A UP graduate who chose to serve public

My son, Reiner Lorenzo Jarabe Tamayo, surprised me with his letter to the editor (“A graduate’s ‘confession’ about his father,” Opinion, 6/22/15). Truth be told, I cried while reading it, knowing he wrote the letter with sincerity and love. I thanked my son profusely and told him that his letter was the best gift he gave me on Father’s Day.

Many netizens registered their “like” to the letter. Some sympathetically commented, expressing appreciation and commiseration. Though there was one thought-provoking question raised by a netizen that caught my attention. To rephrase it, she asked why a University of the Philippines graduate like me still wallow in “poverty.” To her, it sounds paradoxical for a UP graduate to be poor. I am glad that another netizen took the cudgel and answered for me. He said that probably I chose to serve, to which I agree.

Renz, in his letter, glanced backward on how we lived as a family after the 2010 elections. After I lost in the Senate race that year, I had to look for a job. My wife and I had to support our four children who had to transfer to Manila in a year or two for their college education. Fortunately, I was appointed dean of a city university in Marikina City. Renz was correct, I received a measly salary and it was not enough to provide for the needs of the family. Indeed, I had to do sideline jobs during weekends—as part-time legislative consultant of a political party-list and a congressman.

Probably it is because of my being a UP graduate, my modest experience as a former municipal councilor for 21 years and as chief of staff of the vice governor of Cagayan province, among other jobs, that I gained employment with the city government of Marikina. At present, I am the assistant city council secretary of Marikina.

I maintain that UP is a breeding ground for honor, service and excellence; and I and, of course, other UPians too, learned these values well. That is why my family and I choose to serve our people and to live modestly and humbly.

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, assistant city council secretary, Marikina City