JUSTICE Ralph Semino Galán

BY RALPH SEMINO GALAN from iligan mindanao He teaches literature, humanities and writing subjects at the Faculty
of Arts and Letters, University of Santo Tomas. He graduated magna
1. These are the accoutrements of her office: cum laude with an AB English (major in Literature) degree from the
2. The blindfold symbolizing impartiality; Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology.

3. A golden pair of scales measuring the validity • He was a fellow to all the national writers’ workshops (Silliman
[1995], U.P. [1996] and Iligan[1997]), as well as to the 2nd ASEAN
4. Of evidence given, both pro and con; Writers’ Workshop/ Conference on Poetry. His poems in English and
Filipino have won prizes from the Philippine Panorama (1993) and
5. The double-edged sword that pierces through Home Life Magazine (1998) poetry contests. Ralph has an M.A. in
English Studies (major in Creative Writing) from the UP-Diliman.
6. The thick fabric of lies; Thoth’s feather
• 1997-2002 member of the admin staff of the UP National
7. Of truth which ultimately determines whether
Writers’ Workshop
8. The defendant’s life is worth saving.
• 1999 to 2002- as the Workshop Coordinator
9. In J. Elizalde Navarro’s oil painting titled
• writes book reviews for the Lifestyle Section of the Philippine
10. Is this Philippine Justice? The figure Daily Inquirer

11. Of the Roman goddess Justitia slowly fades • His first chapbook of poetry The Southern Cross and Other
Poems was launched last December 2005 by the National
12. Into thin air, swallowed by pigments Commission for Culture and the Arts as part of its UBOD New
Authors Series.
13. Cloudy as doubts. In my uncertain country
14. Where right and wrong are cards
15. That can be shuffled like a pile of money bills,
16. Even the land’s Chief Magistrate
17. Is not immune from culpability; found guilty
18. He has to face the music of derision.
Before we start, what comes first in your mind when you hear the Philippine's Justice is like the figure of the Roman goddess Justitia
word Justice? Is it Fair? Always resides with the truth? Well maybe on that slowly fades into the air, like the Justice in our country it can be
some countries. But not ours. Not in the Philippines. How could I say manipulate by the power and money. Yeah, that’s right. If you have
that? Well, it’s classified. I’m kidding. But first, What is Justice? power and Money then you could easily put the law in your hand. Be
Justice means having equality and fairness to others. The principles superior. Be Invincible. But If you’re an Impecunious, then you don’t
of justice are procedural, retributive and restorative justice. Such have the right to withstand the Law. To withstand the Society. To
principles are supposed to be ensured - unbiased, consistent and withstand the World. And that’s the one thing I’m sad for. There
unreliable discussions. It focuses on carrying out rules in a fair should be no Man above the Law.
manner sothed just outcome might be reached.
A criminal is a criminal the moment that he or she commits a crime,
Justice is a poem written by Ralph Semino Galán. And who is Ralph not because he or she has been convicted and sentenced by a court
Semino Galán? Ralph Semino Galán is a poet, literary critic and of law. So many criminals in this country have gotten away with sheer
translator. He is an Associate Professor of Literature, the Humanities, murder, oftentimes in cold blood, especially if they are rich, due to the
and Creative Writing at the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters and the slowness of the wheels of justice in our judiciary. Rhetoric and knee-
UST Graduate School. He has an A.B. in English (Major in Literature) jerk reaction will not get us anywhere as a people, since we are a
magna cum laude from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute nation so full of opinions, but irritatingly a "sad republic" which cannot
of Technology, and an M.A. in English Studies (Major in Creative follow even the basic rules. There should be no exemptions created
Writing) from UP Diliman, where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in above the law. Let Chief Justice Renato Corona’s case be a lesson. A
Comparative Literature. His works both creative and critical, have Judge that has been Judged by his Nation.
been published in numerous national and international anthologies
and literary journals.
Why are symbols important in a poem? Explain what some of the
I’ve had a hard time deciphering the poem. And i bet that you do too. symbols mean, and how they add to the meaning of the poem?
There’s just so many Words and Ways on how the poem runs. But
what really tells me is that this poem is about the impeachment of The symbol is important in the poem because it helps us to
Chief Justice Renato Corona. Of course, in every line there’s comprehend deeply and it also widens our understanding. Some of
something that is hidden. Like in line 16-18. And it says there that, the symbols means like the “Golden pair of scale” for example, it
Even the land chief Magistrate is not immune from culpability, found serve as the emblem of evaluating and weighing the testimony with
guilty. He has to face the music of derision. It’s exactly the equality for both parties. Another example is the “Double-edged
Impeachment of Renato Corona because he was found guilty by the sword” that serve as the warrior who strike or breaks the wall of lies to
Senate of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment filed against him for show the truth. These symbols are only the branches or part of the
his failure to disclose to the public his statement of assets, liabilities, whole which is the symbol of justice or The Lady Justitia. These
and net worth. And did I tell you that our Justice here in the symbols add to the meaning of the poem by capturing and enhancing
Philippines is not fair? Here’s why. In line 9-13, it stated that the implied message that the author wants to convey to the readers.
 Of all the objects that Justice owns, which one do you think is the
most important? Why?
Why are symbols important in the life of a nation? What do people get
from the symbols of a nation? I think the most important is the blindfold that symbolizes impartiality.
We all have different race, religion, age or gender, whether we are
The symbols are important to the life of the nation because it serve as poor or rich, young or old, we are all the same because we are human
the representation of who they are or the characterization of what kind being and that’s the reason why justice should treat us all fairly and
of nation is it. Through symbols, people will have an idea or equally.
knowledge and we will easily know and identify what kind of nation is
them.
Why does Justitia look like she is fading in the painting?
Why does the poem describe the Philippines as “my uncertain Justitia looks like she is fading in the painting because as we can
country”? see in the justice system today, fairness and equality disappear, the
lies become the truth and the treatment towards everyone are
It describe the Philippines as “my uncertain country” because you different in short Justice is just merely a word. Nothing more. Nothing
will not know what will occur or happen next in the decision or less.
judgement of the adjudicator because justice in the Philippines is easy
to manipulate so it is hard to trust them.
What does the simile, “right and wrong can be shuffled like cards” Why is money mentioned in the poem?
mean? What does this mean when it comes to any of the following:
politics and politicians, the police and the justice system? I think the money was mentioned in the poem because it plays a big
role in the field of justice. It can manipulate a certain testimony that
For me, the meaning of the simile “right and wrong can be shuffled can destroy thevictim’s life or much more an innocent life.
like cards” is the mixing of the truth and the lies. When it comes to the
politics, politicians, police or justice system it means that the lies can Why was it important for the Chief Justice to be impeached? What is
become the truth and because of that the judgment can turn it into an the message for Filipino government officials?
upside-down decision. I think it is important for him to be impeached because the evidence
are clearly stated that he is a corrupt official and he violated many
rules about the constitution. The message for the Filipino
Justice in the Philippines has an unequal treatment for the people Government Official is that they should serve with integrity and don’t
unlike other country where fairness and equality of justice prevails. abuse their power.
Why does the Chief Justice have to “face the music of derision”? Is he
derided, not only for his crime, but because he was caught?
The chief justice have to face the music of derision because it is the
consequences for the crime he made. He is derided, not only for his
crime but because he was caught. He should be ashamed for what
he’d done because he is one of the most powerful official that serve
the Government but he violated many rules by abusing his power.