JDV takes a chance with Saddam

Speaker Jose de Venecia once said that when he retires from politics, he wants to be remembered as a "peacemaker."

At last Tuesday’s Bulong Pulungan at the Westin Philippine Plaza, JDV said that even as the Philippines makes itself ready for war, government should never stop talking peace.

Thus, he feels the government should never stop reaching out to rebel groups like the MILF.

"It is true that the majority of the people in Mindanao are Christians. But you must remember Mindanao is surrounded by a sea of Muslims from other countries. We do not want to antagonize our friends in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia," De Venecia pointed out.

He admitted that there are some "50 to 100" Indonesian terrorists in Mindanao, as there are Filipino terrorists in other countries.

He thinks the Philippines is ready for the repercussions of a Middle East War, with fuel supply good for 60 days just in case there is a total fuel supply cut-off.

But even as he submits to the inevitability of the war, De Venecia hasn’t given up on peace.

In fact, he has written a peace letter to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Who knows hope the Iraqi leader will respond?

Man of Honor

After 41 years in public service, Supreme Court Justice Vicente Mendoza retires this April.

Mendoza’s integrity and dedication has not gone unnoticed, and we would not like to let his retirement pass without telling others about this man. He was recently honored by the cause-oriented Bantay Katarungan, a legal watch group chaired by former Sen. Jovito Salonga, with a special award for "Outstanding Judicial Service."

The citation recognizes Mendoza as a "man who has dedicated his life, his heart and mind and strength, to the fulfillment of that promise through the principle of judicial supremacy and the rule of law." The cause-oriented group highlighted that he is retiring "without any taint or blemish after 41 years in public service," his "masterful craftsmanship, relying on his deep knowledge of the law and his conscience as his guide," and his "remarkable record as a jurist and of his excellent contributions to the rule of law."

The UP Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association likewise presented Mendoza with a "Life Achievement Award" for his "scholarly approach and empirical mastery of the law (that) made him a powerful and almost infallible analyst of the intricacies of both the substantive and procedural aspects of the judicial system– "his rock-like integrity and probity," and his being an exemplary Christian family man for his "inexorable devotion, untainted, unshakable fidelity to his spouse and the exemplary upbringing and caring of his children."

Mendoza is married to Thelma Lee-Mendoza who is herself a multi-awarded professional: Most Outstanding Professional in the field of Social Work given by the Professional Regulation Commission (1999); Most Outstanding Social Worker in Academe from the Philippine Association of Social Workers (1998); and Outstanding Faculty for Teaching (1990) and Community Service (1993) both from the University of the Philippines. She is presently the chairperson of the Board for Social Work, Professional Regulation Commission.

The Mendozas are blessed with three children: Roger and Vicente Jr. (both professionals abroad), and Joy Lynn Pasiliao who works for Philippine Airlines as assistant vice president for marketing.

Mendoza obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1957, and was awarded his LL. M. degree from Yale University in 1971. From 1967 to 1994, Justice Mendoza taught constitutional and administrative law in the UP College of Law. He began his law career with two private firms before joining public service as a member of the staff of former Supreme Court Justices Roberto Regala and Fred Ruiz Castro (who later became Chief Justice) in 1962. He was later appointed Solicitor General, and eventually became the presiding justice of the Appelate Court. In 1994, he was named to the Supreme Court by then President Fidel Ramos.

True Blue Spirit

After the success of the True Blue Spirit activity in March 2, 2001 presented by the Ateneo Push Third Year Level Parents Council chaired by Joel Lopa, the Ateneo de Manila High School Class 2004 Foundation, Inc. has been incorporated by the Year Level Parents Council aimed to give deserving young boys from public schools the opportunity to be educated at the Ateneo.

To achieve this goal and relive the fun, the council will again present the Spirit of ’67 Band, a popular band composed mainly of Ateneo de Manila High School Batch 1967 at 7:30 p.m., March 15, at the Ateneo High School Covered Courts in True Blue Spirit Part II: Tipar para sa Atenistang Iskolar. Tickets are priced at P300. Food and drinks will be available and prizes will be raffled out. Expect some guest performers, too. For ticket reservations, please call the Ateneo Push Office at tel. no. 426-6001.

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