< Back Moving Forward ANTIQUE RESIDENTS AND PEACEKEEPING BODIES RECEIVE AID The Provincial Government of Antique, presided by Governor Rhodora “Dodod” Cadiao, led the food supply and financial assistance program last November 13. The food was given to members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, and other related agencies tasked with keeping the peace and order and public safety of Antique. There were P500,000 worth of food supplies, consisting of 120 bags of rice, noodles, canned goods, biscuits, coffee, and candies. Advocating for the continued peace and order of the province, Governor Cadiao allocates budget for the peacekeeping bodies who go to mountainous areas in Antique. On the other hand, the financial aid amounting to P84,000 was awarded to 29 recipients of the Kabalaka Kang Gobernadora sa mga Lolo kag Lola Program and to the five chosen recipients of the Aid to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS). A wheelchair was also given to a disabled resident of Patnongon, Antique. Click here to read full article for free

< Back MODERNIZING FILIPINO SKILLS BY CAMILLE CABAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA JR. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Isidro “Sid” S. Lapeña believes that improving the country’s system of training and capacitybuilding is essential to meet and surpass global standards. When President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appointed his Cabinet members, some expressed their concern about his proclivity for appointing retired generals and military veterans. Age aside, they were also questioned about their qualifications for the role. Prior to his appointment as TESDA director general in 2018, Secretary Isidro “Sid” S. Lapeña had already proven his mettle in government work—from being the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in 2016 to spearheading the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in 2017. PROVIDING TRAININGS AND JOBS DURING THE PANDEMIC Unemployment has always been one of the biggest problems plaguing the Philippines. From 2.26 million jobless Filipinos in 2019, the number surged to 4.5 million in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions were displaced from their jobs, especially in services and agriculture. As the agency that is helping the country’s workforce gain more skills and technical knowledge, it was also a challenging journey for TESDA. However, TESDA did not leave the Filipinos disappointed through their continuous assistance in reskilling workers, leading them to other opportunities or to return to their former jobs. Since TESDA has been providing onsite training, many of their classes were put to a halt by the lockdown. From over two million enrollees in 2019, the enrollees of TESDA technical-vocational (tech-voc) programs dropped to around 700,000 in 2020. On the other hand, the decrease in tech-voc enrollees gave way for the increase of enrollees and graduates of TESDA Online Program (TOP). TESDA was surprised with the distinct increase in the number of registrations in courses that can be done at home like housekeeping—gaining an 816 percent increase in registration and 925 percent increase in enrollment in 2020. The agency continued to add more programs to benefit the Filipino people while staying at home. From 68 online courses, the agency now has 141 online courses, including “Harnessing Social Media to Expand your Business,” and “Getting

< Back Putting Local Governance at the Forefront BY GODFREY T. DANCEL INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY BENJAMIN ABALOS, JR. STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING THE PEOPLE, FEEL THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS READY AND ABLE TO RESPOND TO THEIR NEEDS. To say that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is in good hands would be an understatement. With his background in the fields of law, local governance, as well as local and national legislation, Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr. was among the first Cabinet members that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. named as part of his official family. Abalos readily accepted the challenge of leading one of the most important executive departments, even as he noted the DILG’s important role in promoting peace and order and bringing together local government units (LGUs) with the goal of ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of basic services to every Filipino. And with the first year and a half of the Marcos administration having gone by, he wants to make the most of the remaining four and a half. “What I do right now are things that I only dreamt of doing when I was a mayor, but I cannot do because of the limits of my office then. Now it’s an opportunity for me to do things that I know will make a bigger difference,” he says. “So for each day that is given to me right now, knowing that the next years will go by very fast, I try to give it my best. No time is wasted.” Favorable public opinion as reflected in surveys such as the one by RP Mission and Development Foundation earlier this year only serve to fuel the secretary’s will to serve. “Lo and behold, I was surprised with the rating [because] all that I did was just do my job. You know, it’s as simple as that,” he says. In said survey, Abalos had the highest trust and performance rating among Cabinet members. His marks were virtually same as those of the president and vice president. SOLID BACKGROUND IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE Abalos’ sterling performance comes as no surprise. After all, he has been in public service for almost three decades. He first made his mark as a member of the Mandaluyong City Council, being elected to the body in 1995. Three years after, he became the city’s chief executive, eventually cementing his place in Mandaluyong’s history by transforming it into the “Tiger City of the Philippines.” He built on the gains from the foundations laid by his father Benjamin Abalos, Sr., who had served as mayor from 1986 to 1998 (with a brief break in 1987). By 2002, during the younger Abalos’ second term as mayor, Mandaluyong had become a boom city, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center’s Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project (PCCRP). With Abalos at the helm, Mandaluyong became a leading business and industrial center in the country, with its annual income rising from Php41 million in 1986 to Php1.2 billion in 2001. After a three-year gap during which he served as the city’s congressman, Abalos returned to city hall in 2007 for the first of three consecutive terms. Recognizing the mayor’s leadership, his peers from all over the country elected him as president of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP). He concurrently headed an even bigger organization, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), composed of over a million elected and appointed local officials, including provincial governors, mayors, and Sangguniang Kabataan officials. Abalos’ term as representative of the Lone District of Mandaluyong was marked by the same brand of competent leadership he showed as mayor. One of his major contributions was Republic Act No. (RA) 9397, which made it easier for the government to dispose of parcels of land to beneficiaries of government’s housing programs. In January 2021, Abalos was named chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He adopted “MMDA at Your Service” as the agency’s slogan and endeavored to provide quality, efficient and prompt services in order to bring about a safe, livable, and workable Metro Manila for everyone. Abalos also successfully led the unified efforts to combat COVID-19 in the National Capital Region (NCR). Following his appointment as DILG secretary, Abalos echoed the call for national unity. His is the unenviable task of assisting the president in exercising general supervision over local governments as well as the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Bureau of Fire (BFP) Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). “WE GOT THREE THINGS GOING. NUMBER ONE, WE VALUE FAMILY AS AN INSTITUTION. NUMBER TWO, WHATEVER RELIGION WE HAVE, ALL OF US ARE VERY, VERY RELIGIOUS. AND NUMBER THREE, THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN, OF HELPING EACH OTHER. THESE THREE THINGS WILL CARRY US THROUGH IN THE WAR ON DRUGS.” GOING NATIONAL The Ateneo de Manila School of Law alumnus identifies three issues he wants to focus on at the national level, knowing how clear strategies that have been applied