I saw a photo grab of Atty. Estelito Mendoza taken during the 99th birthday party of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and age can no longer be hidden. He is 93 years old but still sporting that famous smile that reaches the corners of his mouth. He is still mentally alert and his legal services is still very much sought. Apung Titong Mendoza lawyer par excellence. Former Solicitor General, Justice Secretary and Pampanga governor.
I think in the many years to come, it will not be surprising if a stone statue either in the town plaza or on the municipio’s premises will be erected in his honor. In my kept book, he is one of the best governors Pampanga province ever had. He will join the ranks of popular governors like Urbano Dizon, Rafael Lazatin and Francisco G. Nepomuceno.
As a reporter covering him, this I remember.He helped many distressed cabalens during the Marcos years. He had Marcos’ ears. He was consulted on many legal issues and came out with the desired solutions.And after his long stint in the national government, as solicitor general and secretary of the Department of Justice he became governor and presided at the capitol with a no-nonsense governance.
Another individual a former reporter also presided in the Pampanga provincial capitol. Bren Z. Guiao, the man who rose from poverty coming from a poor family In Magalang town succeeded Mendoza in the provincial capitol. And this was in February of 1986. Marcos was forced into exile in Hawaii after the EDSA revolution which installed Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, the widow of former Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino who was assassinated at the tarmac of the Manila International Airport.
Aquino’s transition government had put into office as officers in charge (OICs) known supporters and anti-Marcos activists as the reward for their efforts, and never mind if they were qualified or not. And even best performing local officials were given the pink slip and replaced.
There were talks in those years that Guiao was given some choices by Aquino which line departments he wanted to head. He was, according to someone close to Guiao who wanted to impress media persons in Pampanga, was offered first the Office of the Executive Secretary but declined. The departments of labor, agrarian reform and interior and local government were also on the plate but requested Aquino that he be appointed OIC governor of Pampanga.
Guiao was the late Senator Ninoy Aquino’s man friday. Guiao like Aquino a war correspondent of Chino Roces’ Manila Times, started his journalistic career as a columnist of a local paper In Pampanga. He went to Manila and established a small public relations outfit and counted few clients. Guiao’s frequent visits to Ninoy’s residence at Times street in Quezon City made him close to Cory, and the latter brewed coffee for him while waiting for the senator to emerge from the bedroom. Cory mostly was present when Guiao will brief the senator. And Ninoy tasking him for another errand. Guiao told me these stories whenever we had coffee together big shot newsmen at Country Bake Shop in Ermita, Manila.
He capitalized on his closeness to Cory. He recommended appointments to several agencies. No official will be assigned in Central Luzon government offices without passing through him. With him taking over the capitol were his friends and loyal confidants. Former newsman and desk editor of Manila Chronicle Art Sampang was the first provincial administrator. He was soon appointed executive director of Mt. Pinatubo Commission.He was followed by Oscar Rodriguez, an activist lawyer who became congressman and mayor of the City of San Fernando. His close friends Mars Pineda who later became congressman and Pons Mallari who later to become director of the National Irrigation Administration were regular hangers on at the capitol.
Sometimes, I feel I owe it to our cabalens to highlight certain persons in this space so that their contributions will not be forgotten.