Felix Mendoza De Guzman

“You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be, Clark. Whoever that man is, he's going to change the world,” from the movie Man of Steel.” Felix or “Pely” for his neighbors way back in Guimba, Philippines, is far from being Superman. But there is one thing that stood out for me in his nine decades of life; Felix says what he means, and he means what he says. A retired Regional Trial Court Judge and former Solicitor of the Office of the Solicitor General and was appointed as Chairman of the Philippine Commision on Good Government (PCGG). Just like Clark, Felix decided what kind of man he would be, and that is to be loyal, honest and God-fearing.

Like most men, Felix had his share of enjoying singlehood. But when he swore in front of God to love his wife, that is what he did. Not too long ago, they celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Blessed with seven children, eleven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Felix married life is not free of marital problems. Many of those rooted from his faulty “charisma.” The opposite sex does not seem to mind if he is a married man. But his loyalty to his promise, first to God, and second to his wife, were a primary consideration. Like so, Felix loyalty to his promise of being a good father was proven with great measure. He sent all of his children to the university of their choice. Each one grew up with their own babysitter. When his children are of driving age, they were given a car and if needed, a driver, too. As a father, he proved to be a loyal financial provider when one of his kids would approach him for monetary constraints. Felix financial capacity is a product of his hard work. Loyalty does pay-off, so/metimes. For fifty years, his only employment would only be compounded within the government agency. He boasted a series of promotions to be in this agency this long. Climbing up the ladder in the Philippine work setting is not an easy task, as there are “red tapes” and monopoly (where an entire clan will have the position for several terms). Additionally, his loyalty reflects on his friendships. Felix met Mr. Noblejas and Mr. Razon in the College of Law. Their relationship went on for nearly seventy years and counting. He treats his friends with respect and kindness. “I still call them overseas to know how they’re doing. Our topic always boils down to health,” he chuckled.

Without his parents liking Felix decided to sell freshly baked Pan de Sal when he was 9 years old. As soon as the rooster crows he would go out without permission from his parents to get the fresh bread from the bakery. This is when the Americans leadership ceaded by spain in the treaty of paris. He would walk and shout Pandesal for another 3 kilometers to a next barrio where most of his mother’s relatives reside. I save 1 centavo out of 6 centavos because I gave the rest to Mama.

It was natural for Felix to find ways how to earn money. At the age of 13, he capitalized on the nearby military station in their barrio by offering shoe shine services to the trainees. He remembered a chance encounter with a certain Colonel which happens to be from Guimba Nueva Ecija and he did recall a teenage boy he goes to for shoe shining!

He decided to become a Kalesa (horse and carriage) operator. “Mama bought it for me, horse and carriage, when I was 14 years old during the japanese time while studying. Fun memories that time like when ladies in skirt or dress try to step on the ladder, this is my chance to have a quick peak-a-boo under there.” Felix flashed a naughty smile. Two years later I sold my kalesa and horse for 4,000 pesos. Out of that money, Felix and his mother bought 3-carriages full of wood logs, which will then serve as our their first city house “foundation”. They saved 2,000 pesos, which got them two heactares of land. After the liberation, this rice field was changed to a commercial area in 1945.

Felix had his own share of gambling stint. He loved to play spanish card game called Monte when he was 8 to 9 yo as influenced by his Tito Eusebio. He won 50cents at one time and he was an instant celebrity in this barrio! His papa despise gambling. He stopped eventually.

When he was 18 years…he asked his Papa to enter him into the Civil Service Office as temporary helper filing clerk. Same year he took an exam in that department called 2nd Grade Civil Service. Passed! Now, as a civil cervise commisioner, Felix is earning 120 pesos a month from previous 50 pesos/month. He is now a permanent employee. He works from 8-5 and goes to school at night. He says “my parents can well afford my tuition fees but it is my desire to work hard. My hardwork paying off now because my pension is computed since I was 18 years old.

