It was at this time that I met Pax who became my “housemate” and “instant father” when I started to work as media officer for Karapatan. With some other staff, Pax and I lived for almost three years at the Karapatan office, taking turns in cooking food for the staff and cleaning the office, all two floors of it, including two bathrooms.

But it was Pax who would always wake up first and so breakfast was ready for everyone as early as six in the morning. Having no breakfast at the table at around 7 a.m. was cue that Pax had already gone to a police precinct for a QRT.

We were together in countless FFMs and QRTs, with Pax as the lead negotiator and I, the documentor. He always brought with him a black clutch bag that had a notebook, a pen, a small bible and his medicines. He was always in barong or a checkered polo shirt especially when going to court hearings or police precincts.

As a paralegal in action, he was always cool and composed and I would always be in awe when he would start giving a lecture on the Miranda Doctrine, the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Geneva Conventions Protocols I and II to high ranking police and military officers.

After the lecture, he would then tell the police or military officer: “Siyanga ho pala, hindi nyo naitatanong, pastor po ako.” (By the way, I am a pastor) Surprised, the men in uniform would reply: “Akala ko po abogado kayo.” (We thought you were a lawyer.)

Meticulous

He was in his mid-60s at that time and he refused to learn how to use the computer. “Matanda na ako para dyan,” (I am too old to learn that.) he would often tell us.

But this did not stop him from writing reports regarding the cases he encountered, the QRTs and FFMs he headed, and court hearings he attended, Hilao-Enriquez said during the tribute for Pax at the UCCP chapel along EDSA last January 5. He would meticulously prepare his handwritten reports at night completing it before the team would head back to Manila.

He was careful with his personal belongings as he was prudent with his reports. Pax would have the tidiest and well-packed bag during FFMs. When we went to San Narciso, Quezon summer of 1998 to investigate a report regarding an old man who was buried alive inside one of the ranches there, Pax brought a plastic raincoat with him. Before we left the office I told him to leave his raincoat behind because it did not seem like it would rain. But Pax insisted on bringing it.

When we were about to head back to Manila, it started to rain. Pax took out his raincoat and gave it to me because I had nothing to protect me from the rain but a small towel on my head. With a smile, he said, “Sabi ko sa ‘yo e.” (I told you we would need it.)

A big heart

Pax always had a big heart for everyone, especially the masses who are most often his clients.

This maybe attributed to his humble beginnings, his sister Lolita, 66, said. Pax was the fifth of seven children of Obdulia Sueno and Nemesio Faurillo, a coconut plantation caretaker. Lolita said Pax helped in the plantation even when he was young.

Pax, who was born April 7, 1935 in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, stopped schooling after high school because of financial constrains. He was only able to finish college through a scholarship in Manila. He was ordained as Minister of the Gospel in 1968.

Before Pax transferred to the Moro Christian People’s Alliance sometime in 2002, he trained the younger set of human right workers on paralegal work. “Si Pax kahit marami syang alam, wala siyang minemenos. (Pax, even though he knew a lot of things, never looked down on people.) He was always willing to share his knowledge regarding the tedious paralegal work,” Hilao-Enriquez said.

It maybe sad to say goodbye to a dear friend but with the richness of his experience which he selflessly shared with all of us, Pax, Fau or Pastor will always be remembered and honored. It didn’t matter that he died quietly and not heroically as those who were killed while fighting for the people’s rights. His life was no less full of heroic deeds and meaning, in service of the people. (Bulatlat.com)

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