Lecturer (Part-time) · LL.M.
Philosophy (philosophy of law, social justice, international law, constitutional theory)
Education
- LL.M. Law, National University of Singapore — Faculty of Law
Comments
Top comments
Quiet Bison
Cool, unfiltered, Socratic, not easy-A, lots of readings
positive
- CoursePHILO 12
- 4.0 attainableNo
- WorkloadHeavy
Had him for PHILO 12 last semester. He’s a pretty cool guy. Daming energy. Pretty funny and unfiltered din. Knows his stuff and is very passionate about what he teaches. Likes to make kwento about his life (e.g. studies here and abroad, his time as a minor seminarian, school, legal practice, etc.) Maraming readings and will definitely apply socratic method sa discussions ninyo every meeting, so if you don’t want that, I suggest you go for a different prof. Atty. JM isn’t easy-A at all but I will say marami akong natutunan sa kanya. He’s very practical with his approach to PHILO 12 (as a lawyer himself, he likes to reconcile PHILO 12 with law. You’ll get to tackle stuff like separation of church and state, political liberalism, etc.) Read the news (national, local, and international). Stay updated. Magtatanong siya about that. Dapat related to religion. Random magtawag sa klase. You’ll be asked to submit index cards with your photos and names on them. Again, para kang nasa law school. But the guy isn’t scary at all. He’s very friendly! Parang kuya mo lang pero he wants you to do your best. Take notes fast dahil mabilis siya mag-discuss. Study well and DO YOUR READINGS (intindihin mong maigi talaga) kasi bukod sa magtatanong siya about that in class, his quizzes and exams are objective (puro essay type haha, pero may subjective portion—but the objective part takes up a bigger portion of the assessment). Walang orals pero ayun, may socratic method. But he’s a nice guy. Maraming pakulo lang. But trust, marami kang matututunan sa kanya. Very A-able with blood, sweat and tears. B+/B with effort. Bawal kang tamarin kay Atty. JM. You really have to put in the work if you wanna get that A. He can tell if you’re BS-ing your stuff (sa recit, patatayuin ka for a bit if he isn’t satisfied with your answer). He gives incentives to those with perfect attendance. He can recognize diligence and hard work. But overall, he’s a nice guy kahit mataas expectations niya. Very approachable. He just wants to see you do your best and learn something valuable/practical from his class. Take him if you dig the law school vibe/experience. Baka mabigyan ka pa ng recommendation letter haha (he’s generous daw with this basta you get an A in his class!)more
Noble Alpaca
Does not teach philosophy of religion, more law
negative
- Retake?No
Some ppl in Profs to Pick have recommended JM Buenagua, but i wouldn’t… He does NOT teach proper philosophy of religion - he teaches a class about how law and religion intersect. This means you will be learning about things like the separation of church and state, how religion has sparked some problems for society, John Rawls’ theory of justice (which is ethics, not philosophy of religion 😭), that kinda thing. You WONT be learning about classic philosophy of religion like arguments for/against God, responses to these arguments, philosophical positions on God, etc. If you prefer not dwelling on these kinds of things, and also prefer law-like classes, then you might prefer his class. However, whether or not you’re religious, take note that you will be missing a very unique class that will open your mind to how mere thought can lead to conclusions about what reality is like, and whether or not this controversial being called “God” even exists. Proper philosophy of religion (which you will likely get in other classes, but definitely not Sir JM’s) also does not attempt to convince you of theism. These classes merely lay out arguments for you to consider in line with your prior beliefs / intuitions (which are also malleable). TLDR; his class is more of a law class that will sometimes talk about how religion crosses the church-state boundary, and is NOT a proper philosophy of religion class - his class will contribute nothing to your beliefs surrounding God. Why does he not just teach proper philosophy of religion? Well, he attempts to justify this by saying it’s because he’s a lawyer… i lowkey get the impression that he doesn’t actually know philosophy of religion because of how he has tried to explain an argument from aquinas (he did this like maybe once bro 💀); disappointing na he’s the prof for this class which can teach students sm, but he’s not actually teaching the class :”) …but yeah, if you want a law class and don’t want actual philo of religion, you might like him :))more
Anonymous
Not philosophy of religion, it is law and religion
