The Bench and Bar in News Agrava

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Part of The Lawyers Journal

Title: The Bench and Bar in News Agrava
extracted text: DIRECTOR CELEDONIO S. AGRAVA Several months ago, an organization devoted to exploiting the creative talents of local inventors and artists, went on record to bment the fact that the p:itent attorney, who is an inevitable institution in American business life, is still an unfamiliar figure in the Philippine scene. It was further said that the budding genius is virtually left unprotected :tt the mercy of corrupt tradesmen who would steal or copy the product of his inventiveness for a get-richquick harvest of profits. Under the situation, the inventor becomes a "babe in the woods" but for the protecting arm, long outstretched on a ceaseless vigil, of the Patent Office of which Atty. Celedonio S. Agrava, a friendly and well-read lawyer in his early fifties, is the director.. The story of the Patent Office would be practically commonplace without mentioning the uphill task of Atty. Agrava who, on August 15, 1947, by drafting the organization chart and rules, gave impetus to its existence. In a run-about way of speaking, the Patent Office, which he has nursed from its fledgeling stage, is Director Agrava's baby. Drawing authority from a committee appointed by the Secretary of Justice in accordance with the provisions of Republic Acts Nos. 165 (Patents), 166 (Trademarks), and 167 (Copyrights), Atty. Agrava had to start on a frugal budget of P82,560 which was surely not much in helping meet the fin:mcial difficulties of his trail-blazing work. Notwithstanding this setback, the Patent Office passed the blueprint stage by the middle part of 1947 and, as a fitting consideration of his endeavors, the late President Roxas appointed Atty. Agrava ad interim Director of Patents on August 18, 1947. But the well-deserved reward has not gone into his head as wit· nessed by his apparent hesistancy to ruminate upon his early struggles as the "founding father" of an entity dedicated to the economic well-being of the country. To do so, as he puts it, would be "chewing the cud of one's own accomplishment." He becomes quite vocal though when the ambitious program of his office to hasten the commercial coming of age of the country is brought up; his current obsession is to open the eyes of the public to the importance, from the economic point of view, of ~timulating the creative faculties of the country by assuring inventors protection in their rights. However, casual remark al>out his role in this planning for an industrial millennium would draw a reticent response. This trait brings out the retiring quality in his demeanor. Atty. Agrava considers his educational background historic in the sense that it is filled with significant acquaintanceship. At the University of the Philippines, his esteemed alma mater where he received his A.B. and LL.B. degrees in 1915 and 1918, respectively, (Co11ti1111erl 011 /iagr 286) The Bench and Bar DIRECTOR EUSTAQUJO BALAGTAS Politics is the same everywhere. The candidate who knows his constituents more intimately than the other does-can call them by the first name, pat them in the back and show concern over their problems, can win their support. Thlt is Director Eustaquio C. Balagtas, of the Bureau of Prisons and former member of the Municipal Board of Manila, who had been in the city council continuously for twenty-one years. But Hon. Balagtas has other assets besides those common traits of a successful politician, He is a fighter and a conscientious law-maker so much so th;tt even Manila's clectorare, unquestionably the most intelligent group of voters in the Philippines, illd found it advantageous to send him every election back to the city council. Administrations have changed in Manila several times since 1922, when he was elected for the first time, but he always managed to keep his seat in the city council. An experienced City Father that he is, Hon. Balagtas had always a figure to reckon with in the Municipal Board where he was president for two times. Very well versed in city government, he knows how to get things done and how to do them speedily and properly. He has quite a wonderful memory and a fondness for statistics, and he could not be fooled by his colleagues. Another advantage of Director Balagt:ts is the fact that he is a lawyer by profession and his knowledge of law enables him to stand out prominent in the many activities that he has undertaken in a wide field of politics and otherwise. When the first world war broke out Atty. Balagtas was a captain in the historic organization, the Philippine National Guards. Imposing in personality, commanding in voice and tough in appearance, he carries himself with considerable respect. But despite this impressiveness, Director Balagtas has that amiablcsness that draws people close to him and to make him