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BY HERBERT VEGO
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Tuesday. September 19, 2017
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TOMORROW, the mayor of Iloilo City will turn 52. To newspaper readers, his name rings a bell for somewhat controversial reasons. But as to who the real Jed Patrick Mabilog is, let this corner briefly review his colorful life story based on past personal conversations with him.
As late as the turn of the century, Jed was just a face in the crowd and could walk the streets of Iloilo City unrecognized. It was only his neighbors at Barangay Tap-oc, Molo who could identify him as the guy who lived at the oldest ancestral, Spanish-vintage house (circa 1845) in the neighborhood.
By then, however, he had been elected first Ilonggo president of the Makati Jaycees. This prompted the then newly-elected barangay chairman of Baluarte, Gilbert Garcia, to invite him to grace his induction. Garcia made use of the occasion to lure him into local politics. If Jed could give a little of himself to Makati City, why not more of himself to his native city?
Coincidentally, the then mayor, Jerry Treñas, was looking for bright boys to comprise his Sangguniang Panlungsod team in the 2004 election.
And lo, Jed Mabilog topped the Sangguniang Panlungsod race with over 100,000 votes.
He did even better when he ran for vice mayor in 2007, bagging the phenomenal 130,000-plus votes. The city had a voting population of around 200,000 at that time.
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog won the Iloilo City mayorship in 2010, re-elected in 2013 and again in 2016.
Jed Patrick, born on Sept. 20, 1965, is the fifth of 10 children born to spouses Jose Chavez Mabilog and the former Melchorita Locsin Escalante of Barangay Tap-oc, Molo, Iloilo City, where their ancestral home still stands. His siblings are John, Joseph, Joemarie, James, Jerry, Jay Victor, Justin, Jeffrey and Meljoy.
As early as the elementary grades at Assumption-Iloilo, Jed was already focusing attention to public service with the guidance of Sister Carmela Montelibano, R.A., of the Assumption Sisters.
“She taught us to be generous and thrifty at the same time,” he recalled. “She helped us organize a savings club, where we deposited a portion of our balon. As soon as possible, we withdrew the money to buy school supplies, which we donated to the less fortunate pupils of the Iloilo Central School.”
After finishing high school at the University of the Philippines-Visayas (UPV) in 1982, he enrolled in BS-Biology at the West Visayas State University (WVSU). It was at this time when he ran and was elected as chairman of the Kabataang Barangay.
As soon as he graduated and got his BS-Biology diploma, he proceeded to Medicine Proper in the same school but quit after only three years. He had changed his mind anew. Deep inside, he felt a yearning to continue what his ascendants from the Spanish era had started – to go into business and provide livelihood for as many people as possible.
He recalled, “To test my business acumen, at age 22, I worked as salesman for the brokerage firm Delbros. I am sure I did well because a competing international firm, K-Line, offered me the position of sales manager for its Philippine operation. I accepted. It was this second job that required me to fly frequently to Canada for meetings with agents and shippers.”
Still young-looking at 52 years old, he looks forward to a happier chapter of his life in the company of his wife Marivic and children Patricia and Jonathan.
“A man’s lifetime,” he pondered, “is too short to waste but long enough to fulfill a mission.” (hvego31@gmail.com/PN)
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