An inspiration for those who are searching for life’s meaning!
When I enrolled in law school, one of my rendezvous is the school library. While settling down, I noticed some older law students bringing with them pieces of white paper and chatted with the younger students. I didn’t know what it is until one person sat in front of the table where I am and gave a paper to me. He explained to me the 5W’s and 1H of the organization where he is a member. Yes, I noticed how determined he was of the dreams of the organization and its members. It was during the launching of the organization, I have seen the sparkle of his eyes. How he expresses his thoughts and how well he understands the mission that the organization wishes to do. The person I am referring to is the founding President of the Center for Alternative Lawyering of Law Students (CALL) of Liceo de Cagayan University. But he had to bid Goodbye for a while to make his dreams a reality. I admit, a part of me was saddened that he had to leave the group but at the same time happy because he will be the first lawyer of the group. But I never imagined that in this world I would be working and dealing with him and know more about him. Here are some excerpts of ATTY. ROCO APRIL L. MANDAWE’s way of life.
The story that I was about to tell is based on how I knew Botsoy personally and professionally. Some of the lines here have been taken from the daily conversations, sharings and chit-chat we have had, some of it was also taken from the speech he had made and prepared for the get together of all of ALG Mindanaw Interns last February 17, 2008 at the Peace Center of BMFI.
Coming to terms with the “LEGAL” world
ATTY. ROCO APRIL L. MANDAWE fondly called as “BOTSOY”, is the 3rd child of the family who first dreamt of becoming a doctor in order to land a white collar job. However, his life was about to change after he was debarred to continue taking medicine, he then opted to enrol in law school as an offshoot to the dreams that fate never gave him. Yes, law school was not his first option but as he said it, “law school is an alternative path to his good future”.
His story doesn’t end there; it was just a start of a never ending quest for a meaningful, enjoyable at the same time difficult and inspiring life. A life he never imagined nor planned to sweep him head over heels, according to him a “SIGNIFICANT event of his life”.
Invitation of a summer job?
Meeting Rochelle Mordeno (one of the staff of BALAOD-Mindanaw, Inc) was an offshoot to everything that follows. And right at the very instance, he fell in love with this life and perhaps unknowingly. A life he voluntarily accepted without threat or intimidation, or fraud or even violence. The idea of a summer job was his drive to join the Summer Internship Program (SIP) that Balaod was and is still implementing. Botsoy never hesitated to undergo an extensive orientation seminar and immersion to Balaod areas. In his speech during the Interns Reunion held last February 17, 2008 that this was not new to him as there were similar experiences in the past although there was one significant difference of the Summer Internship Program of 2001, it was a venue for law students from various Law Schools and/or Universities to meet and worked with the vulnerable members of society. He practically joked that the source of most of the conflict between interns is the computer as they were only 2 computers for them to use and the other interns took longer than expected because they have deadlines to meet, and I quote “This is how serious we are”. The program was made possible in partnership with the NGO’s here in Mindanao. He even shared that he was trained to become resource persons to Paralegal Trainings or Seminars and assists in the conduct of Paralegal clinics in the areas where they were assigned. He was able to meet and lived with different kind of persons from the peasants, Fisherfolks, and IP’s.
Still a Summer Job?
The Summer Internship was never enough that even after the SIP, Botsoy and his batchmates still visit BALAOD during free time to continue what he had started, or sometimes they will be invited to assists trainings or seminars for the marginalized groups. I am proud to say that Botsoy, was really inspired that even during school days he still wants to be connected with the community through BALAOD.
After the SIP-Terminal Assessment, Botsoy wanted to make his dreams i.e. the establishment of a law-school based organization a product of his eagerness to reach out to law students of their views, beliefs, advocacies and experiences and connect them to the people who are waiting to be heard, i.e. the deprived and the oppressed.
It was a life-long struggle to really be heard in the four corners of the wall, but it didn’t stop him to pursue their dream. And with the inspiration and support of BALAOD, CALL was formally established, recognized and accredited on August 11, 2004 (which was the also the 4th year anniversary of Balaod). The existence of the organization was a continuing challenge but seeing the pioneer members poured so much to make this dream come true was truly a blessing to us who are left behind to continue what they have started. At this moment, Botsoy had to say goodbye leaving a legacy to the present and incoming members of CALL. While taking the bar, he never ceased to get connected with CALL members in many ways as he can. After the he had been consistently reaching out and share his experiences and gave pre-orientation seminar with the incoming members of the law school-based organization.
I say, this is not just an ordinary summer job. You got paid but not necessarily money. Interns got paid with rich experiences that law schools failed to provide. Interns got paid with friends and people teaching them the way of life.
Botsoy discover a summer job he will never forget!
