July 1, 2009

Last June 29 was the highlight celebration of the Patronal Town Fiesta of the Municipality of Bartotac Viejo. At present, the Mayor for 8 consecutive years of the said town is my brother, Mayor Raul “Boboy” Tupas. Prior to him, the Mayor was my mother for 9 consecutive years, former Mayor Myrna Causing Tupas. Years prior to her term, the mayor was my father, now Governor Niel D. Tupas. Before my father, my grandfather who is the father of my mother was Municipal Mayor of the said town for two decades. My father became the first ever president of the Mayor’s League of the Philippines. This distinction catapulted him to become one of Region VI Western Visayas’s Regional Assemblymen and then he became Congressman of the 5th District of Iloilo for 11 consecutive years before becoming Governor. My other brother who was then Senior Boardmember of the 5th District of Iloilo became the Congressman of the 5th District of Iloilo last 2007. What made him win despite all odds was his commanding lead in the Municipality of Barotac Viejo.

In my case, without the TUPAS family name, I would have had a much harder time to enter Iloilo City which is a highly urbanized city and separate from Iloilo Province. My whole family can’t even vote for me. I was the youngest candidate and city official at age 27 when I won. I never had a political background or influence in the City. My family name helped me out a lot and the effect of the capitol siege. What built our family name and the good reputation it has in public service started with the Municipality of Barotac Viejo. The municipality gave birth to Tupas in politics and public service. It has stood by our family for generations now.

Even if the municipality can’t vote for me and I am already a resident of Iloilo City and not anymore of the Province of Iloilo, the gratitude to Barotac Viejo will always be present. It was instrumental in bringing our family to higher posts in public service. Thank you Barotac Viejo. As Will Smith has said in the movie Hitch, “You can’t go to where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been”.

I am proud of my roots and family legacy that can be traced from and to Barotac Viejo. Even if I was born in Iloilo City and I am already a resident and the youngest city official of Iloilo City, I will always be proud to say my family hails from Barotac Viejo. Asenso Barotac Viejo!

As what I usually say as my battle cry or my usual spiel, Para sa kauswagan sang Syudad sang Iloilo, UGYON Kabataang Ilonggo, UGYON Iloilo. Ilonggos are worth working and fighting for.