At the Birth of a City: Judge Angel S. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

2

At the Birth of a City Judge Angel S. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Author

Melandrew t. VelascO

Foreword by

J. Eduardo Malaya

Epilogue by

Jonathan E. Malaya

ASM F O U N D AT I O N

3

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Angel S. Malaya briefs Rotary International President Representative Hari Harilela from Hong Kong on the Iriga Rotary Club’s street naming project. With them are (left to right) City Mayor Jose C. Villanueva, Mrs. Padma Harilela and Rotarian Benito Ngo, with the City Hall and Mt. Iriga in the background.

4

At the Birth of a City Judge Angel S. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

5

At the Birth of a City Judge Angel Malaya and His Times

By Melandrew T. Velasco Philippine Copyright September 2015 Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owners and the publishers.

Researchers and Writers Marrianne Reginaldo Hannah Ornopia Encar Marie T. Ilao Cover & Book Design Michelle C. Manuel Book Layout and Photography Jamie Justine F. Mangibin ISBN 978-971-95166-8-2 Published by the Judge Angel S. Malaya Foundation Printed in the Philippines by Media Touchstone Ventures Inc.

This book is dedicated to the government employees, teachers, Rotarians, barangay leaders, and all those who toil anonymously in the country to help build a progressive Philippines, and most especially to the good people of Iriga City and Camarines Sur province.

May we all find inspiration and wisdom in this book as we continue with our life’s journey to become better human beings in the service of God, country, families, communities, institutions, and our fellowmen.

7

viii

Contents Foreword by Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya................x Preface by Author Melandrew T. Velasco........................xii Message from Iriga City Mayor Ronald Felix “Gang-Gang” Y. Alfelor..................xvi Message from Senator Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero..................................xviii Acknowledgments......................................................................... xx Introduction................................................................................. xxii CHAPTER ONE......................................................................29

The Mystique of Bicolandia

CHAPTER TWO.....................................................................43

Growing Up in Iriga CHAPTER THREE..................................................................63

Justice of the Peace and City Fiscal:

At the Birth of Iriga City CHAPTER FOUR....................................................................83

The Love of His Life: His Wife and Children CHAPTER FIVE....................................................................129

The Judges’ Judge and True-blue Rotarian CHAPTER SIX.......................................................................149

A Life Well Lived Epilogue by Jonathan Malaya..................................................159 About the Author...........................................................................166

ix

Foreword

by Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya

T

his is a book project which papa, Angel S. Malaya, would most likely have disapproved of if he were alive.

During a summer break in my high school years in the seventies, I gathered papa’s old photos, news clippings, congratulatory telegrams and other mellowing materials, and compiled them into an album simply captioned “ASM Memorabilia.” There was no introduction nor narration, just a straight-forward scrapbook like any other.

Mama had a smile on her face when she saw the scrapbook, perhaps pleased that one of her kids took the initiative to sort out the kalat (mess) among the drawers around the house.

Papa’s reaction was surprising: partly annoyed that someone (though forgivably his son) had tinkered with his personal papers, perhaps embarrassed that he was somehow being placed on a pedestal of sorts.

Throughout his life, as a family man and as a public servant, Angel Malaya loved being pro-active and doing things for others and the community, but didn’t want to call attention to himself. The satisfaction in having done something, in his view, was reward in itself. As his colleague Fiscal Jose Tagum recalls him saying, “Thank you, Sir, is already enough consolation for a job well done.”

x

Dinna, Gwendolyn, Jonathan and I saw him countless times at his study hunched over a trusty Olivetti typewriter, drafting countless resolutions and decisions as a city prosecutor and later as a regional trial court judge. He was meticulous in his choice of words and often absorbed in the analytical process.

We all took in his passion for books and reading, and Jonathan and I later dabbled in historical research and writing.

We hope that papa pardons us for putting out this book. We love him too much to allow his memory and that of Iriga and Camarines Sur of his time to fade quickly.

We are thus grateful to author Mel Velasco, who has done much to advance the frontiers of historiography and biography in this country, for capturing the essence of the man and his times.

From a larger perspective, this small book’s accounts affirm that there is complexity, richness and purpose in seemingly ordinary lives. Certain public lives may -- in the mode pioneered

by Plutarch -- be worth retelling.

The Embassy of the Philippines Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

xi

Preface

by Melandrew T. Velasco

Touched by an Angel Love for a father is universal. There is eternity in the bonds of relationships. It is stored not only in our remembrances but deep in our loving and grateful hearts.

L

ove for a father is universal. There is eternity in the bonds of relationships. It is stored not only in our collective remembrances but ingrained deeply in our loving and grateful hearts.

I lost my father, Perry Pio Palma Velasco, on April 14, 1994 when he succumbed to lung cancer, a month before he would turn 70 on May 5.

As I was preparing my piece for my father’s necrological service, I remember reading this tribute of basketball’s GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Michael Jordan to his father: “For some reason my dad was always there, when I needed him the most. His love was never ending. And now that he’s gone, there is an emptiness in my world, but not in my heart.”

MJ’s father, James Jordan, was shot to death in his car along U.S. Highway 74 near Lumberton on July 23, 1993. His body was found a couple of weeks later in a South Carolina swamp.

Inspired by MJ’s tribute to his father, I got to scribble this tribute poem to my Dad Perry whom I regard with deep admiration and respect in grateful remembrance of his loving memory.

xii

“Let me feel your presence again In the empty space of my heart Let me listen to your voice once more To your wisdom and good counsel That I may find answers to my doubts

Let me remember your gentle love Your caring hands and laughter Your reassuring presence and guidance To warm me in this cold lonely night And to guide me in my lost path

Let me reach out to my loved ones To fill the void inside and feel you once more In their hearts and tender loving care In their grateful remembrances In their fond and joyful memories In the values they keep and share

Let me shout in gratitude Let me live in fortitude Let me whisper in solitude You are dearly missed, Dad!”

I share this poem titled “Longing for Dad,” to pay homage once more to all loving and good fathers, both living and the dead.

In particular, it is also my tribute to Judge Angel Sotto Malaya in whose honor this book is being written and published through the love, generosity and gratitude of the Malaya siblings – Ed, Dinna, Gwendolyn and Jonathan – with the help of their mother Zony Enciso Malaya.

This book also afforded me to revisit the Bicol region and to see once more the grandeur and majesty of Mt. Mayon and to pay homage to the miraculous shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

My first trip was in 1980 as a sophomore seminarian at the Mary Help of Christians Seminary. The second time was in 1989 when I served as a media consultant for a foreign-assisted project at the Department of Interior and Local Government.

xiii

Touched by an Angel

The Philippine Air Lines flight to Legaspi City on that cloudy morning on November 20 was safe and smooth, enlivened by the presence of some VIP guests for the forthcoming APEC Summit Meeting in 2015 who were met with full drum and bugle corps. The atmosphere was festive, making the Malaya Book Team very much welcomed by the Malaya matriarch, Dr. Corazon Malaya, whom we fondly call Mommy Zony. Our first stop was at Waway Restaurant that offers a feast of Bicol cuisine noted for its fiery, spicy and often creamy cuisine notably Bicol Express, laing, pinangat (taro leaves cooked in coconut milk), Guinobatan longanisa (the local sausage) and of course, its native sweet pili nuts.

On our first day, the only missing link was the no show of the fine peak of Mt. Mayon, which had been threatening to erupt for months, as she stayed hidden beneath fat dark clouds during our one and a half hour trip from Legazpi City.

“Don’t worry, you have the next two days to wait for the clouds to clear to see the peak of Mt. Mayon, and I will offer mass for a fine weather on your flight back to Manila,” Mommy Zony assured us with a smile. True enough, we got to see its peak the next day while we were in Naga City after some interviews and a visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. On our way to the airport for our return flight to Manila, we stopped by the Cagsawa Church ruins. While we were having posterity photos, Mt. Mayon showed her majestic peak for a fleeting ten minutes.

So what makes this seminal biography of Judge Angel Malaya inspiring and worth writing?

Eighteen years after Judge Malaya’s death, I was surprised to witness that some of those I personally interviewed still shed tears as they recalled his loving memory as well as the influence and impact he had in changing their lives and keeping the values he imparted while he was still alive.

In fact, even the MTVI Book Team led by Creative Manager Michelle Cabrera Manuel, researcher Hannah Ornopia and photographer Jamie Mangibin were also deeply touched by the oral accounts on “The Judge from Iriga” whose inspiring life and interesting times can now be considered a “legend” among Irigueños.

In writing this book, I am motivated by my desire to pay tribute to my father once more after having written two historical biographies of two great Filipinos, the late Foreign Affairs Secretary and pioneer diplomat Narciso R. Ramos and Congressman Simeon M. Valdez, father and uncle of former President Fidel V. Ramos, respectively.

xiv

Touched by an Angel

This book also comes as a lasting gift of the Malaya siblings in enshrining the legacy of their father whose remarkable life as a father, husband, lawyer, professor, prosecutor, judge, Rotarian, friend, and more so, as a public servant is worthy of emulation by the present and future leaders and civil servants. Sad to say, we can only find few of Judge Angel Malaya’s kind today.

I thank Ambassador Ed Malaya and Jonathan Malaya, both excellent writers and authors in their own right, for entrusting the biography of their father and that of their family. This is one book that I will always treasure since it is a book written with the imprints of love, inspiration and gratitude by a faithful wife, loving children, grateful relatives, endearing friends, colleagues and everyone else involved in the making of this tribute book.

And to the man, Judge Angel Sotto Malaya, here’s our collective toast to a rara avis and an “Angel” who touched the lives of many. May your remarkable life be a source of inspiration and a great example on the ABCs of fatherhood and public service.

THE BOOK TEAM. Author Mel Velasco with Creative Manager Michelle Manuel, writer and researcher Hannah Ornopia and photographer Jamie Mangibin at the famous Cagsawa Ruins in Albay, Bicol.

xv

Message

I

t is with great pride that I welcome the publication of ‘At the Birth of a City: Judge Angel Malaya of Iriga and His Times’ by Melandrew T. Velasco, the book launch of which forms part of our city’s 47th Charter Foundation Anniversary Commemoration.

As the book retells the life and career of Angel Sotto Malaya, our first and long-time City Prosecutor, one reencounters the Iriga and Camarines Sur of his youth and adulthood. The narrative woven by Mel Velasco mirrors the approach favored by Barbara Tuchman who used biography as a prism upon which to view history -- in this case, that of an emergent town transforming into a vibrant city.

xvi

Angel Malaya and his contemporaries, including the then Mayor Jose C. Villanueva and Provincial Governor Felix O. Alfelor Sr. served Iriga and its people well, and did much to secure for us the progressive city that we now cherish.

It is now the turn of today’s generation of Irigueños to continue the tradition of abiding commitment to our city’s growth and exemplary service to our community members that our forebears so ably fostered.

The link between the past and our present perhaps finds no better expression than in the city hymn ‘Iriga sa Sumagang’ which Angel Malaya had commissioned on behalf of the Iriga Rotary Club and our city government. It urges us Irigueños to be “Dios-non dangan an higos tang bunga nin paglaom” (God-fearing and industrious that are borne of hope). Let us remain so.

HON. RONALD FELIX “GANG-GANG” Y. ALFELOR City Mayor

New Government Center, Santa Cruz, Iriga City

xvii

Message

T

here are two traits that distinquish a Bikolano, and both begin with the letter R. These are resiliency and religiosity.

Throughout history, the Bikol region has been battered by typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters, and yet the Bikolano persevere and rise from the ashes, never losing his optimism that all these shall pass. This confident attitude can be traced, to a large extent, to his devotion to the Our Lady of PeĂąafrancia, or affectionately “Inaâ€? to Bicolanos, who has watched over them since time immemorial.

With belief in his own capabilities and with the guidance of Ina, Bikolanos have thrived and excelled despite the vagaries of time. Heirs to a rich cultural tradition, Bikolanos are feisty, determined, principled and not easily dismayed.

xviii

Judge Angel S. Malaya, the first City Fiscal of Iriga, RTC Judge of Naga and a well-loved civic leader of Camarines Sur, had these qualities, the so-called “oragon” spirit, and more. His contributions and devotion to Iriga City and Camarines Sur province are remarkable, as amply chronicled in this book.

I never met Judge Malaya but I know fully well his two sons, Ed and Jonathan, who are both my fellow Alphans from U.P. Diliman. As a Bikolano myself, I am pleased that Judge Malaya’s life and times have been chronicled.

Each generation writes its history, and in my view, the Golden Age of Bicolanos is yet to come. We need more of the types of Raul Roco, Salvador Escudero III, Emilia Boncodin and yes, silent workers like Angel Malaya, to name just a few, to make it a reality.

Dios Mabalos po!

HON. FRANCIS “CHIZ” G. ESCUDERO

Senate of the Philippines Financial Center, Pasay City

xix

Acknowledgments “AT THE BIRTH OF A CITY: JUDGE ANGEL S. MALAYA OF IRIGA AND HIS TIMES” is a product of the love of the Malaya family for their beloved Angel and for their home city of Iriga in Camarines Sur. The timely completion of this book was made possible due to the collective dedication, enthusiasm and cooperation of everyone involved in this project.

The Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. (MTVi) and the Angel S. Malaya Foundation wish to gratefully acknowledge the following individuals for the making of “Art of the Birth of a City;” Mrs. Corazon Enciso Malaya for opening their ancestral house and for generously sharing her remembrances, reference materials and some precious photos of her beloved husband and family; J. Eduardo E. Malaya and Jonathan E. Malaya for serving as editorial consultants and content managers; Angel’s daughters - Maria Dinna Malaya McKeen and Gwendolyn Malaya Santos - for graciously sharing their cherished memories on their father.

The Malaya clan and friends for their heartfelt remembrances on Judge Malaya: Azon Gonzaga; Dr. Francia Relativo; Herenia Malaya; Lina Nagrampa; Atty. Mariano Trinidad; Mr. Benito Ngo; Eldine Dorosan; Fely Taduran; Florence Papa; Linda Cabanes-Contreras; Judge Rolando Carandang; Fiscal Eulogio Prima; and, Judge Jose Tagum..

Bicol historian, Frank Peñones, for his scholarly inputs and recollections on the colorful history of Iriga.

xx

Heartfelt gratitude goes to the Iriga city officials led by City Mayor Ronald Felix ‘Gang-Gang’ Y. Alfelor, former Mayor Madel Y. Alfelor-Gazmen, Peter Lagyap of Culture and Arts, Engr. Nona Santiago of the City Tourism Office for the city government’s hosting of the book’s formal launch.

Special thanks to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Atty.

Mike Galarosa for their support and inspiration to this book project.

Our wholehearted appreciation to the Malaya Book Team for their collective efforts and commitment namely: Overall Project Coordinator and Creative Manager Michelle Cabrera-Manuel for her creative handle, layout and design, and for managing the over-all book project; Ms. Jamie Mangibin for serving as the photographer and in-charge of the digital photo enhancements and helping in the layout along with Mel Andrea Teresa V. Velasco.

MTVi staff writers: Hannah Ornopia, Ms. Marrianne Reginaldo and Ms. Encar Marie Ilao for their valued contributions.

Ms. Girlie Canlas for serving as copy editor.

Maria Linaflor Fernandez and Chona Bernal for serving as publication and production assistants.

Above all, we praise and thank the Father Almighty for the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, strength and inspiration in the making and completion of this inspiring book.

To God be the glory!

xxi

Introduction

The Judge from Iriga and the Malaya Family

A

merican evangelist Billy Graham once preached: “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

The above words of wisdom from Graham sums up the legacy of the late patriarch Angel Sotto Malaya, fondly called Angeling, Angeline, Fiscal or simply Judge Malaya, who distinguished himself in the field of law and community service.

But more than being an exemplary public servant, he was a good role model as an endearing husband, loving father, caring brother, helpful uncle, generous friend and a pro-active Rotarian to many.

xxii

As a man of character and faith, Angel was a loving husband and doting father.

He personally did the daily marketing and cooking himself.

On special occasions, he whipped up delectable lengua estofadas and tasty empanadas to the delight of his children and relatives. He was dutifully present almost every time Zony led the nightly family novena to Santo Niño.

“Dinner was the time for Mama to relate what transpired during the day at work. Papa would dutifully listen and make occasional comments,” recalled eldest son Ed Malaya. For the Malaya children, these sessions were early tutorials on people, politics and public service.

A lover of nature, Angel paved the way for Irigueños to embrace their love for flowers and trees as they now reside along Gumamela, Azucena and Kamagong streets, thanks to his streets naming project under the auspices of the local Rotary Club and the City Government.

As a man of faith, the Christmas carol festival he handled for a number of years was a holiday treat to all.

Young and old flocked to the city’s grandstand to listen to the angelic singing of carols by school children.

xxiii

A local historian described Judge Malaya and his family as simple and modest who do not own large estates like the old bien familias nor are influential as the local political families.

Abiding service to the community and love of their children were the preoccupation of Angel and Zony Malaya, and by most measures, they have done well.

Angel was as normal as any human being can be. He enjoyed the occasional bottle of San Miguel Beer- which the family tolerated - but he couldn’t kick the smoking habit, a probable cause of his sudden death in 1996.

A pocket history of his life and times: Angel was born in 1928; lost his father, Eduardo, Sr., during the second World War; his mother Genoveva single-handedly sustained her brood of ten through school; joined elder siblings in Manila for higher education; finished associate in arts studies at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran; pursued his law studies at the Manuel L. Quezon University; passed the bar in 1952; returned home as “Angeling Titulado” to Iriga and commenced his law career in 1953.

He was appointed at age 28 as Justice of the Peace in the adjoining lake town of Bato; at age 30, he met and was smitten by the comely lass Corazon Delgado Enciso of the nearby town of Goa; the couple married in May 1961 before Archbishop Pedro Santos at the Archbishop’s Palace in Naga; the couple would be blessed with four children - Jose Eduardo, Maria Dinna, Gwendolyn and Jonathan; appointed in October 1968 as the first City Fiscal of Iriga by President Ferdinand Marcos - the year Iriga was incorporated as a city; served as president of the Rotary Club of Iriga with the milestone naming of the city’s streets and thoroughfares after the country’s flowers and trees; rebuilt his house and property after his original two-storey bungalow was burned in a fire; and, appointed in 1987 as Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 22, in Naga City by President Corazon Aquino.

In 1996, passed away after a three-day confinement at a local hospital at the age of 67.

xxiv

Oh, When we were once young! solacion. , with maternal grandmother Con The Malaya family at home in 1984 solacion, Con l, Ange a, Dinn , than Jona Ed. In the photo are, clockwise, and cion (“Citay”) was a big presence Corazon and Gwendolyn. Consola influence in their lives.

In a January 21, 1996 editorial, the local newspaper Vox Bicol said, “to his countless admirers and friends, Judge Malaya was a “judges’ judge.” Accordingly, his court rulings (1987-95) stand out not only for being just yet compassionate (and) mixed with homespun wisdom, but true to his name, angelic and free from partisan political interference and petty personal biases… He was indeed small in size but terrible in impact especially on those who try to flout the law.”

Judge Angel’s surviving wife Zony was an Assistant Schools Superintendent of Iriga when her ever-helpful partner passed way. In late 1996, she was promoted by President Fidel V. Ramos to head the Iriga City public schools as Superintendent. She was tapped in late 1997 to head the Division of Camarines Sur, the Bicol region’s premiere schools division.

xxv

In the same mold of character and standard of public service shown by her husband Angel, one of Zony’s enduring legacies as a public school official was stamping out irregularities in the often-byzantine supplies procurement process. She called on suppliers to cooperate and publicly disavowed any liking for kickbacks, and in return, asked them to offer quality products at fair prices.

This refreshing change at the top caught the public’s attention. In the January 15, 2000 issue of Bicol Standard Daily, columnist Dominador Alarcon narrated: “Sometime ago Dr. Corazon E. Malaya, Division Superintendent of Camarines Sur, was reported to have received about P500,000 worth of textbooks as donation from book suppliers. There is, however, much more [that] meets the eye in this astonishing gesture. We learned that Dr. Malaya should have received the equivalent value of the books in cash as her share in the transaction but Dr. Malaya politely refused to get the offer and instead asked them to just donate books that could be used by impoverished school children throughout the province… Dr. Malaya must be a gem among school officials not only here in Bikol but throughout the country.”

It has been said, “parents leave their legacy behind with the good hearts and souls of the children they raise.”

The greatest treasures and living legacy of Angel and Zony are their four children and seven grandchildren.

One of Angel’s surviving childhood friends, lawyer Mariano “Anoy” Trinidad said it well: “As a father, Angeling was a true and real father. He was a loving husband and family man. Look at his four children, they are all successful.”

The Malaya children all went to the local Catholic schools La Consolacion and St. Paul Academies and then attended the University of the Philippines Diliman for college.

Eldest son Ed went to law school and then joined the Foreign Service. He served in New York, Brussels, Chicago and San Francisco. He worked for three and a half years with President Fidel Ramos in Malacañang, was twice Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, and at present is the Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia. He is married to Rena Cristina Koa, M.D., and has three children – Mark Edward, who sung with the San Francisco Boys Choir; Jana Ariana, and Adrian Edward.

xxvi

Dinna worked in Melbourne, New York and for a time with the World Food Program, a U.N. agency in Rome, and relocated to Bangkok with her husband Kevin McKeen, also with the same U.N. agency, where she is with Kimberly Clark as its Global IT Senior Manager. She has a son named Michael.

Gwendolyn, a lawyer and an honor student at San Beda Law School, clerked with a Supreme Court Justice and later as senior associate with the ACCRA law firm. She is now based in Los Angeles as a private law practitioner, with husband Miguel Santos and son Ethan Angelo.

Jonathan, the youngest, served as Chief of Staff and later on as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education, the youngest in government service at that time. He also had stints in the House of Representatives, Office of the Solicitor General, and in Malacanang during the Arroyo administration. He is currently Senior Technical Consultant to Senator Chiz Escudero.

He is married to lawyer Melanie Soriano of Tarlac and they have twins – Nathan and Nicole, both in kindergarten.

The Malaya brothers coincidentally held for sometime the spokesman’s job in their respective government agencies— Ed at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Jonathan at the Department of Education.

The Iriga City government bestowed the Sumagang Award, the city’s top honors, to two of the siblings: to Ed for achievements in diplomacy in September 1988 and to Jonathan in education in September 2005. Perhaps a rare feat to have two recipients in the same family.

On Judge Angel, perhaps no one has captured his legacy well other than Bicol historian Frank Peñones who regarded the Malaya patriarch as an exemplary public servant and forever a pride of Irigueños: “Judge Malaya’s family is one of the few families in Iriga City whose reputation is something to be looked up to. Judge Malaya’s inspiring life deserves to be written about. Irigueños need to appreciate the good people that served the town well. We need role models. Judge Malaya never left Iriga. His memory and legacy lives on.”

xxvii

“Everyone there thinks of himself as a Bicolano.

The identity is not provincial, it is regional. Maybe that’s what makes for the tolerance of Bicolanos. Or at least a tolerance for variety, not a tolerance for tyranny. Maybe, too, what makes for a good Bicolano is also what makes for a good Filipino.”

