Three weeks ago, my friend Junny Dumalag and I met here in Dumaguete — and as it turned out, for the last time.
That was before he was hospitalized. We talked about the work we did together, especially for the Ting Matiao Foundation of the Rotary Club of Dumaguete South; we also talked about our lives in general.
From our conversation, anyone could tell Junny was very content about his adventures, his work, and his family life.
When he was young, Junny became the manager/coach of the Silliman University basketball varsity team. There, he surely was able to help shape the lives of quite a number of young men. He would show them that hard work and commitment will produce very good, predictable results. And that ‘smart play’ will often beat brute force.
Then Junny worked in Oroquieta City as the City Planning officer, and introduced new concepts and approaches.
Even if he had no training and experience in urban planning, Junny never shied away from the challenges.
Oroquieta being the birthplace of his wife Tita Quimno, Junny Dumalag smartly combined love with the new professional commitment presented before him.
I met Junny Dumalag when he was the manager of an economic development project headed by Philippine economist Dr. Sixto K. Rojas, wherein we had to do some conceptualization work.At that time, I was enrolled at Silliman University while at the same time, working for the University of Kassel in Germany, my home country, to establish a formal cooperation in the field of Agriculture between the two universities.
Things were moving at a slow pace that time, I found myself with plenty of time on my hand. Since I had worked a couple of years before in a development project in South America, I asked Junny Dumalag if I could help out in support of his project.
Junny, however, told me he had a better idea: he asked if I could instead help develop/build up a development foundation for the Rotary Club of Dumaguete South?
And so that is also the story how I became an active Rotarian of RCDS.
Junny and I worked together for about eight years to support the Rtn. Martin Ting Matiao Foundation (TMF). With the active support of our fellow Rotarians, and our dedicated staff, we grew from three staffmembers occupying an 11-square meter office to an organization with nearly 60 professional workers, and offices in at least three provinces in the country.
When then-Mayor Tuting Perdices invited Engr. Junny Dumalag to work with him in local government, Junny had to leave TMF for a higher calling. And again, his contributions to Dumaguete as City Planning & Development officer, and as City Administrator were always lauded. For example, it was Engr. Junny Dumalag who first envisioned the development as well of the towns around Dumaguete by connecting Bacong in the south and Sibulan in the north through a diversion road — something that is just being completed 30 years after he first conceptualized it. Talk about Junny Dumalag as a true visionary.
In the midst of his busy professional life, Junny was also always very proud of his family. His wife Tita supported him in all his undertakings — even when Junny sometimes had to spend more time helping others. Tita was his rock he could count on anytime.
Junny was also very proud of their daughter Ann, and her family, for establishing themselves in the US, and gifting them with a grandson, Ezra, whom he loved very much. Junny was equally very proud of his son Gail who, together with business partners, started an architecture & construction company — which is turning out to be highly successful as well. I’m sure his children imbibed their father’s principles of dedication and commitment.
As a person, Past President Junny was a true Rotarian who lived his life with the motto: Service above self. He never geared to become rich, or acquire status symbol. For him, seeing people happy because of the support he provided was more important. It was also important to him that the young people whom he helped lead good lives eventually become dedicated professionals for their own good.
As for me, I would have never stayed longer in the Philippines without the support and friendship of Junny and his family. The Dumalags helped me in many ways by accepting me as member of their family, and for helping me out in good times, and even in the not-so-good times.
From my last talk with him three weeks ago, I take comfort in knowing that Junny was very happy and content with what he has helped our community achieve; with his way of serving others through Rotary; and for having lived a wonderful life with his loving family. He lived an exemplary life.
We are certain that Junny Dumalag was just ready to face his Maker.
Hans Bissdorf
