Nice Guys Finish First

Because we dream of getting on top of the heap, we sometimes traverse the treacherous road called Life in utter disrespect of other’s welfare.

I, for one, continue to rub shoulders with a lot of people who will do anything just to get what they perceive as heaven on earth.

Kahit ano gagawin makuha lamang ang gusto.

In today’s age of the internet, it is easy to fall into the trap of doing something or behaving in a way that is utterly disgusting and below the standards of morality.

In his desire to win at all cost, US baseball attraction Leo Durocher justified his take-no-prisoner stance as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers in Major League Baseball. An infielder during his prime, Durocher, nicknamed Leo the Lip or Lippy, wasn’t a nice guy. According to author Paul Dickson, the controversial Lippy is baseball’s prodigal son.

I must admit that I don’t know him from Adam. I watched a movie about Babe Ruth, and was enlightened though not fully entertained by a film abut Jackie Robinson. I also read stories about Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, A-Rod, Joe Dimaggio, Orel Hershiser, Pete Rose, Jose Canseco, Nolan Ryan, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Ichiro Suzuki, and others who have already escaped my mind,

Suffice it to say, Durocher came to mind because he also became known for his mantra “Nice Guys Finish Last.”

But I have to go the opposite way which is Nice Guys Finish First.

I thought about this upon learning that a fellow Gumaqueno just became the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director for Region IV-A.

Ariel Odono Iglesia shone as Regional Director in Western Visayas before being transferred by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to his new assignment. Formerly known as Southern Tagalog, Region IV-A comprises the provinces of Quezon, Rizal, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Lucena City.

A true-blooded son of Gumaca, Quezon, Aris was one year ahead of me at the Gumaca Provincial (now National) High School and I remember him as somebody with a ready smile for everyone, including the juniors, sophomores and even the freshmen. He was a consistent honor student at the Gumaca West Elementary School.

Soft-spoken and humble, Ariel is the typical candidate for the model student award, something which I failed to achieve during my stint in “hayskul.” I was talkative, naughty and not really the type who would burn the midnight oil, so to speak.

I am unsure whether he managed to make it to the Top 10 of his class during his graduation but he wasn’t dumb, either. He belonged to Section One, which also evolved into the so-called Science Classes during my youthful years.

I lost track of the new Regional Director after graduation. But I learned that he graduated at UP Los Baños with a degree in BS Agricultural Engineering. He was a board topnotcher in 1987.

Ariel joined the DILG in 1989 and he rose from the ranks, a testament to his talent and dedication. Truly an exemplary Career Executive Service Officer.

Going deeper, I am convinced that his success can be attributed to having parents who put premium to education. Ariel’s dear parents — Aling Juliana, a housewife, and Mang Andres, a carpenter — continue to live modestly at Barangay Pipisik. I have every reason to believe that without their love and guidance, the charming seaside and mountainous town of Gumaca would not have a DILG bigwig today.

He lives by this Golden Rule: Find your God-centered vision and let it guide you in all that you do.

His message to the youth addicted to Mobile Legends, League of Legends, Dota, Rules of Survival and other video games is worth digesting: Cultivate your character qualities necessary for a successful life.

Ariel joins a long list of Gumaca achievers, who are all God-centered and family-oriented. I’m sure Lorenzo Tanada, freedom fighter and Gumaca’s most famous son, is smiling from his place in heaven right now.

Engineer Ronel Tan, my classmate, is also a Department of Public Works and Highway Regional Director, and Police General Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, product of the Eastern Quezon College and a graduate of the premium Philippine Military Academy, now heads the Northern Police District.

Another PMA graduate Col. Dennis Estrella of the Philippine Air Force is Deputy Commander, Air Education, Training and Doctrine Command; young and energetic Webster Letargo is making waves as Gumaca Mayor with his tireless public service marked by calm demeanor and intelligence; Dr. Emeline Olaivar, with public service in mind, is a noted pediatrician; while Army reservist and another physician Elchor Caralian also works tirelessly even in the time of Covid-19; Randy Urlanda excelled during his stint at Panorama while Monsignor Doy Luna, who celebrated mass during the burial of my father Gregorio, is Vicar General at the San Diego Cathedral.

Indeed the list of achievers is getting endless for the young ones and the young once. And I dare say that this column will not be enough.

By the way, we even have a representative to the tinseltown named Heide Villafranca Ugay. I have not even mentioned those who live and excelled abroad and also the seafarers, electricians, businessmen and many more. My classmates Brent Dayo and Al Cabarrubias came into my mind and Ariel’s batchmate Nicanor Menandro Esquivel. They are masters of the seas. I must mention Joval de Ramos, who graduated on top of his class in the premier Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, but decided to migrate in Canada,

Let me tell you, however, that I have a soft spot for educators mainly because my mother Virginia taught for 30 years at Gumaca East, aka Gurong Gurong, while my sister Maricris and her husband Carlos are active teachers at GNHS.

Before I forget, my uncle Higino was also a teacher. I am not surprised that Gumaqueno Aniano Ogayon has excelled as Schools Division Superintendent for Lucena City for eight years and five months and is now assigned at Tayabas City.

I still remember the wisdom imparted to me by my elementary teachers—Angelita Mayo, Ofel Asilo and Sonia Libranda- and those wondeful GNHS mentors.
Indeed, Gumaca is a magnet for achievers.