in Metro Manila could work not just in other regions but in the whole country. “Number one is having a uniform policy on solid waste management,” Abalos shares. “During my time at the MMDA, I had the chance to work on something like this.” The secretary notes two important things about solid waste management: that it is hard when LGUs have their own policy that is not attuned to those of others, and that using the landfill system comes with various challenges. “The problem with landfills is that once they get filled up, you will have a very big problem,” he says, recalling how he had to act proactively in order to avoid the possibility of a garbage crisis in Metro Manila when he was still at the helm of MMDA. “But what if you’ve got this waste-to-energy program? Meaning in each landfill site, we will convert the energy from trash into electricity.” Abalos recalls how he talked to the operators of the three biggest dumpsites where Metro Manila trash goes, and told them he does not want any garbage crisis, and the way to do this is through a trash-toenergy system. “But it should be self-sustaining,” he adds. “If you have a waste-to-energy project, [you will be able to address your garbage problem]. At the same time, you produce electricity, which could even be given for free to the whole city.” A uniform traffic system akin to the one in Metro Manila is another Abalos priority. “With the help of Atty. Romano Artes of MMDA and all of the mayors, Metro Manila has adapted the unified single ticketing system. The dream: for this single system to be applied to the whole of Metro Manila [after the pilot run] because the 17 LGUs have very porous borders. They’re very close to each other. That was the secret in the war against COVID-19: having a single policy. If you could replicate this approach with regard to other issues like traffic, that will really help a lot.” “The goal here is for people not to be inconvenienced. Just imagine how convenient it would be for people. You are issued a traffic violation ticket in one LGU and that ticket will be recognized all over. It’s always for public convenience mostly.” It is this kind of convenience that Abalos wants motorists all over the country to also experience. “The war on drugs is also very important for me,” Abalos continues. “Now we have this Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program, which means that we focus not only on supply reduction. The focus is no longer just the apprehension of drug pushers, et cetera by the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Equally important is supply reduction, addressing the issues about drugs on the ground and how to keep the number of those already using drugs from rising.” The BIDA Program, as described in the DILG website, is the department’s response to the need for “an intensified and more holistic campaign against illegal drugs to reduce drug demand in the communities.” It underscores various law enforcement agencies’ “continued intensity in the war against drugs within the framework of the law, with respect for human rights, and complemented by rehabilitation and socioeconomic development.” It should not only be to penalize, but to correct and rehabilitate, Abalos says of the criminal justice system’s approach to drug offenders. “They must be penalized for what they did. That’s the price they have to pay. But at the same time, their behavior should be corrected.“ Such an approach, he says, will also solve the problem of jail congestion. He reveals that 70 percent of those presently incarcerated have drug-related cases. With repeat offenders at almost 30 percent, Abalos says government must still be present in the ex-convicts’ lives so that they do not end up in jail again. The answer, he says, is to create halfway houses. These will serve as temporary homes for ex-convicts as part of their reintegration to society. Skills they learned in jail, such as baking and handicraft-making, will come in handy as they prepare to have gainful employment. WHOLE-OF-NATION APPROACH Abalos subscribes to the idea that it takes more than one sector of society to solve serious problems. The BIDA program is one showcase of such. While the DILG takes the lead in the areas of policy formulation and overall program implementation, LGUs are in charge of mobilizing stakeholders and operationalizing program components on the ground. “Each and every sector of society, each and every group [in the community], has a role to play here,” Abalos states. This includes individual families, schools, private companies, even religious groups. Abalos is confident that BIDA’s unified approach to the drug problem will bring positive results, especially as it is in sync with the Filipino culture. “We got three things going. Number one, we value family as an institution,” Abalos states. “Number two, whatever religion we have, all of us are very, very religious. And number three, the spirit of bayanihan, of helping each other. These three things will carry us through in the war on drugs,” he stresses, while also underscoring that the program includes anti-drug abuse education being part of national government projects, LGU events, and school activities. Among the national government agencies that have expressed support for the multipronged anti-drug program are the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Local government leagues, like ULAP, LCP, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), and Liga ng mga Barangay have also pledged support. Religious entities such as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, Imam Council of the Philippines, and Iglesia ni Cristo, as well as professional organizations, like the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and Junior Chamber International (JCI) have likewise assured the DILG of their support. BRINGING GOVERNMENT TO THE GRASSROOTS With his vast experience in local governance, Abalos believes that it is best for government officials to go down to the grassroots and bring essential services to the people. He looks back at his successful Pamahalaan sa Pamayanan program when he was still Mandaluyong City mayor. “Every Saturday, I would gather city hall employees, from those dealing with health, to legal, to business, and bring them to one barangay. There, we provide government services because weekends are when people are in their houses,” he recalls. “So you will see children getting vaccinated or free haircuts and the elderly having medical and dental checkups and receiving eyeglasses. You even see pets getting vaccinated or neutered for free. Even the legal and business-related services are free. And then you get a dialogue with the mayor. So we bring the government to the grassroots.” “That’s what I’ve been doing here in the DILG, bringing institutional changes,” he says. “Yes, bringing government to the grassroots, but now it’s much broader. Broad, so you could always see me Dahil nagawa mo ito, doon papasok ang pagkakaisa (It is important that the people, especially those in need, feel the presence of government. Once this happens, you can say that you have succeeded. You have brought services to them, and made them aware of their rights. With this, unity couldn’t be far behind).” With a competent and experienced leader like Abalos at the DILG’s helm, local governance will surely be given the attention it needs. And with this, Filipinos, even in the remotest of communities, will be given the kind of genuine public service that they deserve. going around. You see, the concept is so simple. Just have people feel government, and that in itself is no small victory.” Abalos reveals going to remote places, islands-provinces, even the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan province, to interact with the people. “Importanteng maramdaman nila ang presensya ng gobyerno. Lalo sa mga nangangailangan. Kapag maramdaman nila ito, doon mo makikita na talagang naging matagumpay ka. Dahil ibig sabihin, naibaba mo ang serbisyo at naipaunawa mo sa kanila ang mga karapatan nila. Dahil nagawa mo ito, doon papasok ang pagkakaisa (It is important that the people, especially those in need, feel the presence of government. Once this happens, you can say that you have succeeded. You have brought services to them, and made them aware of their rights. With this, unity couldn’t be far behind).” With a competent and experienced leader like Abalos at the DILG’s helm, local governance will surely be given the attention it needs. And with this, Filipinos, even in the remotest of communities, will be given the kind of genuine public service that they deserve.