mixed
Some ppl in Profs to Pick have recommended JM Buenagua, but tbh, he does NOT teach philosophy of religion - he teaches a class about how law and religion intersect. This means you will be learning about things like the separation of church and state, how religion has sparked some problems for society, John Rawls’ theory of justice (which is ethics, not philosophy of religion 😭), that kinda thing. You WONT be learning about classic philosophy of religion like arguments for/against God, responses to these arguments, philosophical positions on God, etc. If you prefer not dwelling on these kinds of things, and also prefer law-like classes, then you might prefer his class. However, whether or not you’re religious, take note that you will be missing a very unique class that will open your mind to how mere thought can lead to conclusions about what reality is like, and whether or not this controversial being called “God” even exists. Proper philosophy of religion (which you will likely get in other classes, but definitely not Sir JM’s) also does not attempt to convince you of theism. These classes merely lay out arguments for you to consider in line with your prior beliefs / intuitions (which are also malleable). TLDR; his class is more of a law class that will sometimes talk about how religion crosses the church-state boundary, and is NOT a proper philosophy of religion class - his class will contribute nothing to your beliefs surrounding God. Why does he not just teach proper philosophy of religion? Well, he attempts to justify this by saying it’s because he’s a lawyer… i lowkey get the impression that he doesn’t actually know philosophy of religion because of how he has tried to explain an argument from aquinas (he did this like maybe once bro 💀); disappointing na he’s the prof for this class which can teach students sm, but he’s not actually teaching the class :”) …but yeah, if you want a law class and don’t want actual philo of religion, you might like him :))more
All comments
Gentle Llama
positive
(3) Atty. Buenagua is life-changing frfr. He really is one of those tough love types so if you're grade conscious I'd say look somewhere else but if you are really looking to learn and have super engaging classes and discussions about contemporary politics and religion (and how philo ties into it), I'd say go for it because I definitely would (kahit masaklap yung mga hinihingi nya 😅) TIP: Follow him on LinkedIn before your second meeting to get instantly recognized by him HAHAHHAHA (based on personal experience)more
Lucky Dove
positive
love love love buenagua to the point na there's always a significant portion of the class always present even if his classes are 6-8 !! admittedly if u don't like law or its not something u think you'll ever want to dive into kahit at a beginner-level, you might wanna choose a diff prof, however if u wanna be challenged critically esp with deep-seated bias and prejudices, pls get him <333 trauma bonding with my bffs FR <333333more
Anonymous
positive
he's a real one
Anonymous
positive
Not really chill, but Atty. Buenagua !! He implements the Socratic method for his recitation, so it can be very intimidating at first and you have to read jic you get called (tip: research who the authors are beforehand), but the class was solid! Really great lectures, he always connects the discussion somehow to current events, you get more friends because you form (trauma) bonds with your classmates 😭 The requirements are objective quizzes about the readings at the start of the class (reading check), a 15-question essay midterms exam, two papers, and a Tiktok-like reel for our final. No orals (though there's the recitation process lol). He implements strict English-speaking during class. A/B+ with effort 💯 If you really want to learn, I'd recommend !! Life-changing fr 🔥more
Noble Zebra
high standards, not terror, got an A with a lot of effort
- Retake?Yes
- 4.0 attainableYes
COPY PASTED REVIEW RHAT I LEFT IN 2022best prof took a picture of my vespa pa 10/10imo hes genuinely a good prof!! but hes also a law school prof so his standards ARE UP THERE talaga but hes rly good like i got an A naman with a lot of effort and i dont regret taking his class AT ALL! hes scary lang at first kasi literally memorize every small detail about the reading but u get used to his pattern/ style over time (and by that i literally mean after like 3-4 quizzes he told us san niya kinukuha questions niya para yun lang aralin namin kek)hes one of those profs na indi terror but also hard but also u wont regret taking them kasi he rly lectures very nice! hes the only prof i have had so far na did the style na "i wont spoonfeed u everything" properly like he executed it rly well kasi he rly