Death of a phony

The University of San Carlos law school mourns the loss of an icon. Jefferson Marquez, senior partner of a reputable law firm and bar placer who taught labor law for at least two decades went to the great beyond. At 57, he had so much to live for and teach, especially law students who must hurdle a crucible to savor the magnitude of the legal profession.

We recall in unison that during bar examinations, we didn’t labor in labor law, we instead birthed what he imparted with ease. He didn’t pen a book, but his lessons are more indelible than the darkest ink. Retention. He reorganized labor code provisions, specified and illustrated them with department orders and relevant jurisprudence into a dense body of knowledge that combined the letter and spirit of a social legislation piece. By then it all made sense.

Behind those tricky questions is his magic for critical exactitude. Many failed the numeric grade but gained unquantifiable knowledge. Some quit but must have asked what if. Underneath the stern face is his desire to redirect focus. The first to blink is blanked. During orals, many have taken their seat clueless what he wrote in their sheet. Unseen in stringency is his unbending commitment to discipline. Absent in his intimidating presence is a person with sincerity disarming. Buried in the impenetrable wall is a fellow of warmth and pride for what his students have become.

In between words scathing of our rambling is his fixation to make us toe the line of coherence, humbling us, especially those whose confidence exceeded their ability. His methodical terror brought us to the finish line of honor. Survival of the fittest, not body fit, but mental and emotional grit. Thank you Sir for faking it all, you grounded us to fly on our own.

But beyond his lifetime he continues to teach us, live life the way we want to be remembered by. His students attest how well he lived for others, by flooding his memory with salute and gratitude, most became lawyers who once dreaded the mere sight of him.

Yes Sir, everyone feared you, but no one hated you. Many were bitter, but ended up better. Many more cried, moved on and made peace with the past, only to cry again upon knowing you untimely passed. This is not only making a difference, it is in deference to the man who taught his subject matter well, even those beyond that matter. This measures the breadth of your influence in the life, agony and death of a law student. Call it impact or legacy. Either way, you left us with both.

We lost sleep preparing for your class, but we prayed more the shuffled card you pick belongs to another we envy, the de jure brilliant, and dislike, the de facto smart. And now we lose sleep asking why you departed too soon. But while we cannot question the wisdom of your passing, we are certain of the wisdom you left behind.