< Back Portrait of the Teacher as Lawmaker BY GODFREY T. DANCEL An academically outstanding and socially aware student, a conscientious teacher, a no-nonsense lawmaker. This, in a nutshell, is how Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo’s traits could be summarized. From molding young minds to helping her constituents solve their concerns through efficient public service to helping craft important pieces of legislation, Quimbo has proven herself as a worthy public servant. Who exactly is this lady legislator, who was recently named as one of the country’s top performing congresswomen? NO STRANGER TO PUBLIC SERVICE Despite being elected to Congress only in 2019, Quimbo is no stranger to public service. “I actually started public service in 1992 as an economics professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman,” she recalls joining the UP School of Economics (UPSE) faculty after graduating summa cum laude from the same institution in 1991. She eventually finished her masteral (1993) and doctoral studies (2000) at the UPSE. She also earned another masteral degree, this time in Competition Law, from the Dickson Pool School of Law King’s College London in 2019. After serving as department chair of the UPSE from 2012 to 2015, Quimbo was appointed as one of the original commissioners of the Philippine Competition Commission in 2016. The PCC is a quasi-judicial body created to promote and protect market competition. It protects consumer welfare by providing consumers access to a wider choice of goods and services at lower prices and promoting a competitive business environment by enforcing the rules of fair market competition. During her two-year tenure at the commission, Quimbo actively took part in deciding on cases involving firms in the fields of power generation, transportation services, consumer goods, as well as communications and digital entertainment. FROM TEACHER TO LAWMAKER Quimbo points to her experience as a college professor and her good working relationship with former Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo as major factors that have helped define her approach to her job as a lawmaker. “As an economist, I don’t deal with people unprepared. I have to look at the data, or the history, or theory behind things. I have my bases, so I am prepared. I was a teacher for six years so I am used to explaining the nitty-gritty of things,” she shares. As for her partnership with Cong. Miro, Quimbo says “it’s a good tandem, because he has many brilliant ideas, and I am the one who brings structure to the conversation. So when we work together, whatever idea or proposal we are discussing, such is polished. So that’s how we work.” GUIDED BY HER SOLID BACKGROUND AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, TEACHER STELLA QUIMBO OFFERS VALUABLE INSIGHTS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS THAT THE CITY OF MARIKINA CONTINUES TO FACE. Quimbo reveals that running for a congressional seat in 2019 was not part of her plans. “Actualy, I just got lost in the woods, so to speak. My husband was graduating from Congress and we needed someone who could assure the continuity of his programs, particularly those on scholarships, improvement of schools, and teacher engagement, among others. It was but proper that a teacher should continue such. And I am a health economist; education and health are intricately related so, in the end, I decided to take on the responsibilty,” she shares. The change in career, however, did not mean that Quimbo also changed her approach to the tasks at hand. “Overnight, I went to this new field. I brought with me my way of life as a teacher, as an economist. So, naturally my approach to legislation and related tasks is structured,” she states. TEACHER STELLA Almost a decade after she left the academe, Quimbo is still affectionately called “Teacher Stella.” This is a part of her identity that she has taken to heart for a number of reasons. The lawmaker reveals that those who do not know her often have a hard time understanding her persona. “Many people are initially intimidated when they meet me for the first time,” she starts. “But they seem to understand me better, understand my persona better, when they realize that I am a teacher. That is why when I first ran for congresswoman, I introduced myself as a teacher. And because of that detail, my constituents readily embraced me. That single word actually captures everything that I am.” Although admitting that she is “not a very patient person,” Quimbo stresses that she is, in fact, “a very patient teacher.” She shares, “I often get teased, asked how I could be such a patient teacher when I am not a very patient person at all. As a teacher, I will not stop until I can see in the eyes of my students that they have understood what I am trying to explain. I do not mind saying things repeatedly, in many different ways, until I see that my students are able to fully understand the concept I am discussing.” Another trait that Quimbo possesses is making sure that she is prepared for any task at hand. “I put in a lot of time before I actually do something,” she shares. “There’s a lot of hard work that goes into what every teacher does. For every hour of classroom teaching, for instance, I put in 12 hours of preparation. Even if I have taught a course many times, repeatedly, I still have to prepare thoroughly. I have to keep up with the literature.” The above-mentioned traits that have shaped Quimbo as a teacher are the same traits that continue to define her as a lawmaker in particular and public servant in general. “Even here in Congress, sometimes they call me a teacher. I usually end up being approached by my colleagues about technical matters, especially those related to economics. They have seen that in my interactions with officials of different agencies, we are able to thoroughly discuss technical aspects of even complicated topics, so they ask me questions on the side. And my fellow lawmakers say that I am still very much a teacher, so they ended up still calling me Teacher Stella,” she explains. A CHALLENGING FIRST TERM Quimbo’s first foray into electoral politics was not without challenges. First, her eligibility to run was questioned. Even as she was able to hurdle the initial challenge and won the elections, a petition was filed at the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) to nullify her victory. With this, the spectre of her being expelled from the Lower House was omnipresent. The situation, however, did not dampen Quimbo’s resolve to fulfil her duties as a lawmaker. This, she points out, is borne out of her life philosophy of always doing what you can with whatever time you have. “Make the best of every day because you do not know what will happen to you,” she stresses. A clear example of this is when COVID-19 struck the country. Drawing from her solid economics background, the then-neophyte congresswoman rose to the challenge of crafting relevant bills that could directly address the effects of the pandemic. “I was the very first to file an economic stimulus bill,” she reveals. “And this was on the day that PRRD declared the lockdown, so this was symbolic. At the time, we did not have a clear plan on how to face the pandemic and its effects. Everyone was talking about health intervention, but being an economist, I thought about the pandemic’s economic impact. We were to have a lockdown, and some businesses might close down, and many workers will lose their jobs.” While acknowledging the need for government to address the health issues, Quimbo focused on what the response with regard to the economic aspect should be. “We discussed what forms of assistance to give, how much financial aid to give. So we computed how much to give to various sectors, including small businesses and workers. And then, other congressmen filed similar measures and that’s when we came up with the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” she recalls. