Golfer of the Week – Jesus G. Dureza

One of Davao’s famous sons is former community newspaper editor, Jesus G. Dureza. Or just plain “Jess” to his friends.
Dureza filed stories for the Manila Times and eventually for the Manila Bulletin as Davao correspondent, a kind of training that help prepare him for bigger roles in life.
He headed the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. and Davao’s oldest media organization, the Davao Press Club Inc.
Dureza was even instrumental in the establishment of the Davao Press Foundation, Inc. building at Ecoland which houses the Mindanao Media Center and various private offices, as well as Philippines News Agency-Davao Bureau.
Dureza was a former congressman, representing the first district of Davao City in the 10th Congress, who became presidential assistant for Mindanao, Mindanao Economic Development Council chairman, GRP-Moro peace negotiator, presidential adviser on the peace process and Malacanang press secretary.
His role as chief negotiator gave him the chance to establish strong linkages with the Moro rebels and he shared with them the national government’s desire for, and pursuit of,  peace in Mindanao. Quite a difficult job, but his being a Mindanaoan was an added plus as a negotiator.
Dureza is best remembered in the city as 10th placer in the 1973 bar exams and eventually joined the College of Law faculty.  He was also a senior partner of the Rama, Dureza and Abarquez Law Firm.
The demands of the job require that he too should take a break every now and then. Aside from his favorite sport, practical shooting, he is also into golf.
In shooting, you only allocate a few minutes per stage, but in golf, the hours of play on a beautiful course spells relaxation and communion with nature for secretary Dureza.
Golf for the secretary, especially in Davao, is a reunion with old friends who  reminisce with him the good old times, laughing a lot when recalling how they started out in their respective careers.
Secretary Dureza shuns from talking about serious national affairs while on the course. After all he is there to enjoy the game and the company of his barkada. [Moses P. Billacura]