Viray: Relentless (A book review 2)

by Atty. Atlee T. Viray
In and Out of Court

THIS is a sequel to Unstoppable. This is the second collaborative book of the University of the Philippines Integrated High School, Class of 1979. How I wish that reunions were as fruitful as this class in providing meaningful projects like a publishing a book.

Jackie Lansangan-Morey, the lead writer proclaims three things that last forever.

“Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is “Love”. I Corinthians 13:13 NLT

Jackie tells us her journey to the United States in August 1984. She was almost desperate that after eight months – she was jobless and had only $35 dollars left. She together with her sister, applied and got accepted in a nearby Dairy Queen that serves ice cream, creams, sodas, burgers and fries.

Love is relentless. We can relate to her parents. Her mom lived with her for even long years apart from their father (in the Philippines) to sacrifice for the sake of their children.

Judge Ma. Amifaith S. Fider-Reyes, RTC Branch 42 wrote the Foreword in this wise:

“They (Authors) are relentless about family. None of them ever said, that, their family was perfect. But, they all traced a profound sense of security and identity to it, that, each time Rebecca would touch her palm to her cheek, there was the kiss that would always make her feel that, “Mommy loves me.” There is always something unconditional in the way we relate to anyone in our family. To be relentless, means, to love.

They are relentless about giving. Like the wind, after which her new friends had named her, Gloria saw that there was no measure to the generosity of the human spirit to empathize, to search for solidarity and to serve. There is no limit, not even the sky, to what a mother would do to see her son happy. This mother is Miriam. There is no limit to the will to serve the people, even if one was deprived of the wherewithal of a government position to pursue this goal, like Paulyn. To be relentless, means, to sacrifice.

They are relentless in the pursuit of their dreams. Despite the limitations offered by their personal circumstances, or the people around them like their family or colleagues, these people saw a better reality for themselves and for others. Even if the situation seemed surreal, as Ferdinand would say, some things cannot co-exist with democracy and the sanctity of life. Because even if one had to heed a father’s advice, to look out for one’s safety always, that same father never asked Billy to stop doing the things he believed in. to be relentless, means, to always forge on.”

I am surprised to discover that our Sunstar Office-in-Chare Billy San Juan is a member of UPIS Class 1979.

He dedicates his article (Further Down the Road) to his mother (Betty) and wife x x x x and to legendary LPL, his model of a genuine leader.

The winning words of honesty and integrity are given concrete illustrations in his early life.

His mother, Betty, saw atrocities of World War II and the relief that “ginisang monggo” brought like heaven on earth to a poor family. She became a pioneer switchboard operator of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

She worked for 45 years and rose from the ranks. She retired as a senior supervisor – “She was not only a supervisor – she was a confidant, a coach and a friends. She was known as BSJ even before initials became monicker in the corporate world.

In 2008, Billy began a long relationship with Liberato P. Laus (LPL) spanning almost 17 years.

Thru LPL, he learned – “Trust to be earned by giving proper accounting of your actions, in all things, whether big or small.”

Billy continues to strive towards a higher purpose x x x and consider it a personal tragedy that LPL died on April 25, 2019.

The book is published by Customer Strategy Academy, USA and available in bookstores worldwide.