By Farah G. Decano   WHEN I was a law student in the 1990s, I made it a point to drive to Ayala Avenue in Makati during the festive Christmas season to enjoy the fascinating and elaborate light displays. The spectacle of a multitude of blinking lights formed into various…

By Farah G. Decano   TODAY, I received a letter from Executive Judge Mervin Samadan of the Dagupan City Hall of Justice extolling five law externs from the Lyceum-Northwestern College of Law who happened to be observing the procedures in his sala.  He saw the smartly-dressed young men and women…

By Farah G. Decano   LAST Thursday, Senator Raffy Tulfo took Senator Cynthia Villar to task about the alleged indiscriminate conversion of agricultural lots into residential and mixed-use developments.  Coming from a family that develops land into subdivisions, Senator Villar defended their business undertaking and stated that they only target…

By Farah G. Decano   THE COVID pandemic has demonstrated that many things are possible if only we set our minds on making them real.  The alternatives we developed during the height of the contagion were not necessarily inferior to present processes.  Some are, in fact, brilliant.  I am hoping…

By Farah G. Decano   I am all for human rights of the marginalized, including the rights of the LGBT plus communities.   This does not mean, however, that I turn a blind eye towards the heartbreaking reality of wives trapped in loveless marriages because they have been tricked by their…

(First of two parts) By Farah G. Decano   THIS is the famous line of Narda before she becomes Darna.  She calls on her brother, Ding, to toss the mystical stone to her which, when swallowed, will turn her into the famous flying heroine who wore two-piece crimson garments. What…

By Farah G. Decano   WE call the structure that houses several Philippine courts as the Hall of Justice.  These courts are expected to dispense justice. Anything less is prejudicial to either or both of the contending parties.  It is, therefore, the Court Administrator’s task to ensure that each edifice…

By Farah G. Decano   “KUNG makakalibre, magpapalibre.”  “Kung makakalamang, manlalamang.” Starting from my early years in the profession, I had noticed lumpenproletariat behavior of some Filipinos even amongst the so-called wealthy members of society. Decades ago, I was brought along by my parents, who came with other delegates from…

By Farah G. Decano   WITH eyes flaming in anger, Percy Lapid stared at me.  He likely believed that he could scare me with that conduct when he appeared at a Manila court for his arraignment some ten to twelve years ago.  He had, at that time, several unimplemented warrants…

By Farah G. Decano   THIS is a traditional phrase used by lawyers who appear before the Supreme Court during oral arguments.  It is supposed to be a very respectful expression of reverence and respect for the honorable occupants of the august judicial chambers. Former undersecretary and NT-ELCAC spokesperson, Lorraine…