Judge Paradiang, Freeman columnist, 79

CEBU, Philippines - Retired judge and The FREEMAN columnist Lorenzo A. Paradiang Jr. died yesterday of cardiac pulmonary arrest at the Perpetual Succour Hospital where he had been confined following an operation on a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism. He was 79.

Paradiang, a native of Cabadiangan, Compostela, is survived by his wife Virginia Temio and children Lorvette and Antonio Fabon, Ma. Virlette and Gene Yutangco, Leo and Bambam Calonzo, and Celeste.

He graduated valedictorian from the Compostela Elementary School and valedictorian from the University of the Visayas high school. He finished his BSE, magna cum laude, also from UV, and his Ll.B. from the same university, also as magna cum laude. He passed the Bar in 1960 with a rating of 84.05 percent.

He placed 2nd nationwide in the Civil Service exams of 1956 and 3rd nationwide in the 1964 national exams for election registrars administered by the Comelec.

Aside from teaching law and acting as reviewer in Mercantile Law, Paradiang held several government positions, starting as legal officer at the Cebu provincial treasurer's office, then as Comelec registrar in Mandaue City. He went on to become city attorney and city administrator of the same city.

He last served the government as a judge in the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Cebu City, a position he held for 15 years before availing of optional retirement in 1998.

He was the principal author of the "Civil Service Reviewer" and another book entitled "Footnotes in Time," a compilation of his personal notes and memories.

His remains now lie at the Rolling Hills Funeral Homes in Mandaue City. Interment will be on March 30. Other details will be announced later. — JST (FREEMAN)