SCOUTING ACTIVITIES AND MEMOIRS

SCOUTING ACTIVITIES AND MEMOIRS


I was a boy scout since elementary days in Saint Joseph College.  During our time, scouting is part of the curriculum and it is integrated in our physical education, health and music program.  Every month of October, we joined thousands of boy scouts all over Maasin in filling up the whole Anatalio Gaviola Plaza for the scouting rallies and camporal contests.

We experienced cooking and building fires including first aid and tree planting.  Knot tying is one basic skill which was very useful in our everyday
 practical life.  Troop formations strengthened our team building with other scouts.  There were games played also by patrols during scout gatherings.

When I was first year high school student, I applied to join the 6th Regional Jamborette in Sibulan, Negros Oriental near Dumaguete City.  I cried because I was declared unfit by a government physician to join the Jamborette.  I was diagnosed to have asthma which actually I don't have.  I was really very interested to go with the Saint Joseph College delegation joining the Southern Leyte Council contingent.

With the support of my parents, we seek medical clearance from another government physician and I was given the go signal to go with the group.  That was year 1975 and amidst the big waves in
 crossing Cebu to Negros island, I was able to survive the first solid test of overcoming my seasickness.

Our tents were not ready made during that time and we had to build them.  We cooked food using firewood.  I survived the tests of outdoor life.  The whole activity was rocked by an incident, a scout from Cebu got drowned and died in the camp swimming pool.  Our contingent was safe though and we went home to Maasin full of pride, like soldiers going home from war.

When I was in the third year high school, I joined the 6th National Jamboree in Camp Capitol Hills, Cebu City.  The whole SJC delegation was booked at Subcamp Ancajas just very near the arena.  We cooked our own food, joined several camp activities including the very challenging adventure trail, and hiked several kilometers from the city to Lahug where our camp was situated.

We experienced New Year as we welcomed 1978 full of revelry in the camp.  The jamboree was also hit by a typhoon and we experienced flooding of our camp.    But we survived the nature's wrath and went home to Maasin safely.

In my 4th year in high school, even if I was already an officer in the Citizen's Army Training (CAT), I still joined the 1st Southern Leyte Provincial Jamborette in December 1978 as staff.  It was held at Danao, Malapoc Norte.  We were facilitators in the different activities and did household chores in the camp official's quarters.

There was a lull in my scouting when I was in college until my early professional days.  But in 1992 when I was elected Sangguniang Bayan Member (Municipal Councilor) I was elected into the Council Executive Board with the position of 2nd Vice Chairman.  After 14 years, I was back to Scouting! 

With Congressman Roger Mercado as the Council Chairman, we hold the 2nd Provincial Jamborette, also 14 years had passed since the first one when I was still a student.  It was conducted at the Capitol Sunken Garden.  The 3rd and 4th Provincial Jamborette followed until 1998 when then Gov. Rosette Lerias was elected as the Council Chairman and I was chosen the 1st Vice Chairman.

In 2001 I was elected as Council Chairman for Southern Leyte.  We hold the 5th Provincial Jamborette at Danao, this time called the
 Maasin City Forest Park.  After 23 years, Scouting is back at Danao! 

As Council Chairman we sent contingents to the 12th National Jamboree at  Palo, Leyte in 2001, the 2nd National Scout Venture at Sorsogon City in 2002, the 12th Eastern Visayas Regional Jamborette at Cebu in 2004, the 13th National Jamboree at Mt. Makiling in 2004, the 3rd National Scout Venture at Cebu in 2005, the 4th National Rover Moot at Cabadbaran in 2005, the 2nd BIMP-EAGA Urban Jamboree at Davao City in 2006,  the Centennial Jamboree at Mt. Makiling in 2007, the 4th National Scout Venture at Mambajao, Camiguin in 2008, the 5th National Rover Moot at Davao City in 2008, the 6th National Rover Moot at Tumauini, Isabela in 2009, the 2nd Border Jamboree at Zamboanga City in 2009,  the 26th Asia-Pacific Jamboree at Mt. Makiling in 2009, the 14th National Diamond Jamboree at Mt. Makiling in 2011. I joined all these jamborees to give moral booster to our scouts. 

I attended two national jamborees in Mt. Makiling with my wife Chona and three sons.  During the national jamboree in 2004 we spent New Year and Chona's birthday in the camp.  The other one was the Diamond Jubilee Jamboree in 2011.  My sons attended the National Eagle Conclave that time. 

Two times, in the 26th Asia-Pacific Jamboree and the National Diamond Jamboree, I acted as sub-camp chief.  For the first one, it included delegations from other countries such Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan and delegations from other regions.  In the second one, the subcamp included all Visayas contingents. 

During my chairmanship, the first batch of Rover Scouts, scouts aged 16 and above or college level, were accepted into the scouting movement in Southern Leyte through rover vigils and investiture programs.  First conducted were the Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen, then SK kagawads, youth leaders, then college students especially from Maasin City College.  Thousands of rover scouts were trained into the ideals of scouting.  They were oriented on the five rocks of life which blocks their way to success.  These stumbling blocks include irreligion, humbuggery, alcoholism, gambling and womanizing.

We had institutionalized the Kab Olympics for the Kab Scouts who were grades one up to grades four.  It was held every year for the Charter Day celebration since 2003.  Hundreds of Kab Scouts all over Maasin City converged to play games with their parents.

We conducted Patrol Leaders' Training Course in all districts of Maasin City Division and in all districts in Southern Leyte Division.  Also, Basic Training Course were held for adult leaders all throughout Southern Leyte. 

We trained scouts for advancement.  After five years and after several jamborees that they joined, we produced five Eagle Scouts, the first in Southern Leyte.  Three of these were my sons - Mallory Samaco, Marton Samaco and Marlon Samaco - and Karl Pete Carrayo and Jefferson Dances.    

Maasin City and Southern Leyte Council hosted the 13th Regional Jamborette in 2008.  The first time a regional boy scouts activity was conducted in the province.  It again hosted the 7th National Rover Moot and the 1st One Visayas Jamborette simultaneously in 2010.  Again it was the first time the province hosted such big activities. 

I was elected Regional Chairman for Eastern Visayas Region which includes Regions 7 and 8.  That was in 2009, when the Regional Scout Committee meeting was held in Maasin City.  I was reelected during the regional elections in 2010 at Siquijor and again reelected in 2011 at Northern Samar.  Other regional meetings I presided were held in Cebu City and Naval, Biliran.

As Regional Chairman, the Regional Scout Committee was able to establish two new associate
 councils.  These are the Tacloban City Associate Council and the Siquijor Associate Council.  I also lobbied for their approval at the national level.    

I became an automatic member of the National Executive Board.  I attended board meetings and Annual National Council Meetings such as those in Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Makati, and Zamboanga.  I had several occasions of meeting Vice President and BSP National President Jejomar Binay.  Every time we met he called me giant killer because of what happened in the 2007 mayoral elections. 

During the Annual National Council Meeting in Zamboanga City, I made a PowerPoint presentation of Maasin City and Southern Leyte as prospective host to the National Rover Moot to some 300 delegates and scout executives from all over the Philippines. 

As Regional Chairman I hosted the woodbadge training for troop leaders in Maasin in 2009 where I was a trainee.  It was participated in by adult leaders from the entire region.  Probably I was the only incumbent local chief executive in the entire country who participated in a training so rigid and humiliating as the woodbadge for troop leaders.  During that time, I was not treated as mayor but as an ordinary adult leader.  We cooked our own food, slept in tents, hiked, jogged, swam the muddy lake, went through obstacles and undergone training through sleepless nights for eight days.

In 2011, we had conducted again the same woodbadge training at City Forest Park.  This time it was a back-to-back training for kawan leaders and troop leaders from all over the region.  Kawan leaders are for the Kab Scouts while troop leaders are for the Boy Scouts.

In 2012, we conducted again a woodbadge training for Eastern Visayas region at Camp Danao, this time only for troop leaders.  This time Chona joined the training and survived the eight days without adequate sleep.  

I addressed to more than 200 scout executives, field scout executives, council staff members, and commissioners during the 52nd Annual National Scout Executives Conference at Bohol Plaza, Tagbilaran, Bohol in 2011.  I discussed our scouting programs in Southern Leyte Council and Eastern Visayas Region. 

