Focusing on the Job...and even going beyond
8:06 AM at 8:06 AM Filed under: Author:
Form and Substance is essential. LEX as proclamation speaker, crowning officer and inspirational speaker in I. Arroyo School during the United Nations Celebrations
Inspirational Speaker during the Buntatala School United Nations Event
The Voice of the Youth of Iloilo, City Councilor LEX with the Idol of the Young Filipino, Senator Chiz Escudero
Posed with the men and women of the Department of Social Welfare and Development during a seminar on children
Crowned the Cubay Day Care Center Queen and spoke of the importance of the Unity of the community to raise children well
Proclaiming and then crowning the queen of one of the barangays where I am an adopted son, Brgy. Magsayasay Village, Lapaz, Iloilo City
Awarding the winner for best in talent with SB Member Dee
Guest of Honor and Inspirational Speaker for a Childrens' Tutorial and Talent Training Center
The STC LEX Jobs Fair Caravan was so far the most successful half day jobs fair having approximately 350-500 job applicants who participated in the event
As Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment and as Vice Chairman of the Iloilo City Overseas Foreign Workers Economic Council, I believe in bringing the service closest to the people who need it like available jobs
Labor and Employment Exchange (LEX) Jobs Fair Caravan arrives in STC Magdalo CampusOctober 31, 2008
It has been said that to be able to become successful in one's chosen field, commitment, passion, energy, dynamism, excitement and love for one's career are needed.
In my case, there are times when being hectic is a norm. From legislative measures, special projects, my media productions, media exposures, meetings, barangay consultations and events, and school and other event invitations flood my schedule. I really don't mind as long as I keep myself productive and do work that is worthwhile. There are even instances when coming from just a few hours of sleep because of past day's busy schedule, I start my day at 7am to attend to events and other things, and end at 1am the next day.
I always believe that it is better to have numerous invitations that sometimes you are in a hurry to go from place to place rather than no invitations at all. It is a privilege and an honor that many people apparently want to see you or hear you speak. This is what gives me strength and determination to do my job well amidst some distractions that sometimes occur.
Truly, it is better to be busy than to be idle.
In my case, there are times when being hectic is a norm. From legislative measures, special projects, my media productions, media exposures, meetings, barangay consultations and events, and school and other event invitations flood my schedule. I really don't mind as long as I keep myself productive and do work that is worthwhile. There are even instances when coming from just a few hours of sleep because of past day's busy schedule, I start my day at 7am to attend to events and other things, and end at 1am the next day.
I always believe that it is better to have numerous invitations that sometimes you are in a hurry to go from place to place rather than no invitations at all. It is a privilege and an honor that many people apparently want to see you or hear you speak. This is what gives me strength and determination to do my job well amidst some distractions that sometimes occur.
Truly, it is better to be busy than to be idle.
Share Your Blessings
7:46 PM at 7:46 PM Filed under: Author:
Delivered a privilege speech about helping the affected families
Assisting the Doctors during the district medical mission
Organized and sponsored a District Medical Mission immediately after the Typhoon
Visited the evacuees in the evacuation center in JARO GymOctober 27, 2008
Even after 3 months since the tragedy brought about by Typhoon Frank that hit Iloilo City, help and financial assistance from various local government units, international governments and agencies are still coming in. This is something we are very thankful of even if Iloilo City has seemingly already recovered and has moved on.
As Chairman of the Committee on Domestic and International Affairs, it is my duty to develop good relations among various governments and private entities. In my stint, I have already worked for the forging of the sister city relationships between Iloilo City with the following cities locally and abroad: Kaoshung City, Taiwan; Mandaue City, Cebu and Quezon City. I am also working on the strengthening of the existing international and local sister city relationships we have before I became Chairman of the Committee. I am also working closely with Makati City which is one of our sister cities.
The City Government of Quezon City led the numerous local government units, in terms of the amount of financial assistance, by giving us a donation of P2 Million. In the international field,The Government of Spain led the pack of international donors who gave financial assistance, facilities and equipment which is equivalent to about P5 Million. We would also like to thank all the other local and international government units that helped us in our time of need and even private organizations and individuals who helped us out. I am happy that even my Ilonggo friends from Oregon led by Mark and my friends from New York City together with their community sent dollar financial assistance.
It is truly heartwarming to know that the "bayanihan" spirit lives on and that we go out of our way to help a person or in this case a city in need. The best thing is all of the donors didn't need to be asked, they just heartily gave and sent their support.
In times of need, truly real friends are known and seen. As they say, real friends stay when the rest are gone.
