Amiable governor JP Panganiban writes 76

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

March Fianza

Based on official records, the former Benguet Governor Jaime Paul Buli-e Panganiban was born on September 7, 1941. That makes him 72 at the time of his death on April 20, 2014. But his immediate family says he was all of 76. Whatever, age does not matter in death… just like in laughter and love.

I first came to know the smiling governor as the active tourism man who had an office at the old Pines Hotel. His friendliness was so contagious, it made me quite suspicious that ladies could easily fall for him.

But that was not the case because I later heard that the good-natured gentleman from Mankayan took the wrong turn when he was lured by the “beauty” of resident musician and pianist Lady Valerie after the two were introduced by the mischievous BemboAfable. It turned out that “she” was a he.

Our paths crossed again when the debates prior to the establishment of a Cordillera autonomous region were going on from 1988-89. There, I saw him as a no-nonsense speaker who threw back the cudgels to other members of the Cordillera Regional Consultative Committee who misinterpreted the silent stance of Benguet regarding the issue as an opposition move.

Checking back my old personal notes, Panganiban raised awareness among the commissioners and reminded them to consider the reality that Benguet has been for the “longest time the financial backbone of the whole region and imperial Manila for having produced electricity, gold, copper, silver, timber for the mines, and employment” without receiving just and equitable returns.    

I missed the tributes and praises by his friends and former co-government workers during his wake at the BSU Chapel as I was somewhere on the road. But I am quite sure they talked of his strictness about coming to work on time. I knew this because when he was governor of Benguet,

I personally witnessed how he came too early even before the capitol guards opened the doors to the public. When he was elected board member in 1988, Panganiban made it a point to be in his office everyday, knowing well that a “public office is a public trust”.

Last Thursday, Benguet Capitol workers gave last respects to their former board member and governor. In similar rites such as this, good things are normally said. Ms. Victoria B. Akia, the supervising administrative officer said, their former governor was very firm in seeing to it that office rules were followed. 

Most of the speakers took note of his leadership as a student activist and organizer. Former vice governor Wasing Sacla and former provincial planning officer Bial Palaez described him as frank and straightforward speaker. Gov. Nestor Fongwan for his part confirmed this saying, Panganiban then had a radio program where “I was scolded by him on air for something I did when I was vice mayor of La Trinidad.” He also admired Panganiban’s strong leadership and praised how the Benguet Capitol Choir was formed during his term.

I stood there waiting for any of the speakers mention his contributions to the province in terms of public infrastructure. I was not sure if they deliberately forgot all about it. I covered his watch from 1992 to 1995. It was during his time that the Philex Road was finally rehabilitated and cemented through a MOA. Philex concreted the road that the mining company itself had been using by directly spending the taxes it paid to the government.

Panganiban said, this was due to the fact that taxes paid to the government would be hard to withdraw once it reached the national treasury. The money spent would later be deducted from the taxes paid by Philex to the government. It was also during his administration that the Asin Road tasted its first tranche of funding for its rehabilitation. 

I have met Gov. Panganiban at my in-laws’ house for a number of times and learned that he was related to my wife’s mother as they all traced their roots to Suyoc, Mankayan. In our latest meeting last year, he told me he was feeling good, although I was told he recently went under the knife.

We exchanged notes about media affairs which reminded me that he was a member of the old Baguio Press Club that later became the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club. I also recalled an old story about him having a quick boxing bout at the former Dainty Restaurant with another newsman whose name nobody wants to remember.

In former vice governor Sacla’s eulogy, he said “politicians do not die, they just fade away”. Indeed, the amiable governor’s memory will remain in the minds of the many that he touched. He is survived by his wife Ruby, and children Wrenolph, Frederick Leo, Zayreen, RynEisen, Harvin Dan and Vera Joy.