Drilon and Bagatsing

Recently, two newly released books on prominent politicians have been made available to the public. One of them is on Franklin M. Drilon, who is often consulted today on national issues. The other is on Ramon D. Bagatsing, the former mayor of Manila.

Being Frank: A Memoir by Franklin M. Drilon (UP College of Law Alumni Foundation Inc., 2026). This is not simply the story of one Filipino politician. It is the personal account of some of the most difficult and consequential periods in contemporary Philippine history. Drilon looks back on approximately 36 years of public service, beginning with his entry into government after the 1986 EDSA Revolution and continuing through his years as secretary of labor, secretary of justice, executive secretary in the administration of President Cory Aquino, before becoming senator and Senate president.

The author is not merely an observer of Philippine history but was one of the people directly involved in many of the events he described. He occupied important positions in government when the country was recovering from martial law, when the government faced coup attempts and political instability and when the country experienced many controversies involving corruption, accountability and the rule of law.

The title suggests that the author intends to speak personally about experiences that are usually hidden behind official statements and political speeches.

A memoir allows Drilon to explain not only what happened but also how he understood the decisions, conflicts, pressures and relationships surrounding those events.

One of the most significant sections of the memoir concerns the impeachment trials of former president Joseph Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona. This is an important section in view of the current ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Drilon served as senator-judge in both proceedings.

An interesting section is when Drilon describes, during the Estrada impeachment trial, receiving phone calls before the trial, calls which were threatening and questioning his loyalty and integrity. These experiences are significant because they illustrate the enormous pressure placed on lawmakers when the political institutions are subjected to major tests.

One of the central ideas in “Being Frank” is the importance of the rule of law. This memoir discusses corruption scandals like the fertilizer fund controversy, the North Rail, the pork barrel and the Pharmally controversy. The lesson is that corruption can grow because institutions have weaknesses that allow abuse.

Drilon’s book also discusses certain legislation. One of the most personal parts in the book is when Drilon talks about his home town, Iloilo. There is an entire chapter, “Putting Iloilo on the Map,” which discusses projects like the Iloilo International Airport, the JALAUR Multipurpose Project, the Iloilo Convention Center, the Diversion Road Expansion, the Iloilo River Esplanade and bike lanes.

This is an important and timely book and should be read by everybody interested in contemporary Philippine history.

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Bombay: A True Blue Filipino – Ramon D. Bagatsing (Milflores Publishing, 2026). This book was written by National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin. It tells the life and legacy of Ramon Bagatsing who was mayor of Manila from 1971 to 1986 and became one of the longest-serving mayors in the city’s history.

It was officially launched on Aug. 9, 2026 on what would have been Bagatsing’s 110th birth anniversary, fittingly at the Manila City Hall.

Bagatsing was not portrayed only as an individual who occupied a political position. He became a symbol of a particular kind of Filipino leader – one whose identity was shaped by hardship and whose public life was connected to ordinary people.

His life was marked by experiences which would have broken an ordinary person. He was a WWII veteran and survived the Bataan Death March. His biography demonstrates how personal suffering can either destroy a person’s sense of purpose or strengthen it. In Bagatsing’s case, it became part of his character. The image of Bagatsing continuing to serve despite his physical disability is particularly powerful.

During his administration, Manila saw the establishment of schools, hospitals, health centers, day care centers, markets, roads and public parks. He also supported the distribution of land titles to poor Manileño families. In 1973, he established the Manila Barangay Bureau which became a model for the barangay system eventually implemented throughout the country.

Bagatsing’s philosophy of governance is not only constructing large buildings but also giving ordinary citizens access to basic services, security, land, education, health care and opportunities. His example is that government should make people’s lives better in concrete ways.

The word “Bombay” refers to Bagatsing’s Indian ancestry, yet Nick Joaquin deliberately calls him a true-blue Filipino. Joaquin’s portrayal of Bagatsing suggests that being Filipino is intimately connected to belonging and service. To be a Filipino is not simply to be born in the Philippines. It is also to care about what happens to the Philippines.

Bagatsing’s story remains relevant even today because the Philippines continues to face problems involving poverty, inequality, political corruption, inadequate public services and also questions about the quality of our political leadership.

These books will be available at the Manila International Book Fair which is ongoing until Sunday, Sept. 13 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City.

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