We also recruited street children to our Neighborhood Scouting program.  These twenty-two boys were out-of-school youth and they were called bakal boys because they steal iron and steel for selling to junk yards.  Sixteen of them survived the training and had joined a provincial and a national jamboree.  They stopped their stealing trade and planted vegetables at the backyard of the BSP office to earn money.

These boys were enrolled in the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education.  They graduated on December 2011.  We are still hoping that some of these boys will get the Eagle Rank and become the first out-of-school youth in the whole Philippines to be advanced as Eagle Scouts.    

I received two national awards during two Annual
 National Council Meetings.  The first one at Dusit Hotel, Makati City on 2002, recognizing the donation of a camp site for the boy scouts at Danao and the numerous financial assistance given by the city government to the BSP.  The second one a Bronze Usa Award at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center, Iloilo City in 2010 for years of exemplary service to scouting.    

In October 2011, the Golden Jubilee Jamboree was held at Camp Danao, Maasin City Forest Park.  Fifty years had passed since the BSP Southern Leyte Council was established a year after the province was born.  

In December 2012, we had our Christmas Jamborette at the same venue.  We conducted our first Skills Olympics in October 2013 for boy and senior scouts.  In December 2013, because of Typhoon Yolanda, we cancelled the scheduled Christmas Jamborette and instead organized scouting activities simultaneously in each school.

In December 2014 we had our 53rd Christmas Jamborette in commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of scouting in Southern Leyte.

During the 59th Annual Council Meeting at Tagum City, Davao del Norte on May 20-22, 2014 where I was awarded Most Outstanding Council Chairman.  I received the highest award given that time from Vice President Binay. I was also awarded the Silver Usa award.

I'm very glad that I am very much a part of scouting history in Southern Leyte and all throughout the country.  On my honor, I did my best to do my duty to God and my country.  

THE REAL TOBACCO-FREE CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

THE REAL TOBACCO-FREE CITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

I launched our anti-smoking campaign on World No-Tobacco Day on May 31, 2009.  It was a Monday and during the flag ceremony I destroyed two reams of Marlboro blue seal before the employees of the city hall.  These were given to me as birthday gift last May 24, 2009 during my 46th birthday celebration thinking I would give it to my constituents.

The cigarettes were cut by scissors one by one and dumped into the trash bins.  It ushered a formal declaration of a massive advocacy on the ill effects of tobacco smoking.  Before that, the campaign was introduced by the World Health Organization and the Department of Health during a seminar on our health personnel on April 29, 2009 at Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc City. 

Maasin Anti-Smoking Advocacy Movement began.  What followed were a series of smoking cessation seminars in coordination with the DOH and the Bloomberg Foundation.  I initiated the posting of No Smoking stickers on motorcabs. We conducted announcement using public address system on public places informing the people that our anti-smoking program is on.  Our Healthy City Enforcers informed public utility vehicles at checkpoints of the anti-smoking laws implemented by the city government, especially on visitors and tourists. 

We had conducted information drive in all barangays on Republic Act No. 9211,  "An Act Regulating The Packaging, Use, Sale, Distribution and Advertisements of Tobacco Products and Other Purposes" and City Ordinance No. 2009-042 "The Smoke-Free Ordinance of the City of Maasin, Southern Leyte."  Anti-smoking campaign were also conducted to all drivers of public utility vehicles including motorcabs and pedicabs. 

The Seventh day Adventists supported us in our seminars.  During their Visayas Youth Assembly held at Maasin City Forest Park, Adventists from all parts of the Visayas, including their pastors, manifested their appreciation on our political will to campaign our people against smoking.  The Church continued supporting our endeavors through their prayers and always inspired us to continue our cause for the good health of our constituents

All other religious denominations through the association of the different pastors in Maasin, showed their support by inviting me in one of their meetings.  They pledged their support by inspiring their church members to refrain from smoking.  The program also earned the support of the Muslim community through their imam.

Of course the biggest inspiration came from the dominant Roman Catholic Church and religious organizations like Knights of Columbus and Gawad Kalinga who showed undying support to our advocacy.  Some priests including the bishop appreciated our advocacy and aired their sentiments during their homilies.

Non-government organizations, civic clubs and private establishments helped us in our campaign by posting tarpaulins urging people to quit smoking.  These includes pictures on the ill effects of tobacco.  We removed cigarette advertisements, including billboards and signages in business establishments. 

The Maasin City Jail became a smoke-free city jail, the first in Region 8 and probably in the whole Philippines.  It was not an easy task controlling smoking in a place where suspected criminals and convicts are housed.  At first inmates protested and threatened to stage a hunger strike.  I explained that it is for their own good.  Non-smokers suffered much the consequences in a congested prison cell if smoking is tolerated.  Later the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology (BJMP) Regional Director ordered that all jails in Eastern Visayas should follow the example of Maasin City.     

I campaigned on all city employees to stop smoking.  Certificate of non-smoker is required for all employees, permanent, casual or job order.  Those who could not quit right away were required to undergo smoking cessation seminars.  A single cigarette butt in the city hall is very rare. Even people who transacted business at the city hall were barred from smoking in the city hall premises.  Employees wear badges "Serbisyong Walay Sigarilyo" (No Smoking Service).

Maasin City College, owned and operated by the city government, is now the number one smoke-free college campus in Eastern Visayas and was awarded by the DOH.  Mere position of cigarette, match or lighter in the MCC campus is strictly prohibited.

Maasin City Forest Park at Sitio Danao, Malapoc Norte, where the Maasin City Zoo is situated, is declared as a smoke-free zone.  In one activity participated by delegates all over the country, during the Boy Scouts of the
Philippines 7th National Rover Moot and One-Visayas Jamboree all participants, adult leaders and visitors were prohibited from smoking.

Motorcabs' and pedicabs'  franchises were not renewed if they did not print No Smoking signs inside their vehicles.   Smoking is strictly prohibited in public utility vehicles and in public places such as plaza, market, terminal, schools, hospitals, clinics, restaurants and other covered places.  Public place is defined as a place where people converge including streets.

I was able to convince the management of the provincial hospital especially smoking doctors to refrain from their vices especially if patients could view them smoking.  Besides the Province of Southern Leyte has passed an ordinance declaring the province as smoke-free.  A smoking area was also designated in the cockpit.

Tobacco advertisements and promotions were prohibited.   Tarpaulins showing the ill effects of a smoker's body and campaigning people to quit smoking abound the streets and public places instead.

Maasin won its first Red Orchid Award given by the Department of Health in coordination with the World Health  Organization and the Bloomberg Foundation on May 31, 2010.  Red orchid is the most sensitive of all varieties of orchids.  When there's smoke due to pollution or cigarette, it withers.  Maasin City is one of the only five local government units awarded the Red Orchid which include Davao City, Legaspi City, Talisayan in Misamis Oriental and Calauag in Quezon.

The search by the DOH is joined by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in its quest for Kalusugang Pangkalahatan or Universal Health Care, living a healthy lifestyle in an environment free from tobacco smoke. 

The DOH Red Orchid Awards winners are judged based on the strength of comprehensive efforts to implement a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment using the World Health Organization  MPOWER initiative. MPOWER is an acronym that denotes the six proven tobacco control policies, namely: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn against the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and Raise taxes on tobacco.

The following year on May 31, 2011, Maasin City led all cities in receiving its second Red Orchid Award.  Davao City, Roxas City, Balanga City and Legaspi City also were awarded.  There were also 13 municipalities who received the Red Orchid, including Pintuyan and Naval, who conducted seminars and learned the techniques in Maasin.

During the awarding, I met Running Priest Father Robert Reyes, a staunch advocate of anti-smoking.  In his runs, he spread the word on the killer effects of tobacco.  We had conducted also our Takbo Kontra Tabako on May 23, 2011 one day before my birthday.  It was a run for a cause and all the proceeds were given as financial assistance to victims of tobacco-related diseases.  

We have promoted the No Smoking Home and gave stickers to residencial houses who wanted to make their houses smoke-free.   The Blue Ribbon award was given to smoke free private establishments and the private sector who assisted us in our advocacy.   We also conducted a search for Outstanding Smoke-Free Barangays or the Barangay Red Orchid Awards, following the format of the DOH Red Orchids Award.

We have established three smoking cessation clinics, at the City Health Offices I, II and III at Barangays Asuncion, San Rafael, and Manhilo, respectively.  Smoking is considered as the fifth vital sign of a patient, the others being blood pressure, body temperature, height and weight, in our health offices, centers and stations.  The Smoking Cessation Clinic is established at the Office of the City Mayor.

