Letter to the Editor - Looking back at the life of Haydee Yorac

"Employment in government is never a retirement of sort where one can simply sit back and relax." - Haydee Yorac

In these tumultuous times, government bureaucracy is in dire need of government servants who are dedicated to their work and set service in arrears with self. Government bureaucracy at present is tainted with a great deal of graft and corruption. "Red Tape" is widespread. Bribery is "SOPs". Scores of Filipinos think that working in government is but for a stable future retirement and pension. Even I had that notion in mind. Many have flummoxed their optimism to the kind of bureaucracy that our country has. Despite that cynicism, a flicker of hope has become apparent.

When I was young, her name was at all times chattered about on radio and television. The luminary Haydee Yorac reverberated the four walls of our abode. Her name was always in the limelight at those moments in time. I can, without doubt call to mind that before Haydee Yorac was appointed to head a certain government agency, it was marred by controversies and obtained tongue-lashing from the different sectors of society. I cared less, since I was at a tender age. But when I advanced in age and know-how, her name resonated like a heroine who conquered all her adversaries and let justice abound.

Haydee Yorac was born in Sarabia, Negros Occidental (now E.B. Magalona). The eldest among the brood of six, Haydee Yorac spent her elementary years at the Sarabia Central School and graduated with flying colors. She later enrolled in St. Teresita's Academy during her high school days and graduated valedictorian. In college, Haydee studied at the University of the Philippines where she completed her Bachelor of Laws degree.

Haydee Yorac became a full-time law professor of her alma mater, where she put on the view the kind of work ethic and dealing she has towards her students and acquaintances.

Haydee Yorac's parents are government servants like her. Her Father, Jode Moranda Yorac, was town mayor and Josefa Bofil, her mother, was a public school teacher. Haydee Yorac had her foretaste of government service when she was assigned to be the forerunner of the Commission on Elections, right after the People Power Revolution where she spent seven fruitful years. She never wasted any time in restoring order and confidence to the frenzied and corrupt government agency. She has brought back order and trust to an institution which is muddled and fraudulent.

She was at the helm of the PCGG in 2001. She knew that the task would take a lot of doing. She barely gave herself two years to do what she can to track down the Marcos wealth and bring justice to the Martial Law victims, and to the Filipino people. It was her exceptional track record that set her in that government agency tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses. In her stint as the Presidential Commission on Good Government chairman, she left no stone unturned. Under her tutelage, PCGG recovered $683 million from the Marcos Swiss Accounts, which $200M of it went to the kin of human rights victims. It was moving heaven and earth, given that scores of Filipinos deemed it impossible that it would come about. But, she proved her detractors wrong.

PCGG made another conquest when the Sandiganbayan awarded in favor of the government the shares in United Coconut Planters and San Miguel Corporation amounting to billions of pesos. The accomplishment was like taking the bull by its horns. Haydee Yorac also turned the tables around after she demurred the nomination of former Senator Ernesto Maceda to the SMC Board of Directors, even in a wheelchair. That instance showed in national television bared an indomitable Haydee Yorac, unyielding as ever. Malady has never decelerated nor diminished her keenness to continue her task. She was diagnosed with cancer and underwent a major operation. As nothing happened, she stayed at the helm of the PCGG to go on with her unfinished business.

Notwithstanding being a lawyer and reaping a lot of accomplishments, she never blew her own horn. Her straightforwardness has enthused me not to be ostentatious. Haydee Yorac set a paradigm for young people like me who aspire to be government servants.

The incomparable track record and accomplishments she had had inspired me to make a difference-to stand up for veracity and transparency at this point in time, where it is almost a rare commodity in government bureaucracy. My dream may not become a reality, but at least, Haydee Yorac taught me the valuable lessons of integrity and courage that I may make use whatever and wherever fate shall beget me. May she rest in peace.

Jesson J. Morata
MBEAB Lapu-Lapu City