By Farah G. Decano

 

I got invited to the 91st Annual Induction Ball of the UP College of Law’s Portia Sorority as the event’s Guest of Honor and Speaker.  It was held on April 28, 2024 at the MaraNila by Blue Leaf in Quezon City and was given the theme “Luminaria.”

As a probinsyana lawyer,  I consider this as one of my most prestigious speaking engagements.  It is a recognition by my home – a sorority that is based in a law school  known for having the most stringent acceptance requirements in the country and recognized for its illustrious graduates.

I neither profess to have the superior brilliance of our sister, Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Aranal Sereno, nor do I claim that my fearlessness is any closer to the formidable courage of another sister, Ombudsman Conchita Morales Carpio.

The statuses of the Portian speakers who came before me are usually exceptional.   I  felt like the mortal Atalanta in the same pedestal as the wise and powerful Greek goddesses.  This invitation to a regular individual like me was an affirmation that the constant pursuit for honor and excellence in our respective situations does not go unnoticed in the sorority leaders’ eyes. I considered my presence as the “Luminaria” Guest of Honor and Speaker as a triumph of the ordinary.  It is a victory of the many who are nameless who silently stand up for the principles of  our university – Honor and Excellence – as a way of life.

During my speech, I spoke about my experience as a lawyer as well as two disturbing statements I have encountered numerous times.  These are statements that demonstrate surrender and defeat.   Whenever I state my observation that there seems to be something wrong with the system, I was told, “[g]anyan talaga.”   And whenever I propose that we correct the system because it is prone to corruption, I was confronted with, “[b]ata ka pa kasi.”

I narrated to the erudite audience how I resisted those who imposed upon me their crooked beliefs even if I knew I would rub the powerful and the wealthy the wrong way.

“Don’t be afraid to cause friction,”  I advised the audience. “After all doesn’t friction produce spark?” I added.  We sometimes have to cause this uncomfortable push back so that those who are abusive of their powers may realize their limitations.  We need to show others that there are people, no matter how relatively puny they may be, who are capable of causing the illuminating spark so that the rest may see.

Then I took interest in the theme of the event, “Luminaria.”  A Google search for its definition yielded that it is a lamp consisting of a candle set in sand inside a paper.  Its synonyms are lantern or farolito.

We need not all be like the sun that can totally banish darkness.  We need not even be like the moon, or even a burning huge bonfire, to light up the way.   We need not wait for a big opportunity to display our ideals.  All we have to do is to be heroic in our  everyday dealings. This way, we, the ordinary mortals, can approximate the symbolical meaning of Luminaria – hope in a nation’s darkest hours.

Bawat isa sa atin ay dapat maging isang luminaria.

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I wonder why Senator Bato dela Rosa is now being attacked by the famous vlogger, Maharlika, when they are both from the Duterte camp. Is it because Senator Bato is open about his anti-China stance regarding the West Philippine Sea issue? I could only surmise.

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