RP bet for Miss U aims to be a cyber lawyer

People at the House of Representatives may probably remember her. She was with them almost everyday early last year during the deliberations for the Electronic Commerce Bill. She was then handing out primers on e-commerce to lawmakers to help them understand the world’s emerging method of doing business.

But the lanky law student from the University of the Philippines was then considered a complete nobody. No one asked for her autograph on the primer she co-authored. No one was making appointments to see and meet her. She was then nothing but a pretty lass who wanted to be a lawyer.

Zorayda Ruth Andam’s life, however, has completely changed. From a complete unknown, suddenly her name is now remembered by almost everybody. And from an ordinary student, she is now one of the country’s ambassadors of beauty and goodwill.

Well, folks, give way to this year’s Bb. Pilipinas Universe.

Crowned last Saturday, Zorayda, or Zora to her family and friends, will be representing the country to the Miss Universe tilt in Puerto Rico this May. This early, many are placing their bets that she will replicate, or even surpass, what Miriam Quiambao achieved two years ago.

"She’s tall, poised and articulate," said one observer. "And she looks very Filipina. She can give other candidates a run for their money."

Unknown to many, this third-year law student is not all beauty. She also has brains, considering that she was one of those instrumental in the passage of Republic Act 8792, more popularly known as the country’s E-Commerce Act.

In 1999, while working as a research assistant for then Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Felipe Medalla, she was tapped to co-write the E-Commerce Primer by AGILE (Accelerating Growth Investment and Liberalization with Equity), a foundation funded by the United States. She did extensive research on e-commerce, read and re-read the United Nations model e-commerce law, and simplified what was once a very complex thing for Filipino legislators to comprehend.

Zora admitted that after working on the primer for three months with Dr. Emmanuel Lallana, executive director of the e-ASEAN Task Force, and lawyer Rudy Quimbo, chief of staff of Sen. Juan Flavier, she began to have this dream of becoming a cyber lawyer.

"Cyber law is challenging because it is a totally new concept, a totally new field" she said. "Next to women’s rights, this is one area I also want to specialize in."

Long way to go

The Philippines, according to Zora, still has a long way to go in developing e-commerce. Not even one percent of the population is connected to the Internet, and she believes it will take several years, or even a decade, before Filipinos would buy and sell things online.

Nonetheless, she considers the enactment of the E-Commerce Act a "big step toward the right direction." And she admitted that although the E-Commerce Act still needs improvement, it is enough to put the Philippines in the global map of the Internet.

"It’s a good start. Having a law that recognizes and protects electronic transactions is a good way to convince people that e-commerce is safe," she said.

RA 8792 was signed on June 14, 2000 by then President Joseph Estrada. It provides for the protection of electronic commercial transactions and sets penalties for abuses such as hacking or the unauthorized accessing of secured computer files or networks.

The measure was discussed in the two chambers of Congress for two years before it was passed. Save for the title, which is the Electronic Commerce Act, the law was based almost completely on the Senate version which was authored by Senators Juan Flavier, Blas Ople and Vicente Sotto III and co-sponsored by Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr.

The day he signed the measure, Estrada admitted that electronic commerce was a relatively new concept to Filipinos since it basically covered all types of business done through the Internet. However, he acknowledged that these businesses would be worth "trillions of dollars in a few years’ time."

The Philippines, in effect, is the third country in Asia to enact e-commerce legislation. Singapore and Malaysia were ahead by a year or two, but their laws – the Singapore Transactions Act and the Malaysian Cyberlaw – were also patterned after the UN model.

Zora has done a study comparing the e-commerce laws of the three countries and the UN model. She showed a copy of the study to this writer, but she did not want to make it public without the consent of the agency that commissioned her to do it.

One dream to fulfill

Winning a beauty title is said to be the dream of every girl. But not Zora. Since she was 10, she remembers having only one dream – to become a lawyer.

Her dream stemmed from watching TV series such as LA Law while growing up in Baguio. Every night, her young world was turned into a courtroom where men and women in expensive suits exchanged all kinds of arguments.

"I’m going back to law school after my reign," she said. "That’s non-negotiable for me."

Zora grew up to be a sensitive and articulate woman. She easily feels other people’s concerns. And she is good in comforting those who are hurting.

In the week she spent with other Bb. Pilipinas candidates, she acted as the counselor for those who were hurt by harsh criticisms, especially from the press.

In one of the pre-pageant presentations, she recalls comforting one of her fellow candidates who overheard a reporter criticizing her skin. "Magaspang daw kasi ang balat niya (She was told she had rough skin). But I told her, ‘Don’t be affected by what others say about you. Your view of yourself should not depend on what others think about you.’"

During the pageant night, her wisdom impressed the crowd and the judges, including the foreigner who inquired on how she envisioned herself five years from now.

"I see myself as a woman of principle, exuding beauty and character," she answered.

Zora virtually clinched the Bb. Pilipinas title with her confident answer to the question thrown at her and the others who made it to the Top Five.

"How would you compare the Filipino woman then and now?" the five lovely ladies were asked.

"Women in the past were demure and reserved," she answered, then continued: "Now, they play more dynamic roles in society."

Filipinos probably would not be surprised if Zora plays a dynamic role in this country’s future. This early, some are already comparing her to Gloria Diaz, who won the Miss Universe title in 1969. Like Diaz, Zora has authentic Filipina looks, something international judges look for. Since all of the candidates are beautiful in their own right, judges in the Miss Universe tilt are known to choose those who best represent their countries. And, of course, they look for someone who best represent the queen of the universe.

"I’m not expecting to win," Zora said when asked if she is looking forward to taking home the crown. "I would want to, not for myself... but for the country."