(By Dr. Jocelyn Pizarras Tuñacao)
BEING the eldest of six children, Manong Jordan was always our leader. I could say this maxim is true: “In the heart of every young person lies the potential for greatness.” That leadership role in our childhood days transcended up to our adult years.
I should probably tell you, my dear readers, that both our parents, the late Atty. Eufronio Micayabas Pizarras, and the late Conchita Lungay Matig-a, served the government sector for decades; my father retired as provincial treasurer of the province of Bohol in 1992 after serving the government for more than forty years, while my mother served as a public-school teacher progressing to supervisor for forty years until her retirement in 1997. You could say that the passion for public service was ingrained in our hearts and minds at an early age. Manong Jordan was rooted in the values of public service.
Like the rest of us, he was a product of both private and public education. From kindergarten to third grade, he studied at the Holy Spirit School in Tagbilaran City, and then transferred to San Francisco Pilot Elementary School from fourth to sixth grades when Papa was appointed as provincial treasurer of Agusan del Sur. The entire family likewise moved to Agusan del Sur at the time.
He returned to Tagbilaran City for his high school education at Divine Word College of Tagbilaran and then studied and finished Commerce major in accounting at the same institution. Since his college days, he was always a student leader and practiced his leadership skills and independence by writing for a local newspaper, The Bohol Express, published by the father of Woman Lens columnist, Belinda Sales.
He was an active student leader and chairperson of the Student Council. At one momentous point in his college years, he led the movement to urge school authorities to defer the imposition of tuition fee increases fully understanding the plight of poor students who could hardly afford their tuition fees. Fortunately, the advocacy succeeded, and the movement’s petition was granted.
Aspiring to become a lawyer like Papa and inspired by his experience in student leadership and as a newspaper reporter and writer, he went to Manila with two goals: to work and study law in the evenings.
Of course, his life as a working student was not easy. The lives of working students are never easy. So, my salute to all working students especially those who are enrolled in law school. It’s really a hurdle. He worked in the accounting department of a big company in Makati. At noontime when everybody’s light was out, his light was on because he would read his lessons for the evening. At the end of the workday, he would rush to Ayala Avenue, to catch a bus to school. Usually, there was no more seat available so he would stand up for the whole ride. Yet, he would continue reading his codes – codals – as law students called it. He was usually late in class.
After school, he would pass by a carinderia, to eat dinner. This would be around 9:00-9:30 in the evening and the carinderia would be characteristically empty. Grateful that it was still open, he would find a lone fried fish or a slice of chicken which he would order to alleviate the pangs of hunger. When he reached the dorm, he would down two cups of coffee, so he could read until 12:30-1:00 in the morning. He would wake up at 6:00 in the morning and start the day’s routine again. This was his habit Monday to Saturday and only on Sundays did he have some free time where he would wash his clothes in the morning and after finishing the chore, would go to church, followed by his customary visits with friends and family. It was not an easy life, but he was committed to his goal.
Law school was a grueling experience. The school was known for its Socratic method – meaning the professors asked the questions and the students answered. If the answer was wrong, a 70% grade was straightaway given; if he gave a satisfactory answer, at least 75%, or better. Whether it was 70% or 75%, again, he was committed to his goal.
All his hard work paid off when on graduation day, he achieved fourth place in a class of sixty-three graduates at San Beda University College of Law in 1987. He took and passed the bar exam that same year, which incidentally, had the lowest passing average ever in the history of bar examinations at 16.95%. It’s akin to “. . . it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle . . .” although used in a different context.
In the next several years, he was successively employed in law offices in Makati until he founded his own law firm in 2003. It was a fulfillment for him to start his own firm after fifteen years of serving other law partnerships.
Being a genuine Bol-anon, he would go home every election to vote for the rightful candidates. He never transferred registration. Over the years, he was invited to join politics, but he always begged off because he was not interested. He was content to let others govern Bohol for as long as the Boholanos were served well. He was comfortable working in the private sector.
However, even if he was not in public service, he always helped his fellow Bol-anons in the areas of his expertise, particularly in appellate litigation, civil and criminal laws, corporate law, banking law, family and domestic law, among others. He always celebrated his wins especially if the wins were accomplished on behalf his fellow Boholanos.
In his early sixties, a different calling has beckoned Manong Jordan: the call to serve his fellow Bol-anons through public service. Armed with considerable experience, prepared with extensive exposure, and fully backed by his family, the families of both his parents – the Alay-Ano (Aleman-Lungay) clan of Balilihan, Catigbian, and Tagbilaran City; Pizarras clans of Dauis, Tubigon, Loon, Alburquerque, and Maribojoc; Lantaka-Matig-a clan of Tagbilaran City, his friends throughout the years, and supporters of varying ages, genders, professions and vocations, advocacies, and politics, he will venture into the unknown, fully anchored on his faith and the God who sees the future, who knows what’s best for His children, and who holds him in the palm on His hands.
For Manong Jordan, the time has finally come.
***
The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales every Saturday, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Momentarily, Woman Talk is taking a short break. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
