The Son Also Rises

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” ― Shannon Alder

By acclamation, ROBERT VINCENT JUDE JAWORSKI JR. ― fondly known as “Dodot” ― was on track to follow his legendary dad’s footsteps as the country’s greatest basketball player of all time. With a height of 6’2, he towered over his colleagues in the court as he played center forward since high school days at the Brent International School; then later, at the Ateneo de Manila University’s “Blue Eagles,” where he went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management in 1995.

But politics was a bigger calling for Dodot. Right after his graduation, he was elected councilor in the Municipality of San Juan at the age of 23. He then dabbled in professional basketball in an effort to follow his father’s footsteps; having been later drafted by PBA Team Ginebra San Miguel to join his father, then playing coach Robert Jaworski. Together, they won a championship together during the 1997 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, playing as the Gordon’s Gin Boars. For four years, he played for the Ginebra San Miguel team, being the only father-and-son tandem of Philippine basketball.

A phenomenal athlete, Dodot was gifted with a unique combination of fundamental soundness, grace, speed, power, artistry, improvisational ability and an unquenchable competitive desire, and was soon being eyed to replace his dad as the rightful heir to claim his throne.

However, a year after his dad retired in 1998 to run for the Philippine Senate, Dodot also decided to leave professional basketball at the age of 28 in 1999, to serve as his dad’s Chief of Staff in the Senate for six years. It was about this time that Dodot married the love of his life, the ravishing equestrienne Mikee Cojuangco with whom they have three beautiful boys.

After his dad’s retirement from politics, Dodot dabbled in several entrepreneurial ventures, as president of Shanahan, Reonick, Le Calier, Inc.; president of Asiacon Management Development Corporation; president of team America Sports, Inc.; and president of the Asian Center for Foreign Languages, among others. He also sat on the board of trustees of his alma mater, Brent International School, and was elected president of the Brent International Alumni Association, as well as served as director of the Rotary Club of Valle Verde District 3800.

In 2004, Dodot was elected as congressman of the lone district of Pasig, defeating then-incumbent congressman Noel “Toti” Cariño, who would later become his party mate in 2006. Upon finishing his first congressional term in 2007, he unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Pasig, having been defeated by the incumbent Mayor’s son, Robert Eusebio. He ran under the political party called Partido Pasigueño.

Having been introduced to Dodot by a common friend, who got both of us to be his wedding godfathers to his marriage, I found him to be genial and humble, especially for a person of such high profile (literally and figuratively speaking). It was only then that I was pleasantly surprised that he was making a political comeback, having recently been picked by Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto as his vice mayoral candidate in the 2022 elections. I believe that Mayor Vico ― and to the residents of the city for that matter ― will have a strong workhorse with a passion for Pasig in the person on Dodot Jaworksi, who has demonstrated, time and again, his being an invaluable gem in any team, whether on-or-off court. Good luck, my friend!