A Tribute to Brod Jess Latoja

by Raffy Tomeldan, UPD'75

Brod Jess Latoja, UP Diliman UPD'75C and UP Law Class of 1981, Labor Arbiter in Tacloban, Leyte, a member of Group B of our Lawyers' Group passed away last Sept.18. His body lies at Funeraria Paz, Araneta Avenue, Quezon City. Interment is on Sept. 24 in Himlayang Pilipino.

If I were to reflect on the life of Jess, it would focus on those "rocknrolla" days that we spent together on the Diliman Campus when he was still a law student. Flashback to 1977, 1st semester of the academic year, Brods Claro Sta. Maria UPD '68 and Boyet Fenandez UPD '69 had just graduated from the UP College of Law and were preparing for the Bar exams. Jess and Gus Azura UPD'72 were freshmen and the only brods at the College of Law at that time. As fate would have it, the school year just started may rumble na, not just with one but two sabay pa and of all frats, sa Rho Sig and Paalphs.This was one of the ordeals that the brods had to go through during those days, find a way to safely escort and pick up the law brods to their classes straight into the bastions of the enemy law frats and at the same time waging a rumble in the campus and in UP Manila. If the UP Security couldn't do it then the brods would have to do it themselves by creating a convoy at the risk of a clash with the enemy in the lion's den which did happen at times.

Brods Jess and Gus survived these ordeals in their 4 years at the College of Law and went on to finish and pass the Bar. Their steely determination to finish at all costs would inspire a new generation of Betans to follow in their footsteps. The talk among the undergraduate brods was - "Kung nakayanan nila Jess and Gus, kaya rin natin!" Gus and Jess were followed by Rayo Venturanza UPD'76 and Humphrey Tumaneng UPD'75 (UP Law Class of 1982); Babes Ignacio UPManila'76, Jito Arreza UP Manila'76, Louie Corral UPLB'76, Mon Fernandez UPD'83 and myself (UP Law Class of 1984); Manny Goyena UPD'73 (UP Law Class of 1985); Albert Bacungan UPD'73 and Fred Penaflor UPLB (UP Law Class of 1986); and Joey Zulueta UPD'73 and Gabby Tomeldan UPD'78 (UP Law Class of 1987). These brods form the bulk of our Lawyers' Group of Group B. In Jess's small way, he and Gus paved the way for us and for that we are grateful. Thanks Brod Jess for the camaraderie and the memories. Godspeed!

 

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MESSAGES

Brod Jess Latoja UPD 75c passed away 10pm Phil time at Manila Doctors Hospital due to multi-organ failure as texted by his brother Brod Lionel. Lets all pray for his eternal peace and may the Lord give strength to his family in this time of grief. Lionel's cel no. 09178821120.

Final rites for Brod Atty., Jess Latoja UPD 75C will be on Saturday Sept 21 6pm (Phil time) at Chapel J, La Funeraria Paz, Araneta Ave., QC. Interment will be on Tues Sept 24 at Himlayan Pilipino, Novaliches, QC.

Robie Feliciano UPD 74B
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Our prayers for Brod Jess Latoja UPD 75c. Sharing the grief with his family.

RGR'66, UPBSF, Inc. Central
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Our heartfelt condolence for the passing of Brod Jess. May he rest in the comfort of our Creator.

Willie/Tatang
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May Brod Jess’ soul rest in peace. Sincere condolences to Brod Lionel and the entire family during this time of extreme grief.

Carlo Malabanan, UPLB77c
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My deepest condolences to Brod Lionel and the family Brod Jess. I join all the brods in praying for Brod Jess.
May God's perpetual light shine upon him.

Yay Topacio

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Nakikiramay ....

Gabby 68b

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Braderhood,

Si Brod Jess na siguro ang isa mga napaka-simpleng brod na nakilala ko pero napaka-prinsipyado. Ganoon din sigurado ang pagalala ng maraming brods dahil kahit isang araw lang na abiso nagdagsaan tayo sa final rites para sa kanya. "Mabuhay si long live!", 'ika nga ni Jess. Naalala n'yo pa ba 'yon?

