EULOGY

(Written by Joe Seguerra)

Dr. Julio U. Lim, Mayor Lim, Pareng Siote. Scholar, star athlete, a public servant, a good husband to his wife, a good father to his children, a good friend to his supporters and even political foes, outstanding citizen, civic leader, kaibigan ng masa.

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Mayor Lim had lived an accomplished and storied life and mine is just one of those stories you heard and will continue to hear about him. Allow me therefore, to dwell on something about him that I can very well speak of.

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He was somebody who was not inclined to politics judging from his chosen career. His eyes were originally focused on looking after the eyesights of his kababayan and so, upon getting his education in optometry, magna cum laude and topping the board exams,  these  remarkable feat still unduplicated in our beloved town, he opened up his clinic in their old place beside the moviehouse which the family owned. He would rather be in this town, the place he would not want to leave in exchange for the hassle and dazzle of the metropolitan Manila nor exchange it for a greener pasture in the distance shore. He would rather attend to his small business  and go out with anybody for a drink or two without hesitation, whether it was an invitation of somebody of higher strata in life or a lowly sweeper in the streets. Madali siyang imbitahan because he was at home with anybody, very much identified with the masa long before he became Mayor. He remained one to his last breathe. Dr. Lim was  a rare kind sa tunay na diwa ng pakikipag kapwa tao.

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But politics beckons and one day, he saw himself in the midst of the hustle and bustle of local politics when, unknowingly, he found himself a candidate for Vice Mayor of Calauag.  It was not to his own volition but people in the know, recognized his innate talents, his leadership qualities and above all, ang taos pusong pakikisama sa balana. I clearly remember that particular phase in his life because in the snap elections in 1980, while we were the best of friends, magkatsokaran bilang kasapi sa Philcar Boys, we were in the opposing camps!  

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Some people in our town can attest to its veracity that inspite of the hectic political campaign, Dr. Lim and I will see each other in secret meeting places in the wee hours of the night, to assess the situation in the campaign trail but never to turn our back to our partymates. We wanted to start a new brand of local politics but it did not bode well for him.  At one time, he confided to me that he was receiving cold treatment from his partymates because of the perception that I was the one he was supporting for Mayor. It was not true. He remained steadfast and loyal to his party. Pero ito ang totoo. He was at the verged of quitting the race because as a political neophyte, he cannot attuned himself to the mudslinging and intrigues of politics. But I adviced him to stay put. Continue the going, ika nga. I told him, mas malaki ang tsansa niyang manalo while yours truly was struggling, a virtual unknown and also a first timer in politics. I lost the mayoralty race and bow my head in defeat, Dr. Lim handily won and become the new Vice Mayor of Calauag.

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But fate had it that in 1982, he was sworn as the new town Mayor in a legal succession when the incumbent Mayor  was felled by assasins bullets. The town was grip in sadness and horror as a result of the dastardly act but as the new mayor, Dr. Lim provided the needed leadership in time of crisis and normalcy returned to our town in short span of time.  His original desire of only looking after the eyesights for some townmates who will need his professional expertise has fully bloomed into looking after not only the eyesights of the few but now included the caring and welfare of  every man, woman, children at lahat-lahat na. Because of the enormosity of  the problems besetting the town,  he called for  our other kababayans to come and visit the town and help him in his governance. It was his belief that he cannot govern alone as he knew fully well as a man with vast knowledge in the way of life and now as Mayor, no man is an island. He also needed the help and cooperation of others. I was and am glad to be among those heeded his call.

  

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He will oftentimes come to Manila, the seat of the national government, following up whatever projects that could be given to the town. At that time, hindi pa uso ang pork barrel and local government officials were left to their own initiatives and sometimes luck, swerte,  to be able to get funding from the national government. It was the advent of the Marcos administration. At swerte ang pagkakataon na yours truly happened to have Mr. Eduardo Morato, Jr., as our General Manager in the government corporation I was holding office. When I told Ed Morato about Mayor Lim’s request to have human settlements projects extended to Calauag, I was readily asked to conceptualize projects, draw up plans and coordinate with the local officials for its proper implementation. It paid off because the  Moratos considered Calauag as their hometown and also ready to help. Mayor Lim and I presented a joint statement that it will augur well for the town to have livelihood projects and if  possible, a  housing project to address the growing population in terms of  having affordable houses for themselves.

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The construction of the Livelihood Center was first in the line up of several projects earmarked for Calauag under the Quezon Development Projects which this representation was given the task as Project Manager, not only for Calauag but for the whole Quezon province. We take pride in saying that the Center as you can see has withstood the test of time. Similar structures in other provinces have long gone but ours is still here. But... but were it not for Mayor Lim's decisive leadership, the Livelihood Center where it stands now will not be here. Were it not for  his political savvy and able leadership, the Bliss housing project in Barangay Sumilang will not be constructed. As everyone can see, it is now  a visible and vibrant community and fortunate enough to become the site of the Calauag Municipal Hospital  as it is where the present Municipal Mayor and the Sangguniang Bayan wisely decided to locate. I happened to be just in the middle of  it  but the capable leadership provided by Mayor Lim made all things possible. He made it easier, faster and never he introdded in all activities attendant to the two projects. He was just glad and contented that something was coming up that would be beneficial to his constituents and it happened during his time. We give credit when credit is due. And in this regard, these two projects are among Mayor Lim's long list of  accomplishments.

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In all, as a duly elected public official, his tenure in office was unquestionably unblemished or tainted with doubtful transactions. He was once unceremoniously driven out of office but our people in Calauag restored him back by electing him overwhemingly. Indeed, he was a public servant, par excellence.  

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And so,  mga kababayan, it is time to say goodbye to a dear friend, a real friend in the true sense of the word. I will forever be grateful to have known Mayor Lim and  I will forever be grateful that Mayor Lim was the town chief executive at the right time when yours truly can add to the names of our other kababayans in helping him during his incumbency.  All the memories I have shared with him will forever be cherished and remembered. Mayor Lim will forever live in my heart… in your hearts, in our hearts.
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He is in heaven now and we are here on his funeral. This is not the time for us to grieve his death but it’s our time to celebrate his life. He never  wanted to see people cry. He wanted to make everyone happy in this community of ours. But he can only do so much. So at this moment when we are about to lay his body to rest, let’s all think back and remember how Mayor Lim touched our lives. How he made us feel as a person and how good Mayor Lim was as a person. This is not the moment for us to shed our tears but we should all be thankful that we were given the chance to have known a man named Dr. Julio U. Lim.

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Finally, it was from the movie Gladiator that I borrowed this quote: I knew a man who once said, "death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back."

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