12nn flick and well, Jeff got “caught in traffic”, which I think is a sort of lame excuse. [Kidding!] When we finally got to meet, it was too late to catch even the 2pm film so we had to wait for Facing Windows whose screening is at 6pm and fall in line at around 4pm for the tickets. You will not believe how easily the tickets can run out. It’s a competitive sport, haha. My cousin and I had to get four tickets [for Haze and Rach] so after falling in line for our tickets; we separated and fell in line again to get another set. Pa-spy pa ang drama, nagkita pa sa hagdan after ng krimen. Apir cousin!

It was around this time that I texted Rach and Haze to join me and my cousin. Rachelle said yes and emphasized the importance of us watching that 9pm film, Just Sex and Nothing Else. The title easily enticed my cousin; the only word he could remember was Sex. We decided to enter the cinema late so we can fall in line first at around a few minutes after 6 for the Just Sex and Nothing Else tickets. When Rach arrived, I got to introduce her to Jeff whom she thinks looks cute because he looked like a big17 year old playing with his PSP. Our only dilemma was that the “brilliant Hazel” didn’t make it to fall in line for the 9pm film at six. So, the Cine Europa whores that we are tried to find a way to get Haze’s ticket. Alas, I saw my friend / high schoolmate Jan who was luckily alone. I asked her if I could fall in line [again] with her so I can get another ticket for my brilliant friend. She said yes and so we got to reconnect. I found out that she currently works or Gabriela as a writer. I knew she’d be someone someday, I’m glad she found her purpose. Now, with four tickets for Facing Windows and five tickets for Just Sex and Nothing Else, we asked Jan to just watch Facing Windows with us because it was apparent that Haze will not make it on time anyway.

Facing Windows was very interesting. It was about an old man with a mental problem who turned out to be a pastry expert who was looking for Simone. The twist was that Simone turned out to be a guy [the old man’s gay] and that they had a secret place where they would exchange love letters. When the Nazis came, the old man saved the very same people who judged him and Simone for being homosexuals. Ohh, but the real protagonist was this woman accountant who had a family and an absolutely hot husband who doesn’t take care of her. She met this absolutely way hotter guy who lives just across her apartment, thus the title Facing Windows. The cinematography was good; the little details were little puzzles that completed quite an exquisite picture. The lines fit the mood of the film. In other words, ahlaveeet.

Just Sex and Nothing Else probably is my most favorite of all the films in my three-day Cine Europa escapade. No, it’s not because there’s sex in it, in fact, it was surprisingly wholesome. What made it extraordinary are its wit and its ability to transform the usual plot [boy meets girl, they hate each other initially but the phrase, “The more you hate the more you love.” comes into place.” The woman is made cynical by her unfortunate relationship experiences thus hiding her being a romantic who wants to have kids and the guy reputed as playboy but in reality is a very loyal knight in shining armor.]

After our Cine Europa day, Haze, Rach, Jeff and I decided to have dinner at Hula! Hula! I’m so glad that Rach and Haze liked Jeff and Jeff, the usual “people-person” that he is, was able to jive with my friends. The night ended with us being won over to his side after a day of me teasing him about being a chauvinist [hehe]. It was a great second Cine Europa day.

Amazing Race: Thesis Edition

Got my official Thesis topic for the second part of my "Substantial Compliance" series in the evening of October 31. [Thanks Ana D.]

I started typing my first word for the thesis requirement at around 9pm last night [November 1], went to bed at around five in the morning after finishing my all new thesis statement, outline, and abstract.

I woke up at 9am to begin the grueling three thousand word Chapter One. I finished my Chapter One at 4:45 pm. Got to fix the bibiliography at 5:10pm and finished printing everything at 5:30 pm.

Left my house at 5:35 and specifically instructed the cab driver to "Step on the gas." because I need to be in Rockwell at 6. The cab driver happily obliged and a few near-coliision moments after, I was brisk-walking my way up the stairs to the Guard. After borrowing Lea's puncher and successfully fastening everything... she informed us that the papers are to be picked up at 8pm pa. Great.