Volunteers' training was conducted to recruit anti-smoking volunteers among students, barangay tanods, Sangguniang Kabataan officials and members, and out-of-school youths and they were issued identification cards.

On May 29, 2012, Maasin City won the Hall of Fame by getting the third Red Orchid Award together with the other Hall of Famers Davao City, Legaspi City, Calauag in Quezon and Talisayan in Misamis Oriental at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.  We were awarded a P500,000 project grant on tobacco control for us who won for three consecutive years. We used the money to buy LCD projector and sound system for our advocacy.

There was DOH Caraga Region who conducted studies in Maasin.  Four municipalites of Biliran and two of Southern Leyte became recipients of our seminar-trainings.  The masteral students of Southwestern University from Cebu conducted their lakbay aral primarily to learn how effective the anti-tobacco program of Maasin is.  Nursing students from different schools made a survey on our people on the lessening or quitting of their smoking habits.

DOH Calabarzon also visited Maasin for an educational tour.  The Philippine Ports Authority also came to learn on how to make the ports tobacco free.  I was invited by Tacloban City to conduct a seminar on their enforcers on how to implement the anti-smoking law.

I campaigned anti-smoking thoroughly to all barangay captains and other officials.  A Barangay Red Orchid Award was conducted with big prizes awaiting the winners in the urban and rural category.

The 2012 Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet in Maasin became the first ever smoke-free EVRAA. Coaches, trainers and officials are prohibited from smoking to show good examples to their athletes.

When Maasin hosted the National Boxing Championships on February last year and the Batang Pinoy Visayas Qualifying Leg on September of last year.  Both events were participated in by delegations from all parts of the county and were declared smoke-free, the first in the history of the two sporting events in the country.

I visited the different schools of the city and campaigned room to room on pupils and students.  I warned them of the law prohibiting minors on buying cigarettes and cautioned them not to buy tobacco when told by their fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and other elders.  I also urged the children to tell their elders to quit smoking because of their concern for their health.

In a great show of political will and to show how serious we are in our anti-smoking campaign, I cancelled all permits for the selling of cigarettes in the entire city.  This is to give thorough investigation on the distances of stores from hospitals, medical, dental and optical clinics, health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries, laboratories, gas stations and storage areas, daycare centers, schools, colleges and other facilities frequented by minors.  We do this for the concern of the health of our constituents especially the wives, mothers and children who are greatly affected by second-hand smoke.

I called stores and residences every Monday at the office warning them against selling of cigarettes.  We conducted a seminar on them on the perils of tobacco smoke.  We have closed stores who continued to sell cigarettes in San Rafael, Tagnipa, Mambajao, Mantahan, Canturing, and Sorosoro.

Our campaign is primarily against the most common legal addictive drug, and that's the cigarette.  In Maasin, we consider smoking as a form of addiction.  While marijuana is medicinal, it is banned because of its addictive nature.  And smoking is considered a habit forming vice, bad for the health, bad for the pocket, and bad for the future of our children.  Smoking is considered as the first step towards drug addiction.

We have a Facebook Page called Maasin Anti-Smoking Advocacy Movement.

MAYOR AND MEDIAMAN

MAYOR AND MEDIAMAN

American Muslim minister Malcolm X said:  "The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.

I was an Associate Editor of our school organ The Josephinian in my Alma Mater Saint Joseph
 College from 1981 to 1984.  It was my first taste of writing for a publication.  I would have been editor-in-chief in 1983-84 but I waived it because of an existing academic scholarship and the vice presidency in the College Students Supreme Council.

When I was in the fifth year college, I tried out for a slot in the Philippine Information Agency through examinations by written essays.  I passed handily the writing tests.  But when I was orally interviewed, I was informed that they would want a graduate.  Nonetheless, I experienced a good passing grade in my writings.    

When Radio Station DYDM opened on January 6, 1991, it was the first time Maasin had its own radio broadcasting from within its area.  I joined the DYDM broadcast in March 30, 1991 with my program entitled “Sports Roundup.”  At first it was a block time program and went on air every Saturday at 10:30 A.M.  Later it became station produced and I went on board at the station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:00 P.M. 

I admitted that the radio exposure helped me a lot in my joining the politics in 1992.  Although a media ban is imposed on candidates 45 days prior to the election as mandated by the Omnibus Election Code.  

When I became Municipal Councilor, I reported as the Sportscaster for the sports segment of daily newscast “Pamahaw Balita.”  I delivered information every morning regarding basketball, boxing and other sports.  Most notable were my updates on the Philippine Basketball Association
 (PBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) where I had many followers. 

There was no internet in Maasin yet and there were not enough sports information on TV so my sports news gave the opportunity for sports buffs to be updated on what's going on in the sports world.

The span of the broadcast was from 1993 to 1998 when I became Municipal Vice Mayor.  Then I went back to every Saturday broadcast at 8:00 A.M. because of my pressing schedule as number two man of Maasin.

I had also other broadcasts which were not about sports.  I had a program “Public Affairs Bureau” and “Kalamboan” but both were short lived.  

Tony Reyes approached me when the Southern Leyte Times (SLT) was at the planning stage and I readily accepted the offer to write a column on sports.  I missed writing in print media and it so happened that the subject was my forte.  I had been buying and reading Sports Weekly Magazine and other sports magazines since I was an elementary student until at present. 

SLT printed its maiden issue on August 1998 and I became a pioneer editorial staff, as Sports Editor and as columnist.  My column was entitled “Sports Roundup” similar to that of my DYDM broadcast.  Every week my sports stories would be printed. 

My first column was about the Sporting Greats of Southern Leyte.  In the succeeding issues I wrote about Ramon Fernandez, Joaquin Rojas, Ringo Navarrosa, Tacy Macalos and Rod Sequinan.  

I met Manny Pacquiao with Quinito Henson at Bayside Restaurant in Manila.  I congratulated him on his win.  He was still a budding Philippine champion at that time and was still unknown in the entire country and I wrote about him in the SLT.  Henson, the Philippine Star sports columnist is really my idol as a sports writer.        

At the height of the cityhood movement for Maasin, I had a program over Maasin Cable Television called “Alagad sa Katawhan - Aksyon Solusyon Inisyatibo.”  At first it was called “Kapihan sa Maasin” where other mediamen were invited to be panellists. It was also simultaneously broadcasted over DYDM.  It reported the accomplishments of the Mercado administration.  It was also our media for the campaign for the cityhood of Maasin.  It was aired every Wednesday.  

In 2001, I resigned from the SLT.  I transferred my Sports Roundup column to the Maasin Mail owned by Congressman Aniceto Saludo, Jr.  I was also the Sports Editor where I was allotted one whole page for my sports column and other sports news.  The reason was political, the Mercado camp was allied with the Saludo camp, while Southern Leyte Times was associated with the Lerias camp.

The Maasin Mail was edited by former Provincial Board Member Dodong Herrera, a seasoned journalist-politician.  I learned from him many tips about journalism and so many rules about publications.  

When the Mercados parted with then Cong. Saludo in the 2004 elections, I resigned from the Maasin Mail.  After the elections, I went back went back writing at SLT from 2005 to 2008 until there
 was a media ban already for candidates.

I had also a brief stint at the Leyte-Samar Daily Express Southern Leyte Edition with my column “Sportsman” until the edition was disbanded.  I also wrote the same column “Sportsman” for the ANS or AMSL News Service.  I also had a brief writing stint with Southern Leyte Balita, the vernacular version of the news.      

I also had a column at the thereporteronline.com called “Missions And Sights And Motions.”  It stopped when there was a media ban for candidates nearing the 2010 elections. 

When I became City Mayor, I stopped writing for any newspaper but I began to write for the website philboxing.com which is also covered by the website mannypacquiao.ph also called “Pacland” and now pinoygreats.com.  I became a contributor along with such great sportswriters as Ronnie Nathanielsz, Manny Pinol, Sev Sarmienta, Recah Trinidad, Ed Picson, Salven Lagumbay, Dr. Rene Bonsubre, Jr.  Even Manny Pacquiao and Gerry Penalosa were also columnists of Philboxing.

