Where you are happy

By Al S. Mendoza

IT IS easy to understand why Chief Justice Panganiban voted to torpedo the “pirma” initiative.

He does not want to go down in history as the Chief Justice who made the “pirma” fraud legal.

He also wants the history books to judge him as the Chief Justice who did justice to the Constitution

As he said, he delivered the vote that broke the 7-7 dead lock using the Constitution as main basis.

 Although he did not say it, what he made was a conscience vote.

I know the Chief Justice.  A very religious man, he wouldn’t trade his soul to the devil.

I’ve worked with him nearly five years at the Inquirer from 1991.  As president of the Inquirer, Panganiban was a God-fearing, honest executive who wouldn’t bend the rules to suit an evil design.

We are not with the Inquirer anymore.  But each time we see each other, he always gives me that warm hello and handshake.  He hasn’t changed one bit.

The last time I saw him was on the eve of his appointment as Chief Justice.  It was at the lobby of Pacific Hotel in Ermita. 

“Hello Mr. Chief Justice,” I said to him.

He was pleasantly stunned. He didn’t know I had gotten first-hand information of his appointment that would be announced the next morning.

“Thank you, Al,” he said.

Then he touched his lips with his fingers, as though saying, “My lips are sealed.”

A very humble man, Panganiban is not wont to flaunt his powers, much less his successes which are numerous.

 That’s why when I learned he broke the 7-7 standoff on the “pirma” vote, I wasn’t surprised one teeny-weeny bit.  I was always right about him; he wouldn’t compromise his principles.

Actually, not just his principles but also his soul:  Always, no pact with the devil.

I know the Chief Justice would be a bit surprised if he learned that I am now with the Philippine Chronicle. 

But once he hears my side, I know he’d understand.

I can almost imagine him telling me, “Trust your self, your instinct.  Where you are happy, go for it.”

In my life, the work place is secondary.  What’s primary is the happiness you derive from your work place.

I emphasize work place because I basically hold the same job at the Inquirer and now at Chronicle – and that is, writing columns in sports and motoring, aside from editing both sections. 

Modesty aside, I was offered the post of editor in chief of   Chronicle. 

Name your price,” they said.

I was flattered no end.  I politely declined the offer.  I said, “Maybe later.”

For three years since I left the post of sports editor at Inquirer in 2003, I was basically a columnist for Inquirer.  Frankly, rust has crept in.  Closing a section, doing a regular grind of newspaper editing – it gets to your system.

But we will soon see. 

The Chronicle is the so-called new kid on the block – born only on September 20, and which has gone daily only on October 25,

It’s been a good, 20-year ride at the Inquirer.  It was fun while it lasted.

At the Chronicle, the fun is just beginning. I hope it will last a lifetime.

***

Thank you for the invitation of Randy Lagmay Oriel for me to join Dr. Daranciang  in the Carlos Bulosan affair in Binalonan last November 2. Would have loved being there but then, the baby-sitting task at the Chronicle got in the way.  More power!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/general-admission/)

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