October 16, 2008

Let 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.

October 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.

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.

Oct. 3, 2008

I have been an advocate of good governance and I yearn to be a public servant of the people. A person who goes beyond political affiliations, personal interests and strives for unity so as to bring more progress to the City of Iloilo.

As the youngest City Official of Iloilo City, my primary priority is to serve the city and not my personal interests alone. I am a City Councilor of not only the 73,000 people who voted for me but of the whole City of Iloilo.

The past few days were very very hectic days for me. I go from place to place, visiting barangays, gracing events, becoming guest speaker for young leaders seminars while balancing my time with my doctorate studies, for quality family time, time with friends, time for gym and exercise, time to read books, time for the Lord, time for my media production and time for rest and relaxation. I don't complain of my busy schedule. I always believe that it's better to be busy than to be idle.

Amidst the numerous and various things I have to do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, I try to manage my time well to be well rounded as much as possible and to know and keep my priorities. My policy is City First and the progress and unity of the City is my top priority. It is a challenge but we young people love challenges and we try even at times to exceed expectations. I can not do it alone, I need everyone's support and I thank those like minded individuals and groups who are also helping me achieve such. We need to develop more leaders who will work for the good of our community. According to Dr. John Maxwell, "secure leaders empower others". Join us as we work hand in hand to make things better in our world.

October 1, 2008

The recently concluded UAAP championship games between the La Salle Green Archers and the Ateneo Blue Eagles still serves as an exciting sports match that has been existing since way back when of the rival schools. It has always been able to bring about excitement, admiration, intensity and the love and affiliation of students to their Alma Mater.

In my case, I am blessed and privileged to be an alumnus of both schools. I started studying in La Salle Green Hills from kindergarten to High School and went and got my AB Economics degree from Ateneo De Manila University. Just to add, I am also thankful to have been a UP Diliman campus alumnus graduating the youngest in my batch in my Masters in Public Management major in Local Government Administration program when I was only 26 years old (started at age 23). I also had international school exposure from the Asian Institute of Management with my Basic Management Program and Leadership Program. Currently, I am the youngest ever doctorate student on my 2^nd year Doctor of Management with concentration in Public Management program of the Central Philippine University.

Going back to the topic at hand, every time there is a UAAP game, especially when it involves Ateneo vs. La Salle, I am left in a quandary to what side I belong to. My old friends are in the La Salle side and my college friends are with the Ateneo side.

I remember when I decided to run for a Student Council post in Ateneo that there were doubts and misgivings of my candidacy for certain reasons and one of which was that I was a Student Council Officer in La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) and they said during that time that no LSGH alumnus has ever made it to the Ateneo Student Council. Apparently, the rivalry of the schools was emphasized with my candidacy. Thankfully and luckily, I won by a landslide and a year after I was appointed as the first LSGH alumnus to the Student Council Department Head post which is sort of a cabinet post as Chairman of the Department of Academic Rights and Services. At that early stage, I wanted to become a link and a symbol of unity amidst the school rivalry. I could even relate this experience to my experience in Rotaract, Jaycees, Kalipi which gave me a fresh face and a newcomer a resounding mandate with high and influential positions. This also could be true with my run as the youngest City Official of Iloilo City going against all odds even with the issues being thrown against me as I was a newcomer, said to be an outsider and was not with the administration but still the city gave me a convincing win. For all of these experiences, I believe I have grown and am ready to face any challenges that come my way. Thus, I truly believe in the saying “nothing is impossible”.

I am very lucky to have had the chance of going to the said best schools in the country because not all have the opportunity to do so. I am very much humbled with such and I am doing my part to share whatever knowledge I have learned from these schools that molded me into becoming a man for others.

I am thinking of a blue sky (ADMU) and a green environment (LSGH) with the colors maroon (UP) symbolizing passion which is public service, yellow (CPU) symbolizing optimism and idealism and my signature color blue which symbolizes unity (UGYON) and orange which symbolizes energy and enthusiasm.