- Conrad de Quiros

Chapter 1 The Mystique of Bicolandia

T Photo Courtesy of Ka Bino Guerrero

alk of Bicol and images of the majestic Mayon Volcano, Our Lady of Penafrancia, roasted pilinuts, siling labuyo, laing, and the oragon word easily come to mind.

Aside from Mt. Magayon, Bicol prides itself as one of the Philippines’ best known tourist attractions and destinations. Some of its more famous treasures are the gentle butanding (whale shark) of Donsol, the Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon and Mt. Asog in Iriga City, the popular Cam Sur Watersports Complex (CWC), the Bagasbas Beach in Daet, and the Calaguas Islands of Camarines Norte.

Popular television series like Survivor and Amazing Race have put places like Caramoan and Albay on the world adventure map. Less known islands of Calintaan in Sorsogon, Sombrero and San Miguel in Masbate, and Misibis in Albay are just as equally enchanting and alluring.

29

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Bicol is likewise never wanting in talents notably in the arena of entertainment, arts, sports, business and politics. A compilation of Who’s Who in Bicol would readily give one an idea on the vast pool of its successful sons and daughters. (See one page insert of Prominent Bicolanos).

However, in the realm of politics, Bicol has yet to send a native son or daughter to Malacanang.

In the pre-martial law era, Bicol produced political luminaries and eminent Senators of the Republic like Dominador Aytona, Edmundo Cea, Jose Vera, and Tecla San Andres Ziga.

In the post Marcos era and in the aftermath of the 1986 People Power Revolution, Bicol again produced outstanding sons in the Philippine Senate like Victor Ziga, former Information Minister Francisco Tatad, Col. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Joker Arroyo, Raul Roco and Chiz Escudero. In the House of Representatives, the likes of Bonifacio Gillego, Edcel Lagman, Salvador Escudero III (former Agriculture Secretary) and Joey Salceda (now Governor of Albay) stood ten feet tall and distinguished themselves as legislators.

Respected Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, himself a native Bicolano, has this to say about his roots in his June 14, 1995 column: “The Bicolano’s agreeableness, his lack of zeal in constantly defending the barrio he came from is not a vice, it is a virtue. It is not always lack of pride in his origins; it is also a sense of belonging to a larger community.Bicolanos are one of the least regionalistic groups in this country, and it is good that they are. For though we keep using the word ‘regionalism,’ what really happens in this country is ‘provincialism.’ Groups identify themselves as distinct from those of Pangasinan, and the residents of Pangasinan from those of Ilocos. And they call themselves as Kapampangan, Pangasinense, and Ilokano. Bicol is not a province. It is a region. It has six provinces, with a variety of dialects. Yet no one there thinks of himself as a Camarines Sur-non, or an Albayeño, or however you would call him or her. Everyone there thinks of himself as a Bicolano. The identity is not provincial, it is regional. Maybe that’s what makes for the tolerance of Bicolanos. Or at least a tolerance for variety, not a tolerance for tyranny. Maybe, too, what makes for a good Bicolano is also what makes for a good Filipino.”

30

Famous Bicolanos Aga Muhlach

– Actor, model ● Amalia Fuentes – Sorsogon – Actress ● Anjo Yllana – Camalig, Albay– Actor, TV Host ● Anna Dizon – Catanduanes – Singer, Businesswoman ● Baba Parma – Daraga, Albay – Fashion, Commercial & Ramp model, PMAP member ● Bembol Roco – Naga City – Actor ● Mayor Madelaine Alfelor - Gazmen- Iriga City - 3 Term Mayor, ● Benedict A. Villamora – Naga City – Model, Ginoong Filipinas-Mindanao ● Bob Soler – Legaspi City – Actor ● Bro. Mike Velarde – Catanduanes – Tele-evangelist, Founder-El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement ● Celia Rodriguez – Albay – Actress ● Speaker Arnulfo “Noli” Fuentebella- Tigaon, Camarines Sur- Congressman ● Christopher Cantonjos – Sorsogon – PBA player ● Cindy Kurleto – Camarines Sur – Actress, VJ, TV Host, Commercial, Print & Model ● Conrado de Quiros – Catanduanes – Writer & Columnist, PDI ● Dina Bonnevie – Legazpi City – Actress, Beauty Queen, Model ● Eddie Garcia – Sorsogon – Actor, Commercial Model ● Eddie Ilarde – Iriga City – Senator, TV Host, Radio Announcer ● Eddie Rodriguez – Camarines Norte – Actor ● Edna Diaz – Legazpi City – Actress, Model ● Elizabeth Oropesa – Guinobatan, Albay – Actress, model ● Ely Buendia – Naga City – lead vocalist of Pupil, Eraserheads ● Emmanuel Mago – Albay – Basketball player, model and Mr. Philippines-World ● Enchong Dee – Naga City – Actor, Swimmer ● Fr. Jessel Gonzales, SJ – Albay – Composer, Musician, Catholic Priest ● Fr. Nolan A. Que – Legazpi City – Radio & TV Host, Catholic Priest ● Francis “Chiz” Escudero – Sorsogon – Senator ● Francisco Tatad – Catanduanes – Senator ● Gary Valenciano – Camalig, Albay – Singer, Concert artist, Actor, Model ● Georgina Sandico – Legazpi City – Binibining Pilipinas-International ● Gina Ritter – Legazpi City – Miss Philippines-Air 2002 ● Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan – Sorsogon – Senator ● Henrietta Demetrio – Tabaco City – Supreme Court Judge ● Imelda Papin – Camarines Sur – Singer/Recording Artist, Politician ● Irene Cortes – former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines; First Female Dean of the UP College of Law ● Isidro del Prado – Sorsogon – Asian Games Trackster/Middle Distance Runner ● Jaime Fabregas – Iriga City – Actor ● Jaime Garchitorena – Albay – Singer, Actor, Model● Jane Bañares – Legazpi City – Mutya ng Pilipinas-International 2009 ● Janelle Quintana Manahan – actress / Best New Female Artist (19th Aliw Awards) nominee ● Jayson Fernandez – Cam Norte – Lead vocalist of Rivermaya ● Jeff Arcilla – Singer ● Jericho Rosales – Naga City – Actor, Penshoppe Model, Commercial model ● Joker Arroyo – Baao, Cam Sur – Senator ● Jomari Yllana – Camalig, Albay – Actor, Bench Model ● Jonalyn Viray – Albay – Singer (La Diva) ● Joross Gamboa – Naga City – Actor, Starstruck runner-up ● Jovit Moya – Masbate – Actor, Thespian, Military Colonel ● Jude Michael – Albay – Singer/Recording Artist ● Kristine Hermosa – Masbate – Actress, Commercial, Ramp & Print Ad model ● Liezel Martinez – Sorsogon – Actress, TV Host ● Lito Pimentel – Naga City – model,host, TV & movie Actor ● Loida Nicolas-Lewis – Sorsogon – Fil-American billionaire, US Immigration Lawyer ● Lou Bonnevie – Iriga City – Singer ● Lucio Tan – Naga City – Business Tycoon ● Ma. Venus Raj – Bato, Cam Sur – 2010 Miss Universe 4th Runner-up ● Ma. Victoria Carpio-Bernido – Naga City – Physicist , 2010 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (together with husband physicist Christopher Bernido), ● Manuel Gaite – Baao Cam Sur – SEC Commissioner, former Deputy Executive Secretary-Presidential Management Staff ● Marianne dela Riva – Legazpi City – Actress, Model ● Maribeth Bichara – Ligao City – Dancer, Choreographer, TV Host ● Melody Gersbach – Daraga, Albay – Bb. Pilipinas-International 2009, Restaurateur ● Merlinda Carullo Bobis – contemporary Filipino writer and academic in Australia ● Miguel White – Sorsogon – Olympic Silver medalist, Sprints ●Zony Malaya –Iriga City – Graduate School Professor ● Mila Ocampo – Iriga City – Actress (mother of Snooky Serna) ● Miles Poblete – Tabaco City – Singer, GMA Star Search Winner ● Miriam Quiambao – Bacacay, Albay – Miss Universe First Runner-up, Model, TV Host, Actress, Fitness trainor, US Licensed Physical Therapist ● Mon Lee – Naga City ● Most Rev. Nestor Carino – Catholic Bishop, CBCP Secretary ● Muriel Moral – Legazpi City – Binibining Pilipinas-Maja ● Nora Aunor – Iriga City – Singer, Superstar actress ● Paolo Clemente – Singer, TUX ● Paquito Diaz – Albay – Actor ● Pepe Pimentel – Naga City – TV Host, actor ● Pepito Vera-Perez – Albay – Scion of Sampaguita Pictures, politician ● Precious Lara Quigaman – Albay – Miss International 2005 ● Rafael Rosell – Albay – Actor, Bench Model ● Randy Santiago – Singer, TV Host ● Raul Roco – Naga City – Senator ● Raymart Santiago – Actor ● Rene Dio – Sorsogon – Powerlifter, Fitness Instructor ● Rene Sarmiento – Catanduanes – COMELEC Commissioner ● Rez Cortez – Iriga City – Actor ● Ricky Lee – Cam Norte – Scriptwriter ● Ricky Lo – Tabaco City – Columnist, TV Host ● Roberto “Bubby’ Dacer – Publicist, PR Man ● Robin Padilla – Cam Norte – Action Star, Commercial model ● Rochelle Barrameda – Bacacay, Albay – Actress, model, Miss Teen-Philippines ● Roderick Paulate – Legazpi City – Actor, Comedian ● Rowell Santiago – Actor, Director ● Rox Lee – Naga City – Filmmaker ● Shalani Soledad – Baras, Catanduanes – Politician ● Shawnaleh Brauner – Daraga, Albay – Mutya ng Pilipinas-Globe, Fashion Model ● Sophia Moran – Camarines Sur – Actress ● Stephanie Roco-Reese – Albay – Singer Tabetha ● Jo Frick – Pasacao, Cam Sur – Beauty queen ● Tecla San Andres-Ziga – Tabaco Albay – First woman bar topnotcher in the Philippines and the first congresswoman to be re-elected. TLC Beatrice – LLC ● Victor Wood – Singer ● Victor Ziga – Tabaco City – Senator ● William “Bogs” Adornado – Legazpi City – PBA player, MVP ● Yoyoy Villamin – Cam Norte – Basketball Player, PBA ● Eduardo Malaya– Iriga–Ambassador of Kuala Lumpur ● Jesse Robredo–Naga City –Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Leni Robredo- Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Camarines Sur’s Third District ● Leila De Lima- Iriga Director General of PEZA and DOJ Secretary ● Emilia Boncodin- Iriga City, Former DBM Secretary

31

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

RAUL ROCO

JESSE ROBREDO

CHIZ ESCUDERO

LENI ROBREDO

Speaking of good Bicolanos who would have been and who could be President of the Philippines, three prominent names stand out as “good Bicolanos who make good Filipinos.” These are Raul Roco, Jesse Robredo, Chiz Escudero and Leni Robredo.

The closest Bicolano to become President of the Republic of the Philippines was the late Senator Raul S. Roco, a native of Naga City, who ran twice for president.

His first attempt was in the 1998 presidential elections where he lost to Vice-President Joseph Estrada but, nevertheless, had a remarkable showing in a field of 11 candidates despite being an independent candidate.

Roco’s second run for the presidency was in the 2004 presidential elections where he finished fourth among five candidates in a fraudulent-marred election won by Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over Philippine movie king Fernando Poe. Jr. In pre-election surveys, Roco always emerged a frontrunner and was considered a strong contender for the presidency. However, during the campaign, he had remission with his prostate cancer earlier detected in 1996. His illness forced him to leave the campaign for medical attention in the United States. Although cleared to return to the campaign trail, concerns about his illness greatly diminished his support. Roco died on August 5, 2005.

The other equally prominent political stars from Bicol touted, as “presidentiables” are the late Interior and Local Government Secretary and former Naga City Mayor Jesse Manalastas Robredo and incumbent Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Guevarra Escudero.

Jesse Robredo was a 2000 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Government Service who served as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government in the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III from 2010 until Robredo’s death in 2012.

32

The mystique of bicolandia

On August 18, 2012, the Piper PA-34-200 Seneca I aircraft carrying Secretary Robredo crashed off the shore of Masbate Island. He was scheduled to go home and watch his daughter’s swimming competition in Naga City. The Department of Interior and Local Government said that the pilot sent a distress call to the Masbate airport requesting an emergency landing. The airplane never made it to the airport and crashed in the sea.

Robredo’s body was retrieved three days later, on August 21, about 800 meters from the shore and 180 feet below sea level.

Owing to his legacy of good service, Jesse’s widow, Maria Leonor Gerona or Leni who is now serving as a lawmaker representing the third district of Camarines Sur, is recently being considered to run for Vice President or Senator by the ruling Liberal Party in the 2016 national elections.

Today, Bicol’s bright hope and shining star is Senator Chiz Escudero who has been a member of the Philippine Senate since 2007. He previously served as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 1st District of Sorsogon, and, as Minority Floor Leader of the 13th Congress of the Philippines on his third and last term. He garnered the second highest votes in his first Senate run in 2007 and was reelected to a new term in 2013. He is expected to seek the vice presidency in the May 2016 national elections.

BICOLANDIA AT A GLANCE Bicolandia is made up of the provinces of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate. It has one independent component city, Naga, and six component cities — Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Tabaco.

In an article titled The Bicolanos, published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Adela CanoBeringuela, an Associate Professor at the Department of Arts and Communication of the University of the Philippines, Manila, shares the following information on Bicol’s geography, demography, language, history, material and non-material culture: “A string of four irregularly shaped peninsular provinces and two insular provinces plus numerous offshore islets comprise the region of Bicol.

33

Cagsawa Ruins

Camsur Watersports Complex

Butanding

Siling Labuyo

“It is located on the southeastern extremity of Luzon. The peninsular mainland looks like a huge flying bird and has a total landmass of about 5,400 sq. miles or 17,632 sq. kilometers. Catanduanes and Masbate are the two insular provinces on the east and south while the four peninsular provinces are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

The Pacific Ocean bounds the region on the east while Ragay Gulf separates it from the eastern Cordillera and Bondoc Peninsula. Bicol’s geographic location predisposes it to strong typhoons.

“This is also a land of hemp, locally known as abaca. Albay used to be top exporter of the world famous Manila hemp while still in copra production. The region used to occupy the sixth position among coconut producing regions in the country. Coal, limestone and sulfur also abound.

34

The mystique of bicolandia Calaguas

Our Lady of Peñafrancia

Lake Buhi

Tinagba Festival

“As Bicol is by the water, fishing is a big source of income. The seas around the peninsula are among the richest fishing grounds in the country; these are in Burias Pass, Sibuyan Sea, Ticao Pass, Ragay Gulf and Lagonoy Gulf. Marine wealth is concentrated in the coastal Sorsogon towns of Bulan, Donsol, Gubat, and Magallanes. Tiwi Hot Spring in Albay is a source of geothermal energy.

“Bicol locals are an interesting mix of laid back and outspoken.

They enjoy holding colorful water parades, are proud of their centuriesold stone churches, and will fire up your palate with their delicious spicy specialties.

“The original settlers of Bicol were said to be hybridized by the Tagalog (who migrated to Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur) and the Visayans (who moved to Masbate and Sorsogon).

35

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“These migrations plus the isolation of certain areas led to the formation of diverse dialects. The Bicol dialect in Camarines Norte is interchangeably used with Tagalog, while the one used in Masbate and Sorsogon is mixed with northern Visayan language. On the other hand, the Catanduanes dialect had been influenced by Samar-Leyte language.

“In the so-called Rinconada towns (which includes Buhi, Bula, Baao, Iriga, Bato and Nabua), the dialects differ from the Naga language as well as from one another. Though this is so, the Bicolanos can communicate with one another with the “Bicol proper” or the Bicol standard language in Naga City and the lower Bicol valley.

“According to a folk epic entitled Ibalong, the people of the region were formerly called Ibalong or Ibalnong, a name believed to have been derived from Gat Ibal who ruled Sawangan (now Legaspi) in ancient times. Ibalong used to mean the “people of Ibal;” eventually, this was shortened to Ibalon. The word Bikol that replaced Ibalon was originally bikod (meaning ‘meandering”), a word that supposedly described the principal river of that area which is the Bikol River.

“Close family ties and religiosity are important traits for survival in the typhoon-prone physical environment. Some persisting traditional practices are the pamalay, pantomina and tigsikan. Beliefs on god, the soul and life after death are strongly held by the people.

Related to these, there are annual rituals like the pabasa, tanggal, fiestas and Flores de mayo. Side by side with these are held beliefs on spiritual beings as the tawo sa lipod, dwende, onglo, tambaluslos, kalag, katambay, aswang and mangkukulam.

36

The mystique of bicolandia

“The Spanish influence in Bicol resulted mainly from the efforts of Augustinian and Franciscan Spanish missionaries. Through the Franciscans, the annual feast of the Virgin of Peñafrancia, the Patroness for Bicolandia, was started. Fr. Miguel Robles asked a local artist to carve a replica of the statue of the Virgin in Salamanca; now, the statue is celebrated through an annual fluvial parade in Naga City.

“Bicolanos actively participated in the national resistance to the American and Japanese colonization through two known leaders who rose up in arms namely Simeon Ola and Governor Wenceslao Q. Vinzons.

“On the whole, the value system of the Bicolanos shows the influence of Spanish religious doctrines and American materialism merged with the traditional animistic beliefs.

“It is thus, a multi-cultural system that evolved through the years to accommodate the realities of the erratic regional climatic conditions in a varied geographical setting. Such traits can be gleaned from numerous folktales and folksongs that abound, the most known of which is the Sarong Bangui. The heroic stories reflect such traits as kindness, a determination to conquer evil forces, resourcefulness and courage. The folksong comes in the form of awit, sinamlampati, panayokyok, panambitan, hatol, pag-omaw, rawit-dawit and children’s song and chants.”

37

THE STORY OF CAMARINES SUR Camarines Sur, also called CamSur, is the largest among the six provinces in Luzon’s Bicol region, both in terms of population and land area. The province is subdivided into two cities and 35 municipalities. Although the town of Pili is the provincial capital, Naga City is the commercial, educational, financial and cultural center of the province.

The natives have derived the province’s name from “camaronchones” or “camarines,” a Spanish word for “kamalig” referring to small nipa or bamboo-made huts.

As stated earlier by Cano-Beringuela, the main language spoken in Camarines Sur is Bicol, which has three types. The Bicol Central, also known as Bikol Naga, is the standard Bicol easily understood by all Bicolanos and is spoken in the area around Naga City. The Bicol Albay or Buhi-non is spoken in the southern part of the province around Lake Buhi, and the Rinconada Bicol is used in the area around Iriga and Nabua.

Most inhabitants understand Tagalog and English.

The Province of Camarines Sur records the beginnings and evolution of Camsur province as follows:

“The history of Camarines Sur has been an amalgam of cross-sectoral developments and outside influences. Folklore and scientific researches have it that, thousands of years ago, there was a wandering tribe of Tabon men inhabiting a vast area of verdant, fertile plains and rolling hills. The gentle, cave dwelling of Tabon families who subsequently developed a common culture and called themselves Ibalon, and their land of bounty was called Tiera de Ibalon. The name could well refer to the entire Island of Luzon, but later been commonly adopted to refer specifically to the present Kabikolan region. The name Kabikolan was derived from the word biko, meaning bent, crooked or twisted, denoting the place along the Bicol River’s meandering course.

“It was during the first term of Camarines Sur Governor Luis R. Villafuerte when he commissioned a research study of local and national records and even up to the archives in Spain. The official foundation date of the province was finally confirmed to be May 27, 1579. Governor General Francisco Sande issued the Decree, which led to the establishment of a settlement in a place called Camarines where Spanish Colonists were urged to reside.

38

The mystique of bicolandia

In 1829, Parido de Camarines was divided into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. In 1854, the two provinces were united to form the Province of Ambos Camarines, but again separated in 1857 until 1893. Record showed that the two provinces jointly called Ambos Camarines underwent several fusions, annexations and repartitions and were finally separated into Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte with their present day boundaries by virtue of the Philippine Legislative Act No. 2711 of March 10, 1917.

“The first recorded account of the discovery of the place by the Spaniards was in 1569 when Captain Luis Enriquez de Guzman and Fr. Alfonso Gimenez first explored the Province. In 1571, the Spanish Conquistador Juan de Salcedo, grandson of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, came to the Bicol Region from the North. Two years later, in 1573, Juan de Salcedo leading his troops penetrated and explored the Peninsula as far as Santiago de Libon in search for spices, gold and other precious stones. Excavators in archaeological sites also have proven that early settlers in the Province bartered with Chinese, Arabs and Indians traders.

“Although its culture is predominantly Malay in origin, three centuries of Spanish rule had left its mark in the people’s culture and way of life.

Spanish colonizers later subjugated its people and denominated the area into two distinct aggrupation. The southern portion comprising the area south of the present town of Camalig (in Albay), Sorsogon, the islands of Masbate and Catanduanes, and the area, which is now Partido in present day, then called Partido de Ibalon.

The northern, upper portion, which included from the present day Camalig town in Albay, and all towns of Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, was called Partido de Camarines.

“Naga City, the former capital of Camarines Sur, was founded in 1573 as Nueva Caceres namesake of the Province in Spain and among the original five royal cities of the colony. It was designated as the Province’s Capital by virtue of Philippine Legislative Act No. 2711 approved on March 10, 1917 until June 6, 1955, when Pili, the adjoining town was declared the Provincial Capital by virtue of Republic Act 1336 up to the present time.”

Politically, one family has invariably governed Camsur over the last three decades: the Villafuertes. Luis Villafuerte Sr. served as governor for 15 years from 1986 to 2004. His son Luis Raymond “LRay” Villafuerte, Jr. served for nine years from 2004 to 2013.

Today’s incumbent Camsur Governor is LRay’s son, the 26-yearold Luis Miguel “Migz” Villafuerte III who won in 2013.

Luis

Lray

39

Migz

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

PROPHETIC VISION FOR BICOLANDIA In the early ‘70s shortly after the declaration of Martial Law, a City Fiscal from Iriga named Angel Sotto Malaya was invited to speak on the “Importance of Training in National Development” before the local National Police Commission upon the invitation of Capt. Augusto Caceres.

While humbled by the invitation, Malaya was candid enough to admit that it was rather a hard task for a City Fiscal who would be more at home on subjects of law, to discourse on economy, manpower training and national development which are exclusive preserves of economists, sociologists, industrialists, and other political scientists.

In his speech, Malaya correctly dissected the overall state of the Bicol region during that time as he underscored that “despite the tremendous economic and developmental progress nationally that are results in the shift in goals and direction under the New Society, Bicol region moves forward arithmetically while other regions move geometrically. To me Bicol region has not as yet left-off the stage described by an Italian economist-consultant to the National Economic Council Frank Mertucci in 1969 embodied in the so-called Mertucci Report as ‘still downward transitional’ and ‘somewhat backward area compared to the other regions of the country,’ despite the accelerated pace of present infrastructure and developmental projects.”