And now, I'm OFFICIALLY ON A SEM BREAK!!!! Woohoo. Bring it on calories!

Legal Feasibility and Consequences of a Fixed Foreign Exchange Rate for OFW Remittances

my new thesis topic.

Thanks Ana D.

CINE EUROPA Day no.1: Eunice's Retreat / Cinema Getaway

I had my very own retreat. It's not your conventional silent retreat, heck it wasn't even spiritual, it was a CINE EUROPA retreat. If you know me, you prolly would just give me that knowing look because you're resigned to the idea that I have my weird ways. I watched The Taming of the Shrew [yeah, that Shakespearian play], Carol's Journey and Jalla! Jalla!. This is my own way of detoxifying and reflecting. I haven't watched a flick alone in years, I have almost forgotten how liberating it is. Not having to think of how to establish a conversation, not having to share your popcorn with anyone and being able to give my full attention to the film if I want to or let my mind wander a bit. It was a perfect ritual. Inside the cinema, I only have myself in mind.

It wasn't planned, it was more like a blessing in disguise when my friends Angel and Jason backed out on me. [Hmmph!] I tried to invite my other friends but everyone's busy with their own work, deadlines and everything that this cruel life has to offer.

My first film for this year's Cine Europa was The Taming of the Shrew. I was able to identify with Kate, not because I'm an outright shrew nor am I a bratinella [not close] but because of her being a surface toughie. The second film was too serious for me. Carol's Journey is set during the war. I know it could've been better appreciated by me if I didn't feel drained after The Taming of the Shrew. Carol's Journey, unfortunately, became my "break" in my movie marathon. The last film for the day was Jalla! Jalla!, and what can I say but J'adore! It was pretty refreshing, the plot's not new, it's about Mans, a guy who's having and erectile dysfunction and his friend, Roro who's being forced by his parents to marry a girl whom he doesn't love. I loved the humor and the fact that the guy playing Mans was effin' HOT. Woohoo!

At the end of the day, I tried to cap everything off by smoking at Shangri-La’s Smoking Area near Starbucks. A guy, who freaking looks like Jesus, asked if I can give him a cig stick. I said yes because I am reminded that Jesus is in everyone around us and how we treat them mirrors how we treat God. Yeah, yeah... It was more like, "Spreading the Lung Cancer," but I had good intentions. Then he sat in front of me, right at my table! I didn't mind him because I was actually making pa-cute to that other guy who borrowed my lighter a few minutes before "Jesus" came along.

It was a great day. I needed that.

CINE EUROPA 10 - FILMS AND SCHEDULE

CINE EUROPA 10 - FILMS AND SCHEDULE
Posted by: "Golda Gaudiel" at the Cinemanila yahoogroup:

OCT. 18-31, 2007
SHANG CINEPLEX, SHANG-RI LA PLAZA MALL

Summer with the Ghosts AUSTRIA
A film is being produced at the medieval fortress of Finterstein in Austria, at the great displeasure on the resident ghosts. Peter, the film producer is visited by his daughter Caroline from Montreal, who is on summer holiday. As her father is busy, she begins her own exploration of the fortress.

The Kiss BELGIUM
Sarah, a beautiful and gifted girl of 15, lives in a wealthy but dysfunctional family. She holds on to one dream: to run away and to become a professional ballerina.

Dead Man’s Hand BELGIUM
A wacky comedy about a frugal husband who spends his days repossessing goods purchased by big spenders–while an old friend teaches his neglected wife how to shop on a grand scale.

Kolya CZECH REPUBLIC
A bittersweet comedy set in Prague about an aging bachelor saddled with a small boy from Russia. It is set in the late 1980s, the period just before the fall of Communism in Czechoslovakia.

The Leap DENMARK
Tobias Jacobsen is 42. When the doctors tell him he is fatally ill, the earth opens up beneath him and he finds himself plunging into the abyss.

FC Venus FINLAND
A romantic comedy of men and women, and the differences between the two. It is a story of success and failure, the joy of winning and the fear of losing–and football.

