Editor’s Note
Once again, the Philippines finds itself in the middle of election season mired by political turmoil, scandals, and controversies. Campaign jingles can be heard on the streets twice a day and posters of seemingly ageless politikos are plastered all over the shanties in the Metro. A good number of candidates, both from the local and national political scene, are also facing several complaints concerning election-related offenses coupled with show cause orders from the Commission on Elections regarding the same.
While we are not short of election-related drama for the first quarter of 2025, the newsroom has also been nothing but quiet, starting with the arrest of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte by the International Criminal Court; the ongoing tariff wars between the United States and China; and the death of Pope Francis, which may (or may not) pave the way for a Filipino pope in the upcoming months.
With the inevitable shift in the powers that be, the world, as we know it, is once again on the precipice of change. Whether itโs for the better or for the worse, only time can tell.
Change is a phenomenon that has always been a part of natureโevident in the shifting of the seasons, the turning of the tides, and the waning of the moon. It is felt in the absence of constant company that is seemingly no longer there. While change brings feelings of anxiety, uneasiness, and uncertainty, we tend to go on and persist, despite it all.
For the second issue of thebarrister, we have taken the liberty to tell stories that show indefatigable grit and perseverance. Topping the bar, rising through the ranks in government service, and scoring the hail mary shot for the basketball championship are all narratives of resolve and determination that show what can happen if one simply never gives up even when faced with adversities and set-backs beyond oneโs control. The waves of life may have different ebbs and flows, but a rising tide can lift all boats.
We cannot find the anchors of our truth if we have not wrestled with our own doubts, fears, and uncertainties. In the same manner, we cannot claim to advocate for justice if we cannot stand to tell the truth and face its consequences. As thebarrister closes the gates Beyond San Beda, we hope that the debt we have incurred to tell the truth has been lessened, and our mandate, dutifully dispensed with.
Until the last checkered flag,
Micah Marie F. Naadat
Editor-in-Chief
P.S. Thank you to the pubsquad members and my Editorial Board for the patience, hard work, and generosity of talent and time that you have all shared with me for this publication year. Lewis Hamilton, one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, was winless in 2022 and 2023. Still, he was able to break his 945-day wait for a podium win during the 2024 British Grand Prix. Being your EIC felt like that win for me.
THE BARRISTER 