FEATURE
FEBRUARY 6-28, 2010
The Augustinian
7
Who’s Your Bet?
A backgrounder on Iloilo City mayorables By Emmanuel Barcelona and Ronald SoRrilla
Raul Gonzales, Sr.
“A man of integrity, a man of courage” Born on December 3, 1930, Raul Maravilla Gonzalez is the fourth child of the late Delfin Gonzalez, the last sitting mayor of the town of Jaro before it was incorporated as a district of Iloilo City, and Estrella Jover Maravilla, a school teacher. He is married to Pacita Gonzalez, a former congresswoman, and proud parents of Cong. Raul Gonzalez Jr. Jose Mari Gonzalez, Dennis Gonzalez, Marigold Gonzalez and Charmaine Gonzales Castillo. He started his academic pursuit in both public and private schools and was consistently on top of his class. He was conferred a bachelor of Arts degree in the then Colegio de San Agustin (University of
San Agustin) and was a Rector’s Scholar. Achieved the Bachelor of Laws at University of Sto . Tomas on top of his class and passed the Bar examinations with a grade of 99% in Remedial Law and 95% in International Law. His academic pursuit did not stop after passing the Bar and with that he was given the title Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa by the Ramon Magsaysay Technological State University. He held various government positions which include being a congressman for 9 years and a Secretary of Justice for 5 years, among others. He is also a member or a fellow of both local and international law organizations which includes among others president of the Manila IV Chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and President of the
Lorenzo Jamora
“An Ilonggo who loves Iloilo” Larry Jamora is the offspring of Juan Lacson Jamora and Ester Ledesma Habanam born on May 27, 1947 here in the city of Iloilo. He was married to Gilda Ledesma and their wedlock produced two children, Simon Martin Lawrence Jamora and Patrick Vincent Joseph Zafiro Jamora. Mr. Jamora was educated at Lincoln College here in Iloilo City during his elementary and secondary years, whereas his tertiary eduction he garnered the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at De la Salle University in Manila in 1967. He also held various government positions and currently he is the Presidential assistant on
Jed Patrick Mabilog “A man of vision and outstanding performance” The present vice mayor of the city of Iloilo, Jed Patrick Mabilog is vying for the mayoralty position in order to provide the City with a fresh and dynamic leadership. He is the 5th in the eight children of Jose Mabilog and Melchorita Mabilog of Brgy. Tap-oc, Molo. He was born on september 20, 1965. He graduated from Assumption Iloilo for his elementary and he was educated at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biological Science degree in 1987 at the West Visayas State
University. He was conferred a Masters Degree in Public Mnagement at the Ateneo de Manila University in 2008 and presently he is taking up his Doctorate Degree in Human Resource Management. He has held various government positions. He was the city councilor from the year 2004 to 2007. Presently he is the Vice Mayor of the City. He was the chairman of Iloilo city Task Force on Economic promotion and Vice Chairman of on Iloilo city peace and order task force and Iloilo city anti drug abuse council He is active in socio-civic and community activities with the HALIGI Foundation Inc. as one of the
...Continued from page 6 always find difficulty in arriving in school early because traffic consumes the road as early as 6:30AM. As a result, I’m always late in first period algebra. It was during my late sophomore year that the Infante flyover began its construction. It continued even up to my junior year when it was finally completed. During its construction, a lot of things were done as preparation. Trees were chopped down and plants were destroyed. In addition, roads were
widened so sidewalks were minimized from three to four meters wide into a mere one meter. Waiting sheds along the sidewalk were demolished. One of my schoolmates as I remembered, was hit by a falling debris when he passed by the minimized sidewalk. At completion, many were curious of what it feels like to be crossing the top of this flyover. Many said it was like flying especially when you are seated in the front seat of the jeepney. So being one of the curious citizens, I ate my lunch at
Photo credit: http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/5284301.jpg Philippine Bar Association, fellow of the Scandinavian Institute for Asian Studies University of Copenhagen Denmark, governor of Asian Legal Research instituite with headquarters at Kochi City, Japan etc. Former Sec. Gonzalez will capitalize more on the educational system of the city where he plans to put up a college for Technical Courses who in partnership with TESDA will serve as stepping stone of poor city dwellers to escape from the quagmires of ,poverty. Aside from that he proposes to free the elementary and secondary education of Ilonggos because he believes that educating the people will promote social justice. He will also prioritize the health and welfare of the people and promote urban development through the construction of proper housing facilities. He will be strict in enforsing the laws but he will appy it in a humane way. Through the
strict yet humane law enforcement he believes that it will impose discipline among hardheaded people that will in turn help solve the major problems of the city which includes but not limited to garbage traffic and power. For him to solve the city’s problem thewe must not be emotional and would rather be practical. He also agrees with the construction of the coal fired power plants which he pointed out to be necessary with the economic survival of the city which is suffering from rotating brownouts that paralyzes the city’s businesses.
