Max V. Soliven: The Other Max
May I share with you the other side of "Max V.Soliven"; not the veteran journalist whose column in The Philippine Star became daily readings for those who would like to know the "news behind the news" in Philippine politics as well as in world affairs; but "the Max as an ordinary person", as a family man and good friend who was fond of collecting stamps, fossils and historical vignettes.
I admire him because of his sense of humanity and friendship. Even if I am already retired and no longer in the diplomatic service, he never fails to call or get in touch with me whenever he visits Chile.
Rudy
- - - - - - -
VIGNETTE - THE OTHER MAX
By Rodolfo A. Arizala
27 November 2006
Eulogies will be heaped in memory of our departed friend journalist, publisher and columnist Max V. Soliven and rightly so. Many good things and sterling qualities could be said about Max which he richly deserved. But suffice to mention here that he was a humble person, thoughtful and loyal to his family and friends. As a friend, he never fails to call or get in touch with me (although I am retired already from the diplomatic service) whenever he is in this part of the world in the course of of his journalistic activities. With reference to his family, I recall during one of his visits to Chile while taking him around looking for souvenirs to bring home, he was so delighted when he saw at a store some fossil of crustacea from the Atacama desert of Northen Chile. According to a story Atacama desert was once upon a time under water or part of the Pacific Ocean. Max exclaimed excitedly: "Rudy, my wife Precious loves collecting these kind of things." And he immediately bought some unconcerned whether he would have "excess baggage" or not.
The other interest of Max was in collecting rare stamps or postage especially those having to do with history and geopolitics. I remember during one of his visits to Santiago, I gave him a set of Chinese stamps with postmark at the People´s Republic of China´s station in the Antarctic which I acquired during the time my wife and I visited that part of the South Pole.
Max reluctantly accepted said stamps saying: "Rudy, I do not like to deprive you of your collection of stamps." I replied: "Yes, I value these stamps, but I think they would be in better hands if they become part of your collections." He smiled and accepted said stamps saying: "Rudy, you know I am a pure-blooded Ilocano. But when you are in Manila, please ring me up for I would like to invite you for a cup of coffee while we browse over my other stamp collection."
Aside from collecting fossil and rare stamps, he was also fond of visiting historical places. So, one day when he called me from Buenos Aires saying he was going to Santiago, I suggested to him that instead of taking the plane, he better travel by land from Buenos Aires up North to the wine City of Mendoza near the border of Argentina with Chile to see for himself the "pampas" of the Argentine plains and grazing lands. And then from Mendoza to travel by land across the Andes mountains following the route taken by Argentine leader Gen. San Martin and his cavalry when Argentina decided to help the Chileans under Gen. O´Higgins liberate themselves from the Spanish forces in Chile. It may be recalled that Gen. San Martin and his men crossed the Andes mountains on horseback with their artilleries and ammunitions and combining its forces with that of Gen. O´Higgins, defeated the Spanish forces in the decisive "Battle of Maipu" at the toothills of the Andes, Chilean side of the Cordilleras.
To make the story short, Max, indeed, traveled by land across the Andes mountains and I met him at the border of Chile and Argentina up the Cordilleras. When he arrived at the border, I jokingly told him: "Max, now you could say you traced the footsteps of Gen. San Martin and his cavalry across the Andes mountains." He laughed then being historically-minded, he told me he would like also to see where the famous "Battle of Maipu" took place. Luckily, such place in Chile was well-preserved and as a matter of fact there is a monument constructed on said spot commemorating said battle of Maipu. I took a photo of Max on the spot where there is a monument at Maipu. And then posing with arms akimbo like a general, Max looked down to the plains of Chile around Santiago City and commented: "Rudy, this is really a very strategic place."
"You say so, Gen. Max Soliven," was my comment. And he again burst into a loud laughter.
His sense of patriotism was intense. When I mentioned to him that in Santiago there is a place called "Plaza Filipinas" where a bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal was installed as part of the commemoration by the Philippine Embassy of the Centennial Celebration of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence, he said: "I would like to see the place also." And so after checking in at his hotel, we went to Plaza Filipinas in Comuna Las Condes. Max posed beside the bust of Rizal and requested me to take a photo of him.
That was Max, more known for his penetrating, informative, sometimes hard-hitting columns as a journalist. But perhaps few people know the "other Max" - the ordinary person, stamp and fossil collector; the man with Napoleonic interest in history; and above all, with high sense of patriotism or love of country.
- - - - - - - -
* The author is a lawyer and retired Filipino diplomat.