March 6, 2009

I was born in Jaro, Iloilo City. A fact I am very proud of. I also stayed in my tita’s house in Petalsville, Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro, Iloilo City when I was still growing up especially during my holiday visits to Iloilo when there was no class. Furthermore, I was able to stay in my sister’s apartment located at Barangay San Jose, Jaro, Iloilo City during my transition transfer years from years 2004 until early 2005.

I remember in the year 2005 when I became a new resident of Barangay MV Hechanova, Jaro, Iloilo City. I was basically an unknown personality in the City. I just transferred my physical residency from Quezon City (due to my schooling in Manila) and my voter registration from the Municipality of Barotac Viejo, lloilo (my family’s hometown). I started to build relationships and networks in the City. Just like any kind of change, it was not easy. I had my fair share of criticisms, rumors and not so good experiences but my love for Iloilo City and the warm welcome of the majority of Iloilo City residents outweighed the challenges I faced.

Ever since my high school years, I had been a student council or student organizations’ officer. I find joy in helping other people and being able to influence others in a good way. My yearning to serve was not only limited in school but even in community, non government and professional organizations. I was educated in schools that not only taught me to excel in academics and be prepared for the future in terms of my career but also to become a man for others. We had immersions and outreach programs in the most depressed areas in Metro Manila. I also organized medical and surgical missions, sports competitions, international exchange programs, Sunday school for street children and out of school youth, fellowship events, skills training seminars, reach out programs in the various communities and places such as Barangay E. Rodriguez in Quezon City, Cribs Foundation, NV Rehabilitation Center and others.

I was initially never seen by my family as a future elected public servant because I was not in Iloilo most of the time because of my schooling in Manila and I was a bit shy. During my early childhood years when it comes to being an escort of fiesta queens and may flower festival queens, I usually don’t like the spotlight and say no thanks. Furthermore, during those early days declined invitations to be the proclamation speaker in various barangay events. Moreover, maybe it was because I never voiced out any political plans when I was a kid and Nanay would remind me that my dream was to become a pilot.

During my teenage years, I was asked to help out during the campaign and I started doing so in year 1992 as one of the dancers and leaflet boy of my Nanay’s campaign for Mayor of the Municipality of Barotac Viejo. It was then followed by me handling volunteers, sample ballots, stickers and rice sack posters of my Nanay’s re-election in 1995 and at the same time Tatay’s final re-election as Congressman of the 5^th District of the Province of Iloilo. In 1998, Nanay’s election to her final term was unopposed so we were all free to campaign for my father as he was now running to become Governor of the Province of Iloilo. I was assigned to go house to house campaign in the 4^th and 5^th Congressional District of the Province. It was a very hard campaign as my father was going against an incumbent Governor who was running for his last term. Tatay lost by a very slim margin. I saw how my family got closer during those years after he was defeated and I appreciated and recognized the resiliency of my family to fight again another day. In 2001, Tatay ran again and this time he won with one of the biggest margins in the history of Iloilo Province and he shattered that 1998 margin with succeeding wins in his re-elections in 2004 and 2007. In the 2001 and 2004 elections, I was also assigned to handle volunteers and I was added the responsibility of doing some campaign finance and house to house campaigns in the 2^nd and 4^th Congressional Districts.

In 2003, I started to take my Masters in Public Management major in Local Government Administration from University of the Philippines Open University, Diliman, Quezon City. In Tatay’s re-election bid as Governor in 2004, I was invited by the Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas to be one of its members and then eventually I was elected to become National Vice President. I then had international invitations to seminars and conferences as a young political leader. During this time, I felt the deep yearning and longing for me to pursue my first love and that is public service. In late 2004 to early 2005, there were certain invitations for me to run as City Councilor in the 3^rd Congressional District of Quezon City. In QC, there are 6 councilors voted per Congressional District. I initially entertained the idea and was even assisted by the number 1 City Councilor of the 3^rd District of QC and a Liberal Party Member, Councilor Bolet Banal. He assigned me to represent him during recognition events in schools and even asked me to meet up with the various community and barangay leaders already. Moreover, he lent me his tent and other political things for me to start my exposure in QC. I was already organizing student events, youth events, sports events, and medical and surgical missions. There were even Sanggunian Kabataan Chairmen of the particular QC District that were inviting me to grace their events and programs. Some big political personalities were even calling me up to discuss possible political groupings and alliances in QC. I was honored and flattered of such but I thought to myself, if I decide to be of service to people on a more influential position as an elected official, then it would be best to do so in my birth place, Iloilo City.