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act provided for a comprehensive approach to the pandemic, giving the president the power to implement emergency measures in response to the crisis. Among the law’s provisions were facilitating the procurement of COVID-19 testing kits and prompt testing of those suspected of having contracted the virus as well as isolation and treatment of confirmed patients; and the procurement of medical goods, equipment and supplies for use in public health facilities designated as COVID-19 referral hospitals. It also provided emergency subsidy to low-income households, as well as a special COVID-19 risk allowance to public health workers. Furthermore, it ensured the availability of credit especially in the countryside by lowering lending rates, as well as provided a grace period for the payment of loans from private and public financial institutions. Reflecting on her active involvement in congressional activities during the crisis despite the HRET case against her, Quimbo says she endeavored to make herself relevant, especially during times of dire need. “At the time, an economist was really needed because a big part of the problem, aside of course from the health aspect, had to do with economics. The relevant questions were ‘What could be done to help small business owners whose businesses closed down? How could we help those who lost their jobs? How should we deal with schools that stopped operations? What could be done to help students who could not go to school? How could we ensure that the transition to new modes of learning will not adversely affect their learning in the long run, and that they would still have the necessary skills needed for future employment?’ So all those concerns had to be carefully laid out and analysed,” she stresses. AN EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE SECOND TERM Quimbo’s second term has been marked by even more active involvement in the various activities of the House. She is the vice chairperson of the Committees on Appropriations and on Nuclear Energy, and a member of 12 other committees. Aside from taking an active role in the budget deliberations, Quimbo has filed a significant number of bills dealing with various national issues. Among these are a bill strengthening the PCC, a bill providing for a national unemployment insurance program, and a proposed law strengthening the Philippine footwear, leather goods, and tannery industries. Aware of the need for a comprehensive approach to flooding, she also filed a bill seeking to institutionalize a 10-year masterplan for flood management. With regard to education, she has filed numerous bills seeking to establish schools in Marikina as a response to the shortage of schools in the city. A major bill filed by Quimbo is House Bill 849, or the proposed Social Health Insurance Crisis Act, which seeks a massive overhaul of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in order to address the social insurance health crisis. One of the salient provisions of the bill is the organization of the Joint Executive-Legislative Social Health Insurance Crisis Commission. By taking all the necessary steps to reorganize Philhealth, the commission will be able to ensure the effective provision of social health insurance to all Filipinos. Quimbo laments the lack of financial risk protection for sick Filipinos and lack of access to quality health care at present. “The main problem is, when Filipinos are afflicted with a grave illness, for example cancer, you can lose everything overnight. You’ll need millions in order to get medical care. But how many middle class Filipinos have enough savings? They cannot rely on Philhealth, because it covers just a small portion of the expenses. Indeed, the financial burden can be tremendous. It can impoverish anyone. So, it’s a social protection issue,“ she stresses. “Number two, access to healthcare is still a problem,” she continues. “Patients do not have ready access to the medicines or maintenance drugs prescribed to them. Even the medicines which should be provided by health centers are not always available.” Quimbo, who is an acknowledged health economics expert, stresses the need to recognize the dire situation that the national healthcare system is in. “We know that there are problems, but we have not yet reached that point where we recognize that there is a health crisis,” she states. “I personally think that we have one, and the sooner that we accept that, the better. With that, we can all begin to address it in a concerted way.” RESPONDING THROUGH SERBISYONG Q Like a teacher grading her students’ exams, Quimbo has identified a number of major concerns that need to be addressed in Marikina. All these, she has been conscientiously addressing through her and Cong. Miro’s own brand of service known as Serbisyong Q—serbisyong mabilis, may puso, at walang pinipili (fast, compassionate and available to everyone). “Number one problem, not just in Marikina but in the whole country, is the high prices of rice and other basic goods,” she says. “That’s a national problem that the government has not fully addressed. What’s the answer? Aside from ensuring supply and competition in the market, we need to do everything we can to make sure that there is employment, so that the people would be in a better position to fulfil their needs.” Healthcare is another concern that Quimbo has been helping Marikeños deal with through her Kliniq on Wheels project, a mobile clinic which provides quality medical services for free. The project is made possible through personal funds, donations from private entities, and sponsorships from various companies who share in her advocacy of providing healthcare to the people. “Many Marikeños come to us seeking medical assistance. I would say nine out of ten people who come to our office to ask for assistance need medical or medically related aid. So, we thought that it’s about time we do a better job with prevention,” Quimbo explains. “Through consultations with our medical teams, we are able to avoid wasting time, which is important when it comes to medical needs. Because if we wait for so long, it’s just going to be more costly. So that’s the whole idea. We put together the resources that we can pool, and maximize the help we receive from the government.” As for education, Quimbo envisions Marikina schools having single shifts. “Right now, we in the 2nd District have only two schools that are single shift. There’s one school that’s still triple shift,” she reveals. Shifting of classes is resorted to by public schools which do not have enough classrooms and other resources to accommodate the number of students. “Our goal is for all public schools in the city to have a single shift. It’s really so that all students go to class at the same time, just like in private schools.” Having multiple shifts also has economic repercussions, Quimbo says. “Now that there are multiple shifts, that means that for families with two or more children, one parent will have to sacrifice their work, in order to attend to their children who have to go to school at different times of day. In effect, the family’s earning potential is halved.” The lawmaker is also bent on making Marikina’s business sector flourish. “The city has to be more business-friendly,” she stresses. “With more businesses, we will be able to make Marikina a Philippine innovation hub. This is in line with our goal of transforming Marikina into a start-up city.” An integral part of the above plan is to ensure that the local government’s interventions with regard to perennial flooding are sustained, if not intensified. “Investors need to be assured of a flood-free Marikina in order to invest in our city,” Quimbo adds. “This is crucial in bringing about an economic boom in the city.” More than economic growth, however, Quimbo is bent on fostering genuine development that will trickle down to the people. “Kailangan ng tunay na kaunlaran (There has to be genuine development),” she says, one that will bring about essential improvements in the lives of all Marikenos. As Quimbo prepares to take on the role of Marikina mayor, she calls on her constituents to join her in working toward building a more progressive city. “Sabay-sabay nating tugunan ang mga hamon habang patuloy nating ipinagmamalaki ang ating lungsod (Let us face the challenges together, even as we continue to take pride in our city,” she ends.

