November 16, 2010

I am known by my family, friends and colleagues as one who is frugal and practical. I spend only when necessary and I want to make the most out of every peso I earn and spend. Since I started working (part time) even when I was still in High School and College, I learned about the value of money and it does not grow on trees. As such, I make sure I work on a budget and try as much to save for the rainy days. I have even carried this over to my job that spending should be controlled and to make sure that money is spent wisely. Moreover, I am also the type who has a hard time leaving Iloilo City for one reason or another. I feel that I am so attached to the City of Love that I would need a very valid and important reason to go out of the city such as weddings (mine, my family members and closest friends), anniversaries, visa interview, my daughter's check ups and worth wile training programs and seminars (school related and skills improvement). Given such, It's not easy for me to leave Iloilo City much more the country to go on vacations. What convinces me to go on international trips is when there is an important forum or seminar that I am invited to and I make sure it isn't just a junket trip but one that will be worth the trip and the absence in the city.

Before I became a city official, I was invited and chosen to attend international forums such as being the Philippine-China Youth Ambassador in 2005 where I together with other young people went to various cities of China to study their culture and their political and government systems, in 2006 where I was invited to be a participant to a seminar on running successful political campaigns in Indonesia and in 2007 where I was invited to be an international observer of local elections that were held in Taipei and another city in Taiwan to study its political and public service programs. In 2001, I was sent to the United States of America for some training programs. After I won as City Councilor, some international opportunities also came my way. At the end of year 2007, I was chosen and invited to be one of the participants to the Young Political Leaders Forum in Denmark and as the only elected Filipino public servant. In the year 2008, I was invited to be one of the delegates to the Human Rights Forum in Connecticut, USA and in the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, USA. Now, on my second term, I am once again invited to another international youth forum and this will be in Germany in the International Academy of Leadership. Twenty four young world leaders were invited and I am humbled and blessed to be one of the five Filipinos who were invited after passing through an application process, one month seminar from eighty four applicants to twenty four chosen delegates to the on site seminar. Best of all, these seminars are of no cost to me or the institution I come from. I am honored, privileged, humbled and blessed to be given the various opportunities as mentioned above.

I believe in continuous education and in improving leadership skills for my personal development and for the benefit of the people I serve so I could give excellent public service. Iloilo City deserves competent, intelligent, compassionate and committed leaders. Aside from finishing my Masteral and Doctorate degrees; forums, seminars and training programs on public service, political systems and leadership skills serve as avenues for me to improve and be a much better public servant.

There is so much to learn and there is always a room for improvement.