BETWEEN CORRUPTION AND INTEGRITY

By: Norberto Betita

Rolando Biado as a student at the
University of the Philippines

By his character, he was known to be inherently honest and upright. He had been trained and taught by humble parents, who themselves were respected for their integrity. He is the eldest in the family and so was expected to assist in the poultry farm of his parents. Physically he is a small and skinny young man but with firm muscles. He loves sports, especially boxing. He is usually with our classmate Epifanio at the library to read news of the results of championship boxing. He loved the popular music of The Beatles. He sings and plays a guitar. And he is intelligent.

SNNHS ‘69er ROLANDO BIADO is attractive to young women because of his noble character. Two of our classmates were so captivated of him that one had to drop a pen just to have his attention. But he is kind of aloof on matters of infatuation. On many occasions he would invite us to their rented apartment where her mother also operates a retail store, for fried chicken treats from meats of old non-laying hens from their poultry. While in high school there never had been any mention of him about where he should go for college. We only knew when he was already at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna, taking up Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Qualifying for the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) is very tough and extremely challenging. Not many dared to take it, especially like us who are graduates of a public school in a small Province. But he had long fostered the nerve and audacity to face life’s encounters and with his inherent intellectual ability and competency he made it to this premiere university.

With beloved wife---Editha

His college education at the University of the Philippines (UP) was highly subsidized by the government being an “Iskolar Ng Bayan”. The government spends so much for these scholars to provide the best educational trainings and highly exacting learning experiences as they are groomed and prepared to be the best replacements in the constant renewal of leadership in our national life. They are trained and mentored to be the builders of the nation. All other educational and personal expenses may have been sufficiently provided by able and highly supportive parents. However, as it is, studying at the UP is one very demanding experience, and in itself a trial of endurance. But Rolly as he is fondly called has a youthful dream to pursue and a journey to tramp and track. He knew and learned from an American proverb that, “success is a ladder that cannot be climb with your hands in your pocket.” He wrestled and wriggled against the tough and unbending educational environment at UP and eventually graduated with a degree in Forestry. He would have wanted to behold the glory which is reserved for UP graduates. In his quest for growth, however, he found himself trapped in a very difficult and discomfited choice---between fraud and honesty and between corruption and integrity.

With high school friends and classmates during a prom

After graduation from the UP College of Forestry, Rolly intended to be a bigwig in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Forestry. However, the dreadful influences and provocations of government corruptions and administrative manipulations made him think twice, eventually ending his bright opportunities and prospective developmental contributions in the Philippines. He traded his highest career possibilities in favor of his inborn virtue of honesty and integrity which like Sir Thomas Moore in the movie “A Man for All Seasons,” he never intend to waste even if it would cost his life. He should have remained to take the post of a possible most opportune role of a DENR Regional Director or even higher and serve and contribute honestly in the government service. But virtue summoned him to choose a most humble career in the land of milk and honey---the USA, where his wife works as a nurse. Two children were born in their marital union.

With the family

The choice was very difficult for him because his degree in Forestry even from the University of the Philippines was never given much credit in the USA. He was forced to take odd jobs. Later he was advised to take a government examination for postal services which he easily qualified. Such became his lifetime career. He was grateful that by such sacrifice of a bright career future in the Philippines in favor of a humble employment in the postal services in the USA, his character had remained unblemished and his person untarnished. He said he is not rich, but he usually spent his vacations in different parts of the world.

His talents, abilities, developmental capabilities, and above all his virtue of honesty and integrity had been a great loss for the Filipino people who even at present are distressed by continued and uninterrupted succession of government corruptions. He should have been one kind of a man that we need in the government, but virtue will always keep at bay and restrain an atmosphere of fraud and deceit in the same manner that clear water will always separate from polluted spilled oil.

We missed him for a long time in reunions, but we are hopeful that he will find time to attend our SNNHS ‘69ers Golden Jubilee.