The Consummate Public Servant
Having the same surname, Jose, Riza always sat directly to my right in the classroom. I am a left-hander with a rather peculiar way of writing—my paper sits almost completely upside-down, in full view of anyone beside me. Yet, I never once caught Riza sneaking a glance at my test paper. Sitting next to each other throughout our freshman year, we naturally gravitated together, my rather serious, measured demeanor blending easily with her effervescent personality.
Riza was easily one of the prettiest girls in school—if not the prettiest. Fair-skinned and bright-eyed, with a high-bridged nose, full lips, and wavy, jet-black hair, she didn't have the typical morena complexion. To most Filipinos, she was what we call a mestiza—the classic look of Spanish ancestry.
Her face was never marred by blemishes, save for the occasional tigidig of puberty, nor has it shown the ravages of age, smoking, or job-related stress today. She has always possessed that fresh, effortless glow you see in soap commercials, yet she was never self-conscious about her beauty.
In high school, she would flop down into a chair instead of easing herself into it like a proper young lady. She would talk with her mouth full so that whenever a joke made her laugh, morsels of food would spray onto those of us eating lunch with her. For this, she earned the affectionate moniker "Boogie"—from the Tagalog word buga, meaning to spew or spit out.
Yet when the occasion called for it, she could be a picture-perfect lady—decorous and fully dolled up when serving as a cadet sponsor in high school and college, hosting a TV show, posing for print ads, emceeing an event, or hosting a presidential function.
The last news I had of her after college was that she was working at Malacañang Palace. She went on to build a remarkable career, eventually serving under six Philippine presidents—and briefly into the term of a seventh before her retirement. At the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), she nearly reached a Cabinet-level position—a post appointed directly by the President.
While I personally prefer horizontal career growth, I completely understand Riza’s choice to climb the ladder of public service: she deeply values tenure and stability. If I know my namesake and high school barkada well, she makes constancy a true virtue.
Riza is fiercely loyal to both her personal and professional relationships; her friendships last a lifetime. (Gosh, she won't even give up smoking long after smokers have become a vanishing tribe!) That unwavering constancy and fealty are precisely what made her one of the most accomplished and admired friends I know.
Her poise, intelligence, and warm character made her a perfect fit for a life in the public eye. Today, we still rely on her to emcee our reunion programs, handle publicity, and organize events pro bono. Riza remains a driving force on UP Prep's reunion organizing committee. With her sharp mind, timeless grace, and generous heart, she will never truly stop being a dedicated public servant—even in retirement.