He cited the findings of the Bicol Development Planning Board, composed of the elected incumbent provincial governors and city mayors, contained in its 1972 Report that enumerated the more serious economic and social problems besetting the Bicol Region, among them: 1) High rate of population growth; 2) Negative attitude towards planned change; 3) Lack of selfdiscipline; 4) Dormant entrepreneurial spirit of the people; 5) Lack and high cost of electric power; 6) High cost of land; 7) High rate of unemployment and under-employment; 8) Poverty and low purchasing capacity; and 9) Inadequate transportation and communication.

“These bottlenecks are too well known to us for too long. Rather than wrestle with these problems that affect the very vitale of our individual and community life, we have chosen to be complacent and indifferent, except to some very few thereby earned for Bicol the appellation of somewhat “backward area. It took the force of the martial law and the goals of the New Society to jolt us from such complacency and inject a new sense of direction and dedication attuned to the positive attitudes of the time,” articulated Fiscal Malaya.

40

The mystique of bicolandia

He pointed out that a critical look on the enumerated economic and social problems boils down to lack of training and correct education. Fiscal Malaya then cited the tourism industry as an example.

“Bicol abounds with natural beauty and wonders. We have the world-renowned majestic Mayon, the Tiwi hot springs, Bulusan with its placid cool and ever-blue lake comparable with Taal, the Buhi lake with its world boasted smallest fish in the world – the “tabios,” the potential convention city of Naga, the industrious and energetic Iriganeous and its Emerald Grotto amidst that city of “superstars” and many other tourist attractions.

“While many far-away places have successfully lured foreigners and native travelers, like the “Moriones Festival” in Marinduque, the “Ati-Atihan” in Capiz, the “river festival” in Bocaue, Bulacan to name a few, it is indeed a pity that Bicolanos have not capitalized and invested as a proper tourist industry the potentials of the “Peñafrancia” in Naga City, which festivity involves the whole Bicolandia.

“Why? Simply because there is a dearth of skilled manpower to supply auxiliary services in a gigantic scale. So you see how important training is to national development.

“Training means achieving professional excellence, through academic studies and actual practice. Training also means taking a ‘new’ look at the things around us and getting interested in them personally, by this way arresting dormant interests. Training also means basic change in attitudes, from negative to positive.”

Today, Bicolandia, particularly Camarines Sur, is fast becoming a famous tourist destination in the Philippines. One of the destinations that helped make CamSur very popular is the Camsur Water Sports Complex. The park is located in the Provincial Capitol Complex of Cadlan, Pili. International and local wakeboarding competitions have been held here several times including the 2008 World Wakeboard Championship.

Another tourism come-on is the Peñafrancia Basilica Minore in Naga. The church is home to the miraculous Virgin of Peñafrancia, the Patroness of the Bicol Region. The feast is celebrated in September of every year.

Looking back and based on the remarkable tourism and economic takeoff of the Bicol region through the years, one can only appreciate the prophetic words of a legal luminary from Iriga City who correctly predicted the rise of Bicolandia as a tourists’ mecca in the Philippines.

But who was Fiscal Angel Sotto Malaya and what was his important role in the birth of Camsur’s component City of Iriga?

41

“Irigueños are very much passionate, driven to rise, excel and shine. We are honored to have produced one Judge Angel Malaya who empowered his family with quality education and someone whose integrity was unquestionable and impeccable.”

- Frank Peñones, Bicol historian

Chapter 2 Growing Up in Iriga

N

estled at the foot of Mt. Asog, now more popularly known as Mt. Iriga, is the idyllic city of Iriga in Camarines Sur. It lies 478 kilometers south of Manila, almost the mid-point of the Bicol Peninsula. Iriga is located on the northern outskirts of Albay, home of the world famous perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, with a name that originated about five centuries ago including its legendary mountain.

Iriga, before the Spanish era was called I-raga (beautiful and flourishing).

This sprung from a flourishing native settlement by the bank of the Bikol River called Bua (now the municipality of Nabua).

Iriga was only a “visita” or barrio of Nabua almost a decade after Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines on March 16, 1521, because of the disastrous floods that occur during rainy seasons in suburban Poblacion of Nabua. Bua has a low marshy

43

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

terrain easily flooded during the rainy season, so some people thought wisely to leave and settle to a higher land at the foot of the Sumagang, a mountain east of Bua. Sumagang or Mt. Asog (now Mt. Iriga) in the Rinconada dialect means “sunrise” and in Bikol language “agang sumirang,” meaning “early to rise.” This came to be called Iraga, historians claim, because Iraga being a frontier land had large tracts of land available for cultivation suitable for settlement. Iraga is a Bikol word, a contraction of Igwa (there is) and Raga (land or soil).

In the early 16th century, the curate of Nabua, Rev. Father Felix de Huertas, told the people to transfer to higher grounds so that they can plant and raise crops during the rainy season.

Due to the frequent storms and floods that hit the area, the parishioners of Fr. Felix de Huertas did transfer, and when they came back to their town, they told other people “iraga sa sumagang” which literally means that “there is higher land in Sumagang.”

The word Iraga was eventually changed to Iriga and the place eventually became a barrio of Nabua in 1578. The people who moved to Sumagang became the first Irigueños, thus the birth of Iriga.

In 1682, the parish of St. Anthony of Padua was proclaimed as a town (pueblo) with the increase of its population to 8,900.

Iriga was adopted as its name.

A local historian, Stephen Sergio, published an essay in 2001 tracing the old name of Mt. Iriga. Its present name, according to a story he gathered, was a result of a clueless reaction of a cartographer of the old Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey on what the name of the mountain was.

Writes Sergio, “Having no idea or guidance of what it was, so he just named it after the town on which it is partly located, which is Iriga. I also tried to trace the identity of the cartographer, who, old timers at NAMRIA say, was an American while others say he was in fact an Irigueno. The NAMRIA replaced the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey, which was organized on September 6, 1901. The American cartographer could have been the director of the Bureau; and the Irigueno, one of its staff members. Governor General Francis Burton Harrison filed this report in 1919: “With the exception of the director, who, in conformity to law, has always been an American, being an officer of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the

44

growing up in iriga

personnel of the bureau has been entirely Filipino since 1917, numbering 26 in all.”

Another Bicol historian Frank Peñones, however, regarded Sergio’s essay as “conjectural”since it claimed that Iriga was founded and so named only in 1682, about 41 years after the volcano’s eruption in 1641.

Incidentally, Mt. Iriga is listed by the Philippine Volcanology Institute as an active volcano and is just currently dormant. Peñones added that even Sergio’s query on what was the mountain originally called by the natives as “Sumagang” and “Asog” apparently relied on Spanish account of the founding of Iriga, particularly that of Fr. Felix de Huertas.

Peñones has this to say about Mt. Iriga: “Sergio, missed by a year the founding date of the town, as Huertas recorded it. He also blindly accepted the supposed last recorded eruption of the mountain on January 4, 1641, a date that had already been questioned by scientists and lately, been debunked by geologists and volcanologists.

As early as 1875, Feodor Jagor, a German writer and traveller who scaled the mountain in 1859, had expressed doubt as to the veracity of the date which he noted conflict with the report of the famous French seismologist, Alexis Perrey of Dijon, which told of another earthquake in 1628 in Camarines Sur. Dr. Chris Newhall, a volcanologist who closely studied the mountain and who I once invited to orient Iriga City officials about its eruptive history, said that the mountain could not have erupted during the 17th century. It happened, he said, during the Holocene, that is 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age; and that the eruption mentioned by the Estado Geografico was that of Mt. Parker in South Cotabato. Besides, a cataclysm in the magnitude and scale of an eruption of a mountain could not have escaped the zealous chronicling zest of the Franciscans who evangelized the Bicol region and who even recorded a scary legend of a local civet cat trader in Buhi during the late sixteenth-century.”

45

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

So what then is the pre-Spanish name of the mountain?

Was it Sumagang or Asog? According to Peñones, based on oral history, Sumagang is supposed to have come from the Bicol phrase “agang sumirang,” or “early to rise,” which was how the early settlers of the pre-Spanish settlement of Boa (now the town of Nabua) had referred to the mountain. As to Asog, both Peñones and Sergio linked it to the Buhinon word for a dog “in heat,” that is,”inaasog.”

“With its mudflows and hot lava when it was still active, it is easy to deduce why it was so named, and why Asog may have been settled at least two centuries before Sumagang including another Bicol epic fragment called “Ibalon” where Asog is mentioned,” writes Sergio.

Peñones opined that he agrees with Sergio that Asog is indeed the pre-Spanish name of the mountain on account of the authenticity of the Bicol epic having found scholarly support and strength in the study of Dr. Zeus Salazar on the discovery of an earthen urn found in Libmanan which he argued are visual representation and retelling of the epic.

Another interesting idea of Peñones was his belief supporting Salazar’s finding simply claiming that the foot of the mountain was the center of the cult to “aswang,” which Castano noted in his Breve Noticia; and that asog was the pre-colonial “priest” who presided at such rituals as defined by Lisboa in his Bicol dictionary.

“The presence of the ‘asog,’ I would submit, is a reason why the etymology of Iriga is not “I-raga” as Huertas recorded it, but Irago, the shape-shifting serpent daughter of aswang. As a serpent, Irago links the ancient beginning of the people of Iriga to the Naga-worshipping riverine tribes in the sunken Sundaland, and thus gives a more ancient origin of the town. The obliteration of Asog as the name of the mountain, however, is an evidence of the triumph of the Spanish colonial project and is never the handiwork of one ignorant Irigueno cartographer,” asserts Peñones.

He supports his thesis by citing Rev. Curtin G. Roop’s article titled Religion of the Philippine Islands published in 1902: “As one goes far back into the interior, Christianity shades off into paganism, and some sections will be found where the two are blended. Thus, there is not only variety but also confusion of religions in the islands. For instance, there is a small sect of pagan natives living on the slopes of the volcano Yriga, some of whom are criminal exiles from the villages,

46

growing up in iriga

Asog, Sumagang ,Iriga

MT. ASOG. Iriga’s mountain dominates the landscape. It is still listed as an active volcano in the PHIVOLCS registry.

47

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

but more of whom have voluntarily withdrawn thither on account of aversion to the labor and conventionality of the village life. These people, though pagans, yet decorate their walls with crucifixes as talismans. They say that if these crucifixes were not of some value the Spaniards would not use so many of them.”

From 1683 to 1709 records of the first capitanes or gobernadorcillos of Iriga were not available. However, it is recorded that in 1710 Don Martin Mendoza became the town’s capitan. He was succeeded

by Don Bonifacio de los Angeles. The latter’s great contribution was the organization of the first four barrios of Iriga namely San Agustin, San Isidro, San Nicolas and San Antonio Abad.

Several natural calamities struck Iriga in the 1800s. In 1846, during the term of Don Juan Lomaad, a great famine occurred causing many to die of hunger and malnutrition. To address the food shortage and abate the people’s hunger, the government ordered the planting of more staple crops. A cholera epidemic broke out and caused death to thousands of inhabitants in 1857. During the term of Don Miguel in 1863, a strong earthquake damaged the town church. In 1871, during the first year of Don Lucas Caayao’s term, an epidemic of smallpox broke out, claiming the lives of many.

During the incumbency of Don Martin Mendoza as Capitan Municipal, as recorded in the Memorias de la Provincia de Ambos Camarines, the “pueblo de iriga “ was composed of San Roque, San Francisco de Asis, San Juan Bautista, Sto. Domingo de Guzman, San Miguel Arcangel, San Nicolas de Tolentino, San Agustin, San Antonio Abad, Sto. Nino and Santiago de Gallicia with a population of 13,813. There were only four roads mentioned and they were coming from Nabua going to Bato, to Buhi, and to Polangui, Albay; and, there was only one way going to Nueva Caceres (Naga) via Bicol River by boat.

A 1950 drawing of the agricultural-based activities in Iriga by local artist, Lars Racelis.

48

growing up in iriga

Through the years, the municipality of Iriga continued to prosper and the original “barrios y visitas” developed into sitios that would become a district, and eventually into distinct barrios.

After World Ward II, San Ramon, San Rafael, Cristo Rey, Sta. Isabel, San Vicente Norte, San Andres, Sta. Teresita, Perpectual Help, Sagrada, Nino Jesus, San Pedro, and Antipolo, former sitios of barrios San Agustin, San Isidro and San Nicolas were created as barrios. The barrios of La Anunciacion and Sta. Elena were sitios of Sto. Domingo, del Rosario (Banao) of Santiago and Sto. Niño, and La Purisima of San Francisco part from Sto. Domingo, Sta. Cruz Sur of San Francisco, Francia and San Jose from San Miguel, and San Vicente Sur, Salvacion, La Trinidad formed the large barrio of San Antonio.

Some of these barrios were already created in 1960. The 36th barrio created was Sta. Maria, which comprises the sitios of Tubigan, Katungdulan, Bagacay, Sampaga, Rao and Cawayan of barrio Sta. Teresita by virtue of Republic Act 6228.

IRIGA DURING “PEACE-TIME” According Peñones, “Peace-Time” refers to the years prior to World War II. In 1900, the first railroad was constructed in Iriga, making it a flourishing town of trade and commerce. The railroad also placed Iriga on the map allowing instant access to Manila.

Peñones shares this interesting historical account: “At the turn of the 20th century, Iriga was already known primarily because it’s an abaca producing town. In fact, in the Bicol region, Iriga is one of the three best abaca producing towns in Camarines Sur, the other two being Daet and Partido. This town became a big trading center.

This also explains the presence of so many foreigners here like Spanish, Swedish, and even Russians during that period.”

On July 1, 1914, a young enterprising American serviceman Albert Louise Ammen together with another American, Max Blouse, organized a small transportation company in Iriga, with an initial fleet of one auto-truck and later grew to 400 buses in the 1950s. He called the company ALATCO or the A.L. Ammen Transportation Co., Inc. Its first route was Iriga to Naga. It was the Philippines first organized bus transport company.

49

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Mr. Ammen’s venture into the transport business had become so successful that soon he expanded his fleet to service the other towns of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon. ALATCO became the principal carrier in the Bicol region, inaugurating highway travel that was to open remote villages in the Bicolandia, to the mainstream of economic and social development. ALATCO later became part of Pantranco South Express Inc., which is today’s Philtranco.

The presence of abaca plantations at the foot of Mt. Iriga owned by the Basque Miguel Sarrato and Ramon Feced, their paisano Francisco Lamiel; and the Tagalog Manuel Abella contributed to making Iriga a relatively progressive municipality.

In 1905, Governor Juan Pimentel of Ambos Camarines, as the then combined provinces of the present Camarines Norte and Sur (ambos, being Spanish word for both) was known, filed this report: “The condition of the districts of Daet and Lagonoy and the pueblo of Iriga is one of relative comfort for the reason that the principal product is hemp, of which 355,641 piculs were produced in the fiscal year, 5,483 hectares having been planted with this valuable textile plant.”

In the same report, Pimentel noted the relative progress of Iriga town. An intermediate school was established in Iriga during the same year with 1,231 pupils. Apart from this, P2, 652.00 was allocated for the construction of the .835-miles IrigaBuhi road, and P2, 897.45 for the construction of the bridge in Barangay Santiago which was burned by retreating rebel forces led by a certain Col. Pena. Another P192.00 was also allocated for the Nabua-Iriga road. In June 12, 1912, the Quarterly Bulletin of the Bureau of Public Works reported the inauguration, which coincided with the town fiesta, of the 150-foot steel span Balos Bridge that was contracted to Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific for P3, 100.00.

“Indeed, it can be said that Iriga was enjoying a relative economic prosperity at the fin de siècle that it attracted several foreigners in the town. Among them were the Russian Eremes Kookooritchkin, father of actor Ronald Remy, who came in 1925 after the Bolshevik Revolution; the Polish father of the movie actor, Zaldy Zshornack whose mother was a Taduran; the father of Gilda Gales, the so-called Greta Garbo

50

growing up in iriga

of the Philippines, who was born here, her father being a travelling agent of the Smith Bell Company, which was into abaca trade in the Bicol region at that time; and the American managers of ALATCO like William Leslie Bowler, and the Stanford University law graduate Lot Dean Lockwood who would also later serve as ALATCO president,” notes Peñones.

Later on, in the ‘60s, the Cony was the popular mode of transportation for the Iriga-Nabua route. Aichi Machine Industry Company in Nagoya, Japan, founded in 1943, noted Peñones, manufactured the miniature cars. In 1965, the company became part of the Nissan group. Its 360cc model, which was the one converted as a passenger car, was powered by a 354cc 18hp 2 cyl. engine, making it more fuel-efficient; and, meant lower taxes for its manufacturer. The rise of the Philippine-manufactured jeeps like the very colorful Sarao and its competitor, the Francisco Motors; and the emergence of independent local bus operators who saw in the increasing number of passengers travelling to and from Iriga a new business opportunity, spelled the eventual demise of this once “Little Prince” of the Iriga-Nabua Road in the early ‘70s.

THE LITTLE PRINCE OF THE HIGHWAY. Before the jeepney took over the roads, the Cony was the undisputed king of the Iriga-Nabua road.

51

Want a lift? An A.L. Ammen Transportation Company (ALATCO) bus, the Philippines' first bus transport company, established in 1914 in Iriga. It is now part of the Philtranco group.

hail to the chief! An ALATCO Bus in Albay.

52

growing up in iriga

As stated earlier, the railroad and ALATCO led to the growth of Iriga from a sleepy town to a thriving and flourishing one. In 1901, the first American public school was established.

Its remarkable growth was carried to the 1920s that saw the establishment of a school that is now the University of the Northeastern Philippines. Peñones said the Monroe Commission headed by Commissioner Paul Monroe who was tasked by the American Government to study and improve the Philippine school system cited this school in 1926. “The Monroe Commission recommended the use of the mother tongue for teaching, making it easier for native students to learn and be educated,” noted Peñones.

Aside from education, remnants of this prosperity are evidenced by the presence and survival of at least two houses in Iriga, which was built in the chalet-style of the period. A 1936 article about a chalet reprinted by Augusto Villalon in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column describes the house as “constructed with a combination of different groups of lumber: ipil for posts, tanguili for flooring and walls, apitong for roof framing. The ground wall may be of adobe stones or bricks, the windows of frosted glass, and the roof corrugated galvanized iron sheets. Complete, this may cost P4,900 or thereabouts.”

Villalon said that the chalet, a Swiss housing style, integrated tropical architectural practices much like its predecessor, the bahay-na-bato (stone house). He noted that while the old terra cotta roofs have been replaced by galvanized sheets, the “chalet roofs remain steep, wide overhangs still protect windows from sun and rain, windows, now made of glass instead of kapis still slide open to allow the entry of air, and to increase ventilation, the ventanilla (opening between floor and window sill) is still used.” This made the chalet, he said, the “Filipino Modern” architecture of the day.

53

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

THE BIRTH OF AN ANGEL It was under these circumstances when Angel Sotto Malaya was born on October 1, 1928 to couple Eduardo A. Malaya, a civil servant, and Genoveva Sotto. An extant roster of the then Bureau of Civil Service lists father Eduardo as one of two clerks of the Register of Deeds of Camarines Sur. Endearingly called Angeling, he was the sixth child in a brood of eleven. In order of succession among the Malaya children were: eldest Erlinda who died single while in college; Carlos died an infant; Aurora “Ruring,”who became a teacher; Benjamin who finished accounting; Jaime who finished second year college on account of early marriage; Angel; Adelina “Aida,” a pharmacy graduate; Eduardo “Eddie” Jr., a commerce graduate; Consuelo “Lita,”a college graduate sent to school by Angel; Ceres who died young; and, youngest Herenia “Gerry,” a public school teacher and now the lone survivor at 77 years old.

He spent his entire childhood in Iriga until he reached high school and their family lived just across the town plaza.

He earned his primary and elementary schooling at the Iriga Elementary School and finished his grade VII in 1941.

Lawyer Mariano “Anoy” Trinidad, former Vice Governor of Camarines Sur from 1968 to 1971, is among the surviving childhood friends of Angel Malaya in Iriga. He is proud to claim to be Angel’s “BFF” or “Best Friend Forever.” He regarded Angel as very intelligent and brilliant who was always at the top of their class from elementary to high school.

Asked about his remembrances about their childhood days, Anoy shared this interesting personal account: “Angeling was a comical and outgoing person when he was still a young boy. We were childhood friends being neighbors. He was four years older than me. He eventually became my classmate in high school following my acceleration at the Apolinario Mabini Institute, now the University of Northeastern Philippines. I have many good memories when we were still young. During our school days, every night, we would always serenade beautiful ladies here in our town. Sometimes, he would serve as the guitarist while I became a singer. We always did that almost every night because we had nothing to do at that time. It was still the common practice among young people to serenade ladies.”

54

THE MALAYA FAMILY BEFORE WW II. In the old family portrait are Papa Dandoy, Mama Vevang, Lolo Juan, Erlinda, Jaime, Ben, Angel, Eddie and Aurora. Photo taken at the Malaya’s Old Residence just across the town plaza in San Roque, Iriga.

55

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

TRESORERO MUNICIPAL. The Malaya patriarch Eduardo Malaya Sr. (rightmost) in a vintage photo taken with collegaues in Naga City when he was tresorero and registrar of deeds.

On Mt. Asog, Anoy lamented the rape of the mountain. “At that time during our younger days, that mountain was full of trees.

We used to be charmed by its blue and green colors due to the verdant trees. Today, if you look at it from here, that mountain is now bald and it’s colored brown.”

During the Second World War, Angel lost his father, Eduardo, Sr., a former tresorero municipal who was hunted by the Japanese Imperial Army. Fearing for his life and constantly harassed by the Japanese, Eduardo Sr. died of illness in 1944.

56

growing up in iriga

During the American liberation in 1945, several Irigueùos became members of the guerilla movement. Unconfirmed accounts also pointed to the 17-year old Angeling being among those in the bunch of Filipinos who fought with the American liberation forces. In fact, one funny anecdote told by sister Herenia was the initial acceptance by her mother, the Malaya siblings, and relatives of the report that Angeling was already dead after having been missing in action for one week. They started praying for his eternal repose. When he returned home, Angeling surprised everyone and he did so with pride as he marched with the American soldiers with food supplies and goods in tow. Years later, son Jonathan visited the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and found his father’s name in the roster of those who served in World War II as a guerilla in Rinconada.

After the war, it was a reality check for the Malaya family.

Angeling continued his secondary education at the Apolinario Mabini Institute in the year 1947.

THE MALAYA FAMILY AFTER THE WAR.

57

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“We grew up disciplined, religious and loving. I could remember that Angeling was always a topnotcher. He was intelligent. He was so thoughtful and would often gather us together.

He emphasized to us appreciation for education.

- Herenia malaya lladera

“By God’s grace, our father left our family with several landholdings that eventually helped my mother and our family in our existence and livelihood,” shared Herenia. She added that her mother Genoveva Sotto viuda de Malaya worked hard to sustain her brood of ten over school through the income coming from their landholdings. Genoveva was a housewife and what she did was to occasionally sell some pieces of land left by her late husband in order to provide for her children, particularly their schooling.

According to Anoy, Angeling graduated high school in Iriga while he graduated in Manila at the San Beda College.

“We went together to pursue our college education in Manila to become lawyers someday. However, we enrolled in different schools.