Twist of Fate
6:10 PM at 6:10 PM Filed under: Author:
Speaking in front of Mandurriao District day care parents, teachers and baranggay officials
Oath taking officer of the parents association from the various barangays of Jaro District Day Care Centers
Secure leaders empower others according to Dr. Maxwell
The SK Chairmen and SK Kagawad during the Ethics and Public Accountability seminar I sponsored
During the launching of one of my special projects, Dinagyang Kapamilya Dance Showdown 2
Guest Speaker during the graduation rites for the 100 hour English proficiency training program
During our Parish Fiesta in my home barangay, MV Hechanova
Guest during the Calaparan Day Care United Nations Celebration
Guest of Honor and Inspirational Speaker in John B. Lacson University Arevalo
UPV Job Fair Caravan sponsored by my office together with DOLE and POEAOctober 24, 2008
It's still fresh in my memory when late 2006 I firmly decided to run for a city council seat in the City of Iloilo. There were people who didn't take me seriously. There were even some relatives and political allies from the province who laughed at my plan saying that it's impossible for me to make it and said to me, "you must be joking"...I also remembered some who even did bet that I would lose...Maybe if I didn't have the strong will and determination, I could have given up especially with the surveys that some were releasing that I was just not part of the winning circle.
At that time, I understood some people's apprehensions...Maybe because I was a fresh face and a new resident of the City having just transferred my residency and my voter registration from Iloilo Province...Maybe because a lot of people didn't know me that much and haven't seen me...Maybe because Iloilo City has never voted for a Tupas...Maybe because there were some political titans of the City who were working for my defeat...
I considered the concerns and issues in my candidacy as challenges. I believe that I thrive when I am challenged. It gives me more strength and excitement to make the dream a reality...the long shot and impossible, a possibility. Being underestimated and maligned with character assassinations seemingly didn't work well with the resident of the City of Iloilo as they gave me a resounding mandate by becoming the youngest elected city wide official with the highest number of votes (73,000) for a first time candidate without any political background in the city. Truly, nothing is impossible. I always believe in the intelligence of the Ilonggos. I trust Ilonggos that they would not allow themselves to be dictated upon, threatened and forced to vote for their city leaders. I am blessed and thankful that I was right. Until this day, I do not cease to thank the people of the city and the Lord for giving me the opportunity to be a public servant.
After my victory in the last May 2007 elections, talks about me running for a higher post started in the coffee shops. Being consistent with my stand of serving the people regardless if it is campaign season or not, I continue my consultations with my constituents by going around the 180 barangays of the city and I was surprised that barangay folks were already asking me to run for a higher post. Just recently, Radio and Newspaper Media have been interviewing me about my political plans and have talked about political possibilities for 2010.
It is an honor and a privilege to be considered for a higher post and as someone who can rise the political ladder this fast even if it is just my first term and amidst my being the youngest city official. Maybe the numerous legislative measures I have passed and I am working on, and the various innovative special projects I have been implementing is something that the city is appreciating and they would think I am doing a good job that is why I am being seriously considered for a higher post by the people of the City of Iloilo. It is too early to be politicking and it would be unfair for the people. Right now, I will continue doing my job and even go beyond what is expected of me. The right time for making a major political decision will come. As I have publicly declared, I will make my decision for 2010 as early as the first quarter of 2009 or latest my birthday next year. My decision is dependent on the people of the City of Iloilo. I will listen to them because without the people in the first place, I wouldn't have made it in the last elections. My political fate is at the hands of the City of Iloilo.
What a blessing it truly is from being a long shot candidate in 2007 and someone who some counted out to a person being considered by some as a political phenomenon in the city and considered as a serious and viable potential candidate for a higher post in 2010. Just being considered as such right now is such an honor, privilege and a blessing. I am very much humbled and will continue to work hard and to do my best for the upliftment of the lives of the city residents.
Save the World
3:37 AM at 3:37 AM Filed under: Author:
NMYL Iloilo City Chapter Pres. Councilor LEX with friends from NMYL Iloilo Province and Capiz Province
Councilor LEX with the NMYL group visits the Crocodile Farm as part of learning about endangered species
At the Background is the Entrance to the Cave
On the way to the Underwater Cave
With NMYL Iloilo members: Boni, Frince, JP, Val and Marlon
During the National Movement of Young Legislators Seminar on Addressing the Effects of Global Warming in Puerto Princesa, PalawanLet us protect mother nature.
It is our environment that provides us food, shelter and clothing and much much more...We have to use it wisely and also think of the future generation. Let us go beyond thinking of just the here and now.
Puerto Princesa and Palawan in general have benefited so much from its rich and vast sources of natural resources. The city and province knows such and as a result has moved to protect one of its main economic drivers, the environment, by strictly implementing national eco-friendly laws and have passed local ordinances to make sure their is ecological protection and ecological balance with economic progress.