The next big thing
Thinking of a better question to ask while making this story of a man I know, I had to re-evaluate my own thoughts of why I joined BALAOD too. And there, I was texting and setting a little chat with Botsoy, right then and there I decided to pay him a visit to his present office. I could see his face sparkling and his wide and cool smile welcoming me in his present world. After the chit-chat, he then gave me his speech and the answers to my question was there, written humbly and heartily. This is how he answered my question as to his learning while he was with BALAOD.
My stay in balaod Mindanao spelled out the meaning and essence of the word alternative lawyering. I have no clear definition of the word alternative lawyering, but I can define it based on what I have experienced, it can be define as a developmental lawyering or lawyering “WITH” the people, as my colleagues would say it. Slowly, I learned and appreciated the existence of these kind of people, their passion and their dedication, their option, their path, their career as alternative lawyers and all the people, the paralegals who opted to work with the people.
When asked what made him decided to join BALAOD, this is how he answered it;
My joining of Balaod was another unplanned activity of my life right after taking the bar. After I had my vacation, I then went home at Cagayan de Oro City. And the next thing came up to my mind is that, what shall I do next after my bar exam, I then prepared a lot of application letters and searching for a job. While searching for a job, I happened to pass by BALAOD Office and there was my feet brought me. I talked with Normie Batula (staff of BALAOD) about my interest in joining the organization.
There I was, discovering the nature of BALAOD and its existence. Everyday I learned so much that I deeply understand what BALAOD do, i.e. we do things not because we were told to do so, but because we know and understand why we are doing these things. All endeavours were made to building empowered, sustainable, peaceful communities.
In front of ALG Mindanaw Interns, Botsoy shared all of his learnings, it was intense and precise that I will blame myself if I will not include it in this story.
It is in the concept of lawyering with the people that I also slowly learned to fully lived and appreciate the mission of BALAOD, that is “contributing to the advancement of legal and justice issues in the different marginalized sectors and communities in Mindanaw in the context of active peoples participation in governance towards building an empowered and sustainable communities, helping build peace”.
It is then in my understanding, why we have the BPLT, (the basic paralegal training), paralegal clinics, enhancement of the paralegal skills, because we wanted people address their issues on their own, stand in their own, and use law as a tool in addressing their needs.
It is then in my understanding, why there is a creation of paralegal committee in the organization, in the barangay level, in the municipal level, networking, linkaging with other groups, network building, because these are our ways of scaling up our advocacies to resolve the issues in the community;
It is then in my understanding, why we facilitated the formulation of their Barangay Development Plans through Participatory Rural Appraisal (BDP PRA), or People’s Development Agenda (PDA), Local People’s Agenda, formulation of local policies, local legislations and all other baranggay or community-based works because we are in the premise that the community themselves are in the proper position what are their issues are, and how to resolve the issues themselves, in this way, there will be a sense of owning and appropriateness of response or projects in accordance to their needs, and not only because it is given, dictated by the upper government like the national government; resolving their issues can also be achieved through their active participation in governance, hence we also work with the government line agencies, had a dialogues with them, and assert our rights to address our issues through mobilizations, rallies, pickets and other peaceful and related means;
It is then in my understanding, why we have to go to the area or the place of incident, not only for us to have a better understanding of the situation, but more so, for us to experience the real situation. In living, talking and sleeping in the houses of our partner communities, does not only helped us better understand their issues but as well it nurture our relationship with them and gained confidence with each other and we tried to resolve the issues together, because we believe in their capacities, and somehow, to become empowered and sustainable communities.
It is therefore in my humble opinion that all the abovementioned efforts are mostly not done by other most lawyers. I guess that made us different from them.
BOTSOY’s way of life at present!
At present he is connected with the Public Attorneys Office at Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. And I want to share the last line of his speech;
Now, Im in the government, as a public attorney, or the abogado ng bayan. I may not be in balaod but the formation I have and the way of life we opted to lived is still running through my veins, I know I am not perfect or righteous, but at least I am trying my best to do my part, to say no when everybody say yes or its ok. Change may not be that easy, but im trying to start it in myself so that others may follow. And to be true to my lawyer’s oath. As I say, ang kaalam kung kini dili mapaambit sa uban ilabi na sa mga pinihig nga katawhan, kini walay pulos.(That Knowledge, if not shared to others, especially to the oppressed and marginalized people, is useless.) SERVING OTHERS IS LIKE SERVING GOD,
It was really worth a ride from Cagayan de Oro City to Malaybalay City. Botsoy’s humble experience strucked me right from the core of my being, seeing my “kauban” taking another route to become one of the “peoples lawyer”. As we toured around his office he showed to me the folders of cases he now handled, but I could never see regrets nor hopelessness in his face but only eagerness and dedication. Before we parted he said to me, whenever he misses BALAOD and the community he will just listen to music particularly the one where we had our voice in it and the songs that some of our colleagues made.