I enrolled at the University of Santo Tomas while Angeling opted to study in the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros taking up Associate in Arts in 1949. He later transferred to Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), which was then in need of new students in their Law course. And so my Kumpadre Angeling left Letran to become among the pioneer law students at MLQU. He was fortunate to be accelerated to graduate in Associate in Arts despite taking it only in one and half year. He was allowed to take law proper in MLQU,” recalled Anoy.

Angeling was not just an intelligent student but he was also a dynamic leader because he actively involved himself in several school organizations. During his student days, he joined a fraternity of law scholars, the Beta Sigma Lambda, as the Vice Illustrious Brother. He was also a member of the Kappa Omricon Kappa, a fraternity of student leaders in the MLQ School of Law.

58

growing up in iriga

Angel joined elder siblings in Manila for higher education.

They stretched to the utmost their limited monthly allowance, including accumulating IOUs (I Owe You) in a nearby grocery.

“It wasn’t easy for Angel. In fact, he said it was a lot of sacrifice on his part to finish law at MLQU. I think it was through determination that he finished his college education and law schooling because were it not for Philippine Veterans educational benefits, Angel had no means to pay for his tuition fee,” recounted wife Zony.

He would also tell his son Jonathan that life was hard after his own dad passed away during the war. There was no money for college education and were it not for his scholarship from PVAO, he would not have become a lawyer.

59

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

DREAMS FULFILLED. Angel Malaya’s Bar Examinations ‘53 Rating.

60

growing up in iriga

Goofing around. The young lawyer Angeling (third from left) with his Iriga buddies, including close friend Mariano ‘Anoy’ Trinidad (fifth from the left, foreground)

Through hard work and perseverance, Angel finished law studies in 1952. He took the bar examinations on the same year and he passed with a rating of 83.15%. His friend Anoy graduated from law school in 1953. Both returned to Iriga where they would eventually practice law in their native birthplace.

Earlier, Angel also passed the Second Grade Civil Service Examinations while he was still a college student in 1949, obtaining a rating of 82.20%.

Thus, the dream of Anoy and Angeling to become lawyers became a reality. Their legal profession, a rarity in those days, had somewhat ensured their future standing to be counted among the “titulados” or illustrious sons of Iriga, having graduated from college.

These two lawyer-friends exemplify how Bicol historian Peñones described the distinct traits and character of Irigueños as follows: “Irigueños are very much passionate, driven to rise, excel and shine. They are ambitious but very much rooted in their birthplace.

That’s why Iriga has produced the likes of famous and eminent Irigueños like Superstar Nora Aunor, former Senator and TV personality Eddie Elarde, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, actors Jaime Fabregas and Mila de Ocampo. In the same manner, we are honored to have produced one Judge Angel Malaya who empowered his family with quality education and someone whose integrity was unquestionable and impeccable.”

61

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

At the tender age of 28, he was named as Justice of the Peace in the town of Bato where he served for 10 years.

In October 1968, he was appointed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos as the first City Fiscal of Iriga.

62

Chapter 3 Justice of the Peace and City Fiscal: At the Birth of Iriga City

B

rimming with pride and fueled by their idealism to serve their town mates in Iriga and fellow Bicolanos, the two neophyte lawyers started their respective law practice in the province.

The storied careers of bosom friends Angeling and Anoy were somewhat intertwined. Despite their busy schedules, their friendship would further deepen in the years to come with Angeling’s love life and legal career being partly influenced by Anoy whose political journey would likewise be partly helped by his buddy in the years to come.

63

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

For 13 years, Anoy was a law clerk at the Philippine National Bank (PNB). He was promoted as Acting Branch lawyer at the PNB Legaspi Branch. In later years, he was appointed as Asst.

Vice President of the PNB Legal Department in Manila.

As for Angeling, the titulado, his journey as a lawyer had just begun in his native town of Iriga. As a neophyte lawyer, he clearly defined himself as a principled, noble, and ideal man of the legal profession. Below is an excerpt of Angeling’s speech at the thanksgiving party tendered in his honor by the administrators of Iriga led by long-time Mayor Jose Villanueva shortly after the former’s oath taking as a lawyer: “Permit me to extend my heartfelt gratitude and filial devotion to my mother, who for the past 24 years, has nurtured and understood me for whatever I am; to my brothers and sisters without whose fraternal appreciation and assistance I could never have reached the apex of my scholastic ambitions; to those of the fair sex who at times of mental fatigue and spiritual depression consoled and rekindled the fire of ambition; and to my late father, whose untimely demise and political setback has served as an object for redemption. To them go the heart of a grateful man.

“Tonight I take my bow to the legal world, to the great people of Iriga, as a member of that honorable profession. I pledged to uphold the majesty of the Constitution, the sanctity of the statutes and the legal orders of the duly constituted authorities to conduct myself as a lawyer to the best of my ability and discretion. To the community I owe various social obligations as well.

“Tonight, I am driven to touch on a subject I find wanting in communities which is social responsibility. In so doing I shall be contributing something for the benefit of the great people of Iriga.

“Community living imposes obligations and responsibilities among the constituent members of society that they must gladly shoulder. Each individual is an important part in that community, without which the government established under the aegis of our Constitution would be useless, despotic and tyrannical. The greater interests of the nation and of the group which he must necessarily serve involves his own, and he would be recreant to claim these interests, if he did not actively concern himself with the affairs of the government.

Civic pride and civic consciousness are engendered by habitual concern with the affairs of one’s community.

64

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

“It is not enough that a citizen should take care that in his daily life, he does not violate any of the multitudinous rules, regulations and ordinances of the state. He must see to it that the whole community properly observes laws; and, that the officers of the state attend to their duties at enforcement and properly perform their duties.

“Should the citizen stand indifferent with his social obligations unknowingly, he induces the perpetration of graft and corruption, the condemnation of crime and the criminal, the disintegration of popular government that our venerable elders have bestowed upon us as a priceless legacy.

“The law as it is, is a lifeless creature. Individual initiative is necessary to give fire to the spirit, to breathe the breath of life upon it, thus to enable its long arms to reach those who seek to destroy its very existence.

“Unfortunately, it is upon the lawyer in whom it is entrusted the wholesome burden of tilting the balance of justice on the side of the just, of dispensing justice rightly and impartially, of moving the justice on the road of prosecution. It behooves on the lawyer to observe his oath of office faithfully.

“It is absolutely necessary that the lawyer should observe that ethical rule of candor and fairness. I ask of my compañeros to restore that lost fraternity conspicuously characterizing our profession; I implore upon them to cast away into the sea of oblivion selfish thoughts, politically inspired or otherwise; I appeal to their sense of citizenship that they should be as ever vigilant in order to protect the life, liberty and property of the people.

“If we shall fail in our coveted position – as defenders of the rights of the people, we shall have failed those ahead of us in the profession if, we lose our respect, having bartered the same with material gains, we have outlived our usefulness in a decent social community; if, we allow ourselves to remain inactive, we shall have violated our very own code of ethics and the lawyers’ oath of office.

“The lawyer’s duty in the last analysis is to advance the honor of his profession and serve the best interest of his client as he renders service or gives advice guided by the strictest principles of morality.

Above all, a lawyer will find his highest honor in a deserved reputation for fidelity to private trust and to public duty, as an honest, a patriotic and level citizen.”

65

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Sorely Missed. The Malaya two-storey ancestral house in front of the Iriga town plaza.

Note the signage Angel S. Malaya – Abogado. The house was demolished in the mid-sixties.

Angel privately practiced law for five years until he was appointed by President Marcos as the Justice of the Peace in the nearby lake-town of Bato.

For a couple of years, Angeling showed his mettle as a litigator. One of the first celebrated cases he handled was a controversial rape case that he won for the accused.

This was recounted by his cousin Lina Malaya Nagrampa who remembered her father proudly telling his relatives how he personally witnessed the trial that had his lawyer cousin Angeling arguing intelligently in defense of a paralytic client who was accused of raping a lady.

The neophyte lawyer argued using a “bolo with a holder case” as his allegorical line of defense. He argued that once the holder case was constantly moving, it would be naturally difficult to encase the bolo and put it on a holder, unlike when the holder was steady. In the same manner, on account of his client’s

66

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

physical condition, it would be difficult for him to pin down the accuser unless there was a mutual consent to enable the accused to consummate the sexual act. His intelligent argument had the crowd clapping and cheering that eventually unraveled the rape case against his client.

In 1955, the lawyer Angeling was elected president of the local directorate of the Nationalista Party. At that time, Iriga was the biggest town in Camarines Sur. On account of his good track record and celebrity status as a brilliant lawyer, Angeling was appointed at the tender age of 28 as the Justice of the Peace in the town of Bato. He served as a Municipal Trial Court judge from May 1958 to October 1968, a time when the caseloads of judges were not that heavy.

As Justice for the Peace, Angeling would hear cases in the morning and drafted rulings, resolutions, and decisions in the afternoons or early evenings. Since it was allowed during those days, he also counseled private clients in the afternoon. Town folks often paid him with their prized catch of the day from the lake.

THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF NOW. Angel Malaya, 28 and a bachelor, at his oath taking as Justice of the Peace before Judge Gregorio Turiano, May 1958.

67

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

SMILES FOR POSTERITY: Angel Malaya (middle, front row) with the founding assistant fiscals and staff of the Iriga City Fiscals.

Office: front row (L-R) Reno Gonzales (later RTC judge), Jaime Viola, Melencio Cortero (succeeded Malaya as City Fiscal) and Santiago Malate, c.1969.

It was in 1965 when the two bosom buddies – Angeling and Anoy - reconnected and bonded once again as members of the Nacionalista Party.

The two friends went to Manila and attended the Nacionalista Party Convention at Manila Hotel in 1965 where they participated in the formal nomination of Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos and Fernando Lopez for the presidential race that pitted the duo against the Liberal Party tandem of incumbent President Diosdado Macapagal and Senator Gerardo Roxas.

On their way back to Iriga, the two buddies took a plane.

While being up in the air on the plane, Anoy told Angeling, “Hey, you look out here. Look out in the window and see what is below us.”

Angeling asked, “What is that?”

Anoy answered, “There you could see all trees, land, water, all of those things down below. Then, I posited the questions, ‘what are we going to do as citizens of this country? How can we help and give service to our people?’”

“What do you mean?” asked Angeling.

Anoy told him point blank, “Well, there’s no other way but we go to politics. That’s the only way we can serve our countrymen, our people and our province.”

68

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

Anoy’s answer somehow intrigued Angeling and he told his friend, “You have a point!”

“If you say that I have a point, then you support me,” begged Anoy.

“How will I support you?” asked Angeling.

“First of all, you help me to gather people of influence in politics,” Anoy told Angeling, who eventually agreed to serve as his political adviser. However, Angeling was never officially connected to Anoy’s campaign team since he was then serving as Justice of Peace. But he did his part in openly campaigning for his friend when the occasion called for it. The following is an excerpt of Angeling’s sales pitch for Anoy before a youth group in Bato: “Your invitation to Atty. Mariano S. Trinidad, Nucionalista candidate for Vice Governor of Camarines Sur, was not turned down.

As a matter of fact, he really intended to be here tonight. But due to exigencies of time, he was called to Malacañang for a conference. So here I am, as a stand-in. I have called the attention of your President Carding that I may be likened to a viand, - like a gulay, who everyone finds “masomo” already, because I have been to this school many times as guest speaker, inducting officer, and judge. But even if I am not “puga,” I am also “goli.” Agreed? I am not a candidate. Atty. Trinidad is your candidate. He comes from our very own Rinconada, and as a full-blooded Rinconada of which we in Bato feel close attachment.

You are therefore urged to consider him for the position he aspires for.

Always remember, Rinconada is your very own, and the rise and fall of your leaders will therefore depend so much upon you.”

Anoy Trinidad went on to be elected as Vice Governor of Camarines Sur province in 1968 serving until 1972 when Marcos declared Martial Law. Anoy thererafter went into farming. It was during Anoy’s tenure as Vice Governor of Camsur that the town of Iriga became a city.

The two prominent lawyers, Angeling and Anoy, helped their friend, then Mayor Jose Villanueva, in pushing for the cityhood of Iriga by helping draft the proposed charter of Iriga before it was submitted to Congress.

First elected in 1960, Mayor Villanueva led Iriga’s virtual march to leapfrog to astounding economic and social progress.

During the incumbency of Mayor Villanueva, he began to shape Iriga into a city by drafting the Charter of the City of

69

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Iriga, House Bill No. 7270 principally authored

by Congressman Felix A. Fuentebella and Senator Dominador Aytona in the Philippine Senate.

However, there was initial opposition to the cityhood bid of Iriga. Through a concerted campaign of the mayor and ably helped by civic leaders like Judge Angel Malaya who played a prominent role in the yes to cityhood campaign, the approval of the people was solicited. It was the unflinching support and willful cooperation of the town’s people that eventually gained the conversion of Iriga into a city through Republic Act 5261, otherwise known as the Charter of Iriga City on July 8, 1968. This is considered to be the turning point of Iriga.

The City of Iriga was formally organized and inaugurated as the third city of Bicol Region (after Naga and Legaspi) on September 3, 1968 through a Presidential Proclamation and officiated by the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand E. Marcos.Today, Iriga prides itself, as being located at the heart of the Bicol Economic Growth Corridor and is one of the fastest growing cities in Region V. It has evolved into an eco-tourism, agro-economic and educational hub with two big universities in the city.

PAST MAYORS OF IRIGA CITY 1. DON FELIPE B. MONPONBANUA Capitan Municipal 1896-1898 Presidente Municipal 1899-1900 2. DON EULOGIO C. MIRANDO Presidente Municipal 1923 – 1928 3. DON SANTIAGO I. GONZALES Presidente Municipal 1929-1937 4. HON. FELIX O. ALFELOR Municipal Mayor 1938-1940 5. DON FELIX C. MONTE Municipal Mayor 1948-1951 6. DON SANTIAGO G. ORTEGA, SR. Municipal Mayor 1952-1955 7. HON. PERFECTO I. TADURAN Municipal Mayor 1956-1959

8. HON JOSE C. VILLANUEVA Municipal Mayor 1960-1967 City Mayor 1968-1988 City Mayor 1988-1995 9. HON. POLITICO R. CORPORAL OIC-City Mayor April 1980-Nov. 1986 10. HON. SALVADOR C. DE LIMA OIC City Mayor Dec. 1986-Nov. 1987 11. HON. REGINO A. REVINA OIC City Mayor Dec. 1987-March 1988 12. HON. EMMANUEL R. ALFELOR City Mayor 1995-2004 13. HON. MADELAINE ALFELOR-GAZMEN City Mayor 2004-2013 14. HON. RONALD FELIX Y. ALFELOR City Mayor 2013 – Present

70

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

A month after Iriga became a city, it was Angel Malaya’s turn to be appointed. After his 10-year judicial stint in Bato and owing to his credentials, accomplishments, and experience serving as Justice of the Peace, then President Marcos appointed Angel on October 6, 1968 as the first City Fiscal of Iriga when the latter became a chartered city.

It was also through the help of his best friend, Anoy Trinidad, then newly elected Vice Governor of Camarines that Angeling became the first City Fiscal of Iriga. He was formally sworn into office by no less than President Marcos in Iriga in October 1968.

“I was the one who recommended him to be appointed as City Fiscal when Iriga City was founded. That was the time I was able to repay my friend for what he did for me in getting elected as Vice Governor. He told me that he was interested to become City Fiscal of Iriga. So I talked to Congressman Felix A. Fuentebella, Senator Dominador Aytona and to President Marcos to allow me to recommend at least one position in the city. And they asked me what position that I wanted and I firmly said, ‘City Fiscal.’ Their next question was, ‘who are you nominating?’ I replied ‘Justice of the Peace Angel Malaya.’

With that, we were even as far as helping each other. I was able to help him with his legal profession after he helped me with my political campaign,” Anoy fondly recalled.

“He was a young judge back then. He was very prudent on his work and he would make sure that there was fairness and impartiality in all decisions he would make,” recalled his lawyer friend Anoy Trinidad.

“He had good ideas and he wanted to serve his fellowmen unconditionally.

He‘s the best friend anyone could ask for.

He was brilliant and so is everyone in his family is.”

- Mariano “anoy” Trinidad

71

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

YOU DID IT! (Top Document): Telegram from Executive Secretary Rafael Salas notifying Malaya of the submission of his appointment as City Fiscal of Iriga to the Commission on Appointments, 1969. (Bottom Document): Congratulatory letter from Mabini Memorial Colleges President (and later Camarines Sur Governor Felix Alfelor Sr.)

72

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

His appointment as the first ever city fiscal of Iriga was welcomed with great pride and joy by Irigueños and other provincial leaders alike.

According to Zony, her husband was well-loved by the people of Iriga because he helped in efforts towards the incorporation of the then municipality of Iriga into a chartered city.

Angeling’s appointment as City Fiscal of Iriga, which is part of the Department of Justice’s prosecution service, would be duly confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on May 19, 1969, ably aided by Camarines Sur Congressman Felix A. Fuentebella, CA assistant majority floorleader, after a host of endorsements from city and provincial leaders including Iriga City Mayor Jose C. Villanueva, president of the Camarines Sur Nationalista Party Mayors League. Shortly after his confirmation, Fiscal Malaya received congratulatory messages including from Senator Arturo Tolentino and Mabini Memorial Colleges (now University of Northeastern Philippines) president Felix Alfelor Sr.

73

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

The title ‘Fiscal’ is used interchangeably nowadays with ‘Prosecutor’, the Department of Justice lawyers who, together with the police, investigate crimes and file and pursue charges against criminals in court.

In cities and provinces though, fiscals do more, including in community building, as they are legal advisors to the local government unit.

Republic Act No. 5261, which on June 15, 1968 provided the City Charter to Iriga, designated the city fiscal as the ‘chief legal adviser’ of Iriga, and provided him with three assistant fiscals.

As chief legal officer, Malaya represented the city in all civil cases, attended meetings of the City Council, drew ordinances and contracts, gave legal opinions when requested by the Mayor, City Council or other city departments and investigated city officer or employee for neglect or misconduct in office among other functions.

“He took a direct hand not only in prosecuting criminals but also in maintaining good law and order in the city, together with the local police,” recalled eldest son Ed. “Police officers often brought suspects to our residence for inquest proceedings at night and on weekends.

Papa didn’t mind it at all as he knew that the police had regulatory deadlines to meet, otherwise they will have to let go the suspects, and our residence was nearer the police station than those of his assistant fiscals.”

In coordination with the City Council, Malaya spearheaded in the early eighties the codification of the various city ordinances, from sanitation to traffic regulation and area zoning classification, and held innumerable sectoral consultations in order to hear and consider the people’s views and sentiments.

He was also a member of the Iriga City Planning and

74

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

Development Board from 1974 t0 1980 and contributed much to the city’s socio economic development including the public market development program, projects in the barangays and in youth and sports development. He served as the city government’s-in-charge for the Iriga leg of the Marlboro Tour of the Philippines in the mid-seventies. He was passionate about Iriga’s present and future as any homegrown loyal son can be.

Jose Tagum, now a retired Provincial Prosecutor who served as Assistant City Fiscal, shared this recollection of his principal: “Fiscal Malaya was well-liked by his fellow fiscals and well-loved by the support staff. He would always advise us fiscals to be religious in our duty of attending court hearing. He disliked tardiness and absenteeism among the support staff as he always indicated that the public was always watching. He advised us prosecutors to maintain absolute honesty and high degree of integrity. He emphatically told us not to demand or expect something of value in exchange for the good service we rendered to the people. To him, ‘Thank you, Fiscal’ or ‘Thanks, Sir’ was already enough consolation for a job well done.

He always advised us time and again to read, read and read, to study, study and study to widen our knowledge of law.”

Fiscal Malaya had a good command of the English language grammar and wrote with a fine prose when drafting resolutions.

Fiscal Tagum recalled two incidents with Fiscal Malaya on the use of correct English and on logic.

75

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“After I submitted my draft resolution of a case for his approval, he called me to his office. He would normally ask me whether I used correct English grammar since he was very particular about correct grammar.

He told me that I was already a fiscal and a lawyer and no longer a college student. He returned to me the copy of the resolution and advised me to use correct grammar, which I dutifully obliged after thorough study. Otherwise, he would not approve a poorly written resolution.

Another case was a resolution that he found the facts and evidence on hand to be in order but the conclusion was wrong. He advised me to do further legal research. He was right. I eventually found the desired jurisprudence,” shared Tagum.

In 1979, Fiscal Malaya wrote an interesting critique and analysis on the results of the 1978 bar examinations. Here’s Fiscal Malaya’s article that zeroed in on English proficiency as the culprit for the very low passing average among bar takers: “Sometime last week, the Supreme Court released the results of the 1978 bar examinations. A few passed and many flunked. Many heads – those believing that the law profession was too overcrowded, had to shake in disbelief. The inevitable axe had fallen over the heads of those who were ill prepared to meet the rigors of law examinations. It was a hard examination last year, and so also the proceeding years. Now, this years’ percentage passing took a heavy toll – only 22.21% passed. Only 800 plus among a filed of 3000 plus examinees. What’s next? Will it be the trend of future examinations – getting harder and harder? To many of us who faced the same ordeal years ago, this year’s bar results gave many points to ponder, real down-to-earth facts which for a long time had us puzzled.

“One of the examiners correctly answered that question. It is the inability of a bar examinee to express oneself in plain and straight English. That is the answer – failure to express ones’ thoughts in the Kings’ language. Isn’t it downright disgusting to fail in simple English?

Yes, it is and what a pity for the examinee. About 17 years or more lost in terms of efforts, money and time. And all that has been reaped was, to use Pete Aquino’s’ sports terms – unmitigated butchering of the Kings’ language. Yes, that’s it – we cannot talk or write plain and straight English. The English language is here to stay, no doubt about that. And this will naturally compel anyone to doubt the competence in our educational teaching force. I have wished to debate on the merits or demerits of our educational set up. But in so discussing the question, I

76

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

am merely moved by a desire to point out what I honestly believe as the rest cause of this failure which affected and will affect future examinees.”

Lawyer Eulogio Prima, another Assistant City Fiscal and previously his student in law school, described Judge Malaya as a very competent city fiscal.

“Government offices and agencies would always seek his legal opinions and advice with regard to difficult or controversial legal issues,” recalled Prima.

Prima regarded Malaya, who taught law for a time at the University of Northeastern Philippines, as very reliable, inspiring and erudite.

“He was the one who inspired me to take up law. When I became a lawyer, he took me as his Special Counsel in the Iriga City Fiscal’s Office – where he competently honed me as a trial lawyer, including writing resolutions as well as making and rendering legal opinions. With the inspiration and knowledge he shared with me and others, I humbly credit Malaya for my success until I became and eventually retired as the Provincial Prosecutor of Camarines Sur and now serving as a law professor at present,” Prima said. Incidentally, the position “fiscal” was later renamed “prosecutor.”

City Fiscal Angeling was judicious, and prompt in the disposition of all cases submitted for preliminary investigation.

He was fun loving as well.

During Christmas parties, Fiscal Malaya often required his assistant fiscals and staff to render some songs or any entertaining number. Prima always served as the impromptu emcee.

