Dr. Romulo Bautista touched our lives in so many
ways. But there is one outstanding attribute that has served as the very
essence of his commitment to philosophy. He was a very kind person. He gave his
all to his students – nurturing them with his insights, challenging their
positions, arguing passionately not only for reason’s sake, but for the sake of
our humanity. Even if his health was failing him, he still possessed the
unwavering desire to share his ideas. Ideas about what it means to be human are
aplenty in this world, but the man who epitomizes the ideal of being human is
hard to find.
Indeed, Dr. Bautista is a true person. We are a
witness to this unfolding. The Social Ethics Society is one of his legacies. In
life, we are taken to task in order to assume roles that are bigger than us.
Dr. Bautista has contributed in a very huge way in promoting democracy, writing
not only about its systemic or theoretical milieu, but more importantly, on its
practical or pragmatic value. He was a man who wanted his fellow human beings
to live well. His death has diminished a huge part of us, but what he has done
for his students, his readers, and the general public will forever be etched
eternally in the hearts of men.
- The Social Ethics Society