It was The Freeman Cebu sports editor Emmanuel Villaruel who introduced me to philboxing.com through web editor Dong Secuya.  I met Villaruel when they were covering an Alex Aroy fight in Maasin.  My first column was about the PBF light-flyweight champion entitled “Aroy Deserves a Rematch” on September 30, 2007.  Until now, I kept writing for the website if I had time.  

I was also given a chance by Villaruel to contribute articles to the Sports Section of The Freeman Cebu where I wrote sporting news from Southern Leyte.

Since I became City Mayor, I had also a regular radio program paid by the city government called “Maasin City in Action.”  The Tuesday edition is anchored by Zaldy Olita and it is usually where I was interviewed on my accomplishments and programs.  The Thursday schedule was anchored by Royen Segovia and the Saturday edition was anchored again by Zaldy Olita where I also reported.  

We were also publishing a monthly report at the Southern Leyte Balita (SLB) called “Maasin City in Action.” It was a newsletter before but we decided to print it in the newspaper so that other municipalities can read about the programs of the city.  I had a message every month on our publication at SLB.  

I am also a founding member of the Associated Media of Southern Leyte (AMSL).  We organized it at the old Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office at the Lim Building in the commercial area.  Jani Arnaiz of The Reporter and Philippine Daily Inquirer was the first and only President until now.  Jani is the son of the legend of journalism Gus Arnaiz, the dean of journalists in Eastern Visayas and publisher of The Reporter, the first Leyte-Samar weekly. 

AMSL is composed of newspaper writers, radio reporters of DYDM and DYSL-Sogod, and the PIA staff.  I joined their Christmas Party every year.  I also called on them whenever we had important events for media coverage in the city.                

I had all these experiences in the newspaper, radio, television and internet media.  And I am honored to be given this rare opportunity to serve the quadri-media.  

BIRTH OF MAASIN CITY COLLEGE

BIRTH OF MAASIN CITY COLLEGE



When I was City Vice Mayor in 2006, I authored “An Ordinance Creating the Maasin City College, Providing Funds Therefore.”  It was the dawn of the birth of a government college in Maasin.  For years, every disadvantaged family in Maasin dreamed of sending their child to college, but most of them failed because of the rising costs of tuition fees and other school fees.

Sogod has Southern Leyte State University and Baybay has Visayas State University.  Naval has Biliran State University, Catarman has University of Eastern Philippines, Borongan has Eastern Samar State University, and Catbalogan has Samar State College. Tacloban has Leyte Normal University and Eastern Visayas State University. 

Maasin was deprived of the opportunity to have a state-run college or university because of the presence of the Catholic-run Saint Joseph College (SJC) and the UCCP-run The College of Maasin (CM).

Then came the moratorium by Congress and CHED on the creation of new state colleges because it would mean additional funds in several millions of pesos which the national budget could not accommodate.  So the possibility of establishing a government college in Maasin became nil. 

So the local government had to take over in establishing Maasin City College, a public college classified under local colleges and universities (LCUs) by the Commission on Higher Education.

It faced so many challenges since its inception.  Saint Joseph College interposed objection with the thought of decreasing their enrolment with the very low MCC tuition fee of P75.00 per unit.  CM though made no attempt to avert the birth of MCC as long as it would not offer courses found in the existing colleges.

I personally handled the making of the documents needed by CHED to open up the school.  There were several documentary requirements necessary and I had to go back to the Regional Office several times to facilitate the processing of these papers.    

Our critics heavily condemned our plan of opening up MCC.  They said it is impossible to open the college because we have no competent teachers and deans.  The area is not an ideal site for a school.  They forgot that a government school is different from a private school and the government helps a government in establishing an educational institution for the disadvantaged youth.    

The second floor of the Maasin Commercial Complex was a white elephant.  It was constructed during the time of Mayor Arthur Bascug and since then it was not finished and abandoned.  Later only a part of it was utilized as Office of the City Prosecutor.  All the rest of the rooms were full of dust and dirt because they were vacant and unfinished.  Other rooms were converted to bodegas of thousands of documents and papers from the accounting and treasurer’s office. 

So when we had the establishment MCC approved by then CHED Regional Director Maria Rita Castillon Ortiz, we began renovating the vacant rooms and converted them into classrooms.

At the height of the local electoral campaign in 2007, Congressman Roger Mercado instructed me to just keep silent on the subject of opening a government school so as not to muddle the issues surrounding its creation which were hurled to us by opponents beforehand.  

Right after the elections, when everything was clear that we won, I was given the go signal by Congressman Mercado and Governor-elect Damian Mercado to start accepting enrollment.  I put together the streamers right away announcing the opening of the MCC with two courses, Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Crop Science. 

I also accomplished personally the scheduling of classes and giving of the teaching load to our instructors.  I had this experience when I was dean of the Engineering Department in SJC.      

Then Vice Mayor Effie Abiera Sabandal was designated as Dean of Public Administration and City Agriculturist Amado Acasio was designated as Dean of Agriculture.

I assumed the position as College President without receiving a single centavo in compensation.  I also handled one subject “Good Governance and Social Reposnsibilty” in the Public Administration Department again for free.  

On June 18, 2007, our classes began.  We had an initial enrolment of 380 students.  We were faced with the difficulty in the lack of classrooms, chairs, books, and other physical facilities.  We experienced birth pains and we were still adjusting to the many problems of opening a school.

We constructed more classrooms and administration offices and expanded our library and laboratory.  We established a clinic, canteen, demo kitchen, faculty room and conference room.    

There are so many scholars in MCC; most notable were the city scholars who were sons and daughters of barangay captains, kagawads, secretaries, treasurers, day care workers, health workers, nutrition scholars, and tanods.  Payment for tuition fees is free.

Other institutions who sponsored scholarships were Alay Lakad Foundation, Gawad Kalinga, An Waray Party List, Limasawa Development Foundation, Maasinhons sa Metro Manila, Maasin Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, District Office of Congressman Mercado, and some private individuals.    

Maasin City College has an enrolment of 1,103 students distributed among the four courses Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Social Work both with government recognitions and Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Bachelor of Science in Tourism, both with CHED permits. 

On March 2011 we had the 1st Commencement Exercises with 124 graduates of BS Public Administration and 31 graduates of BS Agriculture.  The 2nd Commencement Exercises was held on November 2011 with no less than CHED Regional Director Libertad Garcia as Guest Speaker.  There were 41 graduates of BS Public Administration and 15 graduates of BS Agriculture and 26 in Associate in Agriculture.

The CHED issued government recognition for BS Public Administration and BS Social Work and permits for BS Agriculture and BS Tourism.        

The BS Agriculture course was assisted by the University of Eastern Philippines while the BS Tourism course is assisted by the University of the Visayas.  We also ofered a course in Master of Science in Public Administration at the MCC in coordination with the Graduate School of the University of the Visayas. 

An amount of P6 million was used to improve the facilities including classrooms and offices.  While last year an appropriation of about P9 million was used for the salaries of teachers and staff, equipments and office and school supplies.

The college registrar, two clerks, two deans, and some agriculture instructors became regular employees in 2011.  Additional public education and general education instructors, clerks, librarian, nurse and utility workers were appointed to permanent positions in 2015.

The MCC edifice was finished during the first semester of school year 2014-2015.  The completion of the third floor cost P12 million including 16 classrooms, some offices, the audio visual room, hotel rooms, dormitories and kitchen.  The Office of the College President was also finished at the ground floor.

The school housed the Senator Ruperto Kangleon Memorabilia which began in 2013.  The collections
Included his works and writings as a colonel in the guerrilla movement, secretary of national defense and senator of the republic.
Maasin City College Hymn

Maasin City College
Forever we will sing your praise
We give glory and honor to your name
All hail to you Alma Mater Dear.

You are the hope of the masses
Caring for the disadvantaged
We raise your banner to the skies
With pride and joy in our hearts.

Chorus:
Maasin City College
The inspiration to all generations
We will not forget your teachings
And the values that you still in our hearts.
(Repeat Chorus)

All hail to you, all hail to you
Maasin City College, our Alma Mater Dear.


Vision

Maasin City College is an educational institution that offers affordable but quality service-oriented education for the masses and will produce graduates who are self-reliant and dependable and provide economic upliftment for the constituents of the City of Maasin.

Mission

Maasin City College aims to produce quality graduates equipped with action-oriented knowledge and skills, that will cater to the manpower needs of the government and private sector educated by qualified and competent faculty members and supported by the resources and facilities of the City of Maasin. 

