Tag: #election

I don’t know it then, I cried, my wife cried, my family cried. We lost our savings and incurred enormous loans just to fund my campaign. I lost my election as City Councilor in 2006 and it was the best thing that happened in my life.

When I was 18 years old, the legal age to vote, and was still a college student, I ran and won as an elected Brgy. Councilor (Kagawad) in our Barangay Market Area. I turned 18 in January 1994, then I ran in May 1994, and in June 1994 I officially became a public servant.

I ran again for the 2nd and 3rd (last allowable term) term which I easily won. I am a hardworking elected official, I conducted several innovative projects in my Barangay which I believe led me to being voted again. Then came 2007.

I was asked by then Vice-Mayor Arlene Arcillas (who is now our current Mayor) to run as a City Councilor. During that time, I was planning to run as Brgy. Captain but the Barangay election was postponed. Vice-Mayor Arlene’s father is my mentor in politics so I easily said yes that I’ll run as one of her City Councilor. Then, I was overwhelmed. I was not prepared for this kind of campaign.

You see, a City is composed of several political smaller units called barangays. I am great at campaigning in my barangay but I am not used to campaigning at a City Level. I was overwhelmed.

I believed during that time that my credentials and platform would help me win, hah, I was so naive. Every day, for the 45 days of the campaign, we went out, shook hands, talked to people that I met for the first time, and gave speeches in several meetings. It was very exhausting.

What is worse is that I have to keep up with my campaign expenses. I have volunteers helping me but I also gave them allowances because they are leaving their families daily to support me, how will their families eat? My expenses include printing of tarpaulins, gasoline, food, and so many solicitations. Our savings were immediately dried up at the let-go.

Though there are people who gave support through donations, there are more people who asked for solicitations. Thus, just to keep up, I incurred loans from left to right. My job as a sales specialist in a private pharmaceutical company was also affected since I was absent from work most of the time because of the campaign. During the election day, I just voted, went home, and rested. I know that I’m not going to win this one. But my Mayor won!

After a year, Mayor Arlene Arcillas hired me as Planning Officer II in the City Planning and Development Office and I finally shifted work from the private to the public sector. It opened my eyes to a different way of still serving the people but now not as an elected official but as part of the civil service – as a city government employee.

While working in the City Planning and Development Office – I studied. I finished my Master’s in Public Management and Post-Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning. I even took a test and became a licensed Urban (Environmental) Planner. So when my Boss in the Office retired in 2012; I was already equipped to become the head of the office. And in 2013, I officially became the City Planning and Development Coordinator (Department Head / Planning Director) of our City.

Part of my job is to prepare plans (submitted to our office by various departments) as basis for budgeting and once budgeted these plans are implemented. I am also being consulted about local policies and decisions.

Did I say that my salary now is just equal of a City Councilor but without the pressure of campaigning and pleasing voters every three years to get elected? I can work until retirement age, unlike elected officials who have a limited tenure of 3 terms or a total of 9 years. I love my job and I am helping my City. I have time for my family. Life is great.

Because I lost my election in 2007 – my life gained direction. Sometimes, there are much bigger and better plans for us that we do not see during times of despair.