BLOCK PRIMER
2ND YEAR – D, FIRST SEMESTER
Contributor: Florence Contreras, 3D
Project of:
Cyndy dela Cruz, 2
nd
Year Batch Representative
Dearest Block D, Good luck for this semester. I believe in each and every one of you. God bless you! <3 Cyndy
Subject: LAND TITLES
Professor: Atty. Dante Cadiz
Teaching Style:
He conducts recitations. He usually calls 4 persons per meeting but he can call more than that if nagmamadali na siya. Students get called twice for the whole sem. Sir is very nice, he’s patient with his students even to those who don’t know the answer however you’ll see that he’s disappointed. He assigns long readings and he usually finishes it. Everything you have to know is in the book, so read it (medyo makapal lang yung book). When he calls someone for recitation, he starts the question with a lecture and the student called should continue with the topic. He fails at most one (1) student.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
AGCAOILI Book and Reviewer. As far as I know, he doesn’t like seeing the AGCAOILI reviewer in class. You can also use the reviewer made by the previous batch used by our block. All you have to do is ask any of us.
Grade Range:
High 70s to low 80s but mostly 75!
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
Read the Book. He assigned only 5 cases for the whole semester (but this might change). Understand the procedure and in case you really don’t know, SMILE.
MIDTERMS:
Midterms was MCQ with two (2) essay questions. Not one from our block didwell in the midterms. The choicesfor MCQwere confusing. (ex. Question blah blahblah: a. YES, according to PD 1529; b. NO, according to PD 1529; c. YES, according to Jurisprudence; d. NO, according to Jurisprudence.
FINALS:
Subject: AGENCY
Professor: Dean Cesar Villanueva
Teaching Style:
CLV is a brilliant professor. You’ll feel that there is no right answer. When he calls a student, he doesn’t stop until he gets his expected answer (don’t worry, he gives clues naman, <-this is the funny part). If the student can’t answer, he’ll call another but the first student remains standing (not until CLV is satisfied with that student’s answer). When he calls two (2) persons at the same time and he asks them the same question, he is actually inciting a debate. Defend your answer. He bases his lecture on his syllabus but the order is based on what he is thinking. He assigns students to cases he intends to discuss at the start of each class, but he rarely finishes them and the same is continued to the next meeting. He speaks very fast, don’t be surprised. Oh, and be prepared toleave the class emotionally damaged. CLV has a sharp tongue. But, I swear he doesn’t mean it the wrong way.
Recording his lectures might help you in reviewing for midterms.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
VILLANUEVA Book, CLV’s Syllabus, and CLV’s blog posts before he published his book.
Grade Range:
High 70s to mid 80s. He’s very transparent with grades. He gives the class cards at the end of the semester so you’ll know your class standing.
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
Read his book and his syllabus. Although sometimes he assigns a topic then discusses another, don’t panic. If you have an assigned case, read the case in the original AND read his discussion in his book. It’ll help you answer his questions.
Warning: You can never prepare enough for a CLV recit.
MIDTERMS:
Midterms only covers agency (and trust if he says so). His exams usually consist of two (2) parts, Part A (MCQ) and Part B (Problems). You can start studying by reading his past exams. He usually doesn’t repeat questions in MCQ but you will somehow be familiar with the way he structure his questions. If you read his book simultaneously with his syllabus, reading the syllabus will do but make sure to run through your highlights in the book. Listen to his lectures and take down notes. He asks questions from his lectures. Read the code and memorize relevant
definitions. Especially attributes and characteristics, know them by heart. He sometimes repeats problems in essays but he tweaks the questions a bit.
FINALS:
Subject: PROPERTY
Professor: Atty. Francis Ampil
Teaching Style:
He has a very effective technique in teaching. I saw that you have 2 hours on Wednesdays and 2 hours on Fridays, what he does is he allots a day for Codal Provisions and a day for cases. He makes you memorize “important provisions.” Expect that he will make all of you recite individually, so do memorize. For the codal provisions, he will make you read an article then let you discuss-slash-explain the article in your own words. For cases, Sir follows the order provided in the syllabus. TIP: Listen to the one reciting, if he read the wrong provision or recited the wrong case, he will immediately call another person without saying anything, this means that that person called should recite the correct provision or case. If he calls you, you should know the next provision or the next case AND you should answer immediately, otherwise he will make you sit down. Awareness is the key. He is also very strict with the proper attire, especially with men.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
PARAS Book. Digests are available in the circulation but you can always make your own.