“He was also very fatherly to his Assistant Prosecutors and staff.

He was simple, frank, unassuming but accommodating in relation to his colleagues, friends, including litigants. Most importantly, his traits and stint were worth emulating,” Prima added.

Felicitas “Fely” M. Taduran and Eldine Violeta Bismonte Dorosan, two of Fiscal Malaya’s loyal staff at the City Prosecutor’s Office, would validate Prima’s account.

Fely was just a fresh graduate at the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines) when Mayor Duran of Nabua recommended her to Fiscal Malaya. At that time, the good fiscal was looking for a competent stenographer. Although already employed with the municipality of Nabua, Fely was convinced by Mayor Duran to try her luck in Iriga under the tutelage of Fiscal Malaya.

77

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

78

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

FLOWERS FOR WHOM? Malaya with his City Fiscal Staff bringing a bouquet of flowers to the shrine of national hero Jose Rizal at the city plaza. With him are (left to right;foreground) staff members Eldine Violeta Bismonte, Osita Empadie, Fely Taduran and another staff member. At the back were assistant fiscals Eulogio Prima and Melencio Cortero.

According to Fely, she was nervous on her first day at the Fiscal’s office. On orders of Fiscal Malaya, she was immediately put to the test and had to pass an impromptu stenography exam.

Fely went on to work for 18 years with Fiscal Malaya during which she became one of the trusted and loyal staff until the latter’s appointment as Regional Trial Court judge in 1987. One of her first impressions of the city fiscal was that the latter was of a strict person but she was proven wrong.

Below are her remembrances on Fiscal Malaya: “I would soon discover that behind the strict mien was a gentle, caring and fatherly person whose only desire was our overall well-being and for his staff to never stop learning and dreaming. He would always boost our morale. He would push us to become better persons and to be where we are today. He would give us extra money to watch movies.

He even took part in screening our respective husbands and admirers.

Just like a real father, he would see to it that all his staff members were okay. It took me five years to get pregnant. When he learned about my condition, he was so happy and even advised me to go on leave so I could protect and preserve the baby on my womb.”

Fiscal Malaya always inculcated professionalism and product conduct among his staff.

79

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“His basic rule was: ‘work is work.’ Yes, he was strict when it came to work. What I learned best from him was his code on secrecy.

He would always tell the staff, ‘what you see, what you hear, when you leave, leave it here. Never ever confide or reveal to others whatever is happening in this office. If it’s a secret, then it remained as a secret. This was because of the sensitivity of the cases which the City Prosecutor’s Office was handling,” noted Fely.

Another loyal staff is Eldine Violeta Bismonte Dorosan who joined the City Prosecutor’s office in 1978 at a young age of 19.

“I was so young when I joined the office of Fiscal Malaya. Fely invited me to join their office since there was a vacant position. I was then working at the Registrar’s office. When I saw Fiscal Malaya, he asked me point blank, ‘Who is your backer?’ I politely answered him that I had no backer except the fact that the Iriga City Mayor was my neighbor in our barangay and that he knew me personally. Then he went to validate my credentials and representation. The mayor was kind enough to affirm the information I gave to Fiscal Malaya since I was also Kabataang Barangay chairman,” narrated Eldine.

Among the better traits of Fiscal Malaya was his fatherly attitude of fighting for the rights of his staff and employees, particularly for the timely release of their salaries.

“If salaries were delayed, he would go down to the accounting office and he would admonish the employees to release the salaries since everyone is in need of money,” asserted Eldine.

“He would be minding our love lives and would give me advices.

He was so protective. He taught me not to be afraid to learn new things on my own. He took time to be with us and there were no factions in the office. He was so loving, we had so many fun memories together.”

Fely was once the subject of a petition to be removed or terminated by some city hall employees and city councilors since she was not a native of Iriga. Fiscal Malaya defended Fely even before city council members and went as far as challenging anyone who could equal if not surpass her skills and credentials.

No one dared to question him after that and Fely kept her job.

Fiscal Angeling and his assistant fiscals handled the city’s most controversial cases and prosecuted notorious characters, yet he would often walk to the city’s wet market to buy groceries with no concern for personal safety. This was so because he knew that people considered him to be fair, even-tempered and never judgmental nor rush in his judgment. He was a favorite

80

Justice of the peace and city fiscal: at the birth of iriga city

speaker at the Lenten Siete Palabras (the Seven Last Words), often covered on local radio. He prided himself with knowing the local people, especially those in the barangays.

Though a highly eligible bachelor, Angel put off settling down. Having finished his studies, he took it upon himself to help put through college his younger siblings and relatives, including his younger sister Consuelo who finished pharmacy.

Another beneficiary of Fiscal Angel’s generosity was Francia Malaya Relativo, daughter of his brother Jaime. Here’s the inspiring recollection of Francia of her uncle Angeling: “We are seven in the family. My father Jaime was the only one not able to finish college among the original Malaya siblings. When I was in the elementary, it was my Uncle Angeling who religiously brought us to school. During my kindergarten days, he volunteered to take care of my studies because of our family’s financial condition. From Grade 1 to high school, he took care of my tuition fee, which was charged, to his earnings at the University of St. Anthony where he used to teach. He was so kind and generous. I stayed with him for a while to take care of my grandmother and his mother Genoveva.

“After I graduated in high school, he encouraged me to pursue college education. I chose midwifery instead of getting a four-year college course since I was eager to finish and earn a living for my family.”

When Francia graduated and later on took the licensure examination for midwifery, she was surprised to learn from her uncle that she passed the exams.

“He showed me the national daily that carried the list of successful midwifery board passers. He even gave me money for my fare and expenses to be able to attend the mass oath taking in Manila. He was always very supportive and loving. I also valued his counsel and advices.”

According to Francia, it was her uncle Angel who was also responsible in securing her first job at the Our Lady of Mediatrix Hospital in Iriga whose owners were his personal friends.

81

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“It was my husband’s dream that our children would one day turn out to be better than us. He wanted to send them to good schools so they can achieve whatever they want in life. We considered education as an investment (in their future.)”

- Zony 82

Chapter 4 The Love of His Life: Wife and Children

A

fter breaking 30 and despite a promising career, there was something missing in the life of Angel: a lifetime partner, friend and inspiration.

The young Corazon “Zony” Enciso, 23 years, and Angel, 31, first met in a wedding ceremony of a first cousin of Angel.

“My elder sister Erlinda was married to a man from Iriga. One day, I was with my mother when we attended a wedding in Goa. That time, the bride was the first cousin of Angel. It was in the wedding reception when I first met him.

I could not really recall whether the two of us were properly introduced to each other. What I remember was that we talked instantly and we got to know each other. Maybe it is what we call destiny,” shared Zony with a smile.

83

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Asked about Goa, Zony described her hometown as “serene,” now a district educational center with the presence of a state university and a branch of the Iriga-based University of Northeastern Philippines.

Historically, Goa was at first situated at Barangay Salog, which was then known as “Visita de Salog,” comprising the barrios of Lalud (now known as barangay Salog), Himagaan, Matacla, and Payatan. Lalud was established along the banks of the Cagaycay River and is about five kilometers away from the present site of the town center.

In 1777, a Franciscan friar in the name of Fr. Juan Abalay, from the then Portuguese colony of Goa, India came to the place and administered the first parish. After his arrival, the community grew into a town with the official name of Pueblo de Goa. The Franciscan friar was instrumental in giving the town of Goa its name. The priest may have done it to perpetuate the memory of his birthplace of Goa, India and to give authentication to the native plant Gajo that the place had been known for, which means “a native slender cane plant that the locals used for arrow shafts.”

A PILLAR IN PEOPLE’S LIVES. The St. John The Baptist Parish Church which was originally built by the Franciscans in 1701 in the town of Goa,Camarines Sur. The convent building on the left side of the photo has long been demolished.

84

The love of his life: wife and children

HAVING BABIES, JUST FEW: Front row: Father Aniano Enciso, Mother Consolacion Delgado-Enciso, holding grandaughter Joan L. Enciso. Back row: daughter Corazon, daughter-in-law Paz Lizano-Enciso DMD holding Richard Enciso, son 1Lt. Luciano Enciso MD, son-in-law Manuel B. Oliva DMD, daughter Erlinda Enciso-Oliva holding Felix Oliva, and Cely Enciso (later married Manuel Balatan)

In a short time, the town of Goa, like Iriga, evolved as one of the 35 municipalities of the Province of Camarines Sur. From a small community of settlers, Goa has become the commercial and educational center of the district of Partido.

THE DELGADO-ENCISOS OF GOA It was love at first sight and the lissome and comely lass Zony attracted Angel, eight years her senior. She was then taking BS Education studies at Naga’s University of Nueva Caceres.

Zony, as she is endearingly called, was born to parents Aniano Enciso, a public school principal and former municipal councilor, and mother Consolacion “Citay” Delgado, a graduate of La Concordia, then a finishing school in Manila. Her mother was a Spanish mestiza born of the union of Don Luciano Delgado, mayor of Goa and later on provincial board member of Ambos Camarines, and Basilia Bonagay, a local beauty. In honor of Zony’s grandfather, a street near the Enciso ancestral house in Goa is named “Delgado Street.”

85

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

They are four in the Enciso family. Zony is the third child.

The eldest, Luciano, a doctor, was a military surgeon, then Erlinda, an educator, and the youngest Cely, a nurse who later became Chief Nurse of the Bicol Regional Hospital in Naga.

“We have been a well-knit family just like the other traditional conservative families in the provinces. My father, as an educator, was able to balance the close ties between each of us in the family and the freedom we needed as teenagers,” Zony said.

Her mother was a disciplinarian and both of her parents inculcated on her and siblings the value of thriftiness. She could recall how her parents avoided going to others to borrow money.

After finishing from high school at the Partido High School (now Partido State University) where she graduated salutatorian, she proceeded to Naga City with dreams of obtaining a bachelors degree at the University of Nueva Caceres, one of the most reputed universities in the Bicol region.

“I chose Education for my major in college because of my exposure as a child to my father’s profession. It was for me the best career where I could excel. I love to share my knowledge to others especially to young ones who need guidance and direction. Because for me, the real purpose of education is to prepare the youth to educate themselves during their lifetime,” Zony said.

After four years of hard work, Zony did not disappoint her parents as she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education cum laude Major in English, from the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC). The university was established in 1948 wherein the initial courses offered were Liberal Arts, Commerce, Education and high school studies.

Zony’s family is quite landed. Up until these days, Zony gets their rice supply from the produce of their farm and she continues to help manage the farms, which she and her siblings inherited from their parents.

Right after their chance encounter in Goa, the two started to exchange notes as Angel started his formal courtship of Zony.

With a coterie of friends led by Anoy who at times served as his driver, the young judge headed off to Zony’s family home in Goa, a two-hour ride away. “See-saw, Enciso, which is the way to Goa town?” was a ditty they sang along the way.

86

The love of his life: wife and children

still standing. The Enciso ancestral house has stood along Panday Street in Goa, Camarines Sur since the 1930s. Its upkeep has been maintained by eldest surviving daughter Zony. Four grandchildren also stayed there during their high school years: Felix Oliva, Richard Enciso, Arnold Oliva and J. Eduardo Malaya.

ALL SMILES NOW! The Enciso matriarch Consolacion (middle, front row seated) with her grown children and in-laws. (first row left to right) Angel, Zony, Cely and husband Balatan town Mayor Manuel Balatan; and grandchildren (back row) Ed, Jonathan, Dinna, Jose ‘Jojo’ Enciso, Arnold Oliva, Pearl Enciso, Gregorio Aniano Balatan, Joan Enciso (now Cabunoc) Francia Balatan, Roland Oliva, Gwendolyn Malaya, Richard Enciso and Niño Balatan, at the Goa ancestral house in the mid-eighties.

87

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

The most interesting account of his courtship came from his friend Anoy.

“The home of Zony was in Goa, a two-hour ride from Iriga characterized by often bumpy roads. I was part of his courtship entourage along with another lawyer friend Rufino Margate. We were the tres de alas de jack. At that time, I was a bachelor who owned a German-made Taunus car,” recounted Anoy.

He said that Angeling’s formal courtship to Zony all started when he was asked to accompany his friend to Goa to see somebody whom he would like to marry.

“I was surprised and so I asked him, ‘what? You will marry her?

And his answer was, ‘Yes, I will marry her,” narrated Anoy.

On several occasions, it was Anoy who accompanied Angeling to Goa to meet with Zony and her strict parents but just the same, they allowed Angel to visit her. The ever-watchful and protective parents – the mestiza Consolacion and public school principal Aniano – politely received them.

“We normally stayed there for an hour. He asked me about my impressions on Zony and I was forthright in telling him that they would make a good pair since the two looked alike. I also told him that Zony would be a good wife for him. I advised him to marry her since sooner or later he would get older. After several trips to Goa, Angeling was forced to buy his own car,” fondly recalled Anoy.

Zony found Angel to be smart and intelligent and for practical reasons, she thought Angel would be a good provider.

Here is Zony’s account of how Angeling stole her heart: “I was impressed by how articulate he was. He was a good storyteller. He made the simplest stories very interesting for his listeners because he was fluent in whatever language or dialect he uses.

I was also astonished by his writing skills. His handwriting, notably his penmanship, was better than my writing.”

“I remember, he told me stories on how he made it through to college and law school even without adequate support from his father who passed away when he was young. When they had projects at school like term papers, he would do his paper ahead of time, and then he would also do the papers of his classmates. In return, his classmates would pay him for the work done. That was how he survived in his studies. He needed to give extra effort in order to finish and not to add burden to his mother who was then raising his other siblings alone.

88

The love of his life: wife and children

Angel & Zony May 6, 1961

C’MON, YOU’LL BE HAPPY...

Angel and Zony at their wedding before Archbishop Pedro Santos, May 1961

89

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Having that in mind, I knew that he would become a responsible husband and father,” Zony said.

After an abbreviated courtship, the couple married on May 6, 1961 before Archbishop Pedro Santos at the Archbishop’s Palace in Naga. Senator Edmundo Cea and Mrs. Terry Leelin stood as their wedding sponsors.

“It was only less than a year of courtship, then he proposed marriage, not directly to me but to my parents. He talked to them and asked their permission if we could a start a family of our own. We got married three weeks after that. We just had a simple wedding attended only by few selected friends and relatives at the Archbishop’s Palace,” Zony added.

After their wedding, Angeling and Zony started their life together in Iriga but their first two years were a bit of a struggle since both were busy with their respective work. At that time, Zony was teaching in the public schools Goa while Angeling was justice of peace in Bato.

“One year after our wedding, I gave birth to our first born, Jose Eduardo or Ed, on March 25, 1962. After Ed was baptized in Iriga, I went back to Goa because I was teaching there. Being the firstborn grandchild, my mother loved Ed so much that she did not want to part with him. She always reasoned out that she would be in a better position in taking care of Ed while I was teaching,” recounted Zony.

Being his grandmother’s reputedly favorite, Ed often spent summer vacations in Goa and later took his high school studies at the St. Paul Academy. Besides Ed, there were three other cousins who stayed with their grandparents and studied in Goa, Felix Enciso Oliva, Richard Enciso and Arnold Enciso Oliva, who graduated as class valedictorian at St. Paul and is now an investment banker.

“I knew my mother loved Ed so much. We let him study in Goa since there was a good piano teacher at St. Paul. There was also a dramatics club and we wanted Ed to be exposed to school plays,” shared Zony. On account of their love for music, the Malaya couple enrolled all their kids for piano lessons.

The Malaya couple would be blessed with three other children namely Maria Dinna, Gwendolyn, and Jonathan.

90

The love of his life: wife and children

Dinna was born on September 17, 1964. The third child is Gwendolyn, born on March 17, 1966. The youngest is Jonathan, born on July 13, 1973. Jonathan has a seven-year age gap with “Gwen.”

“Owing to the wide age gap with his siblings, jokingly, we told Jonathan that he was adopted. Jonathan took it seriously. He went to the registrar’s office in La Consolacion Academy (where he was enrolled) to get his birth certificate to find out if he was an adopted child,” Zony shared with laughter.

Just like other middle class parents, the importance of education, respect for elders, and responsible way of living were impressed by Angel and Zony into the minds of their children.

The Malaya couple took efforts to instill proper moral foundations to their children, inculcating in them sincerity, uprightness, hard work, and obedience to the law. These were the same values learned by Zony and Angel from their own parents.

“We instilled the value of education and faith in God. We sent them all to a Catholic school called La Consolacion Academy which is near our house. Angeling and I always told our children: ‘You should always persevere in your studies because that’s what we can give you that would last a lifetime,” emphasized Zony.

Like other middle class families, the Malayas of Iriga lived a comfortable life, yet remained humble and well rooted. Early on, Angeling and Zony trained their children to shoulder their share of work in the household, from cleaning their rooms to preparing their food, and doing other chores.

The Malaya patriarch was comfortable in going to the public wet market and managing the kitchen.

“My husband told me one time that I should not push myself to do teaching and household duties at the same time. Because of my desire to put our children in good schools and at the same time do my duties as a wife, I woke up early and went straight to the market. I did not bother to check how I looked and after going to the market, I went straight to school. One of my students approached me and discreetly told me that my shoes were mis-matched. From that time on, I relegated the marketing and cooking chores to my husband. Besides, he was a better cook than I am,” confessed Zony.

91

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

a

Malay endolyn E. STEP? Gw T X E on N ci E la so WHAT’S TH the La Con exercises at at a dance .

74 19 y nuar Academy, Ja

from left) Dinna (second in Maria WANT SOME? us co th ments wi osharing light mo aunt Paz Lizan d an t) os ftm .

Eloisa (le Goa Residence o’s cis En the Enciso at

On account of the couple’s desire to provide well for their four children, both of them took part-time jobs by teaching at the University of St. Anthony (USANT) at night and on weekends.

“Because I was juggling works then in both public and private schools, more often than not, I was not able to attend to the daily household chores. My husband was the one who took care of our children. He would change their diapers and prepare their milk. I also remember the earlier stages of our family life, when one of our children would cry in the middle of the night, I would just turn my back and would continue sleeping.”

For special occasions, Angel would cook the luscious “lengua estofada” and “empanada,” to the delight of everyone.

“I could still remember how good his lengua estofada really was.

It was the family’s favorite dish. He would find time to get his personal touch into things, he was such a great family man,” shared second cousin Lina Nagrampa.

92

The love of his life: wife and children

last birthday. Angeling (back row, 2nd from right) and Zony (to his left) holding young Jonathan at his mother Genoveva’s 80th birthday, together with elder brother Benjamin and his wife Purificacion, daughters Dinna and Gwendolyn (in front of their parents) and nephews and nieces, July 1975.

“Lola Vevang” passed away the following October.

Growing up, Dinna assisted her father at times in the kitchen. They would cook the spicy “Ginataan” and other vegetable dishes. She proudly claims that she owes her cooking skills to her father.

Their family bonding time was at the dining table. “Dinner was the time for Mama to relate what transpired at school the whole day. Papa would dutifully listen and make occasional comments,” Ed said.

Daughter Gwendolyn appreciated her father’s constant affirmation of trust and understanding: “During my elementary years, there were times I would not go to school in the afternoons. I was just so tired of school assignments that I felt like I needed a mini-break.

I was not sick physically but I was mentally drained. Without any question, Papa would allow me to do just that. Even as a young child, he knew me well enough to know what I needed and he trusted me enough to accept my decisions. For an elementary-age child, that was a big deal.”

93

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Angel was a firm and steady presence as a parent, not the touchy, feely-kind. Recalled Gwendolyn: “Papa was old-school. He was not a physically-affectionate father. However, when he needed to, he would act as one. One time, I was walking home from school when suddenly a huge rock landed on my shoe. A jeep passing by hit the rock and it bounced off and landed on my shoe. I felt my toes hurting much and I could barely walk. I was so scared; I did not take my shoe off, fearing for the worst. A classmate helped me reach our house. With tears falling on my checks, I wailed “Papa” the moment I saw him. He hugged me tightly and immediately, with no questions asked. With that embrace, I felt reassured and I knew all would be well.”

Gwen recalled being sickly as a child who was often in and out of the hospital during her elementary school days. “Papa and Mama were always there caring for me, checking on me late at night and every morning when I was ill,” she said.

Asked if her parents played favorites, Gwen replied that the “favorite child” was the child in need. She noted that never for once did she doubt her father’s love for her. “I am sure my siblings feel the same way. For him, the favorite child depended on the moment and the situation. Whoever needed help at that moment was the child who would get his attention and guidance,” pointed out Gwen.

The family was deeply religious and committed to their Catholic faith.

After dinner, the family would recite the Holy Rosary after which, they would roam their spacious house carrying the image of Sto. Niño like a mini procession to bless the residence and protect its occupants from harm.

They adopted this practice after their original residence was burned.

“Everyday, we prayed the rosary after dinner. We also wanted our children to be home at six pm. When Jonathan wouldn’t be around at six, my husband and myself would keep on looking for him,” attested Zony who added that her family and children are all devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The Malaya’s long time Sto. Niño image.

94

Viva La Virgen!

The Beloved Ina (mother) of all Bicol: Basilica of Our Lady of Pe単afrancia, Naga City, Camarines Sur.

95

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

Angel’s religiosity extended to community religious activities. He was a regular speaker and sharer at the Lenten Siete Palabras, which was often aired on the local radio.

While married life was fulfilling for the couple, Angeling and Zony did not forget to remain close and be of assistance to their parents and close relatives.

“My husband’s mother Genoveva for a time lived with us after we got married. He was the one who took care of his mother until she passed away on October 4, 1975. He always had a ready hand to help his siblings and relatives. Although already married, he gave occasional financial support to them, which I allowed because I perfectly understood their situation. Part of his salary was given to his mother and he even sent two sisters and a niece to college. We also took care of my parents at home. They lived with us in their later years. I was thankful to my husband for he was very caring to them,” Zony recalled.

The niece, Francia, was Angeling’s scholar from elementary to college. Francia attributed her success to her uncle Angel. She is now an education program supervisor at DepEd-Iriga.

As a caring son-in-law, Angel did not consider them as additional burden, but instead showed them how happy he was having them around.

According to Zony, her husband was the “go-to person” of his relatives who sought his advice regarding family concerns or legal matters, to which he naturally listened and responded to.

As city fiscal and community leader, Angel was close to the local people, especially those in the barangays.

He was a “people-person” said daughter Gwendolyn: “Papa enjoyed the company of people, regardless of their stature and age.

He could easily mingle with people in high places and the masa. I remember Papa cooking with the tenants during occasions in my Lola’s place, enjoying conversations with helpers and drivers.”

Angel also took time to relax. He enjoyed the occasional bottle of San Miguel beer, which his family tolerated, but couldn’t kick the smoking habit that would impact on his health condition later in life.

His friend Corazon “Azon” Gonzaga recalled, “Oftentimes, he would have few drinks with my dad and brother. He would politely request for beer and for laing (the Bicol region’s gabi leaves cooked in coconut milk, with chili).”

96

The love of his life: wife and children

PARENTING 101: Advice from Angel Malaya

• • • • • • • • • •

Invite your child’s confidence; do not demand them.