Water(undersecretary). An active member of the Rotary Club of Iloilo and the Two hearts Foundation. He is the director of the Jamora Enterprises which owns the Marymart Mall and SM City Delgado Branch. He clarifies his position in an interview that he is not a politician but rather an “an Ilonggo who loves Iloilo.” He is famous with his slogan “Tion na sang Pagbag-o para sa Iloilo.” He envisions the city as the center of Tourism and educational hub for the entire Visayas, recognized for its quality environment, people friendly services, empowered homegrown talents and en hanced economic opportunities for all the Ilonggos. His long term goal is for the city to become a Clean, Healthy and Wealthy Iloilo.
His priority programs and projects are to make Iloilo slum-free by 2020 or earlier, to establish a viable and robust economic base, improve the environment within three years and within six years, to make Iloilo city the cleanest, greenest and healthiest city in the country. Turn the city government into a full committed, efficient, wellorganized, resource oriented and equipped local government office capable of first rate services to the residents. He will provide proper housing facilities and sites to informal settlers. He will make the city more business friendly by giving incentives to top payers. Develop a plan to have a proper disposal of garbage plus the construction of a sanitary landfill. He will also strengthen the private and public sector partnership. He also
tesstament, where he is the founding chairman. Honest and Accountable Living for Ilonggos and a Graft-Free Iloilo (H.A.L.I.GI.) Foundation, Inc. is an organization that recognizes, maintains and develops strong values and virtues of the Ilonggo community. Aside from that he is the Zone Chairperson Region VI Zone I Iternational Association of Lions Club District 301-B and the immediate past president of Iloilo City Host lions club. He also garnered various awards as testaments of his service impetus. He passed as many as 936 laws that benifitted the Ilonggo populace. Mabilog’s first priority shoould he win is the setablishment of a public city college that will benefit the less fortunate ilonggos. He will make the city more freindlier to busness in
order to generate more stabe jobs for the people. He will provide a decent and low cost housing for the poor city dwellers. In order to continue the legacy of formenr mayor Jerry Trenas he will double the coverage of PhilHealth here in the city. He will provide quality infrastructure through the construction of good roads, comprehensive drainage system, Iloilo city Hall and the iloilo city convention and sports astrodome. He had other plans to do when he won as city mayor. His message for the Ilonggo voters is: “It is not about me but of the future of Iloilo City. Wrong leaders will men sacrifice for the future…I envision Iloilo as the next rising city of the South.”
Jollibee – General Luna and walked far in front of Hotel del Rio to ride a jeepney; my primary purpose was to cross the flyover and feel the “flying” experience. To cut the story short, the jeepney I rode didn’t pass the flyover; instead, it journeyed below the flyover. I did not give up, I rode again and again, day after day just to pass there and I did succeed.
University of San Agustin, I come again with one more curious thought as one more flyover is currently being constructed in front of my new school. As an indicator of progress according to Vice Mayor Mabilog, the flyover aims to ease more traffic problems in the city. Like the Infante flyover, Jalandoni was budgeted by the national government under the President’s Bridge Program. It had no cost to Iloilo City – not even a centavo.
One more curiosity Now that I’m here in the
His message for the Ilonggo voters: “Before casting their votes they must first consider two things - one, the candidate and his backgroad and performance and two, his platforms and whether these will lead to a progressive Iloilo?” added that “ in order to have better government the people governing that is those who are in the city hall must be changed first”. He said in an interview that he will provide a plan and budget to free the education not only of preschools but the elementary and the secondary as well. His message for the Ilonggo voters: “Look at the candidates closely. Enough of the drama, the showbiz type, the popularity contest. Ang akon thoughts with these issues is natilawan naman naton si Trenas, si Gonzales kag Jed. Judge for yourself of their outputs. Again, I have not seen anything conrete being done in the City of Iloilo.”
One more curious thought is that, how does it feel to be crossing two flyovers going up and down in a single sitting? Will riding a Villa jeepney at St. Paul’s all the way to Molo Plaza seem like a rollercoaster, only much cheaper? I can’t wait. Photo credits: http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/ yy335/Haldir07/DSCN2869.jpg http://prestressinternational.webs. com/skywalk.jpg