makes u think. i would take him again tbh i have no regretsjust put a lot of effort sa outputs kasi he really appreciates like well thought out arguments and dont be afraid to take a stance even if its unpopular in one output i had a different stance from him and he said even he disagrees but the arguemnts are well done so he appreciates it and gave a high gradeTLDR put a lot of effort kasi he will rly notice it and rly tell u na u did a good job; id say take him if ur rly willing to put the time and effort into his subj kasi it will really pay off and he really gives constructive feedback on what he wants to see sa mga arguments and stuff! he is a bit scary talaga at first altho idk if thats because kami yung first class niya sa admu but over time he gets more comfortable with the class!!unironically i was excited to go to his classes and didnt want to cut LMAO given that palaging max cuts ko sa ibang class more power to him igbut i also have to add na almost 1/3 of the class dropped (which imo i think is a skill issue) but yea he can rly be challengingmore
Anonymous
cool but i guarantee 3/4s of people don't take the semantics of the class title
cool but i guarantee 3/4s of people don't take the semantics of the class title as seriously
Icy Koala
Best prof, got my best girl friends from this class, GOAT
positive
Best Prof got my best girl friends from this man’s class GOAT
Quiet Seal
Prolly a new prof, first time teaching this sem
Prolly a new prof, like first time teaching this sem.
Icy Newt
Does not teach philosophy of religion; it's law and religion
negative
Some ppl here have recommended JM Buenagua, but tbh, he does NOT teach philosophy of religion - he teaches a class about how law and religion intersect. This means you will be learning about things like the separation of church and state, how religion has sparked some problems for society, John Rawls’ theory of justice (which is ethics, not philosophy of religion 😭), that kinda thing. You WONT be learning about classic philosophy of religion like arguments for/against God, responses to these arguments, philosophical positions on God, etc. If you prefer not dwelling on these kinds of things, and also prefer law-like classes, then you might prefer his class. However, whether or not you’re religious, take note that you will be missing a very unique class that will open your mind to how mere thought can lead to conclusions about what reality is like, and whether or not this controversial being called “God” even exists. Proper philosophy of religion (which you will likely get in other classes, but definitely not Sir JM’s) also does not attempt to convince you of theism. These classes merely lay out arguments for you to consider in line with your prior beliefs / intuitions (which are also malleable). TLDR; his class is more of a law class that will sometimes talk about how religion crosses the church-state boundary, and is NOT a proper philosophy of religion class - his class will contribute nothing to your beliefs surrounding God. Why does he not just teach proper philosophy of religion? Well, he attempts to justify this by saying it’s because he’s a lawyer… i lowkey get the impression that he doesn’t actually know philosophy of religion because of how he has tried to explain an argument from aquinas (he did this like maybe once bro 💀); disappointing na he’s the prof for this class which can teach students sm, but he’s not actually teaching the class :”) …but yeah, if you want a law class and don’t want actual philo of religion, you might like him :))more
Anonymous
Law school standards, scary at first, A with effort, not a terror
- Retake?Yes
- WorkloadHeavy
ok ill post my review na here since a lot have asked na din through PM imo hes genuinely a good prof!! but hes also a law school prof so his standards ARE UP THERE talaga but hes rly good like i got an A naman with a lot of effort and i dont regret taking his class AT ALL! hes scary lang at first kasi literally memorize every small detail about the reading but u get used to his pattern/ style over time (and by that i literally mean after like 3-4 quizzes he told us san niya kinukuha questions niya para yun lang aralin namin kek) hes one of those profs na indi terror but also hard but also u wont regret taking them kasi he rly lectures very nice! hes the only prof i have had so far na did the style na "i wont spoonfeed u everything" properly like he executed it rly well kasi he rly makes u think. i would take him again tbh i have no regrets just put a lot of effort sa outputs kasi he really appreciates like well thought out arguments and dont be afraid to take a stance even if its unpopular in one output i had a different stance from him and he said even he disagrees but the arguemnts are well done so he appreciates it and gave a high grade TLDR put a lot of effort kasi he will rly notice it and rly tell u na u did a good job; id say take him if ur rly willing to put the time and effort into his subj kasi it will really pay off and he really gives constructive feedback on what he wants to see sa mga arguments and stuff! he is a bit scary talaga at first altho idk if thats because kami yung first class niya sa admu but over time he gets more comfortable with the class!!more