Being members of the youth sector, let us act swiftly and responsibly so as to make sure that the world we live in is properly taken care of. If not, we might see more starvation, calamities, disasters and other ecological problems.
I am a nature lover as I enjoy taking care of different pets from aquarium fishes, bonsai plant to pet dogs. As such, I'd rather breathe fresh air, drink clean water and see sustainable growth than smog, pollution, dead bodies of water and ecological destruction just like most of you. I am also currently working on a regulation ordinance on the use of non-biodegradable plastic in the City of Iloilo so as to protect our environment as well as to reduce the drainage clogging problems of the city that result to the perennial city flooding issue.
As we think of keeping our environment green, we also assure our health and our children's future.
Finally, Amazing Kingdom of Thailand
4:56 AM at 4:56 AM Filed under: Author:
Bangkok Airport
With Ilonggo friends working in Bangkok
This is a great marble palace...
The standing buddha is said to be made of gold
Majestic Thailand
Respecting the Thai religionOctober 13, 2008
Ever since I was in high school, I wanted to visit Thailand...I don't know why but it has a certain mystery that got my attention. For a number of reasons from re-routing destinations (going to Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, Taiwan, China and Indonesia instead), change of plans and schedule problems, Thailand was a distant dream. The closest encounter I had with Thailand was in October 2007 when I stopped over before going to Denmark and I just stayed in its huge new airport full of King Power Duty Free shops.
At long last, visiting Thailand has become a reality. There were a lot of small problems encountered but I decided it's now or never. I took some time off from work and school to finally live my little boy's dream of visiting Thailand.
It wasn't all that though. It couldn't compare to other tourist destinations, as how I see it, to Europe and the United States of America but it has a very rich culture that is probably the main reason why it gets millions of tourists per year.
When I arrived in Thailand, it was like being in certain areas in Manila like Sta Mesa, Greenhills and Makati. The weather was much much hotter as I felt that I could experience heat stroke...no joke...In any case, Thailand was a great experience. I enjoyed their culture and saw how a constitutional monarchy can co-exist with a modern society. I also did enjoy the night life, the shopping (from side walk vendors to big malls) and the visit to its grand palaces.
Even with me living one of my boyhood dreams to visit Thailand, nothing still beats being at home in Iloilo City, Philippines. Home sweet home.
UGYON (Unity, United or to unite)
7:24 AM at 7:24 AM Filed under: Author:
During a TV guesting interview with two of the most prominent female political figures of Iloilo City and UGYON partymates, former ABC President and ex-officio City Councilor Marietta and City Councilor Perla
I am happy to host my radio program "Tingog sang Kabataang Ilonggo sa Aksyon Radyo" and "Tingog sang Kabataang Ilonggo sa Bombo Radyo"
Being always available to the media for TV Interviews to answer any questions and to inform the city of programs and projects
going around the barangays and keeping in touch with the common folk
I believe, support and promote Academic Excellence
Before the start of the Walk for a cause against cancer
Guest Speaker, Senior Citizens' Event
Oct. 7, 2008
I am privileged and honored to have been appointed and chosen as the youngest City Chairman of a political party, a local party called UGYON. The name of the party means to unite, unity or the act of being united.
I have always advocated the idea of a more progressive Iloilo City if all unite and go beyond political affiliation, gender, barangay or district association, personal and political interests, race, background, etc and focus and prioritize the City first. I have adhered to what Dr. John Maxwell has said, "focus on similarities rather than differences". I believe in tolerance and understanding.
After almost 1 year and a half of being given an electoral mandate, i have worked tirelessly for the concept of unity. I serve everyone fairly to the best of my knowledge and ability. It doesn't matter to me if one actively supported me, voted for me or is allied to me or otherwise when I give public service. There was even a time when some people told me why am I helping out people who went against me before and why am I helping out baranggays that are considered to be small and do not have that much voters. I told them that I am a City Official of the whole city and not only of those who voted for me. I also added that it doesn't matter if a barangay is small and might not have that much voters. What matters to me is that they need help and as their City Official, it is incumbent upon me to serve my constituents well and excellently.
It is quite sad to know that there are some people who try to malign me, make stories against me, try to stop me from reaching my potential and even intimidate and threaten my supporters. There are even instances when some personalities do everything to isolate me from the barangay people or who try to create distance between me and the common folk. As I have had experienced and surpassed a number of challenges in my life, this is another challenge I am willing to face and I will not give up on the people of the City of Iloilo. As I have shown my perseverance and strength before when I was not yet in a political position, the more that I should fight for people to give them a voice and to champion their causes right now when they gave me their trust and support. I am just glad there are much much more people who support me and who believe in me.
Sa mga tagaSyudad sang Iloilo, indi ta gid kamu pagpabay-an kag baya-an. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for. Ugyon Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo.