La Mome FRANCE
From the streets of of the cutthroat Belleville district of Paris to the dazzling limelight of New York’s concert halls, Edith Piaf’s life was a constant battle to sing and survive, to live and love.

Summer in Berlin GERMANY
A story of two girlfriends, who, from their balcony–between heaven and earth gaze down at their turbulent and difficult universe, where the right men are all too often exactly wrong, and to get ahead even a good-looking woman had better be strong.

Just Sex and Nothing Else HUNGARY
Discovering that her lover is already married, Dora, a 30 year-old playwright, decides to give up on men. She focuses on satisfying her own desire to have a child and starts to look for a donor.

Inside I’m Dancing IRELAND
Michael has cerebral palsy and has spent all his life in residential care. He knows nothing beyond the walls of the Carrigmore Home for the Disabled. Until, that is, he meets new resident Rory, a wise-cracking rebel who will not allow his Duchenne muscular dystrophy to sap his spirit.

Facing Windows ITALY
Giovanna is a bookeeper in a company which packs chickens. She is married to a man who has a precarious job. Overburdened and stuck in a greying marriage, Giovanna begins to reflect on her life and turns to a young man who lives across from her.

You am I LITHUANIA
A contemporary tale about an architect-dreamer building a futurist house in a tree, within a gloomy forest.

Ellis in Glamourland THE NETHERLANDS
A world famous glamour guru is in town publicising her hugely successful help book. In a moment of brashness at a publicity presentation, she randomly selects unsuspecting hotel cleaner and single mother, Ellis, promising to turn her from "ugly duckling" to "beautiful swan".

Meeting the Enemy SLOVAKIA
The setting is a snow-covered landscape towards the end of World War II. The film revolves a day in the life of a soldier, who was tasked to escort his prisoner with orders to shoot him.

Carol’s Journey SPAIN
Carol, a 12 year-old Spanish-American girl from New York, travels with her mother to Spain in the spring of 1938, at the height of the Civil War. Separated from her beloved father, Carol arrives in her mother's home village and transforms the secretive family environment.

Jalla! Jalla! SWEDEN
Måns and Roro are best friends and work as park attendants. The days calmly pass by until Måns all of a sudden has serious problems getting an erection and Roro is faced with the fact that he has one week to avoid being married off.

Taming of the Shrew UNITED KINGDOM
Baptista has 2 daughters: Kate and Bianca. Everyone wants to wed the fair Bianca, but nobody’s much interested in problem child, Kate until Baptista declares that he won’t give Bianca away in marriage until he’s found a husband for Kate.

OCT. 18 (THURSDAY)
OPENING NIGHT
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 7:00 PM

OCT. 19 (FRIDAY)
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 12:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 2:00 PM
Dead Man’s Hand (Petite Miseras) (1:17) 4:00 PM
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 6:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 8:00 PM

OCT. 20 (SATURDAY)
Kolya (1:48) 12:00 PM
Leap (1:31) 2:15 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 4:15 PM
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 6:30 PM
La Mome (2:20) 8:30 PM

OCT. 21 (SUNDAY)
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 12:00 PM
Summer in Berlin (1:47) 3:30 PM
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 6:15 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 8:15 PM
You am I (1:30) 9:20 PM

OCT. 22 (MONDAY)
Facing Windows (1:36) 12:00 PM
You am I (1:30) 2:45 PM
Karakter (2:00) 4:45 PM
Lives of Others (2:17) 7:15 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 10:00 PM

OCT. 23 (TUESDAY)
Meeting the Enemy (2:00) 12:00 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:44) 2:30 PM
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 4:45 PM
Taming of the Shrew (2:07) 7:45 PM
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 10:00 PM

OCT. 24 (WEDNESDAY)
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 12:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 2:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 5:30 PM
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 7:45 PM
Dead Man’s Hand
(Petite Miseras) (1:17) 9:40 PM
OCT. 25 (THURSDAY)
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 12:00 PM
La Mome (2:20) 2:00 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 5:00 PM
Kolya (1:48) 7:20 PM
Leap (1:31) 9:40 PM