Joel Paredes
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From: "Augusto Y. Arreza, Jr." <ayalaw@info.com.ph>

To: Roberto Feliciano <robie_feliciano@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2013 10:11 PM
Subject: RE: [UPBSFMembers-G] Final Tribute to Jess Latoja

Robie,

I remember distinctly when I applied for membership in the Fraternity (Dan Lachica was the GP then, Billy Sevilla was CP) with ten others (I was the GA) and met the Latoja brothers. As we were required to memorize the names and batches of the brods (there were about 90 then, whew!), we tried to distinguish the two, Lionel who was called Timol by the brods (we gave him a code name of Kulot) and Jess, who spoke sparingly (we gave him the code name Pogito, ha ha ha, sorry Lionel). During the final session at the Michelenas’ basement, Jess took me aside and took me to task for not taking care of my batchmates (I ended up alone during the final session as the 5 others who finished the 2nd session quit 2 days before the finals and could not be contacted anymore).

Thereafter, I would see him less often as he was already in law school. Even when we went to law school ourselves (Babes, Raffy, Louie, Mon and I were freshmen and Jess and Gus Azura were part of the graduating class) we met less (freshmen had morning classes and 4th year had afternoon classes) but when we did he would ask me who my professors were and would give me tips on how to deal with them.

During his professional career, Jess was the epitome of a public servant who strictly adhered to the adage that “Public service is its own reward.” He was a Labor Arbiter then at NLRC in Quezon City (before he went to Tacloban) and to us lawyers, that office was a hotbed of graft and corruption. But Jess was one of a handful of Labor Arbiters who was known to be “straight” and rendered decisions based on the merits of the cases assigned to him.

Finally, when he was already in Tacloban, I would send him a message before the day of the hearing of a case I was handling for a client in Tacloban that I will pass by his office afterwards. So after the hearing which was usually before lunch, I would go to his office and he would announce to his subordinates that he will have an early lunch (but I guess everyone knew where we were going and what we were about to do). He always took me to this joint near the sea but within the city. I would remind him that my flight back to Manila was 4 pm of the same day but he told me not to worry. He asked for my ticket and he would request the office driver to check me in early. Then, over bottles of beer (a lot) and a few pulutan (that was lunch for us), we would reminisce about the days when we were in still in school (rumbles, frat events and jug-a-lugs). I was fascinated with his story of Gus and him being mugged at the law school lobby by about ten Alphans from AS (rumble time) and they stood their ground mano a mano as their Alphan classmates just watched.

Minutes before ETD, he would call the PAL GM in Tacloban to tell him that a passenger would be a little late for the flight back to Manila. Just imagine this passenger wearing a barong entering the plane with all the other passengers already seated and all their glaring and angry eyes at you (I believe Brod Leo Pascua has likewise the same experience with Jess everytime he has a hearing in Tacloban). There were three or four more instances that I had with Jess in Tacloban (the case was settled thereafter) and our routine was the same everytime. We had no other topic but the U.P. Beta Sigma and the brods (I learned things and anecdotes from him about the brods which I did not know during my time in school, i.e., why and how a certain brod got his frat given nickname). From all these instances that I had with Jess, he impressed me as an unassuming and good man; a dedicated public servant; a true, proud and loyal Beta Sigman warrior and a terrific friend.

Indeed, he is already missed!

Jito 76A

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From: Abe Agulto <abagulto@yahoo.com>

To: Roberto Feliciano <robie_feliciano@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: [UPBSFMembers-G] Final Tribute to Jess Latoja

Brods, we similarly experienced Jess when he was in Baguio. Coyang Pepe and I were on a business trip there but learned about him from brods in the city. So we went to see him early morning in his office just to say hello. When he caught sight of us, he got up from his chair, greeted us and immediately led us to their office canteen and had light snacks. Before we finished the food he told one of his aides that were with us to get the hearing schedule for the day. His secretary came and without even seeing the day's activity, declared postponement of all hearings of the day because he has VIP guests. Kami pala yon and proudly said to his staff that we are his Beta Sigma brothers. Like Jito's story, brod Jess took us to lunch and from there enjoyed SMB till the wee hours of the morning at his home.