< Back Redefining Radiance and Reach BY TREISHA C. ROVERO GORGEOUS GLOW AND ROSENDA SHAPEWEAR CEO ROSENDA CASAJE NAVIGATES THE BEAUTY AND FASHION INDUSTRY WHILE STAYING ROOTED IN HER MISSION TO UPLIFT WOMEN IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. FROM STARTING A SMALL ONLINE BUSINESS IN 2011, SHE BUILT PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRANDS THAT EMPOWER SINGLE MOMS, PROMOTE BODY CONFIDENCE, AND PRIORITIZE INTEGRITY AND INCLUSIVITY. In an industry bursting with new names, evolving trends, and endless beauty solutions, standing out requires more than just a good product—it calls for vision, grit, and a genuine sense of purpose. For Rosenda Casaje, the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Gorgeous Glow and Rosenda Shapewear, the beauty and fashion space isn’t just a market— it’s a mission. Hers is a story of quiet persistence, business savvy, and an unwavering commitment to uplift others, particularly women dealing with single parenthood. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience, Casaje’s path isn’t one shaped by privilege or a long list of mentors, but by internal drive, clarity of purpose, and the desire to create real, lasting impact in her community and beyond. STARTING FROM SCRATCH Long before the rise of influencer culture or the boom of TikTok beauty brands, Casaje was already running her own online business. Back in 2011, she was sourcing cosmetics and skincare products directly from Thailand, managing retail operations at a time when digital entrepreneurship was still in its infancy in the Philippines. “My roots are business-oriented people,” she shares. “I saw how they rose through the ranks despite challenges. That inspired me to try for myself.” There was no dramatic turning point or idol to emulate—Casaje simply believed that she could build something of her own, and so she did. But the spark behind her business pursuits was always deeper than profit or popularity. “I’ve always wanted to help single parents earn on their own,” she explains. “I wanted to be an instrument of help.” That goal would eventually evolve into a broader advocacy that still defines her businesses today—empowering women, especially mothers, through accessible beauty and wellness opportunities. WE’RE A TRUTHFUL BRAND. WE LOOK INTO THE INGREDIENTS, THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, EVERYTHING. WE WANT OUR CUSTOMERS TO KNOW WE CARE ABOUT WHAT WE’RE SELLING TO THEM. PURPOSE-DRIVEN BRANDING For many, building a brand is about finding a niche. For Casaje, it was about filling a gap with empathy. Gorgeous Glow was founded with two things in mind: offering high-quality skincare products and creating a business ecosystem where others, particularly single mothers, could thrive. By becoming affiliates, women could earn income online while promoting products that made them feel confident and radiant. What sets Gorgeous Glow apart in a highly saturated market is its emphasis on integrity. “We’re a truthful brand,” she explains. “We look into the ingredients, the production process, everything. We want our customers to know we care about what we’re selling to them.” This focus on transparency and quality helped the brand build trust quickly—an increasingly rare commodity in an industry often marred by misleading claims and passing fads. Casaje’s second venture, Rosenda Shapewear, was born out of another realization: Filipino consumers were still underserved when it came to functional, inclusive bodywear. “I wanted users to feel confident in their own bodies,” she says. “That’s why Rosenda Shapewear focuses on enhancing posture, giving support, and making wearers feel their best—not just physically, but emotionally, too.” In both ventures, the core message is the same: empowerment, authenticity, and accessibility. FACING CHALLENGES WITH GRACE AND GRIT Success didn’t come without its fair share of hurdles. As Gorgeous Glow gained popularity, imitation products started surfacing online. “Customers alerted us about fake versions of our products,” Casaje shares. It was a moment of vulnerability—but not defeat. Thanks to strong relationships with online selling platforms, Casaje and her team acted swiftly to address counterfeit sellers. “Now, we have a better system. When reports come in, we investigate and report them immediately.” That experience became a turning point, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to protecting its community and ensuring that only quality, safe products reach its customers. Of course, staying relevant in the beauty industry means keeping a finger on the pulse. “We’re always looking at the bigger picture,” the CEO says. “If you’re complacent, you get left behind.” This mindset fuels her constant search for what’s new and what’s missing in the market. From expanding product lines to improving customer service, every decision is based on real feedback from the people who matter most—her customers. This evolution also includes becoming more inclusive. While Gorgeous Glow built its reputation through skin-brightening products, Casaje has been actively expanding into formulations and solutions that cater to a wider range of people with different skin tones and beauty needs. “We launched our Sun Glow line—gel cream, tinted, and stick sunscreens—as well as lip care and slimming drinks for gut health. We’re also developing more products that are inclusive and suitable for everyone.” Her approach to shapewear is similarly inclusive, built on body positivity. “The inspiration came from people I know who struggle with self-esteem,” she reflects. “I wanted them to feel supported—literally and emotionally—every time they wore Rosenda Shapewear. A GLOBAL VISION GROUNDED IN CULTURE AND COMMUNITY One of the less visible sides of Casaje’s work is her passion for travel and how it shapes her businesses. Unlike trips purely for leisure, her travels are intentional, filled with observation and learning. “When I go abroad for business, I ask questions. I look at what’s trending in their market, and I think about how to tailor that for ours,” she says. This mindset has positioned her brands not just for local success but international growth. Her participation in prestigious events like the Cannes Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week may seem like glamorous milestones, but for Casaje, they were lessons in branding, networking, and market expansion. “I met people who gave me advice on how to improve online marketing, and how to take a more aggressive approach in going global.” Social media, of course, has played a crucial role. “It’s made the world more reachable,” she notes. “It’s created a community where ideas spread fast, and we’re able to see what people love in real time.” Through her platforms, she doesn’t just promote products; she also connects, collaborates, and cultivates. As her vision expands into the United Arab Emirates and Asia Pacific region, Casaje is focused on understanding cultural nuances and adjusting her strategies to resonate with global audiences. “I want Gorgeous Glow Philippines to be known for quality, innovation, and genuine customer connection. That’s what builds a lasting brand” she notes. Even with her growing influence, Casaje remains grounded in her mission. Beyond selling products, she creates opportunities. The Gorgeous Glow affiliate program continues to thrive, helping women, especially single mothers, earn income from home. “It makes me happy to see fellow women thriving,” she says with quiet pride. THE HEART BEHIND THE HUSTLE There’s a creative spirit beneath Casaje’s business acumen. If she weren’t building brands, she says, she would have pursued singing—imagining herself on a stage, singing her heart out to an audience. That sense of passion clearly spills into her day-to-day work, though in a different form. Whether she’s formulating new skincare products, designing shapewear, or building a brand presence across borders, she’s performing in her own way: reaching people, leaving an impression, and making a difference. For those hoping to follow a similar path in beauty or fashion, Casaje has a simple but powerful piece of advice: “Believe in what you can do. Always aim for the best.” It’s the same mindset that brought her from an online shop owner to a CEO with a vision that now stretches beyond Philippine shores. Her story isn’t one of overnight success or media spectacle—it’s a story of perseverance, purpose, and staying true to a mission. In blending passion with purpose, Rosenda Casaje shows that beauty isn’t just something you wear—it’s something you share. And with every product, she’s leaving a legacy of love, strength, and solidarity.

