Good deeds are not sufficient unto themselves

Belen H. Abreu

On May 1, 1957, a history-making meeting was held in one of the rooms of the old Manila Hotel. Ramon Magsaysay, the much love President of the Philippines had died one and a half months earlier in a tragic airplane crash with twenty four others, and the meeting was to discuss the organization of a board of trustees of a foundation to honor his memory through a program of awards to recognize individuals in Asia who, like him, served their countries and fellowmen with courage and dedication. In the room where Mrs. Albert (Marjorie) Ravenholt, Donald H McLean, Jr., both representing the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Jesus Magsaysay, the brother of the late President and myself, then legal officer of the Philippine Commission on Elections.

That was my first meeting with Don, and his penetrating gaze and serious mien we're unsettling to say the least. That was also my first meeting with Jesus and both of us were eager to get Marjorie's ear to bring her up to date on the political situation, since a number of her dear friends we're running for office in the coming November elections - one for President and another for the Senate. We were, of course, touched by the noble gesture of the Rockefeller family to establish the award program and Don was telling us about the concept of the memorial, the role of the Rockefellers in this venture, and the trustees commitment and responsibility. Marjorie's long acquaintance with the Philippine scene and her equally long exposure to Asia fitted her ideally to be Don's teammate getting the Magsaysay Foundation off the ground. We all had stories we were dying to tell each other, but in deference to Don we desisted. A sharpened pencil and a pad on hand, this lanky American and his regulation striped blue and white seersucker suit was talking just like a lawyer. Since we already had a general idea of what the proposed memorial was all about, whenever there was a lull in the conversation, we would regale Marjorie with tidbits of the political boiling pot. We gradually grew aware of Don walking towards the window air conditioner to turn it on and, being an old appliance, it made a  disturbing racket which prevented us from hearing each other well. So we would stop our storytelling. Don would then put off the air-conditioner and continue with his explanation or questions.

This turning on and off of the air-conditioner went on for some time, until we finally caught on that we had to finish the business on hand before we could talk politics. I said silently to myself, "Thank heavens for Marjorie who understands our penchant for political gossip," as Don with his brusque and businesslike manner would have been hard to take without her. 

That was my impression of Don at our first meeting. It was my good fortune to be associated with him over the next 20 years and a nicer man and more steadfast friend it would be hard to find. When he smiled and executed that footwork of his that was almost a pirouette while bringing his two hands to a resounding clap, and his brown eyes twinkling and a wide grin dominating his face, you just got a feeling that all is well with the world. No longer was that unflinching gaze unsettling, no longer was his businesslike demeanor uncomfortable to take, for we knew that he was trying to get things done in the best way he knew. With our respect grew an affectionate regard for this man, for he gave himself unselfishly, sharing a brilliance of mind that underscored the good deeds are not sufficient onto themselves, they must be anchored to concepts that can endure when we leave the scene. This he has done in the Raymon Magsaysay Award Foundation's is witness to this.

Belen H. Abreu was Executive Trustee of the Raymon Magsaysay Award Foundation, 1957 - 1984. A member of the Philippine bar since 1944 she served as Chief Attorney, Commission on Elections, Philippine Government after World War II.