MikeLigalig.com

Interview and Article by Loy Palapos
Columnist, Sunday Post

Hearing about a greenhorn dueling with the political giants in the Third District of Bohol in the 2007 elections, made me wonder how the fresh graduate would survive in a field dominated by the tough and the mighty. Could be because I have always thought that the idea of a David-Goliath theme can only happen in the Bible. This despite his being educated at the Bohol Wisdom School, University of the Philippines, and Ateneo de Manila University. But when it was made known that he passed the Bar before the May polls, I started to envision the neophyte garnering some pogi points.

Learning that he vanquished his veteran and well-endowed adversaries in the political derby, I conjectured it was because a vote for the son is a vote for the father, that his three-term Congressman-father (who performed excellently for nine years) was the reason for the victory of the son. A fluke, so to say, that can only happen in a fantasy drama.

But when I met Congressman Adam Relson Lagrada Jala (ALJ), up close and personal, at his residence at 9:00 AM last Friday for this interview, I met a man, young in years but fully loaded in the brain and attitude department, whose maturity in the performance of his tasks leaves nothing to be desired. Dressed casually in shorts and a comfortable shirt, shod in a pair of slippers that have seen better days, he excused himself from a group of barangay leaders to fulfill his appointment with me. His handshake emanated an inner strength, and his personality does not intimidate. When he started to talk in polished King's Language, about the campaign trail and now that he is a legislator, I can feel how he felt with the burden he has to undertake.

At the porch of his residence, some people were waiting for him, and in the 30-minute interview, my apprehensions about his capabilities evaporated to thin air.

With me was a man who had no pretensions about his role as a law-maker, and who could take the bull by its horns.

LMP: What prompted you to enter politics?
ALJ: My family has already been politically inclined. They had the biggest influence.

LMP: Who persuaded you to join politics aside from your father who has been your mentor?
ALJ: I studied in University of the Philippines, and we all know that this University is very much involved, politically and socially, in national issues and current events. When I entered UP, I was already bombarded by social awareness and social consciousness; it was an eye opener. In Bohol, I was only limited to personal development. When I studied college, my horizon was broadened. It did not anymore involve parochial interests such as family and friends. I became more socially conscious and politically motivated because I saw hunger, poverty and political conflicts in the society and I wanted to make a difference.

LMP: Where you actively involved in campus activities, rallies or demonstrations?
ALJ: Yes. I was even in Edsa II and in the streets during Erap's time. I did not tell my father because he was already a Congressman and we had different political views over the matter.

LMP: If you make a comparison between your environment as a college, elementary and high school student, what distinction could you make?
ALJ: In elementary and high school, I was isolated because Bohol is an island and I've never been to other places. My world revolved around friends and family and my dreams and aspirations were only based on that limited kind of environment.

LMP: But although it was limited, it still helped develop your personality?
ALJ: Of course. Though the atmosphere during elementary was childish and playful, I still excelled in academics. I was one of the top pupils in those days, and I received one or two awards.

LMP: What other talents did you show aside form your academic excellence in elementary and high school?
ALJ: I was the chess champion, and I garnered academic awards in writing essays and poems. I also read a lot of novels. I used to ignore the newspapers before, but right now, I have to read them.

LMP: You started at UP; what made you transfer to Ateneo?
ALJ: I was influenced by my parents. They probably wanted a change of environment. Maybe they regarded UP as more liberal.

LMP: How do you compare the environment between UP and Ateneo?
ALJ: It was so different. UP is so liberal, more of the activist style. Even the professors encourage freedom of expression. In Ateneo, the school is operated by Jesuits. The whole set-up is more disciplined and conservative. Maybe it has something to do with religion; they're stricter. You don't get to express fully your political and social ideas because they try to insulate the institution from political and other social inclinations. There a lot of things you have to conform with.

LMP: Looking at those things now, would you like to consider that you have made the right decision in transferring to Ateneo?
ALJ: The righteousness of my decision is not based on the freedom that was limited. Maybe it was based on the environment. You get to experience a new kind of institution and that is priceless because you can compare the two worlds.

LMP: After UP and Ateneo, have you already formulated a philosophy in life?
ALJ: Yes, but I have to sub-divide it. I have to separate my philosophy in how I deal with my personal life, and how I deal with my political life. With the political life, you have to consider your love for your country. And I think that the greatest thing we can do is to serve and sacrifice our own personal development for public interest. I know it sounds very idealistic, and worst… hypocritical. But we have to have that idea because if we lack it, what else will we aspire for?