< Back GOV. ALBERT GARCIA Governor Albert Garcia tells us how he is leading the historic province of Bataan towards unity and progress BY AVI CANALE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. Remembered in history as the place where the last stand was made by Filipino and American soldiers who fought the Japanese Imperial forces during the Second World War, Bataan has courageously risen from that fall. Unstoppable in terms of progress and development, the province is set to continue to move up and sail towards a better future for its people. But for progress to take place, it requires the cooperation of every citizen. The strength of a community is dependent on the unity of its members. That is why, in order to promote progress, the Provincial Government of Bataan developed the concept of 1Bataan. Through 1Bataan, the government, private sector, religion, academe, workers, fishermen, farmers can unite in pushing the development of the province forward. “That is the call for everyone to unite, to work together, to create a better province for everyone. That is 1Bataan,” says the province’s hardworking governor Albert Garcia. PROMOTING QUALITY LIFE In the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, Bataan has the lowest poverty incidence in the country at 1.6%. This was not achieved at a snap of a finger, but through hard work, calculated decisions and proper planning. The key to decreasing poverty, according to Governor Garcia, is economic growth and economic growth is fueled by investment. But BATAAN, STANDING TALL AND PROUD BY AVI CANALE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. Governor Albert Garcia tells us how he is leading the historic province of Bataan towards unity and progress Bataan Gov. Abet Garcia with the veterans. Bataan Gov. Abet Garcia during the Police Service Anniversary commercial establishments, banks, cinema, Business Processing Outsourcing offices, a hotel and condominium building. The establishment and operation of the Agriculture Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) is another PPP worth noting. Commencing soon is a partnership with an Israeli company on precision farming. This will help farmers manage their land properly and increase crop production. DRIVERS OF GROWTH The first economic zone in Philippines was opened in Mariveles, Bataan in the early 1970s (Bataan Export Processing Zone or BEPZ), designed to contribute to the economic growth of the country. But due to numerous factors, development in the area idled and declined rapidly over the years. The once ecozone looked like a “ghost town,” until efforts were made to revive and redevelop the place and convert it into a productive freeport zone. Bataan is host to two freeports and several economic zones, which are the drivers of growth for the province besides the typical industries of fishing, farming, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These zones provide generous fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, inviting numerous manufacturing, light, medium and heavy industries, and in turn, produce jobs all-around the Bataan Peninsula. “We have Subic, which is a freeport, 70% of which is Bataan. We have the fastest growing freeport in the country which is FAB (Freeport Area of Bataan). And within, we have the Hermosa Economic Zone, Morong Economic Zone, TEZ Flagship Project of Mt. Samat, PNOC Industrial Park, Government Arsenal which we’re converting into a defense economic zone, the IT parks and the commercial establishments in Balanga and Abucay, plus the tourism belt in Morong, Bagac, and Bagac-Mariveles,” says Governor Garcia of the industries that bring growth and generate jobs for the Bataeños. The new Bataan Provincial Capitol compound is the provincial government’s “Bunker” building, designed to pay tribute to the WWII heroes of Bataan. to attract investments, one should create an environment that is conducive to do business. Bataan strived to achieve this and in 2018, the province bagged the Most Business-Friendly LGU award given by Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). “If you want to grow your economy, you have to be business-friendly. Create an environment that is conducive for business to invest, domestic or foreign,” says Governor Garcia. The provincial government worked hard to improve the peace and order situation, provide better educational institutions and health service, infrastructure, and promote ease of doing business. In turn, this has resulted to more investments and businesses coming in to Bataan and producing more jobs for the people. For Governor Garcia, one of the best things a public servant could do is give people an opportunity to have a livelihood. With a stable source of income, they are able to support their families, become less dependent on government assistance and they can live better lives, thus, eliminating a big percentage of the poverty problem. With the many opportunities opening in Bataan, the province has also experienced families migrating back to Bataan, not only from Manila but also from abroad. “We see people coming back and getting employment here in Bataan. They prefer to stay here instead of working as an OFW.” >> > CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE !! FOR FREE!

c0c4c299-777d-4a6b-824f-b8437fed1acf <Back MAYOR HERBERT BAUTISTA Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista talks about bringing star power to goverment service BY LAKAMBINI BAUTISTA PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAR CONCENGCO In a celebrity-crazed country like the Philippines, show business is said to be the most convenient jump-off point to politics. You are given credence simply for being popular. While this is partly true for Herbert Constantine “Bistek” Maclang Bautista, better known as Bistek, being an artista also served as a challenge for him to prove that he’s more than the komikero and underdog roles he has portrayed on television and in movies. Some of us probably remember him as Napoleon Guidote in the comedy show, “Kaluskos Musmos,” in the late ’70s; as Reneboy, brother to Janice’s character in “Flordeluna;” as Bistek in the BBC 2 TV series “2 + 2;” as one of the stars of the 1980s hit Bagets; as Teng-Teng, the junk collector who transforms into muscled superhero Captain Barbell; and as Jill, the gay sibling of Sharon Cuneta in the movie Jack and Jill. These roles and more, he has essayed during his career as an actor, spanning almost 40 years. The transition from show business to politics almost comes naturally, says the Quezon City mayor, who is serving his final term. He says it’s probably because he was raised by his parents, Butch and Baby Bautista, in a very Pinoy culture—helping the disadvantaged. In his growing up years, he was also surrounded by people who are known for being charitable— Dolphy, Erap, and FPJ—among his dad’s barkada. “What I learned from them is that: your left hand doesn’t need to know what your right hand is doing,” he quips in the vernacular. In other words, you don’t need to broadcast the good things you are doing to others. “Papa, Erap, and FPJ were together in Lo’ Waist Gang, when they were 19 years old. They were really friends. So when we were born—me, Gracia, Jinggoy, and JV—we would see each other at family gatherings. Then eventually, I co- starred with Sharon, who is the niece of (Senator) Tito Sotto and now the wife of (Senator) Kiko (Pangilinan). Sharon’s father, Pablo Cuneta, was Pasay City mayor,” Mayor Herbert ruminates on the showbiz-politics connection. He admits to feeling offended when people say, “ahhh taga-showbiz lang ’yan” (he’s just from showbiz). To people who look down on people from the entertainment industry, he says: “You don’t know the backbone of the entertainment industry!” Mayor Herbert argues that show business has in more ways than one prepared and molded him to become a good public servant. One of the virtues he gleaned from show business is inclusivity—encouraging teamwork to achieve a common goal. “I was trained in an industry where everyone listens to the director, where there is a production manager who takes care of the location, an