Delivered: August 22, 2008 at Sapian, Capiz, Philippines

             Minamahal na Unang Ginang, Dr. Evangeline Onas-Orosco; Rev. Fr. Eugenio D. Caldeo at Rev. Fr. Lory S. Ramos; Pangalawang Punong Bayan, Dr. Ralph C. Odrunia; mga kagalang-galang na kasapi ng Sangguniang Bayan ng Sapian; mga pinuno at tauhan ng mga kagawarang pambayan; mga kagalang-galang na Punong Barangay; mga pinuno at kasapi ng Sangguniang Kabataan; mga pinagpipitagang panauhin; mga kasimanwa . . . magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat.

            Dalawang daan at anim na pu’t limang araw na ang mabilis na lumipas mula nang ako ay tumayo sa harapan ninyo at ihain ang aking  unang pag-uulat sa bayan.   Tinalakay ko noon ang napasimulan, natapos at papasimulan pang mga proyektong pangbayan nang administrasyong ito sa loob ng isang daan araw mula ng ako ay inyong iniluklok bilang Alkalde ng Sapian.

            Pagkatapos nang aking pagninilay-nilay nitong mga nakaraang araw, masasabi ko na itong magagandang simulain na ito ay bunga ng isang pangarap – the lofty dream to genuinely serve you, Sapianon. 

             I am, thus, reminded of a famous quotation that “Yesterday is today’s memory, but tomorrow is today’s dream.”  Bumalik din sa aking alaala ang sabi ni Victor Hugo, isang tanyag na manunulat ng Broadway Musical na Les Miserables (. . .pronounced as Ley Miserab),  nang sabihin niya na . . . “There is nothing like dreams to create the future    . . . Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow.”  Itong paniniwalang ito rin ang nagtulak kay Walt Disney upang ukitin ang cartoon characters na sina Mickey Mouse at Donald Duck.  At sabi naman niya, “If we can dream it, we can do it.  . . . all we need is the courage to pursue this dream.” 

           Ang “courage” o katatagan ng loob ay tunay na niyakap ng administrasyon na ito upang makamtan ang ilan sa mga pangarap ng mga Sapianos at mabigyan, hindi lamang nang tagumpay, kundi nang “meaningful significance” o makabuluhang importansiya and mga kilos at  programa ng administrasyon. 

             Sa pagkakataon na ito, ipakikita po namin ang isang modelo sa “organization development” o OD na pinamarisan ng napakaraming mga organization dito sa atin at ibang bansa, gaya halimbawa ng mga eskuwelahan, establisimiento, at agencia ng gobyerno, na nagdulot ng epektibo at mabungang pamamahala.  Ito rin po ang modelo na pinamamarisan ng administrasyong ito upang magbunga ng tagumpay at kabuluhan sa aming mga gawain para sa Sapian. 

 ·     Ang Strategy o mga plano na susundin upang makamtan ang aming mga ‘goals’.

·     Ang Structure o “functional hierarchy” upang maipatupad ang tama at makabuluhan na ugnayan ng bawat sector sa ating munisipyo.

·     Ang System o processo  patungo sa nagkakaisang pagsulong sa  lahat ng mga kilos at gawain ng ating munisipyo, gaya ng aspeto ng finansiyal, recruitment, promotion, performance appraisal, at maayos na daloy ng mga information.

·     Ang Staff  o ang tamang bilang, uri, at kaalaman ng bawa’t empleyado upang maisayos ang mga gawaing pang-pamahalaan.

·     Ang Style o ang wastong ugali, kilos  at pag-gawa nang mahahalagang mga decision ng mga pinuno ng ating pamahlaan; at

·     Ang Skills o kakayahan ng lahat nang kumikilos sa pamahalaan na angkop at tumutugun sa kani-kanilang mga gawain.

·     Sa gitna nito ay ang Shared Value o ang sama-samang pagtanggap at paniniwala sa kahalagaan at kabuluhan ng bawat sangkap sa modelo tungo sa maayos at mabungang pamahalaan.

·     The lines that connect each factor in the model  show that each element is interdependent with one another.   Ito ay nagpapakita nang importansiya ng bawa’t isang sangkap sa isa’t-isa.

             Ang modelo na ito ay nagpapatunay na ang bawa’t desisyong binibitiwan, kilos, programa at proyekto ng administrasyon na ito ay resulta ng masusing pagsusuri at pagsasa-alangalang ng mga elementong ito sa modelo.

