“To everything turn, turn, turn/There is a season turn, turn, turn/And a time to every purpose under Heaven.” — Lyrics from Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds.
“In the quest we undertake for the best possible life we are capable of —an individually tailored best life for each—there has inevitably to be something ideal, and much practical.” — A. C. Grayling, The Choice of Hercules: Pleasure, Duty and the Good Life in the 21st Century.
Opposites attract — the quintessential principle of the law of magnetism. This adage is never been truer in the story of two friends which I am about to tell you.
In a small town in the central part of the island of Luzon, two babies were born on the same day but not at the same time. Like everything else, there was no indication of a link that would tie them together forever. Fate would later run its course. But I am getting ahead here, so let me describe to you first their respective upbringing.
Roberto Manalo had an easier life, born of parents with professional careers. His dad was a general in the army while his mom was a university professor. His parents’ house was made of stucco finish with four bedrooms on the second floor. The main bedroom had a full bathroom; while another one was centrally-located for the others to share. In the backyard of the house, a room was built as the living quarter for the servants. Overall, the house was comfortable but not the biggest. It was not as distinctive as the houses located in the east end of Don Mariano Street. All the families on this side of the street were well-off. Their houses were fenced with driveways and garages for their chauffeured-cars. There were gardens, fountains and flowering trees to soothe their eyes while relaxing in their patios. They had servants to do all the household chores. They were selectively blessed to enjoy the luxuries of life and never to feel poverty in their bones.
On the other side of the town, far enough not to blemish the peaceful and loving existence that permeated at Don Mariano Street, shacks lined up in El Tondo Street. Every morning, residents of this street queued to use the five outhouses and three little outdoor bathrooms with pump wells; all these in tightly spaced, corrugated metal structures. Here lived our other main character. As fate sometimes had a wry sense of humour, the boy was named Policarpio Dusa. The father was a driver of a jeepney while the mother had a small carinderia in the town’s market. Their small earnings allowed them to eat three times a day and cover family expenses like clothes, shoes, school supplies, and the like. Life was hard but most of the residents of this street were survivors. They adapted to their poor, living conditions and tried to make the most of what they had. As a community, they relied on each other to ease the burden of their existence. The communal spirit was an important means of survival. All kids in this neighborhood learned to be giving and co-operative. Policarpio was no exception.
Both were serious students and committed to pursue higher education with the prospect of good careers. Of course, Roberto had the financial resources to ease his way to a high-caliber university, while Policarpio had to rely on scholarships. Roberto achieved his law degree, became a prosecutor, and after ten years of practice, was appointed a municipal judge. Policarpio also obtained a law degree and became a prominent defense lawyer.
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On the day their paths crossed, Policarpio was defending a client charged with robbery and it so happened that the presiding judge was Roberto.
Judge Manalo: How does your client plead?
Dusa: Not guilty, Your Honour!
Judge Manalo: I can see from your client’s rap sheet that he’s been in and out of jail for the past two years. Do as a favour Counsellor and don’t waste the court time.
Dusa: My client didn’t do it, Your Honour, and I have an insurmountable evidence to prove his innocence.
Judge Manalo: Notwithstanding your incredible confidence to defend your client Counsellor, but I believe this an open-and-shut case against your client based on the facts before me.
Dusa: I beg to disagree, Your Honour. The law presumes the innocence of my client until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Judge Manalo: Don’t lecture me about the law Counsellor. I was a prosecutor once and knew right away the guilt or innocence of the defendant. I had a success rate of ninety percent in putting criminals behind bars.
Dusa: I apologize, Your Honour. But my client’s plea remains the same and this is no disrespect to your excellent record and high standing as a judge.
Judge Manalo: Very well then Counsellor, let’s proceed with the trial.
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That was the beginning of many more courtroom skirmishes between Roberto and Policarpio. They seemed to relish their opposing views in the interpretation of the law. They became the most-talk about personalities in the courthouse. Whenever there was a case which pitted both against each other, the courtroom was jam-packed with curious audience. Little did they know that outside the courthouse, Roberto and Policarpio became solid friends. But the arguments continued whenever they visited each other’s house.
Roberto: I love the law because it is one of the instruments in bringing peace and order in a society. Prosecuting especially those who want to destroy this harmony was my sole purpose and motivation why I became a lawyer. Now as a judge, I have a greater power of restricting these miscreants of further harming people who conform and obey the law.
Policarpio: Life is not fair and the closer you are at the bottom of the hierarchical structure of every society, the more unjust the system is. Poor people are judged criminals right away although they may be innocent. Since they cannot afford good lawyers, it’s guaranteed they will go to jail. While the rich people who commit crimes can evade jail time as easily as they collect more money.
Roberto: You have been a defense lawyer for so long and your view of life has skewed your perspective. Look, in spite of your poor background, society gave you the opportunity to succeed. Not taking away your effort, luck seemed to be on your side.
Policarpio: You’re wrong. My success in life was not given unlike yours. I had to grab every opportunity before me because most people like me didn’t have the advantages you had. Imagine if you were in my shoes. Do you think you have a favourable view of life as you are spouting right now?
Roberto: I guess not. But most poor people obey the law. I am only against the few who play fast and loose with the law.
Policarpio: Yes, because they don’t have a choice. They are cornered and desperate. The high wall of a cruel life is about to fall down. They commit crimes as a matter of survival.
Roberto: Ah, you are such a romantic idealist! You are so soft-hearted towards them until one of them screws you. See if you feel the same then.
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In an unexpected turn of event that befalls to anyone, Roberto was diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease. Not any of his immediate relatives was a close match. He registered to a waiting list but drew the number fifty which would take several months before he could move up to the very top. He used every available financial resources and connections at his disposal, yet they did not help. In the meantime, he took a leave of absence from his work and spent some of his days sitting in a clinic for his dialysis which was done three times per week for at least four hours.
Policarpio could not stand to see his friend deteriorate health-wise. He missed their banters about law and life. If only one of his kidneys could be a perfect match, he would not hesitate to give it gladly. He felt helpless and yet he sensed there must be a solution somewhere. One day an idea came to him: why not approach the prison wardens in town and of surrounding areas to organize a search drive among the prisoners. The award for a match would be a hundred thousand pesos. For organizing the search, the prison wardens would receive two hundred thousand pesos.
A month later, a match was found. Roberto got a new kidney. After several weeks of recuperating, Roberto’s health improved. The new kidney was functioning normally. Roberto then went back to work, presiding over criminal cases as usual.
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People seldom change. If they do, it is more an act of redemption. Turning one’s life differently is a big ask. But something had changed in Roberto’s demeanour. The arrogance of a privileged life was gone. He was more patient and tolerant with the mistakes and social ineptness of employees beneath him. He no longer had a strong derision and snobbery of poor people. He treated the criminals now with more respect. He felt connected with them somehow. Even in their incarceration, they could serve a purpose: they might turn the life of a stranger for the better. They were still the worms of society, but like worms they could make the soil of living rich with unexpected contribution. Policarpio knew this in his whole being because he was once living at the edge of being one of them. Roberto, on the other hand, was always isolated and protected from this knowledge. It took an illness for Roberto to change his view. Poor people turned to crimes as circumstances forced them to. A change in their circumstances could easily reverse their fortune —a new season, a new purpose when everything seems to be lost!
19 June 2024
