Saying the times need more
dedicated leaders
KABAYAN EXTOLS SUMULONG ON HIS
CENTENARY
11 September 2005
Vice
President Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro paid tribute to the much-beloved son
of the province of Rizal, particularly the city of Antipolo, the late
Senator Lorenzo S. Sumulong, the father of incumbent Antipolo
Congressman Victor Sumulong, on the occasion of the senator’s 100th
birth anniversary and led the giving out of the Gawad Sumulong Awards
to outstanding achievers at the Ynares Gym, Antipolo City.
Vice
President De Castro admirably refers to Sumulong as one of the senators
who exchange wits and ideas during the ‘glorious days of the senate’,
the time when the best senators of the land, senators who were
political giants of their time with fervent love for the country and
countrymen, leaders with principle and honor. Vice President De Castro
distinctly remembered one of Sumulong’s brilliant quotations that still
truly reverberates even during these very challenging days.
"Kung si
Bonifacio ay buhay ngayon, ilan kaya sa mga pulitiko ngayon, ilan kaya
sa mga taong nasa pamahalaan, ilan kaya sa mga itinuturing na haligi ng
lipunan, ang kanyang tatanggapin sa kaniyang katipunan ng mga anak ng
bayan? Ilan kaya ang itataboy niya at pagsasabihan: hindi kayo
makakasapi pagka’t ang inyong pag-ibig sa bayan ay buka sa bibig ngunit
kabig sa dibdib, ang paghahangad ninyo sa tungkulin o kapangyarihan ay
hindi upang makadamay sa inyong kapwa kundi upang magpasasa at
magpaunlad sa sariling kapakanan."
Himself a
former senator, the Vice President admired the insight, as well as the
foresight, in this case, of Senator Sumulong in the above-mentioned
quote especially the part in which he called on all leaders, both in
private but more so in public service, to be always true to their
promise and deliver what are expected of them and, more importantly, in
doing only what is good for the country and its people and not what is
good for their selfish ends.
Like what
Senator Sumulong exemplified during his time, Vice President De Castro
admitted that in the crises we are in, no less than the full dedication
of public servants, particularly the leaders, free from petty political
bickering and party loyalty, are very much needed to see us through
these hardships.
The Vice
President cited the statesmanship of Sumulong when he chose to retire
after being excluded from the 1967 Nacionalista Party senatorial
candidates even as he was one of the heavy favorites being a topnotcher
in the last elections to give way to Salvador Laurel, who was the Vice
President of President Cory Aquino in 1986. Sumulong declined offers
from the Liberal Party to jump to their side and even a tempting
Malacañang dangle of a juicy position in government.
The first
magna cum laude in the University of the Philippines and a bar
topnotcher in 1929 who also had a masters of law in Harvard University
was also honored by the Vice President for being fearless in ferreting
out the truth in the four congressional investigations he headed.
Among these
was the impeachment proceedings against the-President Elpidio Quirino
for alleged embezzlement of public fund, the investigation on the
Tambobong-Buenavista estate deal that accused the President’s sibling
and his Secretary of Justice, the multi-million lobby of Chinese for
President Magsaysay for the legalization of temporary Chinese visitors
and the infamous and controversial Stonehill investigation where office
of the president, senators, congressmen, officials of the internal
revenue at customs, at other government officials were investigated.
Vice
President De Castro is optimistic that a lot more Sumulongs more would
come out even among ordinary folks like the teachers, farmers, small
entrepreneurs, overseas workers with his ideals as shining guide.