Saturday, January 12, 2008 Age doesn't matter: Torreon By Henrylito D. Tacio
TO BE successful in life, does age really matter? Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote his first classic at 18. Sir Isaac Newton made his greatest discoveries before he was 25. Napoleon Bonaparte had conquered Italy when he was 25. Jesus Christ reshaped the world at 30.
"I consider my age as an asset because youthfulness exemplifies new approaches, ideas and/or viewpoints to certain problems or situations which my fellow lawyers readily accept," points out lawyer Israelito P. Torreon, who at 36 was elected the president of the Davao del Sur chapter of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
His winning made him the youngest lawyer to hold such office in the province. "I felt elated when I was elected," he admits.
"I was elated in the sense that my distinguished compañeros and compañeras chose me to run the distinguished organization for the next two years. I must say, however, that the road before victory was not easy as I did not expect that IBP elections would be that interesting even to politicians."
Torreon believes that being young helps.
Also, "I think my fellow lawyers chose me because of my track record as former vice president of the chapter." Other reasons: "I have also maintained good relations with my fellow chapter members aside from the fact that I really served the office well in the past."
As such, "I did not have to deliver eloquent messages to convince them to vote for me as I trusted very well their good sense of judgment in electing their leader," says Torreon who completed his academic requirements (without thesis) for Master of Laws at the San Beda College of Law.
Torreon is looking for more fruitful accomplishments this year. In 2007, immediately after the election, he collaborated with the American Bar Association to sponsor a province-wide symposium for law enforcers like policemen, prosecutors, court employees, barangay workers and judges on new laws like violence against women crimes and anti-trafficking.
Likewise, the chapter also co-hosted with Philippine Haggai Institute a symposium by Chief Justice Reynato Puno on the writ of amparo at the University of Mindanao Gym Auditorium in Matina, Davao City.
There were more accomplishments: "We actively supported the IBP Davao City Chapter in organizing the Mindanao-Wide IBP Convention last November by, among others, taking charge of the first night's activities. We organized a province-wide Sportsfest and Christmas parties for all court and Department of Justice employees in Davao del Sur. Personally, I have also made myself available to media as resource person on pressing national and local issues."
Torreon also teaches at the College of Law of the Ateneo de Davao University, where he finished his Bachelor of Laws after taking his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Cebu.
"I started teaching when I became a lawyer in 1998," he said.
"What I like about teaching is the chance to touch the lives of your students by sharing your legal knowledge and experiences as a lawyer. I also cherish the times when students would meet you in some places and thank you for being their mentor. Such is priceless."
Priceless also is his marriage to Marie Josephine de Vera (a Dabawenya and a lawyer, too), with whom he has two children (Karlo Alessandro, now 7, and David Angelo, who is only six months old).
"There are times when we discuss cases even at home," he said adding, "It is unavoidable."
Torreon was born in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, where he spent his elementary years at Bansalan Central Elementary School and his high school at the Nazareth High School.
"Bansalan is my beloved town. It's a town where almost everyone knows each other and family ties are quite close. The friends that I gained there are my closest friends even until now. Bansalan has taught me to appreciate the gift of life through family and friends," he said.
