Senator Noynoy Aquino administers my oath of office in their ancestral house in Times Street where former Senator Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino lived. At the back of Sen. Noynoy are individual paintings of his parents. My Tatay and Nanay stand beside me as they serve as the witnesses as I t0ok my oath to serve Iloilo City excellently...I chose Noynoy to administer the oath to me June 2007 as his family is a symbol of democracy and selfless public service...

I am blessed to have a good friend in Nonoy Aquino and he also endorsed my candidacy during the 2007 elections

August 4, 2009

Democracy was something the Filipinos worked hard for especially during the said dark days of Martial Law Rule. It was a concept and a dream that was so evasive.

So many events transpired like the death of then Senator Ninoy Aquino, the snap elections, people power and President Aquino assuming the presidency that restored democracy in our beloved country. For the much younger generations, democracy seems to be something for granted since it is just a given but for those who fought for it, it is a diamond that must be well taken care of. As they say, never again will they allow someone to deprive them of their liberty and freedom.

In the first day of August, the symbol and mother of the restoration of democracy, former President Cory Aquino, passed away. It might have been something people were expecting to happen due to her lingering illness and much publicized battle with cancer for over a year now but I was still left in a state of disbelief and denial. I couldn’t believe a moral leader who fought for each Filipino even as a citizen after her presidency would be taken away from us. I couldn’t believe that someone who is good and kind hearted who could still do so much for our country is now gone. She seemed to always think of the country first before her politics or herself.

It might take some time for me to accept that our former leader in yellow who took the reins of power when I was only 7 years old has left our world but as what a number of people have said her influence and leadership remains. Her battle for democracy has been revived in us due to the various media tributes for her. She will always serve as an inspiration to the Filipinos.

Let us honor her and all of the people before her who constantly fought for our country especially its democracy by being vigilant and participating in activities for the good of our country. Good bye Pres. Cory and thank you for everything.

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.