Long before the coming of a windmill power farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte his hometown, a guy full of ambition in life had dreamed to prove his potentials and explore the small world across the Pacific. That was decades ago.
Today, that ambition was achieved through thick and thin in the person of JAMES M. ROBINSON who used to be a typical guy from the coastal village of Bubon in Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
Vibrant, handsome, and debonaire, he’s now hogging the limelight in the island of Guam, USA, his overseas home where he and his family immigrated several years ago.
James, accompanied by his charming wife Demi (formerly Miss Gomez of Paoay) is in town this week for a brief vacation till July 29.
The couple is here taking a breather in Ilocos Norte after James won as the newly-elected president of the prestigious Filipino Community of Guam, an umbrella organization of all sectoral associations of original Filipinos from the different provinces in the Philippines and who are now immigrants of Guam.
During his recent installation to the FCG presidency that jibed with the Philippine Independence anniversary celebration in Guam, no less than Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Hon. Lucas Bersamin, an Ilocano from Bangued, Abra, traveled all the way from Manila and served as their invited Guest of Honor and Speaker.
James said he had a personal talk with CJ Bersamin who enjoyed their conversation when he learned that he (James) is a fellow Ilocano who fluently speaks the local dialect.
Everybody including all dignitaries inside Guam’s Sheraton function hall was all ears to the very impressive speech of Chief Justice Bersamin that, literally, even the drop of a needle could be heard noting the extreme silence of the crowd, James said.
James is my buddy since our college days at Northwestern College (now a University) in Laoag City in the late 1960s.
Before he left the country, he used to be a writer who contributed police news stories for the Laoag tabloid which I edited during the Marcos era.
I’m glad to know that he rose to fame as he shone in his career after he landed in that USA island territory.
For years, he became a prominent figure in Guam’s courtroom as he served with distinction as Deputy Marshal for the Judiciary of Guam until his recent retirement.
James remains humble in his dealings. We enjoyed the get-together with him when he and wife Demi hosted last Saturday, July 20, 2019, a sumptuous dinner for us and my family as well as several new and old friends including Mayor Dr. Boying Valdez, Vice Mayor Marlon Valdez and Mr. & Mrs. Amor Tabangcay at the Tara-on Restaurant of Viven Hotel, near Robinsons Mall in San Nicolas town.
Every now and then, James and Demi used to come home and visit Ilocos. But now that he heads the Filipino Community of Guam organization, they may adjust their homecoming.
Moreso, they have a Condo Unit at Balai Condominium near Robinsons mall as their alternate vacation home aside from their homes in Paoay and Burgos towns.#