OCT. 26 (FRIDAY)
Taming the Shrew (2:07) 12:00 PM
Ellis in Glamourland (1:35) 2:30 PM
You am I (1:30) 4:30 PM
Karakter (2:00) 6:30 PM
Facing Windows (1:36) 9:00 PM

OCT. 27 (SATURDAY)
Shooting Dogs (1:55) 12:00 PM
Taming of the Shrew (2:07) 2:30 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:44) 5:00 PM
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 7:15 PM
Meeting the Enemy (2:00) 9:15 PM

OCT. 28 (SUNDAY)
Summer with the Ghost (1:25) 12:00 PM
Dead Man’s Hand
(Petite Miseras) (1:17) 2:00 PM
Fanny & Alexander (3:08) 4:00 PM
The Kiss (De Kuss) (1:37) 7:30 PM
Closely Watched Trains (1:29) 9:40 PM

OCT. 29 (MONDAY)
Jalla! Jalla! (1:28) 12:00 PM
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 2:15 PM
Facing Windows (1:36) 5:45 PM
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 8:00 PM
Lives of Others (2:17) 10:00 PM

OCT. 30 (TUESDAY)
Leap (1:31) 12:00 PM
La Mome (2:20) 2:00 PM
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1:31) 4:50 PM
Kolya (1:48) 6:50 PM
FC Venus (1:47) 9:15 PM

OCT. 31 (WEDNESDAY)
Just Sex & Nothing Else (1:30) 12:00PM
Karakter (2:00) 2:00 PM
Carol’s Journey (1:45) 4:45 PM
Summer in Berlin (1:47) 7:00 PM
The Leopard (II Gattopardo) (3:05) 9:15 PM

http://www.delphl.ec.europa.eu/index.cfm?pagename=specialfeature&feature...
DATES AND VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

CINE EUROPA na! [A SHOUTOUT]

RACHELLE!!!!! This is the moment we've been waiting for. CINE EUROPA NA, kahapon pa!

Special thanks to Meg for posting the schedule...

The SALUBONG That Was: Raves of a SALUBONG Virgin

Things always fall into their proper places.

The beer did fall and boy it was one helluva party!!!

It rained beer and it sure fell on us, on the floor, the bumping and grinding bodies of all the Ateneans who were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the "more than harassed but so damn excited and more than happy to end the misery" barristers after their last exam. Nasagutan na nila ang mga ETHICS nila. We wanted to calmly wait, we wanted to let the excitement build up until that first barrister comes out but we couldn't. The party started and it didn't stop until every tiny drop of that 5o thousand peso-supply of San Miguel beer drowned us. We didn't forget that it wasn't about us, it was about the BARRISTERS, it was about how we can make them feel how proud we are of them. Never mind that we were on the ground, never mind that the other schools were "literally" looking down at us, it wasn't the original plan but we cheered and yelled and poured beer like we were up there, heaven that is.

Things always fall into their proper places.

The Ateneo Law Students acted as ONE, forming a circle, a circle that was intended as a human barricade to stop the "other schools" from Usurping err, encroaching OUR SPOT. We may be on our feet that afternoon but we weren't feeling LOW, not close, not even a bit. Everyone was on a high. The Law School "Babble" was there, we had the sound system running, eternally playing OUR CHEER. The Ateneo Cheer which I am not really that familiar with, but I tried and I cheered anyway because nothing can be more inspiring than seeing your Law School Friends getting wet and wild together, waiting for the same people that you are waiting for. We were there not because of ourselves alone but mainly because THE BARRISTERS deserve an all-fun, no-fuss and no-drama SALUBONG. The Ateneo delivered.

Divine Intervention always comes when you need it the most. I still think that everything was a blessing in disguise. It was a time for us to realize that we have to be level-headed, mature and open to the possibility of plans getting screwed up.

Life is a play, if nothing bad or at least close to it happens, it's not a good play. Something very complicated and beautiful has to have drama in it. It takes class to rise up to the occasion and still continue to be happy despite the bad actors and actresses that we have to work with or in life's case, live with. Bad actors and actresses are a staple. "Nothing's perfect" and it's their job to make that cliche true. Despite everything, I still am happy that I was there.