Grade Range:
80s to low 90s
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
Memorize important provisions and tables verbatim. He asks the whole class to recite important provisions!
Read Paras Book, highlight important commentaries so that you can easily see later during class what to discuss after you read the provision. What I personally did was make notes in my codal, just key words and acronyms, that’ll do. For cases, you can use digest but it’s better if you read them in the originals. Sir sometimes asks details sa facts just to make sure you read the original OR if he feels that you didn’t understand the case nor read the original.
MIDTERMS:
Samplex and case doctrines. Memorize 415, again (He might ask this in the midterms or finals).
FINALS:
Subject: CREDIT TRANSACTIONS
Professor: Atty. Joseph San Pedro
Teaching Style:
He’s definitely much nicer in CredTrans than he is in ObliCon. He assigned 6 cases for the whole Semna.He still fails students but lesser (He failed only two [2] people in our class – but this might change this year). Many dropped this subject in our (and previous) batch(es) – more than half of the class. He calls students for recit but mostly on the 2nd half of the sem, he just lectures. The ones he calls are not from the deck but with common factors or
features, e.g. gold hairs, etc. His grade breakdown is 10-10-80:Recit-MT-FIN so watch out.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
DE LEON Book (though I didn’t read this. He doesn’t base his lecture on this and he often talks little of this). The so-called “Magic Notes” is available in the circulation.
Grade Range:
85 MAX! – as far as I know.
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
You can never prepare enough. JPSP asks practical questions and expects practical answers. Study the “magic notes” and read the code. Also, make sure a classmate of yours is not wearing similar clothes to you; otherwise JPSP might call you both. Bring in some confidence and some cushion for your ego; his class can crush your whole being.
MIDTERMS:
JPSP rarely checks Midterms exams. If he doesn’t check, he’ll give the class a perfect score, but if he does, he’ll base yourstanding (pass/fail) on your Midterm Grade.
FINALS:
Review everything he taught and lectured on. If you took down notes, you’ll figure out his favorite questions. He almost never asks questions on topics he did not discuss. Samplex might help but no guarantees. REMEMBER: This is 80% of your grade.
Subject: CRIM PRO
Professor: Judge Pimentel
Teaching Style:
He talks a lot. Only 5-6 people are called to recite per meeting. He asks the class to read cases but not for recitation.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
PAMARAN Book. He follows the order in the book. San Beda Crim Pro Reviewer.Codal.
Grade Range:
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
Use San Beda Law Reviewer. He asks the requisites, and asks you to enumerate but you can glance at your notes from time to time. He’s very lenient with recitation and coaching. Although he bases the order of his lecture in the book, his questions are usually not based on it but from actual practice. If you don’t know the answer, just say anything that is quite related on the topic and he’ll discuss the correct answer. Smile!
MIDTERMS:
2 points each for MCQ. He is well-known for giving long exams and many essay questions. Don’t skip questions, even if you don’t know the answer. Write anything that is quite related to the topic.
FINALS:
Subject: FORENSIC MEDICINE
Professor: Atty. Arizala
Teaching Style:
Discussion.
Pure lecture. You just have to laugh at his jokes. This subject is interesting, a break from all the heavy subjects. Sometimes, he gives pop quizzes based on his lectures so do come to class.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
No books. He gives his PowerPoint Slides at the end of the Sem for you to review.
Grade Range:
High 80s to Low 90s.
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
No Recits just Pop Quizzes. Just listen to his lectures.
MIDTERMS:
Midterms is based on his Quizzes and Lectures.
FINALS:
Samplex might help. Memorize parts he said he’d include in the finals. In our class, he laughingly told us to memorize a certain poem for our exams, no one believed him, HE DID INCLUDE THE POEM IN OUR FINALS!
Subject: NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS
Professor: Atty. Mercado
Teaching Style:
He rarely lectures, it’s usually just recitation. He shuffles a lot even during the recits. He assigns many cases. The cases are quite hard but you just have to know the doctrine/s related to the topic being discussed. Sir helps you should you be confused.
Recommended Book/Reviewers Available:
DE LEON’s Negotiable Instruments Law book; reviewers prepared by previous batches.
Grade Range:
75 to mid 80s
How to prepare for:
RECITATIONS:
He assigns certain provisions to be recited verbatim. However, familiarizing yourself with the provisions helps make the recit go smoother. He’s very particular about cases, so try to read in the originals.
MIDTERMS:
Modified True or False, MCQ, Essay (usually situational)