MAYOR AND EDUCATOR

MAYOR AND EDUCATOR

I graduated Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Saint Joseph College just in Maasin.  With an honor of cum laude, the school gave me a teaching load while I was still taking up my review in Cebu City.  After the board examination, I immediately reported for work as a part-time CE instructor in SJC.

The college was founded in 1928 and the civil engineering course was first offered in 1973.  The first batch of graduates produced board passers immediately.  Two out of four of the pioneer graduates who took the board exam passed for a 50% passing rate.  I graduated in 1984 and we were the fifth batch of CE graduates in SJC.

I worked also at the Department of Public Works and Highways as a casual employee while teaching in the evening.  I worked with the agency every vacation, doing summer job since I was in the first year college up to the fifth year. 

My work was mostly associated with surveying and I was assigned as instrumentman at Subangdaku River at Sogod , Jubas River at Libagon, and Tuburan River at Tunga-tunga in Maasin.  I also worked as laborer in a building repair at Tomas Oppus Pilot School.  Besides, I did some planning and estimating at the office.  

The actual work I encountered while I was a student enabled me to be familiar with the civil engineers’ work in the field.  It contributed much to my theoretical studies and later on in the exercise of my profession.  

When I passed the board examination for junior geodetic engineers taken August 1984 and for civil engineers taken December 1984, I decided to go on private practice, while becoming a full-time CE instructor.  I also did some construction supervision, surveying works, drawing of plans and making specifications. 

But the lure of teaching took much of my time from private practice.  Much as I would want to be in the field for engineering work, I was always drawn to the classroom to help hundreds of students become civil engineers.

In 1989, I became the dean of civil engineering, after five years of teaching.  That was the time I left my private practice and concentrated on giving a name to SJC-CE and producing as many board passers as we could.

In my classes, I gave examples of problems which came out in the past board examinations.  Then I conducted review classes to graduating students, preparing them for the review that they would undergo in Cebu.  That would mean additional preparation for our graduates in taking the licensure exams.

I also took my students to educational field trips.  This is to familiarize them with the actual engineering work conditions and construction management techniques.  Most notable were at Maria Cristina Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant and National Steel Corporation in Iligan City, Nestle Plant in Cagayan de Oro City, Central Philippine University in Iloilo City, National Highway Construction in Eastern Samar and Biliran,  National Highways and Agas-agas Bridge Construction in Southern Leyte,  Ports, Highways and Bridges in Butuan City and Surigao City, Geographical Information System, Bridges and Shipbuilding Industry in Cebu, and Infrastructure Projects in Negros Oriental and Bohol.  I also let my students study the buildings and churches destroyed by the strong earthquake in Bohol.

The effort paid off as our school passing percentage was always above the national passing.  And we produced a 6th placer in the junior geodetic board examination in August 1989 in the person of Lemuel Gerona.  He also placed 15th in the civil engineering board exams in November 1990 together with my brother Marcelo Michael Samaco who placed 11th.    

When I became a Municipal Councilor in 1992, I gave up the deanship but continued as a part-time instructor in SJC.  We produced Pastor Maitem, Jr. as 6th placer in the November 1992 CE board exams and Nilo Paler as 2nd placer in the November 1994 CE board exams.  And our school passing is always above the national passing percentage. 

I thought subjects in surveying, earthquake engineering, geotechnical and foundation engineering, engineering management, engineering contracts and CE laws.  When I was dean and full time instructor, I thought practically all subjects including board subjects in mathematics, surveying, hydraulics, design and construction.

When I was elected City Mayor in 2007, I did not abandon my teaching profession.  I teach not because of the pay.  We had a very small salary in SJC and it is not enough to be given to solicitations from students and faculty.  But the satisfaction of letting students learn and the contentment of producing hundreds of licensed civil engineers are priceless. 

When I founded Maasin City College in 2007 I acted as a classroom teacher while serving as its first college president.  I was probably the only college president and chairman of the board of trustees who also handled subjects for free.  My class was in the Public Administration Department where I taught Principles of Management and Good Governance and Social Responsibility.

I was able to obtain an approval from the Governor to teach part time after office hours.  Part time instructors are required to get a permit from their respective heads of agency and I am directly under the Governor.  I love to be with the students and I care for their knowledge and success.  Probably I am the only incumbent mayor or local chief executive in the whole Philippines who teach while in his incumbency.

MAASINHON TRIO WINS PGT3

MAASINHION TRIO WINS PGT3

It was like a dream come true and a mission impossible becoming possible.  Winning a nationwide talent search contest using popularity votes over contestants coming from thickly populated provinces and cities is just like a dog barking at the moon.

Maasin City was able to show its solidarity and strength as a small city with a big heart by proving to the nation and the world that we can succeed against all odds.  The capital city also motivated the interest of other towns of Southern Leyte and all other towns of the Diocese of Maasin up to Baybay, Leyte.

The Maasinhon Trio of Andrew Sanchez, Licinio Lolo and Bonifacio Salubre tried out for the ABS-CBN Pilipinas Got Talent.  During the audition, they sang the famous Hadji Alejandro song Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.  Blending three voices together to produce a sweet melody plus live rendition of a hymn depicting the beauty of the Original Pilipino Music (OPM), convinced the three judges Kris Aquino, Aiai de las Alas, and Freddie M. Garcia (FMG).

“Yes, yes, yes” were the votes of the three jurors which gave the famous triumvirate a slot in the next phase called “The Judges’ Cull.” There were 187 talents from all over the country who entered the next round.  But the judges had to select 36 semi-finalists only, 12 from each of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 

The Maasinhon Trio was informed of the good news by FMG in Cebu City in a karaoke bar where they were singing.  They were surprised to see the ABS-CBN chief talent scout who joined them in their singing spree and congratulated them for entering the semi-finals.

There were six batches of semi-finals, and the Trio was scheduled to perform in the fifth week on October 8, 2011 together with Wushu Discovery, Jeziel Dimagna-ong, Negros Dance Superstars, Philippine Dubstep, and Renagine Pepito.

They performed the famous Sharon Cuneta song Bituing Walang Ningning, giving emphasis to the melodious blending of their voices.  The three judges gave optimistic comments on the Trio’s rendering of the song.  If they will top the text and online voting of their batch, they don’t have to undergo the judges’ choice and will automatically join the finals.  

Before the semi-finals, the Trio toured around Southern Leyte including western Leyte especially the campuses to campaign for text votes.  We let them use our city bus and accompanied by some city hall employees.

They also visited parish priests asking for support from the church.  The Trio originally did some songs in the churches during masses and weddings.  At the start there were four of them, a quartet including Father Dodong Cordovez.

City hall employees including provincial employees, students and the general public converged at the City Gym to text for the Maasin City triumvirate.  Other municipalities were also doing their text brigades.  There is one common goal, to let Maasinhon Trio enter the finals so that Maasin City, Southern Leyte will be known nationwide.

On October 9, 2011, the text and online voting results was announced, Maasinhon Trio
 topped the voting by a mile, garnering 52.33%.  Renagine Pepito got 20.99% and also got the Judges’ choice to join the Grand Finals with the Trio.  Jeziel Dimagna-ong had 14.60%, Negros Dance Superstars 6.57%, Philippine Dubstep 6.57% and Wushu Discovery 1.19%.

The next weekend, during the sixth and final batch of semi-finalists’ performance, Justine Bevier-look-alike Khalil Joseph Ramos got 53.2%.  Ramos got a slightly higher percentage of votes than the Trio.  Surely he was a threat to us, since the teenage singing sensation from Paranaque City has the looks, the voice and the influence to win the Grand Finals.  Plus he had the sympathy of the youth and the domicile of a highly urbanized city and Metro Manila.

During the Grand Finals, the Trio sang Basil Valdez song Nais Ko.  They were the second performer behind the first one El Gamma Penumbra, the theater group from Laguna who depicted tourism spots through their shadows.  We had a public showing using big screen at the public stage at the city hall as we gathered around to support our own talents.

The next day was the gathering again at the City Gym by city, provincial and national employees, private sector and non-government organizations, students and teachers and the general public.  This time, the business sector assisted us.  The barangay officials too prodded their constituents to help in the text votes.

The Liga ng mga Barangay campaigned among the barangay folks.  The Barangay Councilors’ League also worked on the kagawads to
 support the texting for the Trio.  The Sangguniang Kabataan also showed their votes through texting especially the students. 