His friend Eddie invited him to work in the RP/US Military Base Expansion Project. “His now earning 325/month” he says. He promoted as Chief or RP-US Military Expansion Base Project. Remember his still single at this time. He worked in this sector for a total of seven years. He was being recruited as CIA by his former American bosses. He declined. The americans required him to study US and International law at Texas. This is during Marcos’ time.

After this he is now Solicitor. At this time he is already married on May 8, 1958. He worked as Solicitor for 3 years. Then he was appointed as District Judge first in Tarlac for 2 years. This time he lives at his childhood home at Guimba with his Mama and Papa. Then he was assigned at District Judge of Quezon City during Cory Aquino’s time. This is where he retired.

Then President Estrada appointed him as Chairman of Philippine Commision on Good Govenrment to take care of the Marcos’ “ill gotten wealth.” Felix regretfully lost his highest held position in his career, as the Chairman of PCGG in light of honesty and loyalty to his country and family. His principal duty was in connection with the deposed President Ferdinand Marcos’s wealth which was acquired illegally.

“Subsequently, I was requested to release one hundred fifty thousand dollars from the ill-gotten wealth to allegedly buy 800 sacks of rice to be given to some 800 suffering constituents in Mindanao, since I was the only official in the Philippine government who could release the said funds by the law. I later recanted my consent because the President requested me to deposit the money to a bank with my signature on it – which would make it look like I withdrew it as a private fund.” Felix declined the President access to get funds because he would not personally sign the documents. “For this, I was fired allegedly of corruption. I was profoundly saddened that my removal as PCGG official was caused without my fault.

” Felix’s immediate family and trusted friends discouraged him to fight back for fear of his assassination.

Honesty is hard to come by nowadays. Felix’s openness to his wife will emerge when he, without hesitation, would (always) reveal to her when other women flirted with him. Conversely, he finds it more challenging to stay trustworthy in his workplace. “Litigants would approach me with a favor to make them win the case.” Graft and corruption is sadly common practice in Philippine government agencies. Felix was offered bribery multiple times. Declined these offers multiple times. Disregarding the fact this “gifts” would enhance his family’s socio-economic status. Moreover, his uprightness was threatened when one former colleague advised him to lie to the social worker when they ask him about his pension allowance coming from the Philippines. “If I lied, my wife and I would get a monthly monetary allowance of $1,500. Although my former colleague means well, this is not my character.”

To be God-fearing should come naturally to Filipinos as the majority of the population are Catholics. Devoted Catholic parents raised Felix. Furthermore, he went to Catholic School from high school up to the time he finished his bachelor’s degree in The University of Santo Tomas (the oldest existing university in Asia and the most extensive Catholic University in the world). In effect, he believed God is watching him all the time. Not surprisingly, he does the right things even when no one else would know. “As a high ranking official, I was entrusted a yearly fiscal budget that I could have spent corruptible like everyone else. In cases of people who intend to corrupt me, offering me bribe money- I have every incident declined acceptance not only because I feel it runs counter to my principles in life, but mostly, I fear God. I fear God will punish me.” Fear of God is evident when one is respectful to elders. In the Philippines, Felix was used to bowing his head to random elderly people in their neighborhood. If it is someone related to him, he bows and reaches for the back of the person’s hand and put it on his forehead. As a 90-year-old man, Felix still practices being respectful to other centenarians or elders for that matter.

Karma is Felix’s Holy Grail. Good or bad. You reap what you sow. One of the many proofs of this saying to Felix’s life is when The President, who stained his spotless career, was impeached by the Congress. The said president was imprisoned the same year he relieved Felix. The final judgment convicted the said President of graft and corruption. Same grounds and the wrongful accusation he used against Felix. Karma?

At this day and age, words can spread across the globe through a plethora of social media platforms. But like spoken words, once it is said, it is almost impossible to take it back. A man is only good as the words he says. Felix is the personification of a man of his own words. It is easy to do things that feel right even if it is wrong or illegal only because no one is looking or a majority of the people does it. He managed to surpass countless temptations to prove to himself that he will be loyal, honest and God-fearing. We are judged not only for the words we say but for the act we put on it.