friend s who stick by him through thick and thin. In foct he has developed that personal relationship that has qualified him for leadership in numerous group undertakings. Continuously for 16 years, from 1922 to 1938, he was Superintendent of the Philippine Carnival and Exposition which require a lot of tact in dealing with the public. But nobody could have discharged his duties more successfully than he did. As a lawyer, Director Balagtas h:is had very limited practice. He had handled mostly criminal cases in which he had almost always rendered his services free. Bue he fel'ls glad that he is a lawyer because, he says, there are really some people, even in the city of Manila, who can not afford to p:iy for legal 5ervices and that is the time when he can come to their help. Atty. Balagtas at first did not plan to study law. He took it up only at night while employed with the Bureau of Commerce and (Conlimml 011 pag1· 287) May 31, 1949 THE LAWYERS JOURNAL 285 .. ~ for being of the Pm:- Office entors :ind writers to such :in exg to entrust their brain-children to .1dency of their applications. It is a workers to have their suspicions easily manifestation of interest in their work by st;::~l£i:\b~~e t~:v::~t:n;;/; ~r::~~;o;a;;n; 10 wanted himself strapped to his contri\•ancc ie :irchives of the government pending the isa p:itcnt in his name. His reason was that "I came from .1 village of horse-traders; I do not trust anybody.'• In relating this anecdote, Director Agrava was perhaps unaware th:it by the sizeable number of applications for patents and trademarks that pour daily into his office, one c:in tell th:it the man r:idi:itcs the essential stock-in-trade that keeps the machinery going. This virtue is confidence. His · kindly appearance, accentuated by thick-rimmed glasses, outwardly shows a personality that is identical to that of a cleric or a college professor. Either way, he could be the repository of a trust. This fact is s3id to be one 9f the uninventoried assets of the Patent Office. In the course of his duties, Director Agrava every now and then pau_ scs to ponder whether he h:is found the right job considering th3t in his youth, the pr:ictice of law h3d been the beckoning "'lighthouse" in his pbns. Law has alw:iys fascinated hUn and now as he sits comfort:ibly in his swivel chair, he wonders a lot :ind be.comes introspective. Looking over gadgets :ind plans is indeed :i for The Bench and Bar JVC. But he invariably finds consolation in the ..• c 11is early ambition :ind his present work travel cow:irds the 3mc destination which is public service. Director Agrava was born in Manila fifty-five years ago on March 3.-M. S. Jr. DIRECTOR BALAGTAS. (Conli1111cd from page 28 5) Industry where he w:is, from 1919 to ' 1923, :issistant commercial Jgcnt. From 1918 to 1919 he was instructor in military science at the University of the Philippines. From 1920 to 1922 he was instructor, :ilso in military science, at the N:itional University. Director Balagtas W3S born 5 2 years ago in Iba, the capital of Zamb3les. He finished his elementary and part of his high school education in his home province, after which, like most ambitious youth, he came to Manila. He entered the Manil:i High School from where he gr:iduatcd his secondary education and then proceeded to the University of the Philippines. When the University of Manila offered the combined law and business administration course, he was :it~ractcd by the new curriculum :ind took it for five yc:irs. He is a holder of A.B., LL.B. and B.B.A. degrees. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1927. Atty, Bal:igt:ts is a meffiber of more than a dozen -national org:inizations :ind scvcr:il semi-government commissions. He is also a member of civic, soci:il and religious associations, among which arc the C:iballeros de Rizal and the Knights of Columbus. He is one of the few who can be relied upon to organize parades, mass meetings :ind r:illies . He plays very good golf.-1.T.R. Announcing the Opening .on July 5th of the FRANCISCO LAW SCHOOL Senator J/iceule J. Francisco, Dean 1192 TAFT AVENUE, (NEAR S. ANDRES) offeri11g the followiug COURSES: LAW Four l'earlf PREP ARA TORY LAW LEADING TO A. A. - - - - LIBRARY: - - - - With a spacious and well ventilated librarv of more than 5,000 well selected voiumes on law and thousands of other books, magazines and periodicals for rderence and outside reading. May 31, 1949 Two Years HIGH SCHOOL Four Years - - MOO'r COURT ROOM:--· A moot courtroom has been constructed resembling a real court to give the students the proper atmosphe1·e and background when they try and argue cases assigned by the professors. Registration going on. THE LA WYERS JOURNAL ~ LABORATORY: --The laboratory is equipped with I the latest instruments and apparatusses for practical demonstrations and as aids in the study of botany, physics, ballistics, fingerprint, etc. 287
Date: 1941
Rights