Teachers and DepEd family all throughout the province were also united to give Maasinhon Trio the needed boost.  The Mayors of Southern Leyte enjoined their constituents to give all our support to the voting for the triumvirate.    

Parish priests also supported including religious organizations.  We also campaigned all firemen throughout the country to support Bonie Salubre, himself a fireman.  Likewise Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SOLECO) lobbied from the Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives to support their employee Andrew Sanchez.  Licinio Lolo worked at the Provincial Capitol where Gov.
 Damian Mercado and Cong. Roger Mercado threw all their support.  

Each spent his own money in texting or buying vote cards just to show to the whole country and to the whole world that we were united in giving the much needed vote for the Trio.

Maasin Cable Television kept showing the performances of the Maasinhon Trio on the community channel to campaign for more text votes.  Maasinhons and Southern Leytenos all over the country and those of the foreign countries texted their votes and threw their support through online voting. 

At 4:00 P.M. that Sunday, there were several vote cards arriving at the City Hall contributed by the barangay people and from the private
 sector.  We mobilized our encoders to vote using these cards online.  Up to the last minute when voting had to be stopped, votes for the Trio kept counting. 

But we could not determine who was leading at that time.  All we know that the number one contestant’s votes were still increasing, but the number two contestant’s votes were also fast catching up, as flashed on TV.  From 24-16% lead, the percentage went to 23-17% and the second spot kept trying to grab the lead. 

Finally, hosts Luis Manzano and Billy Crawford declared that the voting has officially ended.  Frankly, I was thinking that we were at number two, because of Khalil’s fame and influence.

Then came the announcement of the results by the judges.  The top three winners were declared and Maasinhon Trio was called!  It was followed by Khalil Joseph Ramos then the Bringas Brothers.      

Then the official results were proclaimed.  Third place went to Bringas Brothers.  It was even more exciting this time.  Then the grand winner has to be called and Kris handed over the result to FMG for him to read.  Then FMG announced the grand winner for PGT3.  Maasinhon Trio!

Shouts and cries broke all over Maasin City and all over the province and the diocese.  The impossible happened.  We beat all the odds!  We had a celebration at the city hall.  Beer and red wine
 flowed.  Cheers for Maasinhon trio! Cheers for Maasin City!  Cheers for Diocese of Maasin!  Cheers for Southern Leyte!

They could not believe they won and off stage they were hugged and kissed by their respective wives and children.  Members of the Maasinhon sa Metro Manila gathered around them to congratulate the Trio for their rousing victory.

The Pride of Maasin City became PGT's first winner from the South as the first two champions Jovit Baldivino and Marcelito Pomoy both came from Luzon.

Maasinhon Trio harvested 22.59% of the votes, while Khalil got 18.64%.  Bringas Brothers collected 14.03% of the votes.  The rest came in this order:  El Gamma Penumbra 8.05%, Synergy 7.27%, Sandugo Band 6.91%, Twin Divas 5.26%, Renagine Pepito 5.08%, Loverkada Kids 4.66%, Muriel Lomadilla 3.56%, Kiriko 2.52%, Lucky Twins 1.43%.  The Trio romped away with the P 2,000,000 grand prize. 

It was reported that there were few cheers in the Ynares Center in Antipolo City where the finals was held when the Maasinhon Trio won.  Most of those who were around were either fans of Khalil or El Gamma. 

The victory of the Trio resulted in a big controversy.  Those who favored Khalil could not accept that their idol did not get the top prize.  Supporters of El Gamma Penumbra and other contestants brought their sentiments over Facebook and all over the net.

Criticisms like Maasinhon Trio were old already, PGT winners were limited to singing and other talents were not given the chance to win, and compulsory vote among people of Maasin City and Southern Leyte.  They were trending in the internet, particularly on Facebook.

Licinio, 44, Andrew, 40, and Bonifacio, 38 at that time, said they first felt uncomfortable competing against younger opponents in PGT3.  But they have been singing together for 18 years and they gained self-confidence with that experience.

The contention of Maasinhon Trio fans is if you want your contestant to win, you should support them all the way and do all your best to vote using texting and online voting.

Khalil is one superstar potential because of his cute personality.  El Gamma Penumbra had a very creative performance in their shadow based portrayal of Philippine tourist spots.  All finalists were excellent performers.  But the winner had to be decided by voting.  

In her TV program “Kris TV,” Presidential sister Kris Aquino attributed the success of the Trio to the “leadership and unity” in Maasin City and Southern Leyte.  

The Freemantle Media, the producer of PGT, and Got Talent International defended Maasinhon Trio against these criticisms and articulated that there were no rules being violated and confirmed the win of the Trio as legitimate.

It posted this statement on The Buzz:  “Freemantle Media, one of the largest creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world, congratulates the Maasinhon Trio on winning the third series of ‘Pilipinas Got Talent.’ The Maasinhon Trio received the most votes in the final of the competition on 24th October 2011.” 

The statement further said, “ABS-CBN followed the voting mechanisms as required by the format guidelines provided by Freemantle Media.  The public vote is the sole determinant of the winner of ‘Pilipinas Got Talent.’ The judges’ role is to provide comment and advise to the contestants; and the voting mechanisms are similar to ones followed in other ‘Got Talent’ territories. The results were independently audited by Sycip, Gorres, Velayo and company (SGV & Co.).” PGT business unit head Alou Almaden said, “The rule of the program… and this is the international worldwide practice, is that, the winner is determined by texting and online votes. And I think that we really have to respect that.” 

I was interviewed in the same edition of the Sunday TV program The Buzz.  I declared that I campaigned vigorously all over Maasin City for all the people to support the Maasin pride.  I just wanted to make our city known for tourism purposes and for economic benefits.

“Nanawagan ako sa mga tao, magtext tayo, bibili tayo ng vote cards para makaboto sa Maasinhon Trio. Nagkampanya lang po tayo. Ang atin lang ma-inspire, mai-promote ang Maasin City for tourism
 purposes,” was my answer.

Licinio, Bonifacio and Andrew expressed their sentiment during the said program, saying they respected the people’s opinions.  They just showed their best so the fans voted for them.  And they reasoned out that all the 12 finalists were simply excellent performers. 

“Sa mga bumabatikos, wala kaming hinanakit sa inyo dahil opinyon niyo iyan. Nirerespeto namin ang opinyon niyo. Ang challenge sa aming tatlo, ipapakita namin kung ano ang mayroon kami,” said Andrew Sanchez.

The Trio became guests in practically all programs of ABS-CBN like ASAP Rocks, Happy Yepey Yehey, Showtime, Umagang Kay Ganda, Entertainment Live, The Buzz, Gandang Gabi Vice, Kris TV and Kitchen Musical.  

Most of the critics won’t be satisfied because they had their own favorite contestants.  As the popular saying goes, it is very hard to please everybody.  But the Maasinhons from all over the country and all over the world were very proud that Maasin City was placed on the map of the Philippine entertainment industry.

The prize they received amounted to the net amount of P1.6 million because of tax deduction.  They gave P200,000 to the church for the carillon bell project of the cathedral,  so they divided the remaining P1.4 million among themselves. 

When they came home during the All Souls’ Day Celebration, we held a Grand Welcome including a thanksgiving mass, motorcade, and program and party at the plaza.  Even if it rained, the weather did not prevent the crowd from trooping to the plaza for the free concert of the Trio. 

Thousands joined us in the big celebration, with hundreds of vehicles lining up during the motorcade.  Everyone of us showed our unequivocal support to the Maasinhon Trio whom we considered as our pride in the field of Filipino music.                                       

Maasinhon Trio’s self-titled debut album was launched on July 21, 2013 on ABS-CBN'S ASAP18.  Produced by Star Records and assisted by Maasinhons sa Metro Manila Inc., the album contained classic Pinoy love songs including "Kahit Isang Saglit," "Sana’y Ikaw Na Nga," "Hanggang," a medley of Rey Valera songs ("Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko," "Kumusta Ka," "Pangako Sa’ Yo"), and their carrier single "Patuloy Ang Pangarap."

We attended ASAP live during the launching of the album and it was our first experience coming to ABS-CBN and joining the audience watching the famous noontime weekend show.  Maasinhon Trio sang their songs and advertised their CD in the famous show viewed internationally through The Filipino Channel.

They also guested the following day in the morning show Umagang Kay Ganda to also promote their CD album.