Avoid comparing your children.

Set a proper example for your children to follow.

Let parent group help your established reasonable guidelines.

Try to see your child as others see him.

Don’t be a buddy to your children - be a parent.

Act together, and consistently.

Apply discipline only to correct a child not punish him.

Let your child find his own level.

Encourage your child to pursue his own ambitions.

97

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

WELL-LOVED HOME. The two-storey bungalow built by Angeling and Zony across the Iriga City plaza, as it stood in the mid-1960s. The house burned in 1973.

REBUILDING FROM THE ASHES A tough time for the Malayas came on February 9, 1973.

Angel and Zony were attending a convention of Rotarians in Naga when their two-storey bungalow residence in Iriga caught fire. Angeline, as he was called among Rotarians, was then the Iriga Rotary Club president. At that time, the children, all in elementary grades, were left with the housemaids. Ed recalled that he climbed uphill to Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto which was about 500 meters away, overlooking their burning house.

“I was crying as I watched our house slowly being gutted by fire.

I was so worried about our piano and my piano pieces. Some people thought that I did not make it out since my two sisters were brought to the municipio, which was three houses away,” narrated Ed. “We were in Naga attending a Rotary Convention when somebody sent us a telegram saying, ‘Your house is burning!’ I was pregnant with Jonathan at that time. My husband got worried as I might suffer a miscarriage because of the bad news. But thank God, I was fine. We came home immediately and saw the house turned into ashes. They said faulty electrical wiring was the cause of the tragedy. It was an unfortunate event for all of us,” said Zony.

98

The love of his life: wife and children

MAJESTIC SIGHT! The Emerald Grotto of the Our Lady of Lourdes, a landmark overlooking the Iriga City center.

Left with only their car and what they could salvage from the fire, the Malaya couple started all over again.

Necessity being the mother of invention, the public servant couple reinvented themselves as entrepreneurs and went into business. They bought two second-hand bus engineered chassis from Pantranco, rebuilt them into cargo trucks and started a sand and gravel hauling business. It became their bread and butter for a couple of years. They managed the business after official work hours.

“After we lost our house, our Papa was determined to rebuild, prove his capacity to provide for our family and rise above the tragedy.

The sand and gravel business, with the signage “Malaya and Sons” on the cargo trucks, paved the way for the family’s recovery,” shared Ed.

99

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

In the late ‘80s, his parents also built and constructed a fourstorey commercial building on the same lot where their original residence once stood. It housed a restaurant, an entertainment and disco bar, a function hall, and office spaces for rental.

“I have fond memories of that building,” recalled Jonathan who as a high school teener frequented the once Malaya and Sons building with his friends. “I would go there everyday after school. My parents eventually had to give it up and sell it after the loan interest with the Development Bank of the Philippines ballooned exorbitantly due to the high inflation rate and the worsening economic crisis at the tail end of the Marcos dictatorship.”

ZONY’S JOURNEY AS A TEACHER Just like her educator father Aniano, Zony pursued a career in education. For that she took up and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education (Cum Laude) from the University of Nueva Caceres (U.N.C.) She then followed through on this taking up in later years the master’s program and subsequently the doctorate program, also at the UNC, focusing on education management.

She wrote an in-depth article on the economics and financing of public schools which was published by the U.P. Education Journal which merited a special commendation from then DECS Secretary Jaime Laya. She imparts her insights and experiences on education issues not only to her co-workers at DepEd but also to her graduate students in her capacity as Professor II at the University of Saint Anthony, where she has taught since 1983.

Zony’s career in the field of education was never the object of chance but the result of years of hard work and perseverance.

She began her teaching career at the U.N.C. High School as a classroom teacher, after which she joined the public schools as an elementary grades teacher at her hometown Goa’s Central School. After transferring to Iriga upon her marriage to Angeling, she rose through the ranks from one school to another until she became Teacher-in-Charge, Head Teacher and then Principal of the San Francisco Elementary School in Iriga City, a school she founded and built from scratch, with the support of local barangay officials.

100

The love of his life: wife and children

LET US DO THIS HOOD THING RIGHT. Consolacion at her daughter Zony’s graduation ceremonies at the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City.

...This time at the University of Saint Anthony in Iriga, with Angeling.

FROM GROUND UP. Zony, as teacher-in-charge, founded the San Francisco Elementary School as a two-classroom affair in the early seventies and nurtured it for over a decade to become a leading public elementary school in Iriga.

101

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

The San Francisco Elementary School only had 88 pupils on its first year of operation. Angel helped Zony all the way, as if he too was in vested in the new school. He provided guidance on the construction of buildings and in the overall physical and infrastructure layout and development of the school. He even designed and had built an improvised athletic oval track in order to spark the pupil’s interest in sports. The Malaya couple’s collaborator in the growth of the school was the long-time Barangay Captain Restituto Turiano.

“Angel helped me grow from the lowest ranked teacher to my last position as division superintendent. He would talk to some politicians to donate school buildings, tables and chairs for my schooI. San Francisco Elementary School is the school that I am really proud of because I started it from scratch to where it is now. My husband was a good partner in this endeavor,” Zony said.

After a prolonged stint at San Francisco Elementary School, which she nurtured, Zony became the principal of Iriga Central School in 1982.

What followed was a series of promotions as District Supervisor of the South District and then of the Central District of the Division of Iriga City.

Her career went full circle when she returned to her original division, the premier Division of Camarines Sur, this time with an appointment from DepEd Secretary Ricardo T. Gloria as Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.

Not many teachers were surprised with her promotion but a number of peers wondered about her dedication to actual classroom teaching as she chose not to leave, even temporarily, the Graduate School of the University of Saint Anthony. Despite the demands of her position, she continued to serve as professor of education on a part-time basis in said institution of higher learning.

Zony attained the pinnacle of her career when President Fidel V. Ramos promoted her to the rank of Schools Division Superintendent in 1996. Consequently, she was assigned by Secretary Gloria to head the City Schools Division of Iriga. Not long after, with the retirement of then incumbent Superintendent Elena Tino, she was reassigned to head the Division of Camarines Sur as Superintendent.

102

The love of his life: wife and children

PROUD TEACHERS ALL! Iriga City DepEd South District officials led by District Supervisor Irene B. Panga (fifth from right,seated). Zony is seated third from left.

A VISIT TO MALACAĂ‘AN. Zony with daughter Gwen after receiving the CSC Pagasa Award from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Zony as Public Schools District Supervisor of the Division of Iriga City.

103

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE. The cooperative for Camarines Sur teachers, which Zony founded in 1995 in Pili. Its assets has grown from Php 500,000 to Php 80 million, through dedicated customer service and prudent management.

During her watch, she promoted a policy of openness, fairness and transparency in the recruitment and selection, appointment, transfer, and promotion of teachers.

Among Zony’s priorities was uplifting the welfare of the teachers and their families and in 1999, prompted the birth of her brainchild, the Camarines Sur Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CASTEMUPCO).

At that time, a research conducted by Project TAO (Teachers’ Advancement for Optimum Well-being) headed by Senator Teresa Aquino-Oreta showed that teachers were often victims of usurious lending institutions, and one of the recommendations was to start teacher’s cooperatives. Zony prioritized the setting up of a teacher’s cooperative in the Camarines Sur Division.

Her stewardship of the province’s public schools system was noted for innovative problem solving and a determined campaign against graft and waste. To ensure that pupils got the quality education they deserve, she often conducted surprise classroom visits and checked on the teachers’ lesson plans.

To stamp out irregularities in the often-byzantine supplies procurement process, she implemented reforms aimed towards transparency and efficiency. She publicly disavowed any liking for kickbacks, and in return, called on suppliers to offer quality products at fair prices.

104

The love of his life: wife and children

This bold act of Zony caught the public’s attention.

In an article published in the Bicol Standard Daily on January 15, 2000, columnist Dominador Alarcon noted: “Sometime ago, Dr. Corazon E. Malaya, Division Superintendent of Camarines Sur, was reported to have received about P500, 000 worth of textbooks as donation from book suppliers. There is, however, much more than meets the eye in this astonishing gesture. We learned that Dr. Malaya should have received the equivalent value of the books in cash as her share in the transaction but Dr. Malaya politely refused to get the offer and instead (asked the suppliers to) just donate books, which could be used by impoverished school children throughout the province… Dr. Malaya must be a gem among school officials not only here in Bikol but throughout the country.”

With the above reforms and other good governance measures, the Camarines Sur DepEd offices were able to generate savings of OUTSTANDING GOVT. OFFICIAL. about Php 4.4 million in two years The prestigious CSC Pagasa Award time. given to Zony by the President.

With her track record of integrity and an advocacy for fighting corruption, the Civil Service Commission bestowed on Zony the “Gantimpala Award” in 2001 for “honesty and efficiency in the delivery of services to the people.”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo presented to her the prestigious Civil Service Commission’s “Pagasa Award” the following year in ceremonies in Malacañang.

The Gantimpala Award is a special recognition given by the Civil Service Commission to a government official or employee who has shown exemplary action in the line of work or service.

105

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

On the other hand, the Civil Service Commission’s Pagasa Award is conferred to an individual or group of individuals for outstanding contribution resulting from an idea or performance, which directly benefit more than one department of the government.

The Pagasa is one of the three award categories given, together with the Presidential Lingkod Bayan and the Dangal ng Bayan, during the annual nationwide Search for Outstanding Public Officials and Employees that seeks to recognize exemplary service.

The Pagasa Awardees receive a cash prize of Php 100,000, a gold-plated medallion, and a plaque containing the citation and signature of the CSC Chairman.

In a tribute speech on the Pagasa award of Dr. Zony Malaya, a fellow DepEd official, former DepEd Regional Director Orfelina Tuy articulated: “Saying NO to money is not only a professional act; it is also a personal one. It is a TEST of self-discipline and self-respect. It is a statement that the SELF is priceless and every act of denial adds premium to its value. Her being the awardee should not only make us proud but should also make us understand that we can say NO to money no matter what the circumstances or temptations there may be, steadfastly upholding the values that make us persons of INTEGRITY.”

A life time among learners. Zony Malaya in the classroom.

106

The love of his life: wife and children

Zony retired from DepEd and the public service in mid-2002, but continues to serve with the teachers’ cooperative which she founded and continues to nurture as its manager.

In her more than 40 years of service at the DepEd, she was recipient of numerous other awards, citations and commendations, notably from the Philippine Association of School Superintendents (PASS), the DepEd Central and Regional Offices, Iriga City Public Schools Teachers and Employees Association, National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and from local civic groups. Milaor High School Principal Diosdado San Antonio who later became DepEd Regional Director, has this inspiring tribute to Zony: “The depth of her spirituality has made her an exemplary educational leader – untarnished by the ugly marks of graft and corruption in the government service. She imbibes inspiring support and genuine concern as we attempt to improve the quality of education in the division.”

Another tribute came from an editorial of the DECS-Camarines Sur Newsetter that paid homage to her impact as an educator: “To many generations of pupils in public schools in Iriga City and Camarines Sur, she is a dedicated and hardworking teacher whose dedication to her profession shines each and every school day.

“To numerous teachers and principals, she is a committed school administrator who reaches out to them and solicits their views and opinions.

“To her graduate school students, she is an excellent professor who shares her expertise in the field of educational administration even on weekends.”

107

OUTSTANDING FILIPINO MOTHER. Dr. Corazon E. Malaya with her Ulirang Ina Award in 2010.

ALWAYS AT HER BEST. Joined by CASTEMUPCO members, Zony Malaya was recognized by the Cooperative Development Authority as Most Outstanding Cooperative Leader in 2012 during the 11th National Cooperative Summit held in Cagayan de Oro City.

108

The love of his life: wife and children

In 2010, she received the “Ulirang Ina Award,” a prestigious national award given to outstanding Filipino mothers by the Manila-based National Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Foundation, Inc. It is given to mothers with significant achievements in their fields of endeavor and as mothers. The awardee must have excelled in her chosen field and exemplified the ideals of parenthood. The award ceremonies took place at Manila’s Century Park Hotel, with Education Secretary Mona Valisno as keynote speaker.

“Mama is a modest woman yet extraordinary in many ways, if I may say so. She has been loving, thoughtful, considerate and compassionate not just to us her children, but also to others. She has served as a faithful and loving wife to my father, an ideal mother for us (even though she rarely cooks) and an inspiring teacher to many,” Ed said.

Zony keeps herself busy even after retirement, continually teaching at the graduate school and running the teachers’ cooperative as its manager. Her quest for service and excellence has not diminished. For this, the Cooperative Development Authority recognized Zony Malaya as Most Outstanding Cooperative Leader in 2012 in ceremonies held in Cagayan de Oro City.

From a seed fund of P500, 000 which she started in March 5, 1999, the cooperative’s overall assets has now grown to more than a Php90-million portfolio, with no outside loan from banks or other lending institutions.

Zony and Angel have always served as a role model couple on family life and public service. Overall, she credits her modest success in her teaching vocation and other endeavors to her husband’s unconditional love and support through the years.

109

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

THE MALAYA CHILDREN Ed, “Manoy” to his sisters and brother, is described by Zony as self-disciplined even at young age.

Their mother described Dinna and Gwendolyn as “studious.” The two were active and excelled in their academic and extracurricular activities even during their elementary days.

To balance their studies and gain more self-confidence, the two daughters joined the school band as majorettes.

Jonathan, the youngest, came seven years after Gwendolyn.

Zony was 35 years old when she gave birth to her last baby.

“Jonathan has a good sense of humor and friendly. He has so many friends in many places. I remember one time, he asked us why we were imposing curfews while his friends’ parents did not. He was a jolly kid,” narrated Zony.

110

The love of his life: wife and children

“It was my husband’s dream that our children will be better than us. He wanted to send them to good schools so they can achieve whatever they want in life. We considered education as an investment,” attested Zony.

After their studies at the La Consolacion from elementary to high school with the exception of Ed who studied high school in Goa, all the Malaya children were admitted and went to the University of the Philippines in Diliman for college.

“All of them passed the UP college entrance exams and they were privileged to study at UP where the tuition fee is low. They stayed in dormitories and later on, altogether in a rented apartment. My husband did the marketing here in Iriga and he would ask a Philtranco conductorfriend to bring the groceries and food supplies that included fish, vegetables and pork to Quezon City. He did that almost every week,” recounted Zony.

Ed, Dinna and Jonathan were once active in campus politics: Ed as Vice Chairman of the U.P. Law Student Government; Dinna with the League of Filipino Students; and, Jonathan was a founding member and President of the UP Debate Society. He also wrote for the Philippine Collegian, UP’s daily student paper and was a youth leader of the Liberal Party.

Both Ed and Jonathan joined the UP Law based Alpha Phi Beta Fraternity.

WE SHALL RETURN! The Malayas in Corregidor Island.

111

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times J. EDUARDO E. MALAYA

After finishing economics studies (cum laude), Ed went to law school and then joined the Department of Foreign Affairs. Ed did not practice law as expected of law graduates. “Papa told me that he had seen most aspects of law practice and that it was best for me to explore other fields, “ recalled Ed. Ed served in New York, Brussels, Chicago and San Francisco.

He also worked for three and a half years in the staff of then President Fidel V. Ramos in Malacañang.

He appeared prominently in national media when he served as DFA Spokesman from 2009 to 2011, providing updates on issues from the Daniel Smith - ’Nicole’ rape case to the evacuation of Filipinos from strife-torn Egypt and Libya. At that time, he was concurrently Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs at the DFA. As a diplomat-lawyer, Ambassador Malaya was involved in sensitive negotiations notably the Enhanced Defense Cooperation with the U.S. (2013-2014) and the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (2009-2011).

Two offices he headed received the DFA “Best Organization Award” in successive years - the DFA Office of Legal Affairs in 2012 and the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 2013.

With a passion for writing, a trait which he and Jonathan took from their father, Ed is the author/editor of four books: “Philippine-Malaysia Agreements, 1952-2014: Cornerstones of Partnerships (2015); “Frontlines of Diplomacy: Conversations with Philippine Ambassadors” (Anvil Publishing, 2011); “Philippine Treaties Index, 1946-2010” (Philippine Foreign Service Institute, 2010); and together with Jonathan as co-author, “So Help Us God: The Presidents of the Philippines and their Inaugural Addresses” (Anvil Publishing, 2004). “Frontlines of Diplomacy” was a Finalist for the 2013 National Book Award (Professions Category).

Ed is a recipient of two Presidential Citations, from President Ramos in 1995 and from President Arroyo in 2010. He was bestowed the Order of Sikatuna, rank of Datu, in 2010.

Married to Rena Cristina, a U.P. Medicine graduate who is practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, he has three children Mark Edward, Jana Ariana and Adrian Edward. Mark finished business administration studies at the University of California at Merced in May 2015.

112

The love of his life: wife and children

ON STAGE. A beaming Zony places a medal on high schooler Ed, together with Angel, at the St. Paul Academy in Goa, Camarines Sur. Ed stayed with his maternal grandparents in Goa during his high school years.

WHAT’S THE CAKE FOR? Ed in the arms of Angeling at one year old, with cousins Francis, Arnold and Felix Oliva, cousins, neighbors and friends.

EXCELLENCY: Ed at his oath taking as Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia before President Benigno S. Aquino III, together with (left to right) Mark Edward, Zony, Adrian Edward, Cristina and Jana Adriana.

113

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

DIPLOMATIC ROLE PLAYING. Cristina, Jana Adriana (at 11 years old) and Ed doing the catwalk at a Philippine Independence Day reception cum Filipiniana fashion show at the Royal Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, June 2015.

Ambassador Ed Malaya and Defense Undersecretary Pio Batino with Karen Davila during an interview on ANC Headstart in 2014. Topic was on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

114

“A trait that I have tried to emulate from my late father Angel, a Bicol-based lawyer who spent his lifetime as a prosecutor and then an RTC judge, was his belief that public service is a blessing a unique opportunity to serve the community, and those in it should give their full effort.

His official responsibilities were law enforcement and administration of justice, but he still involved himself in our city’s socio-economic development planning, public education and sports development, and at the same time was active in civic organizations. He did part-time teaching at a local university as a means to augment the family income and to have the chance to mentor young people. He stayed put in Camarines Sur, perhaps aware that it was where he could best serve. As he once said, “Public service imposes obligations and responsibilities that must be gladly shouldered.”

115

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times MARIA DINNA MALAYA MCKEEN

A morena with her father Angel’s skin tone albeit lighter, Dinna claimed to have inherited the most features from her father, and during childhood banters with siblings, said that she was his favorite child. The father went along with it, well aware how naturally affectionate his daughter is.

After high school at the La Consolacion Academy, Dinna took home economics studies at the University of the Philippines.

After college graduation, she shifted fields, went into information technology and landed a job in Melbourne and then New York.

Alas, she discovered a liking for data coding, which in the late eighties was not typical for girls.

She then worked in Rome for the International Fund for Agricultural Development and later the World Food Program, both United Nations agencies, where she met husband Kevin McKeen, who is with the Food and Agriculture Organization.

They moved to Bangkok, where Kevin was transferred, and they had their son Michael. She has been with the Kimberly-Clark Bangkok office since 2000, where she is currently Global IT Senior Manager providing support services to the company’s global operations, and with strong technical knowledge and multicultural experience.

Asked about her recollection of her father and childhood days, Dinna said: “I remember playing the piano one late afternoon and he was in his study room doing paperworks. He said that he liked music and law. I remember the days when he organized choir competitions for elementary and high school choirs under the auspices of the Rotary Club. He was a sincere father and a calming presence in our house. He inculcated in us the love of reading. I remember reading lots of newspapers including Time and Newsweek. I now do the same at home, so my son Mike is an avid reader and it helps that Kevin reads as well. Papa was our role model of pushing oneself to succeed. I saw him doing everything possible to get to his next promotion. He impressed us that everything is possible if you really work for it.”

“He was the best father, affectionate, caring and also an excellent cook. I learned the love of cooking by spending a lot time in the kitchen with him. As a child I grew up thinking that he can answer any question that I have, be it school homework, religion, politics, etc.”

Dinna has kept the Malaya surname in her passport and other identity papers. This has at times triggered additional questions when she travels overseas with son Michael who, as expected, sports the surname ‘McKeen.’ Not a bother at all, Dinna quips.

“Keeping the Malaya surname is my way of honoring Papa.”

116

The love of his life: wife and children

RECEPTION LAKE-SIDE. Kevin, Dinna and Kevin Mckeen (leftmost) tied the marital knot in May 1995 at Lago di Bracciano outside Rome, Italy. Angel and Zony joined them, as did Kevin’s parents Barbara and Raymond (rightmost). It was Angel and Zony’s first travel to Europe.

SWEATER-WEATHER HERE. Kevin, Dinna and son Michael (rightmost) on a visit to New Hampshire, Kevin’s home state, December 2014.

117

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times GWENDOLYN MALAYA SANTOS

Gwendolyn studied Psychology at U.P. Diliman. She was supposed to go to medical school but had a late change of heart.

“Papa badly wanted a doctor in the family. Somehow, that ‘burden’ fell on me so I took science subjects in college as pre-requisites to medical school.

I did not have the heart to break their heart nor the courage to tell Mama and Papa directly. So, I still applied for admission to several medical schools. I was an indecisive young adult at that time. The summer before the start of my first year in medical school, I felt more convinced that medical school was not for me. I somehow found myself in the UP Catholic Chapel alone, agonizing how to solve my dilemma, and Papa thereafter arrived. After advising him of the situation, Papa calmly accepted it. No condemnation, no censure. Just quite reassurance that he trusted my decision,” recounted Gwendolyn.

She then enrolled at the San Beda School of Law where she became an honor student, Bronze medalist. In San Beda, she was a member of the League of Lady Barristers, a law sorority. She’s the third lawyer in the Malaya family.

She worked as Law Clerk/Staff Attorney to the late Senior Justice of the Supreme Court Florenz Regalado and moved on to as Senior Associate (Attorney) at the ACCRA Law, a leading law firm based in Makati. Gwendolyn was part of the firm’s well-known and respected Corporate and Special Projects Department where she counseled foreign and local clients on complex and advance corporate transactions including joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and structuring, mergers and acquisitions, and incentives registrations of investments.

She was also a member of the firm’s reputable Labor and Employment Department where she handled collective bargaining negotiations (CBAs) for the country’s top corporations and policy advocacy in the areas of industrial relations and human resources administration.

After marriage to U.S.-based Miguel Santos, Gwendolyn migrated to Los Angeles, California, where she once worked as Legal Assistant at Arnold and Porter, an international law firm, until she passed on her first attempt the California bar examinations, reputedly the most difficult bar examination in the US and one of the toughest in the world.

Gwendolyn is currently in private practice, concentrating in family, bankruptcy, immigration, and probate law. She regularly awppears before the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (a state court), and the US Bankruptcy Court (a federal court). She also counsels clients on matters before administrative agencies including the US Department of Justice (EOIR), US Board of Immigration Appeals, US Department of Homeland Security, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). She is also licensed to practice in U.S. District Court for the Central and Eastern Districts of California.

An active member of both the Philippine Bar and California State Bar, Gwendolyn also joined the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Los Angeles Bar Association, and the Beverly Hills Bar Association.

