Mariano Jesus Cuenco - distinguished son of Cebu, writer, jurist, and parliamentarian - is gone. today, we gather in this august hall, where he spent several years of his life rich with service to the people, to pay our final reerent tribute to hismemory and to his name.

Through a span of over half a century, he served our people in various capacities: as member of the lower and the upper chambers of the national law-making body, as a provincial executive and as a member of the Cabinet, as a delegate to the United Nations. He has carved for himself a permanent place in the mosaic of Philippine political history.

Many will remember him as a quiet courteous gentleman who even in youth spoke mildly and with serenity and who, in the winter of his life, carried into the midst of a new generation of speed and levity the tempering influence of the traits of his own vanished era . . .

To his bereaved and devoted widow and to his sorrowing children, he will always be cherished as a loving husband and a doting father.

To the many beneficiaries of his kindness and assistance during the many years that he spent in offices of influence, he will always be known as th eone who had given them a helping hand to start them or push them forward in their positions in the executive or in the judicial branches of our government or in their political careers.

For each facet of his many-spendored life, there will be many throughout the length and breadth of th eland who will remember him with fondness or affection,with gratitude or appreciation, and with respect or admiration.

My personal acquaintance with Don Mariano was limited to the few years that I have been in the Senate. But because he has been a human ingredient in the formation of our political annals, his life is known to many of us under a much more extensive perspective than the limited view that we get from personal acquaintance.

Under the broader perspective, I will always remember Don Mariano, not as the ailing colleague whose desire to continue discharging his duties to the people would from time to time force him from sickbed to be present during long critical sessions of the Senate, not as a political or personal benefactor for I have not been the object of any direct help or assistance from him, not just as a paternalistic colleague who never failed to give some kind word of praise or encouragement whenever he should pass by my desk in this chamber - but I will always remember him as I am certain future political historians will write him, as an independent warrior who could fight fearlessly for a cause, regardless of who was on the opposite side. I shall remember, how, long before the promulgation of the Philippine Constitution which authorized woman suffrage, and at a time when the laws hardly recognized any right in woman, the young gentleman from Cebu, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, sponsored a bill to extend the right of suffrage to women. To the end of his days, he stood for women's rights, and as eloquent evidence of this are his bills in the Senate providing for heavier penalties for those who commit crive against womanhood. I shall remember how, even when the Philippine Legislature tried to pass a bill limiting the tenure of judges of courts of first instance, with a rotation every four years, Representative Mariano Jesus Cuenco resigned as chairman of the committee on judiciary and cast only the dissenting vote to the measure, as a sign of protest against the independence of the judiciary.

I shall remember how in the United Nations General Assembly he caused consternation in the Philippine Delegation, when, in violation of express instructions from then President Roxas, Delegate Cuenco registered vigorous opposition to a British-sponsored and American endorsed resolution for United Nations members to withdraw diplomatic representation from Spain.

I shall remember him as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee of the Senate who plunged with unbending determination into investigation after investigation of reported anomalies in the government, holding extensive hearings of the committee even alone when other members could not attend and striking terror into the hearts of those whom he investigated, even if they were officials very close to Malacanang.

It is in this light - I am sure - that many of us will rememer Senator Mariano Jesus Cuenco. He might not always have been right in the positions he took. Many of might have validly differed with some conclusions he reached. But here was a man who fought for a cause with an indomitable spirit, with the firmness of granite and the tenacity of steel. This is the Don Mariano I will never forget.

Even in his last battle - the long losing battle with the Grim Reaper, the Great Equalizer - he showed the same fighting spirit, the same steady determination, by his obvious will to live. But even this forminable warrior must fall before the inexorable hand of Time. And so lying before us now are his mortal remains.

Soon the earth will claim what from it has come. The nations has lost an outstanding leader. There will be a permanent void in what was his home. An empty chair will be among us in this hall.

To his widow and children and to the other members of his family, we extend our most profound sympathy in their bereavement, and hope that the thought that Don Mariano has served his country well, for which he will be remembered by his people, will in time measure alleviate their pain and strengthen them in their hour of grief.

Don Mariano has left indelible marks in the pages of our political history, lessons from which those who follow him will learn. He belongs to a great race, and the admirable traits that he has shown are those of his people, the Filipino people. Hence, there will always be men and women among us who will have the same unflinching spirit and the same granitic will that he had in fighting for a cause.

Don Mariano, your shoes will never be empty. Thus shall we, the living, honor you eternally. So, may you now rest in everlasting peace!

~end~

BOOKSHOP

PALH Home/Online Inventory/Order/Links

  E-mail questions/comments to PALH@aol.com
This page courtsesy of Philippine American Literary House