I dreamed it and, attempted it, but failed. Our clique of supporters employed all possible strategies and resources, but no dice. I came close though. The enemy was not outside but within our group. Disunity ate up whatever dream we had.
I refer, dear readers, to my 1990 bid for the presidency of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the most coveted plum among lawyers. My motive? While personal advancement played a role, the overwhelming consideration was to break the barriers of inequality and bias. No Moro, nay, Muslim lawyer had ever led the organization. But we wholeheartedly accepted kismet without rancor. Now, after three decades we are seeing the fruition of our dream.
Looking back, it was not a lack of qualifications and leadership qualities, nor a deficit of resources, that plagued our campaign. It was more of an oversight and lack of coordination among our group. Ego got the better part of everybody. As a result, a fraternity brother and I competed against each other and we both lost.
Back then, campaigning at the IBP was not unlike other political campaigning. Intense campaigning and the use of propaganda schemes and other strategic hallmarks of traditional politicians, or “tradpols,” were employed, including horse trading, promises of favors, wining and dining of convention delegates, and paying for plane tickets and other expenses.
That style of campaigning shut out less known and less financially prepared candidates. Marginalized “small” chapters hardly had a chance of getting their member candidates elected to the presidency of the IBP.
With the anomalies happening in an institution under the wing of the Supreme Court, the latter had to intervene. Drastic reforms were instituted to free the IBP from the morass of moral and institutional decadence.
After an investigation conducted by a panel of retired Supreme Court justices, it was recommended that the leadership of the IBP is rotated among the chapters to give a chance to the less-known chapters, like Lanao del Sur, to have a shot at the presidency. It was suggested that the Executive Vice President elected by the Board of Governors would automatically assume as President after two years.
And this year, the IBP-Lanao del Sur chapter got a break. Its president and governor for Western Mindanao, Allan Panolong, was elected executive vice president by the Board of Governors, to take over as President after two years. Muslims rejoiced. For me, it was the realization of a dream hatched more than three decades ago.
This development was greeted with much jubilation not only by the Lanao del Sur chapter but other chapters, especially those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which posthaste sent congratulatory messages to Governor Panolong. This is the first time that a member of the chapter and a Muslim at that will assume National President — a position that opens doors to bigger challenges and that had churned out prominent national leaders like former Senators Celing Fernan, Edgardo Angara and Raul Roco.
A Proposed Resolution (No. 273) was sponsored by lawyer-Minister Rasol Mitmug Jr. before the BARMM interim parliament commending the rare feat of Atty. Panolong. The Provincial Legal Services expressed jubilation.
The local chapter’s Past President, Dagoroan Adom Macarambon, described Atty. Lanz, as Panolong is fondly called by his peers, is a “man with a mission” and his feat is “historic” with his accession not attributed to luck but to his “unwavering conviction and commitment in bringing about reforms…” Local legal luminaries, Bayan Balt, Pangnal Datu-Ramos, and many others echoed similar praise and prayers for his success (sorry guys for lack of space).
I recall Uncle Ben, a character in the movie series Spiderman, saying: “They must consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power.” Stated otherwise, with great power comes great responsibility.
Atty. Panolong is presented with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove to all and sundry that Muslims have what it takes to lead a national organization of lawyers — a great influencer in shaping the destiny of the nation.
Meanwhile, a grand shindig awaits friends of Atty. Lanz tomorrow, 4 June, to coincide with the induction of officers and to welcome the new batch of lawyers. Way to go, panyero. Allah hafiz!