THE UNDEFEATED STATESMAN

By: Norberto Betita

He stood taller than his own stature by his manly deportment. He is one of those we call as “Golden Award” (a popular brand during our time) models as he sports high-collared pastel colored shirts. His masculine bearing adds to his attractiveness to women. He is a refined young man, which by his curly hair and macho physique gave him the looks of the young popular action star in our time---Eddie Fernandez. 

SNNHS ‘69er PHILIP M. ADLAO is far from being scholarly, but his sociability and good looks together with his ability to easily connect and relate with others made him popular in school. He is an ordinary and humble boy from a remote barrio. He has no background whatsoever of prominence or affluence, but he shines by the way he deals with his life as a young man. His objective attitude and gracious character gave the impression of him becoming a good manager. 

Although somehow limited by financial resources he took the guts to study at San Nicolas College (now St. Paul University-Surigao), a popular and expensive local sectarian college. Meeting the challenges of both study and financial requirements was to him kind of easier said than done. But he persevered with diligence and with competent parental support and motivation.

Upon graduation he worked as a clerk in a government copra buying station. His earlier youthful manifestations of managerial ability became clearly evident as he started a career. In a short time he was promoted to become the manager of the local branch of the company. Probably because of his appeal and charisma to women he was married early. As he realized the weight of his paternal responsibility to provide, he found that his employment could never sustain a comfortable life for his family. To him that was a defining moment---a crossroad. A decision to retire and start his own business was crucial, yet he found it to be an imperative choice. While in business and comfortably providing for his family’s needs his natural ability to easily associate and relate with people stirred in him a desire to try the field of politics. 

His first run into the political arena was for the elective position of a Municipal Councilor in his local Municipality of Placer. Surprisingly as a neophyte politician he won by a landslide. After three years of diligent service and cordial dealings with his constituents, he again tried his luck for another term. He was humbled by the inestimable support of the people. His political service became a career as he again was given a treasured backing from his constituents for a third and final term. Top political figures in his hometown and in the Province were amazingly fascinated of his political journey. Then he was offered to compete for the position of a Vice-Mayor. He might have hesitated to take the offer but the call of the people seemed to echo as to give him the stimulus to finally run the race. The trust of the populace afforded him the authority to preside over the Municipal Council as Vice-Mayor---the next highest political position. His political dignity and sincerity in service to the people provided him the honor to complete the three terms---nine-year service available for the position of a Vice-Mayor.

Such should have been the end of his political career as he is short of the necessary monetary resources to compete for the highest elective position in town. However, political figures and his avid supporters called back for him to continue his political race and humbly take a new term for a Municipal Councilor. His kind of sociability and ability to connect and relate with people long exhibited in high school, coupled with his willingness to serve prompted him to take another challenge. He again won the position by landslide vote of support from the people. Through his long and uninterrupted political career he became popular among the local politicians. Immediately after the last national elections, an election for the officers of the organization of Municipal Councilors was conducted and he was elected President. By virtue of his authority as President of the League of Municipal Councilors, he was eventually brought into the corridor and hall of the Provincial Board as he took an oath being an appointed member of the Provincial Board.

Now he remains standing tall bearing with humility the title of “The Undefeated Statesman.” Yet he did not glory on the laurels of his political career. In his uninterrupted service to the community he takes with him the simple philosophy by Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Perhaps in his personal and individual service to his constituents he always keeps this thought in mind, "Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others.... The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts.” (Gordon B. Hinckley). This probably gives him an edge in his political contests.

In contemplation of the Legacies bequeathed by those very able faculty and administrative staff of his Alma Mater during those four years of high school; the influences of dear friends and classmates; and above all the blessings bestowed by a loving God made him bow in humble reverence and genuine gratitude.

He is always at the reunion feast enjoying the camaraderie of dear old friends and classmates. He is sure to attend the SNNHS ‘59ers golden jubilee reunion comes 2019.