"A man dies as he had lived... Jose Abad Santos lived as he died: with honor."
I think every Filipino has read of this great hero's noble death when he was executed for refusing to cooperate with the Japanese invaders, and how he told his weeping son: "It is a rare opportunity for me to die for our country. Not everyone is given that chance."
But it's a new thing altogether to read this book and realize that Jose Abad Santos had EVERY opportunity to leave his country, but didn't. From studying in the US at Northwestern University as a pensionado, to taking up law at George Washington University, he chose to come back home to do an overhaul of the judicial system. When Manuel L. Quezon asked him to accompany him as he was being evacuated to Melbourne, Jose Abad Santos asked to stay behind, saying that his place was with his country, in a time of war.
And when one learns of his life before the war, we realize that this man had always put country first, always choosing the lesser paid government job above more lucrative private practice.
From Chief Justice to Acting President during World War II (Quezon turned over his powers to him when Quezon fled from the Japs), this man refused to give government positions to his own son and brother, always choosing a non relative. He never brought his wife along to official trips. He never accepted gifts. This kind of integrity puts so many government officials (past and present) to shame.
It's a testament to how well the last chapters (the best!) were written, that I was hoping against hope for J.A.S. to escape from the Japanese!
The book has a scathing indictment of Manuel Roxas' amnesty for wartime collaborators (80% of the House and Senate, including the father of a future President), and goes as far as to say that the 1948 pardon is responsible for "contributing to the decline of the country's moral fiber."
David J. Steinberg is quoted as saying, "The historical biopsy showed evidence of (national) cancer: Filipinos have seen public service used as a means for private gain."
More than ever, Jose Abad Santos' story needs to be told. We need to be reminded that this, THIS is what the Filipino public servant should be. What we all CAN be, if only we rise to the challenge and ask not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for her.
This is a must-read!!! Rated 5 stars out of 5! Can't wait to see the movie!
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