Freedom, Democracy alive and vibrant

Manila Standard Emil P. Jurado

Wednesday, July 28,1999



A lot has been said of the passing of former senator and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus. All I can say is that he was a true Atenean, an idealist and visionary, who imbibed and lived the humanities that the Jesuits taught him, having been a freedom fighter not only during the Marcos years, but during the dark days of the Japanese occupation as well., and public servant for many years.

Every Atenean knows who Raul was – the pride of his school, the composer of "Fly High, Blue Eagle," the schools banner song which I used to sing at the top of my lungs during the NCAA days. And who can forget Raul with his "arrneow" accent, perhaps the best example of Ateneo’s proficiency in English and diction. Well, it’s good thing that Erap didn’t have the accent. He could never have made it to the presidency.

Raul’s idealism and vision were best shown when he ran as a third Force for president together with another unforgettable Atenean – Manny Manahan. Would you believe that I joined their Progressive Party of the Philippines because I believed in their vision and ideals?

Both are history now, but in my heart they are the true Ateneans, the true Filipinos in this millennium.