I inherited my devotion to reading the Manila Bulletin from my dad. The nation’s most trusted newspaper was part of his morning ritual. I have vivid recollections of mornings at the breakfast table, watching him read the paper, wondering why he would be glued to it during that part of the day.

Once, I dared ask him why. His answer: “I need a laugh.”

At first, I wondered what he meant. I later found out that part of his morning routine was reading a column at the Manila Bulletin’s opinion section – “Point of Order.” Yes, the one written by the inimitable, legendary columnist Jose “Joe” Guevarra.

For my dad and perhaps millions of Filipinos of his generation and those prior to them, Joe Guevarra was like the paper he wrote for – an institution. I was told he had written for the Manila Bulletin for several decades until his death in 2002, seven years before I submitted my very first column in April of 2009.

His ardent followers describe Joe Guevarra’s writing style as “unique.” His columns were “hard-hitting,” yet they were funny. He was, after all, a political commentator. Joe Guevarra called attention to the follies of government and society. He did so with his one-liners, punchlines, and political jokes.

I guess that was how he made his point. He made people laugh at their leaders – and then at themselves. Then, after the laughter had subsided, Manila Bulletin readers understood what ailed our nation. The humor gave them the strength to bear and deal with them.

Perhaps, the Manila Bulletin knew that there is much truth to the age-old adage that “laughter is the best medicine.” So, its publishers gave them Joe Guevarra.

Then, they gave Manila Bulletin readers Dr. Juan Flavier, former senator, former health secretary, and humorist par excellence.

As students at the De la Salle College of Medicine, we looked up to Dr. Flavier as a role model and inspiration. He was a tireless advocate of the concept of “Doctors to the Barrio,” an idea brought to life by his own personal decision to turn his back on the more financially lucrative side of medical practice and dedicate his service instead to the poor in remote barangays.

Dr. Flavier wrote a regular column in Manila Bulletin on Sundays, if I recall it correctly. It was titled “Parables of the Barrio.” His articles included vignettes from his life of service to the underprivileged, to humor-filled anecdotes featuring imaginary characters that poked fun at Filipino mindsets and behavior.

Like Joe Guevarra, Dr. Flavier’s Bulletin commanded significant following. He made people laugh, giving them powerful doses of healing humor, just like a good doctor would.

Dr. Flavier inspired me to consider seriously going into public service. He also inspired me to take a crack at writing a regular column for the Manila Bulletin. Inspired by Dr. Flavier’s Sunday parables focused on folksy characters representing the ordinary wisdom of the Filipino, I created a character whom I regularly featured in my early columns in the Manila Bulletin.

The character was “Lolo Sisong,” an imaginary octogenarian Rizaleño who supposedly regularly dropped by my office when I was still governor of the province. Readers used to ask me if Lolo Sisong was “real.” I said he was the personification of many of my province-mates who embodied the ideals and values of previous generations. He was a “composite” person. He was the sum total of the experiences I had listening to their wisdom, the kind that is ripened by age, and the triumphs and defeats that come with life.

Here is one particular gem of wisdom from the Lolo Sisongs of this world. He gave young people advice on the pursuit of money or “kwarta.”

He explained: You see, our term “kwarta” is a derivative of the Spanish word, “cuarta.”

“Cuarta” means “one-fourth” or simply “fourth,” he pointed out. Therefore, if your goal in life is merely “kwarta,” you spend it running after “one-fourth.” Or, you end up settling for “fourth.”

Not an impressive goal, not a good life-strategy, Lolo Sisong underscored.

He added: In the local language, “cuarta” also refers to “fourth gear.” Right? Right, I said. Fourth gear is for cruising. It is not for accelerating, the old man further explained. So, if your life is on “cuarta,” you cruise. You have no momentum, you are not gaining speed, he pointed out.

When your life is on an upward climb, “cuarta” won’t help you, he said. He concluded: Go for “primera” instead.

As the Manila Bulletin celebrates its 126th anniversary, I join the many generations of its loyal readers in thanking its publishers, editors, columnists, and staff.

Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the legacy of humor, for giving us the writings of the Joe Guevarras and Juan Flaviers of this world. How we wish they were still around.

We can make use of a good laugh. Yes, the kind that the Manila Bulletin gifted us with.