assistant director who takes care of the shot list, a scriptwriter who takes care of the script, and so on. I was trained to be inclusive,” he says. He looks back to the time he first assumed mayorship of Quezon City in 2010. First day of the executive committee meeting, I asked only two points: One is, if you were mayor, what do you want to do? Submit to me in the next two weeks the programs in the backburner that need to be implemented. Second is, crisis management. We don’t want an incident like Payatas or Ozone to happen. So having said that, my line was: Kung merong sasabog sa mukha natin in the next six months and one year, paano n’yo iso-solve ’yan? Ano ang mga dapat nating gawin?” From Day 1, his leadership was big on teamwork. THE MAKING OF A MAYOR Like his showbiz career, which took him four decades of hard work and perseverance to build and sustain, Mayor Herbert’s political dreams weren’t realized overnight. Like others, he worked his way up the political ladder—from being chairman of the Kabataang Barangay (1984 to 1992), to being councilor (1992 to 1995), and vice mayor (1995 to 1998, 2001 to 2010), before winning the mayorship for three consecutive terms (2010 to 2019). Click here to read full article for free

4f353169-6801-48c3-a2ef-3c9e476561be <Back DOT SEC BERNA PUYAT RADICAL CHANGE With her impressive track record, Berna Romulo-Puyat is bringing back order and instilling a renewed sense of trust and confidence as Chief of the Department of Tourism BY JOYCE REYES-AGUILA PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROMEO PERALTA, JR. Even from the outside, the past few months must have appeared as an overwhelming stretch for Tourism Secretary Bernadette “Berna” Romulo-Puyat. Her role in public service took a sudden turn with her appointment to President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet early this year. The circumstances were unusual. The Department of Tourism (DoT) was embroiled in corruption allegations, owing to deals entered into by its outgoing administration. Romulo-Puyat, then an Agriculture Undersecretary, was tasked to lead an agency in dire need of both fixing and direction. “While former DoT Secretaries had a honeymoon period, I had none,” the Tourism Chief admits. “The issues involving the (department) were indeed intimidating for an incoming Secretary.” Romulo-Puyat’s appointment was simultaneously framed by headlines on the controversial P60-million tourism advertisement allocation signed off by her predecessor’s office. Romulo-Puyat’s untarnished reputation was the saving grace the administration needed for a troubled department. CLEAN SLATE Citizens familiar with Romulo-Puyat prior to her current post instantly understood why she is a perfect fit for the embattled agency. As an Agriculture Undersecretary, she focused on agribusiness and the promotion of the country’s food produce and culinary talent worldwide. Her previous role entailed going around the Philippines to help implement the 10-point agenda of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, Manny Piñol, and the Duterte administration. “Being in the DA for close to 12 years, I was able to travel around the country and see how beautiful our country is,” she says. “Each province has its own unique tourist spots, food, and leisure activities that tourists can enjoy. (Knowing all these) convinced me to accept the President’s offer to become Tourism Secretary.” On social media, where her Instagram account @bernsrp is followed by more than 15,000 users, the Secretary’s feed features a mix of Filipino food offerings, traditions, scenic spots, and inspiring stories. As an Undersecretary, she traveled to learn about the Punnuk end of rice harvest ritual of the indigenous people of Ifugao, promoted Philippine produce in food fairs, and recognized the country’s food entrepreneurs. Her duties included finding ways to ease farmers’ burdens of high cost of inputs and lack of access to credit, increasing inter-agency coordination to protect our natural resources, and a relentless campaign on the enforcement of agricultural and fisheries law. “When the President talked to me about my appointment,” she recalls, “he mentioned that I have credentials and a government service track record, which qualify me for the post. He also noted that I have not been involved in any corruption issue ever since I started serving the government.” Click here to read full article for free

< Back STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2023 BY PAULA ABERASTURI Marcos’ 2023 SONA was full of promises, but several key sectors were left out. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address served as his way of assuring the citizenry that the government is doing its best to address important issues. ECONOMY Marcos enumerated his administration’s triumphs in the economic front in the last year. Among these, he highlighted how the country posted a 7.6 percent growth rate in 2022, the highest our nation has seen in 46 years. In fact, the president declared that the country has emerged victorious despite the COVID-19 crisis. “ Nakakita po tayo ng magagandang resulta (We are seeing great outcomes),” he said. Emphasizing that while there are economic matters that are beyond control, his administration is doing its utmost over matters that can be changed for the better.. Additionally, he exhorted Congress to approve a list of measures with the hope of curbing in􏰀ation, while warning the public against driving food prices up. “In spite of the difficulties, we are transforming the economy. We are stabilizing the prices of all the critical commodities,” Marcos noted. He hoped to assure the populace that “in􏰀ation is moving in the right direction.” He also admitted that in􏰀ation has “accelerated in recent months due largely to significant increases in international prices of oil and other key commodities.” The president mentioned some projections for in􏰀ation, claiming that these have been adjusted upward. However, he failed to lay down concrete plans to tame rising prices. AGRICULTURE Recognizing that the country’s main driver for growth and employment remains tobe agriculture, the president continues to hold the Department of Agriculture (DA) portfolio. He has grand plans for the sector but acknowledged that he needs time. Among the plans for agriculture are to increase production by providing financial and technical assistance to farmers,and investing in scientific research and modernization. “Our aim is to boost our local agricultural production—through consolidation, modernization, mechanization, and improvement of value chains—augmented by timely and calibrated importation, as needed,” Marcos stressed. He also bore down on the plight of farmers, who had to suffer lower prices for their produce, due to smuggling and hoarding. He vowed to put a stop to the illegal and immoral practice of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, and price fixing. The president highlighted the recent approval of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which writes off loans of beneficiaries of agrarian reform. Notably, this was the only measure promised in last year’s SONA that became a law. Lastly, Marcos assured the citizenry that the country is gearing up for the consequences of El Niño such as ensuring food security, and even considering cloud-seeding operations to counter the potentially prolonged drought. ENERGY The president spent considerable time narrating his plans for the country’s energy production and his push for renewable energy. His administration targets to raise the share of renewable energy in the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030, and then 50 percent by 2040. He declared that 126 additional renewable energy contracts were awarded in the past year, as the country opened up investments in the renewable energy sector to foreign investors. Marcos also stated that the country now has a unified national grid, with the interconnection of the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids. “The 􏰊One Grid, One Market’ will enable more efficient transfers and more competitive pricing of electricity