The Maasinhon Trio sang during our Silver Wedding on June 18, 2013.

ROAD TO MAYORSHIP

ROAD TO MAYORSHIP 


Not all those who dreamed of becoming Mayor were successful.  The position of the chief executive of a town and even more of a city entails a lot of sacrifice and hard work.  Winning a mayoralty race plus performing beyond the expectations of your constituents, are big challenges faced by those who are in the much sought position.      

I was a reluctant candidate for City Mayor of Maasin, though I was with the municipality and the city government as an elected official for quite a long time.  But the thought of becoming a Mayor was very far from my mind.  I may have the competence and experience.  But the mayoralty candidacy entails a lot of financial resources which I don’t have.

From councilor to vice mayor to mayor; changing function from legislative to executive.  I traveled the path to being a local chief executive, with the manner a famous song goes, “I did it my way.” 

When the 2007 election was nearing, the Lakas mayors were endorsing Mayor Damian Mercado to run as Governor of Southern Leyte.  Mian and Rosette Lerias were both in their last terms as Mayor and Governor, respectively.  Congressman Roger Mercado was still in his first term as Representative.

So there were series of meetings called to settle the conflict between the two political clans.  The Lerias camp wanted Rosette’s daughter Dundeet would be the coalition’s candidate for Governor, while Oging and Mian would exchange positions as Mayor and Congressman.

The Mercado camp countered that Rosette and Mian would instead change places as Mayor and Governor, respectively.  Rosette said she was not interested in running as Maasin City Mayor.

Oging proposed that he would sacrifice and would slide down to the position of City Mayor to accommodate Rosette as Congressman and Mian as Governor.

Rosette was persistent at holding the Capitol for the Lerias family.  Her loyal supporters cited sentimental reasons that it was her father who created the province and her mother was its longest serving governor.  

Mian countered that he was not interested at running for Congress and proposed that Oging and Rosette would change places as Congressman and Governor and that he would not run for any position.  The Lerias camp did not agree to the proposal.

The group of mayors brought the case to Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. at the House of Representatives.  The conflict was not settled and we elevated the dispute to Malacañang where we were heard by Political Affairs Secretary Gabriel Claudio, but to no avail.

The matter was brought to Bishop Precioso Cantillas together with the presence of all municipal mayors of the province.  The bishop tried to presrve the unity of the coalition and exhausted all means of amicable settlement.  Still no solution was arrived at. 

So the Lakas-NPC coalition broke and the Lakas Party agreed that Oging will run for reelection as Congressman while Mian will run as Governor.  Over at NPC, Engr. Robert Castañares who was a Liberal Party (LP) candidate for Congressman was also adopted by the party.  Dundeet Lerias was the official candidate for Governor while Rosette Lerias was the candidate for City Mayor.

The Lakas Party is now finding a candidate who can face Rosette for the mayorship.  The sister of Oging and Mian, Emily Mercado was considered.  But she was not interested of the position.  The party had no other logical candidate to field for the mayoralty election.  The barangay captains endorsed me.

At first, I was not really interested at running for City Mayor.  I was considered by Mian for the vice governorship or Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member.    But the turnout of events resulted in my filing the certificate of candidacy for City Mayor.  

The Governor running as Mayor seemed to be the strong choice against the Vice Mayor who ran as Mayor.  I called it a “David and Goliath encounter.”  Rosette had more than 20 years of political experience under her aside from being the daughter of former Speaker Nicanor Yñiguez and former Governor Salvacion Yñiguez.  While in our family, I was the only politician.

She was Governor for three terms and was once a Congressman of the Lone District of Southern Leyte.  She was also the incumbent Regional Development Council Chairman and Regional Peace and Order Chairman.  In other words she had the control of all government offices through the regional directors and the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought of one day facing one-on-one a political giant and a descendant of the famed Oppus clan of Southern Leyte.  Political detractors considered me as nothing compared to the status of my
 political opponent for City Mayor.  Plus I don’t have the financial war chest to face the more established resources of the Governor.

I thought of a “nothing to lose and everything to gain” situation in this election.  If I lose, my head will still be held high as my opponent was the incumbent Governor.  But if I win, it will be a big political success for me.  I had the backing of 63 of the 70 Barangay Captains of Maasin City.  Only the Chairmen of Barangays Acasia, Bactul 1, Isagani, Mambajao, Maria Clara,  Nonok Sur and San Jose.  Plus the support of the Congressman and incumbent City Mayor running for governor gave me added mileage.

Other important contributing factors were I was born, raised and educated in Maasin from kindergarten to master’s degree.  I worked all my professional years in Maasin also.  The family name Samaco is purely of Maasin origin while in contrast, theirs is not.

The Governor had the issue of the mishandling of the relief goods and funds for the landslide victims at Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard.  She categorically denied this through and through.  Plus the issue on her inability to deliver projects for the barangays in Maasin, which Mayor Mercado and myself had built during our three terms. 

They accused me also of being a “puppy” of the Mercados.  That I would also bow down to the whims of the Congressman and Mayor.  My answer to that was unity, solidarity and teamwork, the Congressman's motto, would fast track development. 

My 15 years of serving exclusively for Maasin, then a town now a city, worked also to my advantage.  While Lerias’ coverage was provincewide and she preferred to give her pet projects to Sogod Bay, Pacific and Panaon Areas and not to Maasin, citing the reason that Maasin has a bigger internal revenue allotment.

I campaigned vigorously in the 70 barangays including big puroks and sitios.  Surveys were almost even.  Rosette leads in the poblacion area and I was equally strong in the rural areas.  Betting was very rampant and all in all the total gamble could reach a million pesos The mayoral contest was conceived as a very close fight.    

May 11, 2007.  Election Day.  I voted with my wife Chona at our precinct in Barangay Tunga-tunga.  I was prepared for any eventuality and had learned to condition myself that if I lose, I would still be
 proud of myself. 

Voting was very intense in the mayoralty contest.  Information on vote buying even up to the time when voters lined up at the precincts were reported.  There were heated arguments among supporters almost everywhere.  An incident happened at Barangay Lunas where our barangay captain and her principal-wife were harassed. 

The counting was even more heated.  As expected, Rosette led in the poblacion barangays while I got more votes in the rural barangays.  The results were unpredictable even from the start of the counting at 3:00 P.M.

The next day at about 4:00 A.M., news broke that I was already winning as City Mayor!  Many leaders
 visited me at home to congratulate me and I had no sleep entertaining them.  I preferred to stay at home but later went to the residence of Cong. Mercado when reports reached us that he was still about even with his opponent though he was very much ahead in Maasin.  Later we learned that the Congressman was reelected.

But security told me that the supporters of my opponent would not about to accept defeat.  Citing the manipulating of the results by teachers, many demonstrators trooped to the plaza facing the city hall posting placards denouncing the alleged cheating of the mayoral elections.  Their barkers were shouting at us using megaphones.

These protestors wanted to prevent my proclamation.  So we positioned a firetruck and a barricade of city employees in front of the city hall if in case they would storm into the area where the counting was done and where the imminent proclamation would happen.        

The situation was very tense.  I had enough courage to face my detractors, but security told me to just stay inside my vice mayor’s office.  The rallyists converged at the Rizal monument at the plaza facing the city hall. 

Tension arouse as we had not been proclaimed yet.  Because if a candidate is already proclaimed as winner, it would be very complicated to file a protest in the COMELEC and it would entail a lot of expenses.  

Rosette showed up at the protestors and
 reportedly pacified the group resulting in their dispersal after two days of rallying.  She later conceded defeat in the polls. 

The final tally showed:  Samaco, Maloney L. 18,105; Lerias, Rosette Y. 17,207.  My winning margin was a slim 898 votes.  But in the NAMFREL tally, I was ahead by 1,015 votes.  The NPC legal counsel could not find any irregularity in their copy of the certificates of canvass as compared to the COMELEC copies.  It paved the way for my proclamation.

There was a huge crowd in front of the city hall, this time they were my supporters.  Gone were the protestors.  I thanked everybody for the support and vowed to work for the improvement of the city and the continuation of the programs started by now governor-elect Damian Mercado.

My first term is not without political intrigues.  After I took my oath of office, cynics said that I could not finish my term and that I will only be up to the month of August because my opponent would take over.  My supporters just laughed it out because the former Governor did not file an electoral protest at the COMELEC.

