REP. RUFFY BIAZON
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon shares how good and sound leadership begins with understanding the everyday plight of the typical Filipino
BY MARIDOL RANOA-BISMARK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENJIE TOLENTINO
Most of his colleagues would take their chauffeur-driven cars every day to go to work. Most of them think nothing of taking the courtesy lane for VIPs at the airport upon arriving from an overseas trip.
But not Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon. The three-term legislator takes the MRT at peak hours. He knows how it feels to have a sea of commuters pushing him forward, while he’s standing right next to the door.
He takes the P2P bus, rides the jeepney, and walks if he wants to. That’s because he wants to check out the state of public transportation and experience everything a regular commuter does.
“That’s what we’re supposed to do as a policymaker,” the 49-year-old congressman explains. “It enables us to double check what government officials say they’re doing. I understand that sometimes, they paint a positive picture of the reality. But they can’t fool us.”
Again, unlike some of his colleagues, Biazon politely declines to head straight to the airport courtesy lane and lines up just like us ordinary citizens. As usual, he wants to know if returning passengers encounter problems on their way to the carousel, immigration, and other areas at the airport.
Again, unlike some of his colleagues, Biazon politely declines to head straight to the airport courtesy lane and lines up just like us ordinary citizens. As usual, he wants to know if returning passengers encounter problems on their way to the carousel, immigration, and other areas at the airport.
ON THE JOB
This on-the-ground style is something he learned from his father, former senator Rodolfo Biazon. The four-star general shunned special treatment and preferred to mingle with his men when he was still in active military service.
His congressman-son proves he’s a chip off the old block by talking to his constituents, even if he has to turn down an offer from the men to join them for a few rounds of beer.\
Biazon apologizes and says he’s on duty. It has come to a point where the men have stopped offering him drinks because they know their representative will say no. They also know Biazon will gently urge them to take care of their liver and save the money for their children’s school needs instead.