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.

September 28, 2008

It is an honor and a privilege to be considered as a youth leader in the City of Iloilo, much more of Western Visayas and amazingly of the Philippines in Global Events.

In the City of Iloilo, I am thankful that I am invited as lecturer or guest speaker of various youth events for schools, associations and professional organizations for their local fora and regional assemblies. I always feel the pressure of doing well and of trying to exceed expectations so as to impart a certain knowledge and to try to be an inspiration to the youth not only of the City of Iloilo but also elsewhere.

I believe in the talent, competence, integrity, energy and dynamism of the youth. I also believe in getting guidance and wisdom from the experienced and from learning from their mistakes. I also believe in treating women well and fairly. These are the sectors I believe should be empowered and given full recognition for their efforts of improving our society and of making them reach their potentials.

As a member of the youth sector, I am proud to be of service to you my fellow youth and also to the women and the elderly sectors.

As Dr. John Maxwell has said, "only secure leaders empower others". I believe in nurturing and guiding young minds and of developing more leaders to introduce change and innovation in our communities. The more leaders we have, the better it is for our country and the world.

September 25, 2008
I have always practiced the policy of City First. It means that the progress of Iloilo City comes before my personal and political interests. This is the main reason why as the youngest City Official I cross party lines and go beyond political affiliations for the benefit of the city. As of the moment, I consider myself as an independent in the City Council. I ran under my own local political party, UGYON party (Ugyon is a hiligaynon term which meand to unite or united).

I support programs, ordinances and projects whoever they emanate from whether administration, opposition or independents as long as the purpose is good, the plans are feasible and for the welfare of Ilonggos and if would result to the progress of the City. It would even be much better if it focuses on the sectors I give most attention to: women, elderly and the youth.

I will stand for my beliefs and my conviction whether it is the popular or the not so popular thing to do but what I believe, based on my analysis and proper consultation, is what is best for the city.

I thank my parents and family members for giving me the space and for trusting me to make well thought of decisions in my area of responsibility even if sometimes we don't see eye to eye on certain issues but the respect remains.

Let us continue to work for the progress of Iloilo City and for the betterment of the socio-economic condition of the residents of the City.