Then rumors again circulated that I would only be up to the end of 2007 as my opponent would take over and many other related gossips.  But I was able to finish my term in 2010 and was reelected.

A retired Major General of the Philippine Army and Philippine Military Academy alumnus was urged by the opposition to run as mayor against
 me.  But he did not push through his candidacy citing family reasons in the United States. 

There was also a misinformation from them that I would not be allowed to run for reelection by the Mercado brothers, but instead will be taken to run as Vice Governor, as the Congressman’s son Liga ng mga Barangay President Nacional Mercado will allegedly be the candidate for City Mayor. 

But again detractors were proven wrong as I filed my candidacy for reelection as City Mayor as official candidate for Lakas-Kampi-CMD.    

Again Rosette filed candidacy to challenge me in the mayoral election in 2010.  She hurled a major issue of high prices of commodities, berating my slogan “Maasin Atong Siyudad Atong Mahalon.”  Giving it another meaning that because of the slogan, prices went up uncontrollably.  They accused this as the cause of the people’s poverty.

But people were wise enough to understand that high prices resulted from the rising fuel prices and it’s a worldwide phenomenon, not only in Maasin.  Out of the 70 Barangay Captains, 69 supported me in the first automated elections of the country.  Only the village chief of Lonoy was on their side.   

I was accused of not giving permit to Liberal Party Candidates Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas to stage a rally at the City Gym when they arrived in Maasin.  But actually the Gym was already booked by a non-government organization for Noynoy called Pilipinas Natin.  We gave them the permit for the city stage but their local candidates wanted to make it more dramatic by holding the rally in front of the cathedral, trying to win the sympathy of the voters.

The national candidates especially Mar Roxas got mad at me and City Administrator Atty. Feorillo Demeterio, Jr.  But he was later informed by LP Southern Leyte chairman Engr. Castañares of the real incident.  He apologized later through his staff.

Engr. Castañares spoke during our meting de avance.  He disclosed the real happening and was able to explain the real scenario of what happened during the LP rally.  The LP Southern Leyte Chairman endorsed my candidacy together with Gov. Mercado and Cong. Mercado as adopted LP candidates.  During the elections, Noynoy and Mar won in Maasin and Southern Leyte.     
     
The final tally of the 2010 mayoral race showed:  Samaco, Maloney L.  26,561; Lerias, Rosette Y.  13,798; the winning margin was 12,763 votes.  I won by a landslide and convincingly our whole Lakas-Kampi ticket won from Congressman down to all City Councilors.  They accused us of vote buying but most people just laughed it off.

Our proclamation was delayed because of the damage of the flash cards of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine resulting to the interruption of the counting of the two remaining precincts.  With the arrival of two new flash cards two days later, we were finally proclaimed close to midnight.  

It was the hitch of automation as we could have been proclaimed earlier if the counting was done manually.  But nevertheless all’s well that ends well and we were ready to serve our second term of office.

Then the elections for 2013 came.  Oging had served his last term as Congressman and was looking for another position to run.  Mian, who had one term left as Governor, was ready to join the Liberal Party, the party of Pres. Aquino, upon the invitation of LP stalwarts, most notably Occidental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali.

Dundeet Lerias became the LP Chairman for Southern Leyte replacing Atty. Rico Rentuza, the incumbent mayor of St. Bernard who was the highest ranking LP elected official that time.

Dundeet worked closely with DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo in the "Kaya Natin Movement."  She became the Congressional bet for the dominant party as a result.

On the other hand, Oging had joined the newly-formed National Unity Party (NUP) as Secretary General of more than thirty congressmen and some governors and mayors with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. as honorary chairman.  It was supported by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

An LP Dundeet for Congressman and Mian for Governor ticket was about to be launched. However Mian had to consult the mayors of So. Leyte of such a move.  The mayors, vice mayors, councilors, barangay officials and sangguniang kabataan officials already signed a petition endorsing Mian for Congressman and Oging for Governor.

There were conflicts in the allocation of LP slots in the city and municipalities.  They want to replace some incumbent mayors affiliated with the Mercados who could still run with their original LP party mates.  A 50-50 sharing in the council by Mercado and Lerias candidates was also proposed by LP which incumbent councilors readily opposed.

In Maasin City, I was considered as their mayoralty candidate if the merger would push through.  I would  have run unopposed.  But they had plans of getting five slots for city councilors and the position of Vice Mayor Effie Sabandal for their LP party mates.

If in case the proposed LP oath taking did push through, I was willing to offer my mayoralty to Oging had he decided to run for City Mayor and I intended to slide to the vice mayoralty position with Vice Mayor Sabandal running as councilor.

But our barangay captains signed a petition endorsing me as their City Mayor candidate and Effie as their City Vice Mayor candidate for the 2013 elections.  They cited continuity of programs and harmony in the city hall as the main reason.

The failure of Sec. Robredo to attend as guest speaker during the 12th Maasin City Charter Day Celebration on August 10, 2012 added fuel to the volatile political situation.  The Mercado supporters were about to take oath as LP members but were prevented to do so.  Eight days later on August 18, 2012, Sec. Robredo died of a plane crash.

The Mercado group took oath of membership with the NUP during the first national convention on September 26, 2012 at Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Pasay City.  Our NUP So. Leyte chapter committed to support the Team Pnoy senatorial slate with the arrangement that the LP would declare Southern Leyte as a free zone.

For the third time, I faced Rosette, the LP official candidate for the city mayoralty contest.  Inspite of
our ticket NUP campaigning for the Team Pnoy
senatorial candidates, President Aquino came to Maasin personally endorsing Rosette "as the next mayor of Maasin City."

"Huwag po nating kalimutan, ang susunod na mayor ng Maasin City, si Manay Rosette Lerias. Taglay po, ng atin pong Manang, ang pusong laging nakatuon sa serbisyo; sigurado po, bilang dating gobernador, tiyak na itutuloy niya ang pagpapaangat ng antas ng buhay ng mga Southern Leyteño—tututukan niya rin ang edukasyon, kalusugan, at lilikha ng matibay na ugnayan upang sabay-sabay na tumulak tungo sa kaunlaran ang inyong lalawigan," said President Aquino during his endorsement.

Mar Roxas, the apparent LP standard bearer became the new DILG Secretary also came to Maasin. They had the support of Philippine National Police as one week before election the City Chief of Police was replaced. He was forced to take a sick leave and an ally of them was installed to take over.  Our leaders were followed anywhere by the PNP upon instructions by LP to confiscate our funds.

The LP team used the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P's) in their campaign alleging that the DSWD will course the additional beneficiaries through the LP.  They listed voters who would want to avail of the monthly subsidy through the DSWD and let them fill up forms with the pictures of the LP major candidates at the second sheet.  They threatened those existing 4P's beneficiaries who would not vote for LP candidates alleging that they will be phased out from the program because they have connections with Malacañang.

When the President came he warned of candidates using the 4P's for their political propaganda.  "Sa aking pananaw kasi, itong mga nagsasabing tatanggalin kayo sa programang ito, may ‘k’ sila. Pero hindi ho karapatan, meron ho silang ‘k’ na kakapalan. Kung gusto ho niyong simpleng sagutan na lang ho dyan, pag meron hong nanakot sa inyo ha, mga kababayan natin—meron raw hong mga sa upland areas yata niyo hindi man napababa ‘tong araw na ‘to, pakisabi na lang sa kanila—pag sila tinakot, ito ang sasabihin nila: Number one, kung saka sakaling kaya niyo kaming tanggalin, paano niyo kami tatanggalin sa programang yan eh malapit na ang eleksyon, kayo muna tatanggalin namin. Pangalawa, kung takutin pa kayo, ipaalam lang niyo sa akin, ako na ang bahala," PNoy said.

They also enticed the voters of the funds through the National Anti-Poverty Commission citing that we the incumbent officials could not give it to our constituents because we were not the official lineup of the president.

There were four Barangay Captains who were not with us during the elections, that of Dongon, Ibarra, Lonoy and Mantahan.  All the other 67 chairmen campaigned for NUP candidates.

The voters of Maasin voted according to performance and track record.  When election time came the result was: Samaco, Maloney  28,638; Lerias, Rosette 12,436.  The margin increased to 16,202.

I was given the privilege to serve as Mayor of Maasin for three terms which only two former governors Alfredo Bantug and Damian Mercado were able to accomplish.