The Alternative Lawyering Internship Experience

The Alternative  Lawyering

                A month ago I have had a lot of first times in the internship program. I’ve had my first time being exposed in the immersion process, to be engaged in paralegal stuffs, to travel to different places concerning environmental issues which also involves my IP brothers and sisters and other than that, it was my very first time to have heard the word “alternative lawyering.” Right to its very core, indeed it is proper to say that the highest form of alternative lawyering is realized when the poor and marginalized become lawyers themselves and engage in the practice of law in its original and noble sense as aptly stated in an article written by Atty. Marlon J. Manuel. From the field exposure I had, I felt the administration of justice towards our unfortunate IP siblings in their fight for their ancestral domain. These issues that I have directly experienced during the internship were not common issues in the typical lawyering world. I’ve learned so much from my seniors and from the community people themselves who were direct parties to a pending case against mining. The legal knowledge and skills employed based on my observation during our actual experience of what it really feels like to become an alternative lawyer is something to look up to. It is totally quite different when you are in the field mingling with the concerned parties and being able to stand in the very place where conflicting parties have struggled over conflicting interests.

                I am amazed at how people like Sir Cocoi and the rest of the team of the ALG are able to make use of their skills and passion to eliminate deeply rooted injustices in communities that need legal aid and in the process attain what is called “social justice”.

                Alternative lawyering is not just lawyering for the poor but WITH the poor. It’s a collaborative effort between law advocates and the marginalized people. It teaches them not to be dependent but to make them realize that they need to learn by heart what the laws are in order for them to stand independently and fight for their rights. If they are able to do so, alternative lawyers will be with them hand in hand, together, to be empowered and to make use of the law as a tool for achieving justice and fairness.

My Host Institution

                The LRC-CDO has become an extended family of mine. 

When Sir Cocoi chose me to be one of his interns, I didn’t know what to expect and it is a good thing because I never thought that I would be so lucky to have a mentor like him. Honestly, I am really grateful that I was assigned at LRC because I am well taken cared of and it feels as if I really belong in the group. Reporting to the office on a mundane basis for a span of almost two months made it harder for me to say goodbye because I have learned to treasure these people even for a short span of time. The bond that we formed with Sir Cocoi, my fellow interns Choco and Rejee, DJ, Sir Erwin, Ate Tetchie and the ladies from Samdhana Institute is priceless. I’ve learned so much from them be it in work or in any facet of my life. Given the conducive working place, the airconditioned offices, wi-fi connections, foods, travels, learnings and laughters are things I will never forget being an intern in the LRC.

Working with Co-interns and Staff

      I have to say from the first time we met, we have already connected. There was never a moment that we have had serious conflicts; in fact we were all smiling. I can never remember a dull moment with Sir Cocoi, my co-interns or with the Samdhana ladies. We have this give and take relationship, respect, understanding and a maturity that we all share of the same wavelength. Our relationship with each other goes beyond co-interns/boss for we work not just a team but more like a family. 

Not only did I get to work with the awesome people of LRC and Samdhana Institute but I also got the chance to mingle with my fellow interns from CDO and Davao wherein they too were assigned in different ALG's like Balaod Mindanaw, Kaisahan and Saligan. Definitely it was a great experience together with my close friend Ching and best friend Glenice, we have had the chance of widening our circle of friends in the person of Choco, Rejee, Yahoo, DJ, Zed, JJ, Maia, Alfie, Mark, Ian and Onyot. I pray that one day, these fellow law students of mine from XU, Liceo, CU, FEU, ADMU and ADDU will soon be our panyeros and panyeras in the legal profession, God-willing. Memories of you guys always flash back every now and then. I've missed you already.

Highlights

      For me, meeting people from different organizations and traveling from Cantilan, Anislagan and Bayanga, every road trip we took, every encounter we had, every picture we captured and every community discussion we initiated were all highlights to me as an LRC intern. The discussion on AMMB, meeting with IP chieftains who were on the hit list, to study abruptly about EO 79 for a community discussion, being tailed and pictured by mining company employees were all of the same weight as important as the other field exposures I had in the entire internship program.

Recommendation

                It has been my observation that a job like this being taken by a strong and dedicated man like Sir Cocoi is still quite a risky profession. Since I would always look into the security issues whenever I travel to some other unknown territory, I believe it is wise to employ people who have the skills in arms and weaponry for protection against unforeseen attacks of any kind, be it enemies in a case or the other way around.