Rapid Crane
Scary lawyer-prof at first, A-able if you put in the work
positive
- Retake?Yes
- 4.0 attainableYes
- LeniencyYes
I took his Philo of Religion class last sem. He is a great prof! You can see he really has a passion for teaching and cares about his students a lot. Because he’s a lawyer, teaches law school, and has so many letters after his name he seems scary at first. He expects you remember little details about the readings and his lectures. Eventually, (like the previous review mentioned) you’ll understand his patterns and what he expects of you and suddenly it’s not that hard! Plus he grades very generously with papers and other outputs that aren’t quizzes with objective answers. If you are willing to put in effort, do not be deterred from taking his class! It is A-able if you put in effort, he will recognize if you are putting in work! I really love his class. Truly enriching and interesting~ if you want to learn, take it!! Let me know if you have more specific questions TLDR: Take his class. A with effort. Worth taking! 🫶🏼more
Brave Panda
An Experience: recits every meeting, skip if your sem is heavy
mixed
- WorkloadHeavy
echoing the previous comment on how it's not really That much of a philosophy of religion class in terms of his lectures, but imo the assigned readings (and the recits on them that happen) do discuss some of the classic arguments that the other commentor mentioned. this was last year tho so he might have changed his syllabus and teaching style. i'd say his class is definitely An Experience and if you want to challenge urself then go for him! HAHAHAHA but if you have a heavy sem and dont really want to exert a lot of effort and deal with the anxiety of recits every meeting then another prof is definitely best for youmore
Hidden Moth
Recommend if you want practical religion, not nitpick philosophy
positive
- Retake?Yes
i already put my recommendations jn other posts but if ur just wanting to learn and not nitpick the definition of "philosophy" 🤓☝️, id recommend. you get to learn about the more practical dynamics (power, influence, etc) of religion, and others. nice change of pace from it being just another theo-aligned classmore
Anonymous
Law school standards, scary at first, A with effort, not a terror
- Retake?Yes
- WorkloadHeavy
COPY PASTED REVIEW RHAT I LEFT IN 2022 best prof took a picture of my vespa pa 10/10 imo hes genuinely a good prof!! but hes also a law school prof so his standards ARE UP THERE talaga but hes rly good like i got an A naman with a lot of effort and i dont regret taking his class AT ALL! hes scary lang at first kasi literally memorize every small detail about the reading but u get used to his pattern/ style over time (and by that i literally mean after like 3-4 quizzes he told us san niya kinukuha questions niya para yun lang aralin namin kek) hes one of those profs na indi terror but also hard but also u wont regret taking them kasi he rly lectures very nice! hes the only prof i have had so far na did the style na "i wont spoonfeed u everything" properly like he executed it rly well kasi he rly makes u think. i would take him again tbh i have no regrets just put a lot of effort sa outputs kasi he really appreciates like well thought out arguments and dont be afraid to take a stance even if its unpopular in one output i had a different stance from him and he said even he disagrees but the arguemnts are well done so he appreciates it and gave a high grade TLDR put a lot of effort kasi he will rly notice it and rly tell u na u did a good job; id say take him if ur rly willing to put the time and effort into his subj kasi it will really pay off and he really gives constructive feedback on what he wants to see sa mga arguments and stuff! he is a bit scary talaga at first altho idk if thats because kami yung first class niya sa admu but over time he gets more comfortable with the class!! unironically i was excited to go to his classes and didnt want to cut LMAO given that palaging max cuts ko sa ibang class more power to him ig but i also have to add na almost 1/3 of the class dropped (which imo i think is a skill issue) but yea he can rly be challengingmore
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