She is currently based in Los Angeles County with husband Miguel Santos and son Ethan Angelo.

118

The love of his life: wife and children

THE ADVOCATE. Atty. Gwendolyn Malaya Santos THE CONSISTENT HONOR STUDENT. Angel proudly pins a medal on his daughter Gwendolyn at ceremonies inside the Iriga main Catholic Church, March 1974.

Gwendolyn, Angel and Zony in Rome, 1995.

TRIO SELFIE. Miguel, Ethan and Gwen

Zony, Gwen and Ed on a visit to L.A., May 2015.

119

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

JONATHAN E. MALAYA

Jonathan, the Benjamin in the family, was born seven years after Gwendolyn, when their mother Zony was 35. This was a cause of much ribbing among the siblings when they were young, that Jonathan (who was once called “Imby Boy” (after baby boy) was an after-thought or an adopted child.

No matter, this suited Angel and Zony well in as much as when the three older children went away to college in Manila, they still had Jonathan at home which allowed them a longer transition before becoming empty-nesters.

Having heard the many stories and often tall tales about U.P. college life from Ed, Dinna and Gwendolyn, Jonathan felt that it was his birthright to be there too and immediately became comfortable. He did the usual studying in his freshman year, but also plunged into extracurricular activities including writing for the campus daily Philippine Collegian. He later joined the U.P. Ybalon Society, the Alpha Phi Beta fraternity and was a founding member of the U.P. Debate Society. Highly active in campus politics and in debate circles, he was adjudged Champion and Best Debater at the UP Open Debate Championship and at the 3rd National Collegiate Debate Finals. He also represented the state university at the 15th World Universities Debate Championship in Princeton University in New Jersey.

After many reminders from his parents that the object of college studies was to graduate and get a job, and with much handholding by college sweetheart Melanie, he refocused and finally finished his studies.

An early affiliation with the Kalipi, the Liberal Party youth wing, led to a series of stints in the government service, initially as a congressional staffer, chief of staff to the Solicitor General, Judicial Staff Head to a Supreme Court Justice and thereafter as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Education. The latter appointment was much to the delight of the proud mother and teacher Zony.

He is currently senior technical consultant to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

120

The love of his life: wife and children

BE A GOOD BOY NOW. Jonathan at his first communion.

HMMM, WITH THIS MEDAL, I DESERVE A PRESENT. Proud mother Zony pinning a medal on young Jonathan.

TWINS! Jonathan and lawyer Melanie with Nathan and Nicole.

121

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

INAUGURATING A SCHOOL BUILDING. Jonathan with mother Zony together with Iriga public school teachers at the Iriga Central School.

As Assistant Secretary and concurrently the Department’s Legislative Liaison Officer, Jonathan successfully secured Congressional support to raise the salary grade of public school teachers through the Salary Standardization Law III. With the support of Gawad Kalinga and local government units, he spearheaded the construction of socialized housing projects for teachers in Camarines Norte, Cebu and Davao City.

As concurrent OIC-Superintendent of Baguio Teachers’ Camp, he implemented a Master Redevelopment Plan that transformed the once run-down facility into DepEd’s premier training and recreation center.

He was also active in education issues in the Southeast Asia region, and chaired the High Officials Meeting of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and the Senior Officials Meeting of ASEAN Ministers of Education. He was also on the board of trustees of the Bangkok-based ASEAN University Network and in the Governing Board of the Jakartabased SEAMEO Regional Center for Quality Improvement of Teachers in English (QITEP).

Even after he left DepEd in 2010, he remains engaged in education and culture advocacies, as a member of the board of the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) and as Regent of the City University of Pasay.

122

The love of his life: wife and children

In a public service spanning 16 years, Jonathan thus had stints in all three branches of government – Congress, the judiciary and the executive branch. He received a Presidential Citation from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2010 for outstanding contributions to the public service.

He is also an entrepreneur and runs a consultancy services firm and a number of businesses on the side, including ice cream stalls, a property management firm, a computer shop and a gasoline station.

A passionate writer, he has written four (4) books, the foremost of which are “Hit the Podium! Getting Started in Debate” and “So Help Us God: The Presidents of the Philippines and Their Inaugural Addresses,” which he wrote with his brother Ed. Jonathan and wife Lanie, a lawyer and currently business permits bureau chief at the Parañaque City government, waited for a couple of years to have children. When it happened, with the grace of God, they got twins. Nathan and Nicole are their pride and source of endless joys.

WALKING THE AISLE. The Malayas at Jonathan’s wedding (left to right) Ed, Gwendolyn, Jonathan, Dinna, Kevin holding son Michael, Zony and Ed’s son Mark at the Philippine Plaza (now Sofitel) Hotel grounds.

123

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

NOT THE BLUES BROTHERS. Jonathan, Dinna and Ed during a visit to Utrecht, the Netherlands in the early nineties.

WHAT’S SO FUNNY? The Malayas in Melanie’s hometown in Tarlac.

124

The love of his life: wife and children

THE MALAYAS IN THE US. Mommy Zony with her children Ed, Jonathan, Gwen with hubby Miguel and grandchildren Mark, Ethan, Nathan and Nicole during a visit to the U.S. in 2015.

Not in the photo is Dinna.

THE NEXT GENERATION. Malayas in Malaysia.

125

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

THE MALAYA CLAN IN THE 90s.

“Angel was the “go-to person” of his relatives who sought his advice regarding family concerns or legal matters, to which he naturally listened and responded to. He was the one who took care of his mother until she passed away on October 4, 1975. He always had a ready hand to help his siblings and relatives.

Although already married, he gave occasional financial support to them, which I allowed because I perfectly understood their situation. Part of his salary was given to his mother and he even sent two sisters and a niece to college. We also took care of my parents at home. They lived with us in their later years. I was thankful to my husband for he was very caring to them.”

- Zony Malaya 126

The Malaya Family Tree Eduardo “Dandoy” Aguirre Malaya, Sr. + Genoveva “Vevang” Lagrimas Sotto 1. Erlinda 2. Carlos 3.

Aurora + Julian Palermo Cabanes

Erlinda + Ramon Contreras

Elvira + Eduardo Abad

Daisy + Mark McGuire

Ma Cynthia + Susano “Butch” Gemora, Jr. 4.

Benjamin + Purificacion Valiente-Malaya

Arnel + Josefina Canlas-Malaya

Benjamin Edsel, Jr + Julie Malaya

Marissa + Joseph Elevado 5.

Jaime + Beatriz Salcedo Nacario-Malaya

Phebe + Enrique Ebona, Jr.

Francia + Felipe Relativo

Carlito + Jesse Rufon-Malaya

Nimfa + Roberto Vibar

Rolando + Natalia Cabangbang-Malaya

Domingo + Jennifer Orbon-Malaya

Sharleen + Nestor Guiyab 6.

Angel + Corazon Delgado Enciso-Malaya

J. Eduardo + Cristina Koa-Malaya

Ma. Dinna + Kevin Mckeen

Gwendolyn + Miguel Santos

Jonathan + Melanie Soriano-Malaya 7.

Adelina + Inocencio Tolentino, Sr.

Ceres + Nelson de la Cruz

Sonia + Tony Pilapil Inocencio, Jr.

Danilo + Helen Eva Virginia

Nonito + Edith

Allan + Rowena

Ma. Cecilla + Levy Tagupa 8.

Eduardo, Jr. + Rechilda Almazan Guazon-Malaya

Rachel Zosima + Jonah Herbert Dollano

Dutchil + Dagmar Bleyer Weichert-Malaya 9.

Consuelo + Agapito Marmol Duro

Tomas + Maryluck Alamil

Edwin + Jabelyn Cabradilla

Irma + Pio Rey Gonzales

Agapito, Jr. + Rowena Panis

Raymund + Maryjane Villaflor Jeronimo 10. Ceres 11.

Herenia + Nilo Ellorin Lladera

Jerrynyl + Rebecca Castaneda Courtesy of Ate Linda M. Cabanes

127

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

He was dubbed as the “judges’ judge” because of his integrity, impartiality intelligence and competency.

And embodied the Rotarian credo “service above self.”

128

Chapter 5 The Judges’ Judge and True-blue Rotarian

F

or over four decades, Judge Angel Malaya served the judiciary to the best of his ability. A colleague considered Judge Malaya as the “dean of judges” because of his integrity, impartiality, intelligence, and competency.

However, his journey to become a regional trial court judge took him 33 long years after 28 years of serving the government and five years in private law practice.

Back when he was still in private law practice, he handled roughly 100 cases before the local Justice of the Peace courts (now called municipal trial courts), 30 cases in the Court of First Instance (regional trial courts) covering the

129

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur, two cases in the Court of Appeals, and three cases in the Supreme Court. As a lawyer, Angel represented his clients before the court and in other legal proceedings to resolve disputes and to protect his clients’ varied interests.

At a young age of 28, when he was first named as Justice of Peace of Bato, the caseloads of judges in the lower courts were not yet as heavy as nowadays. He would hear cases in the morning, and would attend to his private clients in the afternoon, provided there was no conflict of interests with his being a judge. During that time, municipal judges were permitted to assist private clients after their official work hours.

“I met my husband when he was already a municipal judge.

Aside from being matured in his way of thinking, he was also very approachable. He was highly appreciated for his fair judgments. Town folks would often ask him questions in relation to law; he would answer them as best as he could. He was a people-person,” explained Zony.

He served for a total of 10 years as a Justice of the Peace in the municipality of Bato from May 1958 to October 1968.

For 18 years from 1969 to 1987, Angeling rendered a good account of himself as City Fiscal as he handled Iriga city’s most divisive cases and prosecuted notorious criminals. Nonetheless, he could walk to the wet market with no bodyguards and concern for his own safety.

“He was free to walk from one place to another despite his office’s prosecution of infamous individuals in the place. This was so because he knew that Iriga people considered him as just and never judgemental nor rush,” Zony recalled.

In 1974, Angel was chosen by the Public Service Performance Rating Crusade as one of the First Ten Most Outstanding City Fiscals in the Philippines.

Angeling was also designated and served as Senior Deputized Prosecutor of the Tanodbayan (Ombudsman) and went after graft and corruption in the government service.

The challenge to pursue a higher position in the judiciary was never lost in the sights of Fiscal Malaya. After serving for nearly 20 years as City Fiscal, he felt that he was ready to assume a bigger role and higher responsibility. Despite his solid credentials, he also had his fair share of disappointments.

130

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

One of his friends shared that Angel was fit to be a Court of Appeals Justice. The prospect of being a district judge in one of the courts in Bicol was, however, the more realistic one for province-based lawyer like him. Just the same, Angeling labored daily and tirelessly in the vineyards of justice – armed with integrity, ethics and professionalism.

In pursuit of his dream, Angeling reached out to certain politicians in Camarines Sur who promised to help him get appointed. Since the Philippines was under dictatorship during the Marcos regime, the appointments process was confined to the strongman’s inner circle. It was also unfortunate that his bosom friend Anoy Trinidad had by then faded from the political limelight and gone into farming.

In one of those follow-up trips to Manila, Angeling was downhearted.

“For the first time in my life, I saw my father shedding tears in a corner at a relative’s house in Quezon City where the family normally stay while on short trips to the capital. I was then a college student but I knew that he was in Manila to follow up on his request for an appointment as RTC judge during the Marcos administration. His failure to get appointed was even made more disappointing as one of his assistants got appointed ahead of him. Pragmatic as he was, he just waited for the right time,” shared eldest son Ed. Out of disgust for the padrino system that was and is still prevalent in Philippine society, then Fiscal Angel Malaya wrote this enlightening commentary in 1979: “The fact that those who are not prepared to teach are employed in most cases cannot be blamed to the employing agency, if only he were to be left alone. In our country, anybody can land a job, prepared or not, as long as he has connections. If there is a segment in our society to be blamed, it is that portion of our community that seeks or enjoys special privileges because of the wealth, power, position or connection. We have a popular word for this, padrino system. A qualified person seeking a position without a padrino is just like a rolling stone gathering no moss. What everybody needs nowadays is a “padrino,” perhaps a person of wealth with enough connections and you can practically get away with anything. Perhaps a politico in power, politico driftwood who has given favors to the complying agency, let us say the superintendent of schools or the district supervisor, who can fix things

131

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

– and at the click of the fingers – the undesirable, the irresponsible, the incompetent lands the job – any job, easier, the teaching job in a public school. That is what we have to reckon nowadays – the need for getting the right connections. Without the padrino – I am certain that the competent applicant for a teaching job will never land a job. Suffice it to say, that it is commonly read in daily newspapers that the great bulk of influence peddlers are those belonging to the upper bracket in our social stratum – maybe, a wife of a department boss or a close relative, or maybe, a kin of an army brass, or a politician of note. Take the “white paper” of Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez, it mentions of many influence peddlers who are either kins or friends of the pillars of our national government. To make matters worse, we have the same class in our society who, in spite of the fact that they are the very persons who advocate honesty, integrity, love of God and country, are the same ones’ guilty of influence peddling.”

After a long wait, Angeling’s remarkable record was finally recognized right after the 1986 People Power Edsa Revolution.

President Corazon Aquino appointed him in 1987 as a Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 22, in Naga City, which is an hour-drive from Iriga. This came after almost 30 untarnished years of service in the judiciary and the prosecution service.

“My husband was very happy and at the same time thankful when he was named as RTC judge. It was really his dream to become one and for all of us, we can say that he really deserved that position. He worked hard all the time and made sure that justice always prevailed in the cases he handled,” said Zony, who also credited then Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte for helping her husband secure the appointment.

He served as an RTC judge for the next eight years. He heard cases in the mornings, and drafted rulings in the afternoons up to early evenings in his office-study room at home in Iriga.

Florence “Pong” Papa, one of Judge Angel’s staff members at the Regional Trial Court Branch 22 office, fondly recalled how she started working with her ninong (wedding sponsor), who was a good friend of her father.

132

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

FINALLY, “YOUR HONOR” AGAIN. Malaya takes his oath of office before Supreme Court Justice Irene Cortes on March 16, 1987 witnessed by his wife Zony and son Jonathan and nephew Roland Oliva.

THIS WAS HARDWORK! This nameplate made of bamboo, a gift to his father, was made by son Jonathan as a school project.

133

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“On my first day in office, Judge Malaya assigned me to open the court. I was then Clerk III in charge of civil cases in Branch 22. Not used to speak in the Bicol Naga language, I was very nervous. The Judge noticed that I was jittery. Immediately, he taught me how to face people inside the courtroom. Right then, I gained self-confidence.

Indeed, his name says it all, he was an ‘angel’ from heaven to bring inspiration to the people around him,” attested Pong.

Known for his fatherly instincts, Judge Angel took care of his staff. According to Ms. Pong, Judge Malaya was open-minded and was “our father away from home.”

Judge Angel was strict with time, especially in the conduct of hearings.

“If he tells you that we start hearing at 9 a.m., then we would start the hearing at the appointed time,” Ms. Pong said, adding that “For the road’ was the phrase he normally used to signal that it was time for him to go home to Iriga. Even when there was a lunch or a party with colleagues, when it’s time to leave, it really was time to leave. “ Early on as Justice of Peace, Judge Malaya shared the following wisdom on the importance of time to the youth of Iriga in an inspiring speech at the Southern Luzon Vocational School in August 1959: “There are certain norms of conduct that we must all follow - to be considerate of the feelings, of the right of others, to respect the value of time, to be punctual in engagements and obligations, and to concentrate on the work at hand. Of these few norms of conduct, the most flaunted is disrespect of value of time.

He was our father away from home.

I won’t ever forget him. On his birthdays, even up to now, I never fail in greeting him - I would still shout “Happy birthday, Judge Malaya” in the office.”

- FLORENCE “PONG” OLASO-PAPA

(STAFF IN RTC BRANCH 22)

134

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

“Time is an abstract measurement of space. Applied practically, it is the life span of existence of earth. Simply it begins with the date of birth to the date of death. Valuable time however, is that moment when the individual learns to help himself, until he dies helping others.

“Appreciation of the value of time comes about at different moments in the lives of individuals. To most people, it comes about but always ignored. When a person grows older – matured – he begins to complain to himself, especially when he has raised a number of kids that has so little left of time to better himself and his family. As reality strikes him, he is left floundering and floating in the mainstream. I have said earlier, that you and those your age have willfully transgressed this social norm. Many find more time to group at street corners, in an animated conversation, idly sitting in cafeterias and restaurants with a cup of coffee, or simply finding joy in killing time.”

Another exemplary trait of Judge Malaya that was admired most by Ms. Pong was his diligence and industry. He did the research on his own, often bringing home the records and hearing transcripts of a case and would bring them back after two or three days with his handwritten draft resolutions.

“There was only a thin chance that his decisions would be reversed on appeal. Every time he decided on a case, the chances that they would be elevated to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court would be minimal. This was because his verdicts were fair, reasonable and impartial and based on completed staff work including the presentation of evidence and research of applicable jurisprudence,” said Ms. Pong.

According to Fiscal Tagum, Judge Angel rendered his decisions without fear or favor; and irrespective of the parties’ station in life, rich or poor, ordinary citizen or powerful politicians.

“His decisions were arrived at after carefully weighing the evidence presented by the parties and promulgating a verdict based on the applicable law and established jurisprudence,” attested Tagum.

He was known for his good penmanship. The prose of his decisions was as good and as clear as his handwritten drafts.

According to Ms. Pong, he used to draw two straight lines at the margins of yellow pads, and kept within those lines. He maintained his writing crisp and straight. He used succinct words in his writings and wrote in fine prose.

135

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“As a colleague, he was a good friend.

In fact, in social gatherings, he would buy drinks for his fellow judges, but at times won’t bother to drink himself.

Nobody can say anything against him.

He was a fair and very kind fellow.”

- JUDGE ROLANDO CARANDANG

His colleague, Judge Rolando Carandang, remembers Judge Angel as someone who prepared concise judgment. He affirmed Judge Malaya’s English proficiency.

“Well, one thing about Judge Malaya was his excellence in drafting decisions. He was sharp and eloquent. Everything he wanted to say was contained in one paragraph. His English was different. In fact, it was sharp, brief, and direct to the point,” attested Judge Carandang.

“Angel was not just a colleague but he was a very good friend.

Nobody can say anything against him because he always had fair judgment in everything presented to him,” recalled Judge Carandang.

Administrative cases are often the occupational hazards for those in public service. Angel was spared from most of it in a career spanning four decades. He knew himself and that he stayed on the right path. A case filed against him in September 1991, though eventually dismissed, distressed him much.

Among the notable landmark and celebrated cases which Judge Malaya presided upon, included the following: his expeditious decision on a poll case affirming the election of Magarao, Camarines Sur Mayor Romulado Caceres who won by seven votes over Ramon J. Estefa; the issuance of a preliminary injunction restraining the Naga City government from closing a mini-bus terminal outside of the city business district in September 1989; the Jose Mariano case involving a huge estate that was decided in favor of the heirs; the Trajano case, a civil case involving a huge property in Naga which he

136

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

decided in favor of the buyers; the conviction of John Tomines, a postal employee in Naga, found guilty of theft in April 1988; the affirmation of the appointments of sectoral representatives Socorro Felix and Angelo Jacar by the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Sangguniang Panglungsod who were earlier nominated by then Mayor Jesse Robredo in 1988; and, the ruling in favor of Minalabac OIC Mayor Leovegildo Basmayor in November 1987, which Judge Malaya based on a Supreme Court ruling which ordered then Local Government Secretary Jaime Ferrer to maintain the status quo on officersin-charge appointed by his predecessor, Secretary Aquilino Pimentel.

137

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

One of Judge Malaya’s respected colleagues and mentors in the legal and judiciary profession was Judge Jose F. Madora who was Angel’s high school teacher at the Apolinario Mabini Institute before and after World War II. In fact, among those who influenced him to become a lawyer was Madora himself. Here’s Malaya’s endearing tribute to Judge Madora during the latter’s wake.

“I was a toddler in primary school when the Manila varsitarian Jose F. Madara was fastidiously dressed in coat and tie with other Manila University students gathered for their Cerveza Negra at their favorite restaurant called “El Ranchito” at the old Abella bodega, now the Lucky store. These bunch of university students had a lasting impression on me. Jose F. Madara maintained his sartorial elegance, up to his last breath perhaps. He was an outstanding academician and a disciplinarian of the school. For his discipline, our batch turned out many, many professionals in Iriga. As Assistant Provincial Fiscal Jose F. Madera of the Province of Camarines Sur, he was the top gun in the prosecution office. I, too, for many times, was among those new lawyers who received a word or two of advice, a suggestion on practical procedure and trial, ever solicitous to young and inexperienced lawyers.

Then Jose F. Madara became a Regional Trial Judge.

“He followed the footsteps of the honorable Judge Luis N. De Leon.

He and Honorable Judge Jose Nepomuceno widened the trial in the judiciary for His honors, Gregorio S. Turiano, Silvestre Felix and Jose Vidal Nepomuceno Jr. to follow and then myself.

“Your honor, I personally know and experience the hardships confronting a trial judge. You have given countless hours of reading the records and transcripts in a case for a decision or resolution. You have given time to legal research in the solitude of your law library, looking, searching for that legal nugget with which to formulate a sound logic or influence, you have looked into high heavens for divine guidance, reflection, that mortals as we all are. We can only approximate the truth. Then, you rendered decision to which you alone are responsible to Almighty God and your conscience. With your stint in the prosecution and the judiciary, I and others have learned much wisdom and knowledge from your teachings.”

138

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

“SERVICE BEYOND SELF”: Club President Angeline Malaya addressing Rotarian officials and Iriga City officials. In the audiences, front row, with sunglasses, is City Mayor Jose C. Villanueva.

A ROTARIAN AT HEART Angeling first joined the Rotary International, known for its various community service and humanitarian projects via the Rotary Club of Iriga in 1956 as one of its founding members. He and 22 other members, including founding president Gregorio Turiano, took deep pride in their chartering on 11 August 1956 of the Rotary Club of Iriga. Theirs is the first Rotary Club in the Philippines to be organized outside of a city or a provincial capital.

139

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

ROTARIAN PIONEERS ALL. The 23 Iriga Rotary Club Charter members led by President Greg Turiano during the charter presentation on August 11, 1956 at the Iriga Central School.

Guest of Honor and speaker was Senator Gil Puyat, Rotary International Director for AsiaPacific. Young lawyer Angeline is leftmost at the third row.

Angeling, who was known among Rotarians as “Angeline, “enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship of Rotarians whose credo “Service Above Self” was propagated by its founder Paul Harris, also a lawyer by profession. Angeling cherished the Rotary way of life and was a regular attendee of the weekly meetings.

When Benito Ngo assumed as club president in 1971, he appointed Angeling to be the committee chairman on community service.

As a Rotarian, Angeling had plenty of brilliant ideas.

140

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

141

HANG IN THERE! Club President Malaya affixes the street sign “Rotary Road” on a stretch adjacent to the Iriga City Hall and right in front of the Malaya residence. Rightmost is Rotarian Benito Ngo.