LMP: That was after your graduation. Now that you are in Congress, do you still have the same philosophy?
ALJ: Before I entered politics, my ideas were very idealistic. You see the political process from the outside. I saw it in a very ideal way. But as you enter the system, you get to open your eyes and mind to a lot of things you are not aware of. However, I have to remain steadfast and stick to my ideals or else, I will likewise be corrupted by the system. I don't want that to happen because for me, people have to remain strong with their principles. If it's otherwise, you will never be able to make a difference.

LMP: The general consensus was gathered around the fact that you are still very young to go into politics. What is your reaction to that particular commentary?
ALJ: First of all, youth is not a weakness, it is a strength. There might be many criticisms thrown at you, like you're still ignorant and has no political experience, but once you have proven them that you are knowledgeable about this stuff, it becomes a strength.

LMP: As far as being exposed to politics is concerned, you were never a greenhorn because you have worked in Congress already.
ALJ: That's right. I believe that age is just an illusion; just a number. A number of people by the age of 25 are not aware of the political system. Age itself is not an indication why people cannot be a public servant.

LMP: At the time of your campaign, you were just through with the Bar exams and was waiting for the results. How did you handle the anxiety?
ALJ: It was the most critical time of my life. My mind was so heavy with two biggest things happening at the same time. I ran for Congress while waiting to be a lawyer. With God's will, I passed the Bar during the campaign. But my happiness was not yet full since I still have to face the campaign.

LMP: Along that line, the conjecture was this: if you failed the Bar exam, you will really find it hard to win the election. What was your reaction?
ALJ: I told my father, "If I will fail the Bar, I would withdraw from the race; substitute me with another one because I will not be worthy enough for the position, not having been able to acquire the academic success. I'm trying to tell the people that I am knowledgeable in Law, that I can be a Congressman because I studied the law. But if I will fail the Bar, how can people believe me?"

LMP: When you passed the Bar exam, did that give you confidence especially in the campaign trail? Was it an added factor which strengthened your desire to continue?
ALJ: In my perspective, it was the turning point of the whole campaign. Because before that, it was some sort of a losing battle for me since my rivals were veterans and were political bigshots in our province. But when I passed the Bar, it gave me a bit of an edge. At least, I have an academic achievement which was a weapon for me to able to convince my constituents that I am capable of the position; since this is about the legislative process which is making laws.

LMP: It is expected that in your first year, you will be learning a lot as far as legislative procedures are concerned. Does it follow that you will be again available for the next two terms?
ALJ: That is something I have to really think about. As of now, I'm still trying to cope up and learn about the political system. There are many things that I have learned here which I never learned before I entered politics; positive and negative learnings. It encourages and discourages me at the same time. So in the end, I have to sum up my whole experience and see if it's more positive than negative.

LMP: At age 29, you are still single. You are a target as far as the marriage angle is concerned. When are you getting married?
ALJ: It's really funny because everytime I go the municipality, that's the first thing they ask me. The Mayor's would tease me with a lady who's still single. But that's so far from my mind. Right now, I want to focus on public service. How can you concentrate on a serious relationship which will lead to marriage when you are working everyday and you are traveling from Manila to Bohol and back again? I've realized that a politician works everyday; there are no exemptions. People expect a lot from you. The problem on my part is that I have to work twice as hard as an ordinary politician because I'm young. If I won't do something, they say, "a, bata pa gyod siya." But if I do otherwise, they say "a, maayo man di-ay kay mo-trabaho."

LMP: You realize right now that you still have to prove something?
ALJ: Yes, because there are prejudices. I have to prove myself everyday. I guess, when you're old, you don't have to prove yourself that much because you already have the experience. But since you are young, they expect you to be energetic, active, and free all the time. And mga tiguwang makabalibad naman kay kapoyan na.

LMP: Any message to your constituents?
ALJ: I am very grateful for their trust. That's why they are my priority… not myself. I feel being challenged daily, a routine that makes me think of means to serve them better. Serving them the best way possible is my obsession.
The young Congressman has no time for love, no time for himself. Commuting to and from Metro Manila every week, with countless individuals seeking an audience with him, attending to programs, seeing to it that his projects are well-implemented… he only has time to serve his constituents.

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