We were happy. Congrats to the Ateneo Salubong Committee, to everyone who worked hard the whole month of September, to my "colleagues" in Sunday Ops [especially to Carm and Rams for accepting the understudy position that we offered them], to all the Ateneans who were there to cheer and be merry... to everyone who acted as one for the sake of the true stars of THAT PLAY, the barristers...

Of course, to the barristers who from the outside may be judged as the "pampered ones" but in reality are the MOST HARASSED, MOST TIRED and MOST STRESSED individuals for the past months... CONGRATULATIONS..

Until the next cans of beer are delivered, we shall rest or more appropriately... study again.

It was a good FIRST TIME.

Ateneo Law School's After-the-Bar Party

After-the-Bar Party

29 September 2007, Saturday

Embassy

Tickets are Php 200 each.

All tickets are for pre-selling.

We won't be selling tickets at the gate.

Embassy will be honoring our tickets only until 12mn.

OPEN BAR is from 10 pm-12mn.

Funds raised through this event will be for the benefit of one GK family. We're targetting to raise Php 70,000 to be able to sponsor one house in our GK community. See! You'll be partying for a very noble cause.

If you'd like to buy tickets, you can text me at 0917.5208979 or just corner me when you see me walking along the hallways. I really hope we all support this event!!!

I really hope to see everyone there!

Sincerely,

Tricia Cervantes

Your SC 2007-2008

The Forbes Asia 's 40 Richest Filipinos:

1. Henry Sy - $4.0 billion - He owns SM group with 27 shopping malls in the Philippines and several others in China . He also owns Banco de Oro Universal Bank and has substantial shares in China Banking Corp. and Equitable PCI Bank. He also owns Highlands Prime Holdings, a high-end property developer.

2. Lucio Tan - $2.3 billion - He owns Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier. His business interests include tobacco (Fortune Tobacco Corp.), beer and liquor (Asia Brewery Inc. and Tanduay Holdings Inc.), and banking (Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corp).

3. Jaime Zobel de Ayala - $2.0 billion - He is the patriarch of Ayala Corp., the Philippines ' oldest conglomerate, whose business interests include real estate and hotels (Ayala Land Inc.), financial services (Bank of the Philippine Islands), telecommunications (Globe Telecom Inc.), water infrastructure (Manila Water Co. Inc.), electronics and information technology (Integrated Microelectronics Inc. and Azalea Technology Investments Inc.) and automotive (Honda Cars Makati Inc. and Isuzu Automotive Dealership Inc.)

4. Eduardo Cojuangco - $840 million - He is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and Beverage Corporation in the Philippines

5. George Ty - $830 million - He founded Metropolitan Bank and Trust currently the largest bank in terms of Assets and Capital in the Philippines . He also has stakes in the Bank of the Philippine Islands and Philippine Savings Bank, a Metro bank subsidiary.

6. John Gokongwei - $700 million - He is the chairman of JG Summit holdings, whose subsidiaries include Cebu Pacific Air, Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., First Private Power Corp., JG Summit, Petrochemical Corp., Litton Mills Inc., Robinsons Land Corp., Robinsons Savings Bank, Sun Cellular, United Industrial Corp. and URC .

7. Tony Tan Caktiong - $575 million - He is the founder and current, Chairman and CEO of Philippine fast food chain Jollibee, ChowKing and Delifrance.

8. Andrew Tan - $480 million - He is the Mega world president.

9. Emilio Yap - $350 million - He is the owner of Manila Hotel, newspaper owner, Manila Bulletin, a national newspaper.

10. Oscar Lopez - $315 million - He is the chairman and CEO of Benpres Holdings Corp., the holding company of the Lopez group- Meralco, ABS -CBN, Maynilad Water.

11. Enrique Razon Jr. - $285 million - He is the chairman and chief executive officer, International Container Terminal Services Inc; publishing magnate.