throughout the country. However, 68 grid connections are much delayed, according to the [Energy Regulatory Commission] ERC’scount. We are conducting a performance review of our private concessionaire, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. We look to NGCP to complete all of its deliverables, starting with the vital Mindanao-Visayas and the Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnections,” he said. The president vows that the country will achieve total electrification by 􏰁􏰐􏰁􏰆, at the end of his term of office. PEACE AND ORDER Marcos proudly announced that the Bangsamoro transition was on its good way. “We are proud of the progress that the Bangsmoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] BARMM has taken.... Former adversaries are now partners in peace. Its functions have been defined, and its basic laws are now being written. Through the BARMM, we have strengthened the nation’s prospects for finally achieving sustainable progress anchored on a true and lasting peace in the Southern Philippines. We will continue to support the progress of the BARMM, apace with our singular vision for all Filipinos,” he declared. Additionally, the president said that he shall be issuinga proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees, saying: “Through community development and livelihood programs,the Barangay Development and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs have been effective in addressing the root cause of con􏰀ict in the countryside. To complete this reintegration process, I will issue a proclamation granting amnesty to rebel returnees. And I ask Congress to support us in this endeavor.” Lasty, the president beseeched Congress to amend the “antiquated” National Defense Act of 1935, to “provide fora change in the military structure of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that is more responsive to current and future non-conventional security threats to the country’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.” He also declared that efforts are underway for a functional and financially sustainable pension for military and uniformed personnel. THE DRUG WAR The president confirmed that the campaign against illegal drugs launched by the previous administration shall now take a restorative approach. The campaign is now geared towards community-based treatment, rehabilitation, education, and reintegration, with the objective of curbing drug dependence. The administration will relentlessly continue its fight against drug syndicates, shutting down their illegal activities and dismantling their network of operations. Note however that while the president admitted that the Duterte administration’s drug war led to “abuses,” he was not specific as to what the abuses were. He also failed to comment on the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s resumption of its probe into the drug war. FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY The president highlighted the country’s independent foreign policy of “being a friend to all and enemy of none” as the most effective strategy. He stated that he has visited other countries for diplomacy, peace- building, and mutually beneficial purposes. INFRASTRUCTURE President Marcos stated that his administration will sustain infrastructure spending at five to six percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and will tap the private sector for partnerships to expand projects. He emphasized that “our road network plans must link not only our 3 major islands, but all prospective sites of economic development.” He explained that: “(a) the 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel; (b) the Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will connect islands, and includes the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, and the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge.” The administration has also initiated several railway projects, with a total length of more than 1,000 kilometers. Marcos promised that in a few years, travel from Pampanga to Laguna will be reduced “from four hours to just two.” EDUCATION Marcos declares that they are recalibrating the K to 10 curriculum to ensure that it is always relevant, responsive, and at par with international standards. He assures the public that a student’s financial constraints shall not be a hindrance to his or her education, as they have guaranteed safety nets such as skills development training and youth employment programs. “Deserving and talented students without the financial capacity to attend school will not be left behind in this education agenda,” he explained.

8534d104-870b-464c-9163-af7b1536d1a7 < Back THE MAYOR IS ALWAYS IN By empowering and investing in his people, the Koronadal mayor hopes the city will change for the better. BY MARIDOL RANOABISMARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL SORIANO Listening to Koronadal City Mayor Eliordo Ogena’s story is like sitting on your grandmother’s lap, wide-eyed, while taking in anecdotes that restore your faith in mankind. The city chief admits that he’s not a moneyed politician like his opponent in the last elections, who comes from a well-entrenched local political clan. But he won the race, hands down. “After the end of my last term as Vice Governor of South Cotabato in 2010, some people said I should have run as governor, but I coudn’t. I didn’t have the money,” he admits. The governorship was the next logical step after Ogena ran unopposed for his last term. He had previously served as a board member for two terms (1995-2001). As a local legislator, Ogena championed the welfare of South Cotabateños. His legislative legacy includes the banning of open pit mining as stipulated in the Environmental Code of the Province of South Cotabato, Kabugwason-Paglaum Scholarship Program for poor but deserving students, Purok Empowerment ordinance, and excellence award systems. The above pieces of legislation reflect his aspirations to empower and institutionalize bayanihan or the spirit of volunteerism among his constituents and his strong ideology for the protection of the environment for the next generation of South Cotabateños. Since he didn’t have enough campaign funds to run for governor, Ogena tried—and succeeded—to secure the vice-mayoral post of Koronadal. He went on to serve for three terms, from year 2010 to 2019. It turns out the people were observing him all along. They saw Ogena roaming the streets of Koronadal, condoling with a family whose loved one passed away. They had him celebrating with them during special occasions like weddings. They didn’t hesitate to approach him when they needed something for their families. In short, he was always there for them. Ogena says it’s because he swears by people empowerment. After all, it is the people who put him in a position to serve. It is also they who have the power to remove him from office. “We have to liberate our people from the bondage of poverty. "WE HAVE TO LIBERATE OUR PEOPLE FROM THE BONDAGE OF POVERTY. AND THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS THROUGH EDUCATION, CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM, PROVIDING BASIC SERVICES, AND USING MY POWER FOR GOOD.” And the best way to do it is through education, creating job opportunities for them, providing basic services, and using my power for good,” says the new mayor. FIRST 100 DAYS The human rights lawyer says he can only use his power for good if he has the funds to bankroll projects. So one of the things he did during his first 100 days as mayor was to create a technical working group for special projects. Its job is to solicit funds from government officials and agencies. Ogena explains that his budget of Php1 billion is “not much” to meet the people’s needs. He needs five times as much. It’s because this mayor aims high. First on his to-do list is to make the city clean and beautiful, to make his job of promoting his city to local and foreign tourists a lot easier. While waiting for necessary funds, the mayor has tapped the city employees to make the town plaza— the city’s version of Manila’s Rizal Park—more attractive.