Edgar Labella: The cool gentleman with integrity and patience
MT. VERNON, VIRGINIA – As I drink coffee here in my client’s mansion near the estate owned by George Washington, the first US president, I contemplate on men who waited for quite a time for their own time, and persevered being a second fiddle to their predecessors. I remember John Adams who waited until the very popular Washington turned over the mantle of leadership to him, the first vice president of the new independent union of 13 states. I also remember our own Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. who allowed Manuel L. Quezon to shine and he was merely “the wind beneath the wings” of the highly flamboyant and dynamic leader from Tayabas. I now recall our own Edgar Labella, a former official of the Ombudsman’s office, and a survivor of a major sea tragedy, Mike Rama’s chosen vice mayor and, if God and the people allow, the next mayor of the Queen City of the South. Edgar is the man who patiently waited and whose time has come.
I know this guy even when he was still a UV Law student, a really soft-spoken guy who was even shy. While the late Boy Herrera (later the favorite senator of then president Cory Aquino) and Cerge Remonde (later GMA’s Cabinet member) were very active in the University of Visayas campus politics, Edgar was low-profile, equal only to Emmanuel “Tommy” Pacquiao (who surprisingly landed number three in the 1975 Bar exams). Edgar was never a well-known campus journalist and literary writer like Frank M. Malilong, Jr. who was my editor in “The Visayanian”. I was even dabbling in campus politics, running as the last UV Student Council president in 1972 before we were all rounded up when martial law was proclaimed. Edgar was just focusing on his academics as a good son of a noted writer Gene Labella. His brother, Doc Boy Labella, was more outgoing and people-oriented.
But God has a way of anointing people who know how to bide their time, men who have the patience and humility to allow others to outshine them, hiding their own greatness and competence. Edgar Labella is such a man, very cool and unassuming, humble, courteous, and very careful with his words. In leadership style, he is different from Michael Rama (my favorite student in the UV College of Law). Edgar is more deliberative, contemplative, and collaborative. Mike is like Quezon, fiery and passionate, hot like fire. Edgar is like Don Sergio, cool and calculating, restrained and thrifty with words. He is one of the few lawyers who speaks less but delivers more. Perhaps, and I say this with due respect, Edgar is also the complete opposite of Mayor Tommy Osmeña.
Edgar is a public official who was never involved in any shady transaction. He is honest, truthful and sincere. He is neither known for delivering oratory nor for singing “Usahay” like Mike Rama, for it is not his style. Somehow, Edgar is like Governor Junjun Davide, well-trained by their respective fathers who are men of decency and integrity. People who know Edgar would testify that he works ploddingly and faithfully. He is a fair leader who presides the sessions not just with perfect mastery of parliamentary procedures, like the Robert’s Rules of Order, but he masters human psychology and knows the rationale of certain political behavior. Edgar never insults or berates people. He respects even the janitors and the messengers. That is why the people love Edgar, not just respect him, but value him as a leader and as a friend.
God really has a way of gifting the people with men who have the character of Don Sergio, of former chief justice Jun Davide, of Mayor Eddie Gullas, humble, respectful and above, all decent and true. Cebu is such a lucky city to finally have another man of such caliber. Coffee is good here in Virginia, but I can’t wait to have coffee with Edgar, Mike, and even with the mayor.
- Latest