12. Andrew Gotianun - $280 million - He is the chairman and CEO of East west Bank .

13. Enrique Aboitiz - $275 million - He is the WG&A president and chief executive officer.

14. Alfonso Yuchengco - $225 million - He is the chairman of Yuchengco Group of Companies:
Great Pacific Life Assurance Corporation (GREPALIFE)
Lifetime Plans, Inc.
Bankard, Inc.
Pan Malayan Management and Investment Corporation
Pan Malayan Travel and Tours
Pan Pacific Computer Center, Inc.
YGC Corporate Services, Inc.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)
RCBC Savings Bank
House of Investments
Malayan Insurance Company, Inc.
The First Nationwide Assurance Corporation
Malayan Reinsurance Corporation
Malayan Zurich Insurance Company, Inc.
Tokio Marine Malayan Insurance Co. Inc.
EEI Corporation
Nippon Life Philippines
AY Foundation
Honda Cars Quezon City
Honda Cars Manila
Mapua Institute of Technology
Manila Memorial Park
First Malayan Leasing and Finance Corp.

15. Menardo Jimenez - $210 million - He is the head for wireless consumer division of Smart Communications.

16. Gilberto Duavit Jr. - $210 million - He is the Executive Vice President and COO of GMA 7.

17. Ramon Del Rosario - $205 million - He is the president of Philippine Investment Management (PHINMA), Inc.

18. Felipe Gozon - $180 million - He is the president of GMA-7.

19. Beatrice Campos - $160 million - She is the widow of United Laboratories founder Jose Campos.

20. Luis J. L. Virata - $150 million - He is the UEM-MARA Philippines Corporation president.

21. David M. Consunji - $145 million - He is the founder of DM Consunji Construction .

22. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. - $140 million - He is the chairman of Rustan's Commercial Corporation.

23. Betty Ang - $115 million - President of Monde Nissin, maker of instant noodles, biscuits and snack food.

24. Manuel Villar - $110 million - Senate President of the Philippines and a real estate businessman who developed Camella, Palmera, Crown Asia , Serendra, etc.

25. Mariano Tan - $100 million -

26. Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza - $90 million – Splash Corporation(HBC/Hortaleza)

27. Oscar Hilado - $85 million - He is the chairman of the Phinma group,the Philippines ' biggest cement maker.

28. Vivian Que Azcona - $80 million - She is the president of Mercury Drug with over 500 outlets.

29. Manuel Zamora - $75 million - PHILEX Mining Corporation

30. Magdaleno Albarracin - $73 million - Vice Chairman of Phinma Group

31. Jesus Tambunting - $70 million - He is the Chairman & CEO of Planters Development Bank (PDB).

32. Frederick Dy - $65 million - He is the Security Bank president.

33. Tomas Alcantara - $60 million - He is a former Trade Secretary

34. Lourdes Montinola - $50 million - FEU Chairperson.

35. Salvador Zamorra - $45 million - He is the Hinatuan Mining president.

36. Mac & Daisy Potente - $45 million - Successful entrepreneur, own the town of Salinas in Cavite .

37 . Antonio Roxas - $40 million - Director and President of Roxas & Company Inc.; Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Roxas Holdings Inc. Executive Chairman of Central Azucarera Don Pedro (CADP) Group Corp.; Director & President of Roxas & Company Inc., Fundacion Santiago; Chairman of Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Club Punta Fuego
Inc., Fuego Land Corp., Jade Orient Sugar Corp.; Director of Batangas Assets Corp., Banco De Oro Private Bank, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT),Hawaiian Philippine Sugar Co.; Trustee of Philippine Business for the Environment, Philippine Business for Social Progress; President of Roxas - Gargollo Foundation.

37. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Sr. - $38 million -Alaska Milk Corporation

38. Philip T. Ang - $35 million -168 Mall partner.

39. Marixi Prieto - $30 million - Philippine Daily Inquirer chairman Inq.7

40. Manuel Pangilinan - $25 million - Chief Executive First Pacific Holdings HK,PLDT chairman, Smart, Makati Med

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41. Eunice Monsod - priceless - friend to everyone, lover to "someone"