A few hours later after a short rest we trekked back to Manila, but we passed by Jess office to hand some goodies as token of appreciation to him. We were amazed that brod Jess was already presiding over at his sala. Pambihira, kanina lang we were just having jug a lug. We asked the secretary not to disturb him anymore.

Really, a true Betan and of the highest breeding.
I salute you brother Jess.

Now, si Lionel naman. Buti pa si Obet na lang magkwento. Peace brod.

Abe 71d
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Brothers,

Si Brod Edwin Garrido ito UP Cebu 78...I was with brod Jess Latoja when he was assigned in Tacloban City and when he was assigned there I had already founded the RTRMF - MMC College of Medicine and Nursing Chapter. I accidentally came across his name in the newspaper as the new NLRC director in region 8. He was so happy when I came to his office with the resident brods of RTRMF and the alumni brods from DWU.

As like the story of other brods we ended up always in a jug as we, the medical students, had to cut it short as we needed to study. He always called me that even on my exam days, I had to go to him because I found him lonely...he lived on that huge old house which was also his office. He was the the first president of the Beta Sigma Frat alumni association in Tacloban City when I formed it. On weekends we ended our couples of beer daw in the wee hours or dawn already reminiscing those times when he was and when I was in UP Diliman.

It was also the same when brod Rudi Oviedo was also assigned there in region 8 with Procter and Gamble, he sometimes requested me to accompany him going around region 8 and we always talked and reminisced those times when he and my time in UP Diliman.....I always remember that when we went out with brod Jess, and when my eyes were focused on somebody, it was now a rumble and when I asked him..."Ano brod, tirahin ko na". I never remembered him saying no....malakas din ang loob ko kasi nasa intelligence ako at those times...the Betans in Tacloban City were "untouchables" as almost all the major commanders in the military were brods and the sons of the politicians were also brods...I can say that was almost an abuse when those occured...firing our guns in the air inside an establishment with me and brod Jess Latoja in Tacloban City was just a normal occurrence for us and we walked out free without charges and what made it even worse it was the police that would escort us home to his office and me in the white mansion in front of Sto. Nino church. There is also one brod in Makati Medical Center now that can attest this also been with brod Jess - my product from RTRMF - Dr. Ramon K. Liboro. We left brod Jess when we graduated medicine and back to Manila. Tama na....nakakalungkot... his wife...I was the one who introduced to him.....BROD JESS...REST IN PEACE!...PAUNAHAN LANG YAN... :) Brods, we are next in rank...ingat sa mga bisyo natin...hehehe...

brod Edwin Garrido MD
UP Cebu 78

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Brods:

I confirm what Jito narrated about his memorable experiences with brod Jess in Tacloban. I had my share of hearings there and every time, Jess was the primordial reason why we were able to realize a speedy resolution of the dispute. And after the hearings, Jess went out of his way to spend time and reminisce over bottles of beer and sumptuous seafood delight uncommon here. And when it was time to leave for Manila, Jess saw to it that we were never late in boarding the plane by advising his friend the PAL Manager to wait. Even at the expense of slightly delaying the plane's take off.

But more than the quiet and unassuming traits of Jess, the strength of his character came from his simplicity and honesty. Even the Labor Arbiters whom he worked with were unanimous in their impression that brod Jess, their Executive Labor Arbiter, was super straight. He did not use his office to embellish himself or accumulate wealth. He stood by his principles amply reflected in the Decisions he penned. Which were mostly affirmed even by the Supreme Court.

True to our Credo, Jess was indeed an epitome of what is good and noble in man.

Paalam Jess. To those who had the opportunity to know you personally, you will always be remembered.

Leo 73C

Leo Delano C Pascua (Leo.Pascua@Romulo.com)

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*RGR photos link>> https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/117278527024755333421/albums/5926176819964411777
 

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