             At dahil dito, kami ay labis na nagagalak na ipakita sa inyo ang mga bunga nito –

·     Educational Programs in collaboration with DepEd and CAPSU, such as: Scholarship Programs via Parent   (local and international) adoption; Rice Loan Programs for Teachers and Employees; and  School Supplies for Day Care Students

·     Sports Development Program also in alliance with the Department of Education Clean and Green Program

 ·     Socialization Programs for Senior Citizens of Sapian, particularly, the Educational Tours;

·    Municipal Insurance Program for the Barangay Tanods, Day Care Workers, Community Volunteer Health Workers, Barangay Service Points Officers

·   Other major and minor Municipal Purchases, such as Stage Plaza, Boardwalk, CTV - Comfort Rooms, Police Patrol Car, Service Vehicle for employees, Boardwalk, Fire Truck, Loader, Service Truck, Garbage Compactor, Shredder Machine, IWATA Air Conditioning units, ECG Machine, and the Biometric System Time Recorder

·   100% Hazard Pay to Barangay Rural Health Unit Workers

·   Increase of Salary and Wages of Non-Permanent Municipal Employees

·   *Religious Programs, such as efforts in making Sapian as the Spiritual Center of Capiz,  Holy Visits of the Pilgrim Images of Our Lady of Manaog, the Sto. Nino  and the Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno or Black Nazarene;

·   Quasi-Civic & Spiritual Projects, such as “Kasalang Bayan”

·   Cultural Projects as the Mayor’s Gallery

·   Improvement of the Municipal Session Hall of the Sanggunian Bayan;

·   Restoration/Beautification Programs, such as the lamp posts at the Barangay Lonoy Plaza,  the Barangay Poblacion Plaza, and the Repainting of the Parish  Church of St. Anne; and

·   The Approval of Tourism/Cultural and Civic-related Resolutions, such as 

a) Resolution No. 29s. of 2008,  declaring the 2^nd Fridays and Saturdays of the month of May as the Talahong Festival;

 b) Resolution No. 001s. of 2008,  appointing Mr. Fredrick A. Oleo as Municipal Consultant for Tourism and Cultural Affairs and Researcher for the Sangguniang Bayan of Sapian Affairs;   

 c) Resolution No. 47s. of 2008, for the purchase  NFA rice for the victims of typhoon ‘Frank’

d)  Resolution No. 44s. of 2008, regarding the  P200,000 financial assistance for the local government unit of Sapian;

e)  Resolution no. 34s. 2008 in connection with a the donation of used utility vehicles, used computer and heavy equipments for Sapian.

f) Resolution No. 52s of 2007, adopting the prayer vigil and all religious activities during the visit of the International Pilgrim Image of our Lady of Manaog; and

g)  Resolution No. 56s. of 2008, adopting the prayer vigil and all religious activities during the visit of the Miraculous Image of Nuestro Padre Hesus Nazareno of Quiapo Church at Sapian.

*    Skills/Technology Training Development Programs related to governance, technology, documentation, management, at iba pa.

*    Community Health Program 

          Iyan ang ilang pagsasalarawan ng mga makabuluhang “accomplishments” sa nagdaang isang taon bunga ng pagsisikap ng administrasyong ito at kooperasyon ninyo.

            Sa kasalukuyan, ipagpapatuloy naming ang pag-uugat tungo sa sigla at katatagan ng ating pamahalaan at pag- uusbungin pa natin ng mga bagong bunga ang mga “accomplishment ng administrasyong ito.  Ang mga kilos at programang amin nang naumpisahan ay aming isususog na may panibagong sigla.  Ang mga nakalinyang mga projecto na nasa ‘negotiation stages’ ay aming ipa-aalam sa inyo kapag ang mga ito ay nagkaroon na ng matibay na hugis at hubog.

             As for the future, I ask myself this question:  Shall the present administration continue to dream as it had before?  Patuloy pa ba kaming mananaginip o mangangarap para sa pamahalaan ng Sapian? 

            Ang naging kasagutan sa isipan at puso ko ay isang malinaw na OO, alang-alang sa inyong lahat na Sapianon! 

          The present administration will continue to dream for all of you.  For   . . .in dreams, there are no impossibilities . . . . all things are possible for those who believe in their dreams.  

             And the key  to realizing dreams, according to Oprah Winfrey, “is to focus not only on the success but more on the significance . . . and then, even the smallest and little victories along the path will take on greater meaning.” 

             But when I, your mayor, dream alone, it may remain only as a dream.    For only as high as I reach can I grow; only as far as I seek can I go; only as deep as I look can I see; and, only as much as I dream can I be. 

             When you, my dear Sapianon, dream with me, it is the beginning of reality.  Together, we can grow, go, see, and become.

            So, if my actions, together with the rest of the people in the entire present administration, inspire you to dream more, learn more, do more and become more . . . then, and only then, can I point the way and lead you to live your lives to the fullest; and courageously and without fear, FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS!

             Kaya’t huwag po tayong matakot mangarap.  We must look for ways to be an active force in our own lives.  We must take charge of our own destinies, design a life of  meaning and significance, and truly begin to live our dreams.

          Our dreams are the touchstone of our character as a people of Sapian. Our dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.

         Pagpalain tayong lahat ng Panginoong Maykapal.  Magandang umaga muli at maraming-maraming salamat sa inyong pagdalo ngayon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Big thanks and appreciation to Dr. Evangeline Onas- Orosco for giving us a copy of this speech through Maridel Olandesca. Thank you again Ms. Maridel :  )

 With much love from Sapian Online !!!