Judge Simeon Dumdum: Law and literature at the speed of broadband

For this award-winning judge from Cebu City, the mouse is mightier than the sword.

Judge Simeon Dumdum Jr. of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court once described himself as "more a man of letters than a man of the law". In writing his decisions, he says that he avoids using too much legalese and instead simplifies his explanations. "I concentrate on telling the story rather than blabbing about legalities," he says.

This is not surprising as, apart from being a lawyer for the past 23 years, Judge Dumdum is an award-winning poet and essayist. He started writing when he was 18 years old, and to date, he has five books under his belt. He has won various awards including the National Book Award, the Cebu Archdiocesan Mass Media Award and the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature.

The winning streak extends to the courts. He was cited at the recent annual Judicial Excellence Awards for "Best Decision in Criminal Cases for Second Level Courts," besting other judges from all over the Philippines.

"Being a writer directly influences my being a lawyer and a judge because I have broader insights on people and on the world," Dumdum says.

Recently he discovered a more efficient way of getting his work done-with the use of the Internet. He subscribes to Smart Bro, the fixed wireless broadband Internet service of Smart Communications, Inc. He was introduced to the technology by a colleague, Judge Meinrado Paredes, whose wife, Atty. Jane Paredes, is Smart's public affairs manager for the Visayas and Mindanao.

"Now I can connect to the official site of the Supreme Court of the Philippines," he says. "The site is very useful, with (links to) history, justices, rolls of justices, structure, jurisprudence, and authorities." The site also posts announcements, news, and matters such as bar exam results.

"I often visit the Supreme Court E-Library," Dumdum says. It is the first fully searchable Internet-based digital library in the country that allows user access to all Supreme Court Decisions. Law students from participating law schools can access the e-Library from their school's libraries.

Smart's wireless broadband service is up to several times the speed of regular dial-up connections, making surfing the Internet and online chatting much faster and easier.

"Before I had an Internet connection, I used to do my research using a special CD-ROM containing full-text versions of the Philippine Constitutions, Republic Acts, Presidential Decrees, Executive Orders, and other documents," Dumdum says.

"As useful as it was, the CDs were very expensive," Dumdum admits. "My Internet connection saves me more time and money, and allows me to research more extensively," he says.

Dumdum also uses his wireless broadband connection for emailing. "I also regularly check new software and updates," he says. His 20-year old daughter uses the service for her schoolwork. "It is functional, and I recommend it to others in my profession," Dumdum says.

Smart Bro works even without a landline connection. The computer is connected by a cable to a Smart Bro outdoor antenna. The "wireless" component is the direct "line-of-sight" connection from the outdoor antenna to the nearest Smart cell site for the strongest possible signal.

Judge Dumdum says that although his work can sometimes get very wearing, innovations like wireless broadband Internet help him to serve the people better.