THIS WAY TO ROTARY ROAD. Club President Angeline Malaya briefs visiting Rotarians on the club’s street naming project. With them are District Governor Rotarian Hari Harilela from Hongkong (second from the left, front row) City Mayor Jose C. Villanueva (leftmost) and Rotarian Benito Ngo (rightmost).

142

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

As committee chairman, he presented his very noble first project, which was the drawing of the official map of Iriga. This project would later lead to his second project in Iriga, which was the naming of the city streets. As part of the street naming project, the first street was named “Rotary Road” as a tribute to the organization that spearheaded it. ‘Rotary Road’ incidentally passes through the old Malaya residence, which was a few paces away from City Hall. The rest of the streets and thoroughfares were named after Philippine flowers and trees such as gumamela, azucena, and kamagong.

Angeline’s third project was the numbering of houses, which was also a first in the history of Iriga.

“I was not mistaken to appoint him because he was a man of intelligence, very hard working and had plenty of ideas. I must admit that because of his contribution, my stint as Rotary president was successful. That was a very hard job, but he did it almost singlehandedly and successfully,” said Ngo. A year after Ngo’s term, Angeline was elected as president of the Rotary Club of Iriga. It was during his presidency in 1972 to 1973 that Angeline followed on the street naming project with the installation of actual street signages. The installation was a source pride for the Iriga Rotarians as Rotarian dignitaries who attended the RI District 380 Conference in Naga in February 1973 came to Iriga to inaugurate the project.

“More than a fellow Rotarian, he was my best friend and kumpadre. I always believed that Angeline was upright and outspoken.

He was a sincere, honest friend, that’s why even when he became a judge, almost everyday I was in his office asking for legal advices. He impressed on me the “What is black is black and what is white is white” mantra. I could find no one with a bad word to say about him. Our friendship was maintained because we were frank with each other.”

- BENITO NGO

143

SINGING THE BLUES AWAY. Iriga Rotarians and their “Rotary Anns” (women were not yet formally members) singing during a club event.

144

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

Angeline initiated the Christmas carol festival which went on as an institutionalized Rotary project for several years. The Rotary Christmas carol festival, a choral competition among the city’s elementary and high school students, served as an annual “must-see” event for Iriguenos and considered a holiday treat for them. Men and women assembled at the city’s grandstand to listen to the adorable singing of Christmas carols by their children.

With his love for both music and his Iriga, and even when no longer club president, he initiated in 1977 the composition of the city official hymn “Iriga sa Sumagang” with lyrics and music by Rev. Fr. Hilarion Satuito, the parish priest, and musical arrangement by Prof. Julito Regalario.

So deep was Angeline’s passion and commitment to Rotary such that he and Zony were attending a Rotary conference in Naga when they learned that their Iriga residence was burning.

In 1981, during the 25th year anniversary of the Iriga Rotary Club, Angeline summed up the club’s contributions to the city’s growth, in an unsigned introduction in the club’s souvenir program, as follows: “Rotarians the world over are a serious, dedicated but happy-golucky bunch. They always find time to sing, despite tones that are a cacophony of discordance...”

“Twenty-five years is a lot of time. In this span of years, Rotary Iriga has helped the city grow, mature now and in the years ahead, and in retrospect say with pride and satisfaction we in Iriga Rotary lent a helping hand to the city and its people.”

Other than his involvement and membership in the Rotary International, Judge Malaya joined and made impact as a member in other equally prestigious civic organizations like the Rinconada Bar Association, the Camarines Sur Bar Association and the Philippine Judges Association.

He was also active with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Movement, Camarines Sur Chapter, 1975-1980 and served as Coordinator for Rinconada District for two years from 1976 to 1978.

145

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

146

The judges’ judge and true-blue rotarian

25th Anniversary Rotary Club of Iriga 1981

“Rotarians the world over are a serious, dedicated but happy-golucky bunch. They always find time to sing, despite tones that are a cacophony of discordance...”

“Twenty-five years is a lot of time. In this span of years, Rotary Iriga has helped the city grow, mature now and in the years ahead, and in retrospect say with pride and satisfaction we in Iriga Rotary lent a helping hand to the city and its people.”

- Angeline S. Malaya

147

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

“To his countless admirers and friends, Judge Malaya was a ‘judges’ judge.’ Yes, Judge Malaya was indeed small in size but terrible in impact especially on those who tried to flout the law.”

-- Vox Bicol news weekly 148

Chapter 6

A Life Well Lived “Every man dies, but not every man really lives.”

Zony and Angel with their first-born grandchild Mark Eduard (named after Angel’s father Eduardo) in the Tuscany region, Italy, 1995.

T

his classic line comes from William Wallace, a 14th century Scottish hero played by Mel Gibson, in the internationally acclaimed movie, Brave Heart.

Wallace’s stirring words ring true in the person of Judge Angel Sotto Malaya who carved his name in the hearts of those he left behind and whose enduring legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about him almost two decades after his untimely death in January 1996.

149

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

A week before he died, his best friend, Anoy, saw him walking on the street and he even “waved his hand” to his friend as he always did in his regular daily routine. “He looked well and in high spirit when I last saw him. I had no inkling that he was ill or suffering from anything,” recalled Anoy.

On a fateful Monday morning on January 7, 1996, Judge Angel reported for office in Naga to preside over a trial.

According to Florence “Pong” Olaso-Papa, a trusted staff at RTC Branch 22, Judge Malaya even counseled her “to do good in school, break a leg and study well.” Pong was then pursuing her law schooling ably guided and aided by her ninong and mentor.

“I never thought that it would be our last conversation. His parting words had great impact on my life. He looked okay that day and he was happy,” shared Ms. Pong.

That Monday evening, his wife Zony rushed Judge Angel to a local hospital. She found out from the attending physicians that her husband was diagnosed with a life-threatening pancreatic ailment and that it was too late to save his life. The Judge basically kept his ailment to himself to shield his family from pain, worry, and agony.

His sons Ed and Jonathan opined that their father might have possessed a high tolerance for pain covered by an everready warm smile that he was able to hide from everyone whatever medical condition he was suffering from. The brothers regarded their father’s decision to keep his ailment to himself as an act of selflessness that even until he breathed his last, he still showed courage and strength.

Three days after his confinement, on January 10, 1996, Judge Angel Malaya died peacefully and joined his Creator. He was 67.

His sudden death shocked everyone. His untimely passing came too soon.

Shortly after his death, the bereaved Malaya family received overwhelming condolences, sympathies, and prayers on the passing of Judge Malaya.

No less than President Fidel V. Ramos sent a condolence letter through Ed Malaya, then a foreign service officer on detail in Malacañang, saying: “Please accept my sincerest condolences on the demise of your beloved Angel. I hope your sorrow will be assuaged by the thought that

150

a life well lived

his soul now rest in the loving hands of the Almighty and that he shall always live in the hearts of his family, friends and loved ones and will long be remembered as a devoted husband and a loving father.

May the Good Lord shower upon you His blessings and comfort you during the hour of bereavement. Mrs. Ramos and I share you loss and join you in Prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.�

151

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

A local newspaper, Vox Bicol, paid its tribute in an editorial titled “Judge Malaya, Jun Tible – Gone but never forgotten,” as it branded Judge Malaya as the “Judges’ Judge:” “Two giants in their own rights and of their own respective worlds passed away this month: RTC Judge Angel S. Malaya and former provincial board member Emilio G. Tible, Jr. To his countless admirers and friends, Judge Malaya was a ‘judges’ judge.’ Yes, Judge Malaya was indeed small in size but terrible in impact especially on those who try to flout the law.”

In celebration of his life and in his loving memory, a necrological service was held at the Iriga City Hall on January 18, 1996 organized by the Rinconada Bar, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Camarines Sur Chapter) and the Iriga City Government.

Among those who extolled Judge Malaya’s lifetime works and character and gave their eulogies were: Camarines Sur Governor Luis Villafuerte; Iriga Mayor Emmanuel Alfelor; former Commission of Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Vicente De Lima; retired RTC Judge Gregorio Turiano; Philippine Judges Association – Camarines Sur Chapter President Reno R. Gonzales; and, Provincial Board Member Manuel Ma. Oliva. The Bicol Heritage Choir and the Rinconada and Iriga City Barristers provided musical numbers.

The various speakers cited Judge Malaya’s legacies including his works on the incorporation of the then Municipality of Iriga into a chartered city, the first comprehensive “Iriga street naming” and “house numbering” projects, the “Iriga Sumagang” hymn project, his pro-active and socio-economic programs for city residents, the drafting of the first ever Codified Ordinances of the City of Iriga, and his relentless promotion of justice and the overall welfare of Bicolanos through his impartial, erudite, and compassionate decisions as prosecutor and then judge.

152

a life well lived

153

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

154

a life well lived

TWO DECADES AFTER, HE LIVES IN OUR HEARTS When the convenience of long-distance telephone calls, emails and Skype video calls were yet unknown, people wrote and sent letters to each other. Angel sent one to Ed in April 1990 when the latter was stationed in New York and the other siblings away for college in Manila. He gave some advice and in the process, reflected on his own life journey: “Life is full of problems, varying only in intensity. As a lawyer, you are well prepared to handle such situations. I too had my share when I married your mother some 30 years back. Now, I look back happy and self-fulfilled.

I will be on a live-in seminar in DAP (Development Academy of the Philippines), Tagaytay for RTC Judges in Southern Luzon and Bicol regions, May 6-11. Only your mother and the helpers will be at home while I am away. You will just imagine the agonizing silence in an almost empty house without children ... Bye now and take care. The next move is importantly yours.”

‘Importantly yours’ - this closing phrase was his way of acknowledging the independence and relative maturity of his offsprings, with confidence that he and Zony did their best in nurturing them in their formative years.

The idea of chronicling and celebrating the life and times of Judge Angel S. Malaya comes at a perfect time when the country is in dire need of more modern-day role models who possess the old traits and time-honored values of honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

The Malaya children thought of coming up with a tribute book to honor their father and their mother. The Malaya children share the sentiment that it is but fitting to do a tribute book that shall serve as an invaluable and priceless family possession they can have in their lifetime to be passed on their children and the next generations to come. Modest as it seems, this book accounts in an honest and sincere way the private joys and trials of the Malaya couple and family members. In a way, it serves as a validation just how much the Malaya patriarch was and is well loved and appreciated by countless people until today.

155

Judge Angel s. Malaya of Iriga and His Times

WHY THE LADY STANDING? The life partners at Angel’s study room at their Iriga residence.

On a trip to Iriga in November 2014, we were all brought back to his era and the interesting journey that Judge Malaya traversed in his humble roots and the impact he had on the lives of others. He was a dreamer and a motivator who inspired everyone to always strive their best. He was also an optimist who showed others the brighter side of life if only they work hard and persevere to achieve their dream.

Angel Malaya comes back to life anew in the minds and hearts of those whom he loved, served, touched, and inspired.

To his countless admirers, friends and family members, he stayed true to his angelic name.

We found Zony still staying in the same family residence she shared with her husband through the decades, minus the children who are all grown up and nurturing the next generation. Ed divides his time between Manila and Kuala Lumpur, where he is Philippine Ambassador, Dinna in Bangkok with a multinational company, Gwendolyn practising law in Los Angeles and Jonathan in Metro Manila with his varied business and consultancy services.

156

a life well lived

Long after her retirement, Zony has maintained her good health and keeps herself busy managing the teachers’ cooperative she founded and mentoring the graduate students at a local university.

And for his beloved city of Iriga and fellow Irigueños, Judge Angel Malaya’s immortal words when he spoke at the Mabini Day celebration on July 22, 1960 still ring a bell until today which form part of his legacy and love for his birthplace: “All Irigueños are proud in the greatness of our heritage and town. Before the war, the town of Iriga was famous for its piña-weaving industry, comparable perhaps with the internationally renowned Hablon industry of Iloilo. Piña-weaving involved all rural barrios families. Our town is first in many aspects: first in population, even out counting Naga City as the latest census figures place our town population beyond 75, 000 inhabitants; first in public revenues despite being a 3rd class municipality and the only one of its kind in the province, excluding Naga City, we enjoy a municipal income of more than P100, 000.00 annually; first in the number of professionals – lawyers, physicians, nurses and mid-wives, engineers, teachers and others; and, first in countless other things.

In all fields of human endeavor, there are only a privilege few who succeed, not only because of inherent talent, but more so because of hard work and industry, for a position of leadership is not given but earned. So we all find hope and promise in our present crop of Iriguenos, the old and the young, to achieve fame and glory not alone for themselves, but for our beloved town.“ Bicol historian, Frank Peñones, mindful of the names who contributed to his beloved city of Iriga, accorded Judge Malaya and his family, similar praise for what he accomplished and what he stood for when he was still alive.

“The Malayas of Iriga particularly Judge Angel Malaya deserve to be written about. The Malaya family is one of the few families in Iriga whose reputation is something to be looked up to.

Judge Malaya never left Iriga and so Irigueños need to appreciate him as among the good people and local heroes that served the town well.”

157

158

Epilogue

by Jonathan E. Malaya

P

apa died too soon. I haven’t even graduated from college when he left for “the great beyond.” It was all too sudden.

I remember the phone call I got from Mama asking me to come home to Bikol because Papa was in the hospital. There was a sense of urgency in her voice that I have not heard before. I immediately took the next day the early morning flight to Pili Airport and went straight to Mother Seton Hospital in Naga.

I don’t remember what I said to him when I finally saw him. Its all a blur now. But he was not ok. I knew he was in pain. Gone was the cheerful and confident face that made him Papa. I knew there was something terribly wrong but since he’s in the hospital now, I told myself that everything will be alright.

159

E p ilo g ue

“ Papa will always be my hero, not only for being a wonderful father but also for being a self-made man.”

What came next I vividly remember. I was asked to go to Iriga to get funds. Mama expected an extended stay in the hospital. I went home to Iriga, got the money, and returned to Naga. On the way back I tried to get some sleep.

When I got back to the hospital, I was met with silence; the eerie silence when you can here your own heart beat.

I asked, “Where is papa?” No one answered me. Not the nurses. Not our relatives. No one until Mama said the saddest words in the Rinconada language: “Atan, uda na si papa mo…”

I never even got to say goodbye. No parting words. No last will or testament. No last minute advice or words of wisdom for his youngest son who was just out of his teens.

It’s painful to remember that day today. But I guess this book – commissioned by our family and beautifully written by my good friend Mel Velasco – is our way of saying goodbye to a wonderful person who made me what I am today.

It’s no secret, at least in our family, that I was the “problem” child among the Malaya siblings. While my brother and sisters were all high achievers – academically or otherwise – I was the sort of a black sheep; the son who should be watched otherwise he would amount to nothing.

160

E p ilo g u e

I must admit that I gave Papa more than an ounce of headache during my childhood. It was only later that I realized how embarrassed he must have been of my shenanigans – like when he asked the Iriga Police more than once to look for me because I was late again to go home from school. Or when the Augustinian Sisters came to our house to tell on my parents.

But despite what I did, Papa never gave up on me.

He always believed in me. And most importantly, he understood. There was no need for long arguments or explanations, Papa understood. That was his most endearing quality.

Papa will always be my hero, not only for being a wonderful father but also for being a self-made man.

He was not born to wealth or influence but through diligence, hard work, and plain old stubbornness, he made something of himself and of his family. He met huge obstacles chasing his dream but that didn’t stop him.

He was a lawyer, a city fiscal, and an RTC Judge in Bikol’s premiere city, but he always carried himself with a dignified and quiet humility. On the first few years of his judgeship, he went to court in Naga on our egalitarian stainless owner-type jeep. It was much later that he could afford to buy a second-hand car and later a brand new Corolla XL that I later inherited. It didn’t matter to him that the lawyers appearing in his court drove the latest models. His priority was to provide for his family; his own comfort came second.

161

E p ilo g ue

He was not rich – not in the traditional sense – but he provided for us and sent us to the best schools his government salary could afford. He even sent us regular food stuffs from Iriga every week until the day he died.

That’s how much he cared for his family.

When papa died, so many people came to his wake.

They all had stories to share about how papa touched their lives. How he helped them get a job, or solve their legal problems, or how he shared what money he had in their time of need. That made me realize that maybe, just maybe, his life story is worth telling to serve as an inspiration to myself and other Bikolanos.

And so this book was born.

So, on the occasion of Iriga’s foundation day, I’d like to thank you, Papa, for your kindness, understanding, and compassion.

And I, Ed, Dinna and Gwendolyn dedicate this to Nathan and Nicole, Mark, Jana and Adrian,

Mike, and Ethan, in the hope that you may all learn something from the life of your grandfather who gave

your parents so much and expected nothing in return.

162

163

References

Documents and News Clippings A letter authorizing Atty. Malaya as Senator Edmundo Cea’s election representative. (1955, September 27). Manila.

Alarkon, Dominador, Jr., Side Mirror: Lessons from Dr. Malaya, (Bikol Standard Daily, 15 February 2000) Alfelor, F. O., Letter (1968, October 9).

Association, Q. C. (1965, October 13). “Citizens Award”. First National Annual Lawyers’ Convention. Quezon City.

The Biographical Researchers Society of the Philippines, 26 April 1975 Cam. Sur Appointees Confirmed by C.A. (1969, May 24). The Bicol Star.

Claveria, G. B. (2000, July 31). Dr. Malaya Sets the Norm. p. 39.

Court of First Instance of Camarines Sur. (1958, January 8).

FVR laments passing of RTC Judge Angel Malaya. (n.d.).

“Judge dismisses barrio poll case.” (1968, April 27). The Examiner.

Malaya, C. E. (2000, January-February). Camarines Sur Newsetter, p. 3.

Manila Times, July 16, 1967 “Marcos names new judges.” (1968, October 8). The Philippine Herald.

Matrimonio Maria Dinna Malaya & Kevin McKeen. (1995, May 27). Italy.

Mercado, R. M. (1969, June 3). Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan.

Nomination of Municipal Judge Angel S. Malaya. (1967, March 10).

Oath of Office as Notary Public. (1953, July 31).

Personal Data of Angel S. Malaya. (n.d.).

“President Appoints Several New Judges. “ (1968, October 8). The Philippines Herald.

Sayson, A. V. (1957, November 22). A Thank You letter from Congressman A.V. Sayson.

Short Biographical Sketch of Angel S. Malaya. (1958).

Social Telegram. (1969, May 22).

Southern Luzon Times. (1968, November 10).

Sur, R. O. (1965, March 25). Vacation leave of absence and designation .

The Anthonian (30 January 1996) The Beginning of a Colorful People-Oriented Job of Administering Justice. (n.d.).

The Manila Times. (1969, May 6). “Appointments and Nominations for Confirmation.”

The Supreme Student Council (1967, July 16). The Anthonian.

Tolentino , A. M. (1969, May 30). Confirmation as City Fiscal of the City of Iriga.

Valenzuela, W. P. (1975, April 26). One of the First Ten Most Outstanding City Fiscals in the Philippines in 1974.

VOX Bicol (21-27 January 1996)

164

References

Research materials courtesy of Maria Dinna Malaya McKeen J. Eduardo Malaya Jonathan Malaya Corazon Malaya Personal Interviews November 7, 2014 in Quezon City Zony Malaya Interviewed by Marrianne Reginaldo and Encar Marie T. Ilao November 19, 2014 in Iriga City Melandrew T. Velasco, Michelle Cabrera Manuel, Hannah R. Ornopia, and Jamie F. Mangibin Atty. Mariano Trinidad Azon Gonzaga Francia Relativo Frank Peñones Herenia Malaya Lladera Lina Nagrampa Mr. Benito Ngo

Email Interviews November 25, 2014 Interview by Hannah R. Ornopia Fiscal Eulogio Prima Judge Jose Tagum Photography & reproduction Jamie Justine F. Mangibin Jonathan Malaya (personal collection) Zony Malaya (Family photo album) J. Eduardo Malaya (scrapbook) Websites • • • • •

November 20, 2014 in Naga City and Iriga City Melandrew T. Velasco, Michelle Cabrera Manuel, Hannah R. Ornopia, and Jamie F. Mangibin Eldine Dorosan Fely Taduran Florence Papa Judge Rolando Carandang November 27, 2014 in Makati City Maria Dinna Malaya McKeen interviewed

by Hannah R. Ornopia and Encar Marie T. Ilao

165

http://iriga.gov.ph/ http://philtranco.net/about-us/ http://jo.ramos.tripod.com/ http://kulakog.blogspot. com/2009/01/iriga-historicaltimeline-5-million.html See, A. B. (2008, September 11).

Corruption in the judiciary exists - Philippine Judicial Academy .

Retrieved from GMA Network News and Current Affairs: http://www.gmanetwork.com/ news/story/119729/news/nation/ corruption-in-the-judiciary-existsphilippine-judicial-academy

about the

AUTHOR

MELANDREW ‘MEL” T. VELASCO, a native of Dagupan City, is the author and publisher of “At the Birth of a City: Judge Angel S. Malaya and His Times” which comes as his 21st authored and published book in the last 15 years.

Mel Velasco is known in the literary circle as the family biographer of former President Fidel V. Ramos having authored more than 10 historical books and biographies on FVR’s family members, two volumes of important FVR quotations and a commemorative book on the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation. His other published works are landmark coffee table books on Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Pasay City and Dagupan City.

His bestselling book, Silver Linings: 25 Years of EDSA People Power Revolution, is a defining historical opus that covers more than 50 years of Philippine history, told from the points of view of key military and police officers involved in the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

He has been a Rotarian in the last 12 years and served as club president of the Rotary Club of Cubao West in RY 2011-2012. He is also affiliated with the JCI Senate Philippines and the Kiwanis International having charted the Kiwanis Club of Morato in 2014.

He has been duly recognized by the JCI Senate Philippines as a Golden Awardee for Literature and Arts in 2009; by the Rotary International in RY 2012 by RI President Kalyan Banerjee as a Changemaker Rotary President; and, by the Mary Help of Christians Seminary in Binmaley, Pangasinan as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2006. He is a recipient of The Outstanding Rotarian of the Year (TORY) Award in RY 2013-2014.

A former seminarian and B.A. Mass Communication, major in Journalism, graduate in U.P. Diliman, he is the president and managing director of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc.

If one is to have a more perceptive, a more complete, and therefore, a much more genuine love of the Philippine nation, historian Marcelino A. Foronda Jr. noted, it is inescapable that he should first of all love his own town, province or region. One complements the other.

“At the Birth of a City” is a modest account of the public deeds and private joys and tribulations of Angel S. Malaya, the first and long-time City Prosecutor of Iriga in the Bicol region and the city’s chief legal officer during its formative years.

Together with other pioneer officials, Prosecutor (later RTC Judge) Malaya nurtured the peace, tranquility and development of the city and its people, and he did so with vision, devotion and compassion. He worked tirelessly to build up the community, notably the codification of the city ordinances, the first-ever comprehensive street-naming and house-numbering project, and the adoption of the hymn ‘Iriga sa Sumagang’ under the auspices of the Iriga Rotary Club. Ever supportive of his public schools teacher-wife Corazon, who later became Superintendent of Schools, he assisted in improving its educational system.

Countless promising young men and women leave the countryside each year for higher studies in Manila and never come back. Angel went home and stayed put in his beloved Iriga and Camarines Sur province, and having done so, left a remarkable imprint as one of its foremost sons.