In 2005, I went home to Iloilo City. I did not yet have a concrete and final plan of running for an elected seat. What I did was just to continue what I was doing in the various schools I went to, in the organizations I belong in and in the community where I resided and that was giving service to the people. I organized youth events, medical missions, educational missions and health services to the various barangays and communities in Iloilo City. I also became one of the young professors in various schools and universities in Iloilo City. It seemed that there were so many things that can be improved in the City.

In 2006, many sectors urged me to run. I was initially hesitant due to the knowledge that Iloilo City is not our family bailiwick and the last time it voted for a Tupas was in 1978 when Tatay became the # 2 Regional Assemblyman for Western Visayas. I first studied the political situation. In my initial barangay visits and community consultations, people were yearning for more elected officials who will listen to them, understand them, be with them, who would fight for them, and who would visit them and remember them even during non campaign or election season. They also wanted more leaders who will truly represent their needs and concerns, and someone who will keep his word and deliver on his promise. Apparently, the people of Iloilo City yearned for more talented, committed, dynamic, hardworking leaders who had integrity and are trustworthy. I also felt that the youth could be served more with an additional youth voice. I also felt that I had something to offer for the improvement of Iloilo City especially the lives of the youth, women and the elderly. I felt I was prepared for the challenge even if it seemed to be against all odds during that time. Initial surveys showed that I would not make it. There were even some close allies and friends of my family who thought I was joking when I said I was interested to run in Iloilo City. Maybe they felt I was a relatively unknown quantity in the City and there were certain political personalities who were working against my possible victory. I never lost hope. I worked hard to obtain the trust of the people of Iloilo City. All the hardship, pain, passion, love for the City, persistence and belief in the people worked out well as I thankfully and humbly became the youngest elected City Official at age 27 with 73,000 votes. So many firsts came with my victory in the City. I am happy to be of service to my fellow Iloilo City Residents. I do believe in serving them faithfully and excellently. Without the Ilonggos, I wouldn’t have made my boyhood dream of being a public servant a reality. They are my boss and I have been doing my job to the best of my ability and even going beyond by bringing innovative special programs and projects to and for the City.

Months after my election, people were talking about me possibly running for a higher post in 2010. Talks started in the coffee shops, barangays, schools and eventually to the various media outlets. I was surprised of such because I was just doing my job well but thankfully it seemed that people were appreciating my work and my performance. There were and are people who are already calling me by and with a different position. There seemed to be a transformation from being mocked at and laughed at before when I decided to run as City Councilor to now being seriously considered as a viable candidate for a higher position. In a city of almost 300,000 voters and city that has never had, to my knowledge, people occupying higher post in their 20’s. It is truly an honor and a privilege just even to be considered as a potential candidate and a promising political figure. I am glad of such distinction and I will continue to work hard for the City of Iloilo. I even started my Doctoral Degree studies in Management with concentration in Public Management from the Central Philippine University to help me become a better public servant and might hopefully and God willingly finish at age 29 this year.

My political fortune and political fate is dependent on the support of the residents of Iloilo City. I will continue to listen to them. If they will ask me to continue with my present position or if they will continue to push for a higher position, then I will abide by and with their request. It is up to them since it is dependent on their trust and support if they will lend the position to me. There will be another right time for me to make the final decision on what position to run for. This is not yet the time for politics but it is still and always will be the time to extend excellent public service. I still have so many considerations in making that big decision.

Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.