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We thought we knew everything about our father", was the
comment made by his eldest son, Benjamin M. Alonzo, Jr. during his acknowledgement speech at the Memorial Service of his father at the
Municipal Hall of the Town of Calamba Laguna on March 5th, 1998.
This comment he made after hearing all the dignitaries gave their eulogies. The
speakers were Municipal Manager, Dra. Teresita Lazaro, Mayor Severino Lahara, former Mayor
and current Municpal Councilor Apolonio Elazegui, Judge Estanislao Belan, Judge Leonardo
Paner, former future Mayor and businessman and close friend of Atty. Benjamin Alonzo - Mr.
Benny Bautista.
The Municipal Manager, Dra. Lazaro spoke of what she knew of Atty. Benjamin while he was
still alive. As a Municipal Manager, she had access to the Municipal records of Atty.
Alonzo's accomplishments. But what was interesting in what she said is what isn't in
the records but is known to everybody. The fact that Attorney Alonzo accepts cases
from the poor and oppressed free of any attorney's fees. This is so especially if he
feels strongly that there was an injustice involved. One of his sons, Tonette
(Antonio) recalls, "..that is probably why we always receive vegetables, chickens,
goats, pigs as gifts during fiestas and even during ordinary days. There are even
those people who are so passionate that swears to protect all of the Alonzos' with their
own life."
FORMER MAYOR AND CURRENT MUNICAL COUNCILOR ELAZEGUI STATED DURING HIS SPEECH THAT ATTORNEY
BEN ALONZO WAS AN HONORABLE MAN AND A WORTHY OPPONENT. There was a time when
Attorney Alonzo's nephew was running for congressman in the second district of Laguna, and
so was Councilor Elazegui's nephew. Even though they were at opposing sides,
Attorney Alonzo never let politics affect their friendship. During Mr. Elazegui's
tenure as Mayor, there were hard times, and hard decisions to be made. His
confidant, Attorney Ben Alonzo was his adviser and only true friend at the time. He
could not forget what Attorney Alonzo told him at one time, an advice that he always use,
that, "There will always be detractors to what you want done, there will always be
people who would be against to what you want, but you have to make a decision, and the
decision you make should be the one that benefits the most number of people."
Mr. Elazegui's tears during this juncture of his speech were visibly flowing
uncontrollably.
MAYOR LAHARA REMEMBERS ATTORNEY BEN ALONZO AS THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR HIS FATHER. HE
REMEMBERS THAT HIS FATHER USED TO SAY THAT ATTORNEY ALONZO was a very honest man and a
brilliant lawyer. He stated that off and on, during his mayorship, when he needed an
unbiased opinion or advice, he would visit Atty. Alonzo in his office and solicit advice
from him, which he described to be as always profound. He raised his right hand
during his speech holding pages upon pages of papers, which he said, are resolutions and
ordinances, that Atty. Alonzo passed/sponsored during his tenure as Municipal
Councilor. Mayor Lahara stated that there were too many to enumerate and stated that
suffice it to say that Atty. Alonzo's actions benefited all of Calambeno's, and some of
his legislation's still benefit Calambeno's and future Calambeno's will still benefit to
what he had done.
JUDGE LEONARDO PANER HOWEVER RELATED THE PAST FEW DAYS AS HE TRAVELLED TO DIFFERENT
NEIGHBORING TOWNS IN BINAN, STA. ROSA, LOS BANOS, SAN PABLO. THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE
CONCERNED PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM AS BEING A Calambeno, who would approach him and ask him if
he knew that Attorney Alonzo had passed and relay to him what a great man Attorney Alonzo
was. He stated then that Attorney Alonzo's accomplishments were not only confined in
the town of Calamba. Judge Leonardo Paner is a "compadre" of the former
Attorney Benjamin Alonzo and had visited the later during the last Christmas. had said.
Continued on page 24...
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