IT’S ALWAYS refreshing to meet, get to know, start and complete a meaningful conversation with a down-to-earth lady chief executive, who for the first time in her life, set foot on uncharted territories – the world of local politics.
Coming from very humble beginnings, she built a successful business in Manila literally from scrap! Yes, scrap, and she has a matching story to tell.
She does not come from the entitled elite. She inched her way up through hard work, sacrifice, persistence, and devotion to a loving God.
She left her hometown in Catigbian at 22 for Bukidnon in Mindanao, concluding her college education at Bukidnon State University. She worked as a school registrar for a Caregiver Training Center in Bukidnon where she accumulated knowledge in caregiving, and then applied for a caregiver post in Jordan. She stayed in Jordan for six years earning the full trust and confidence of her patient and the family.
Before we proceed further, let me direct you to Catigbian. According to https://bohol.gov.ph/catigbian/, Catigbian is an interior town north of Balilihan and west of Carmen (where the Chocolate Hills are located) in the island-province of Bohol. It is an old community; one of the villages created to resettle the rebels after the suppression of Francisco Dagohoy’s revolution in 1829.
In 1903, when the province of Bohol was reorganized, it was annexed to Balilihan. In October 1949, it became an independent municipality once again.
Moving forward, during her stint in Jordan, she narrated how scared she was as she felt the raging war between and amongst Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, which she thought could end her life at any given time. While the desire to survive was paramount, she was also realistic that she could become a casualty of war. Even then, her trust in her Saviour kept her going.
Now let’s go back to one prominent episode in her life that years after figured intuitively into her decision to start a scrap-buying business. It was while waiting for her deployment to Jordan that one day, a beggar carrying a sack filled with scrap, walked by their group begging for money. Out of compassion, she gave the money that she could have kept for herself, knowing fully well, that she did not have enough for her own. That scene imprinted on her mind and heart for years.
Upon her return to the country, she decided to start her own business on scrap! She was able to grow her business and help her parents and family experience a better life – a dream that she has always cherished.
In 2017, the former local chief executive of Catigbian sought the permission of her parents to toss her as candidate for Mayor in the upcoming 2019 elections.
She had qualms about it. First, she has no governance experience. She did not become a municipal Kagawad nor a Barangay chairperson. Her only political experience was as SK chairperson of Barangay Mahayag Norte in Catigbian in 1993. However, she has her business acumen to back her up.
But as fate would have it, aided by her deep faith in God’s direction, she surmounted the ordeal – against all odds, and won as first elected lady mayor of Catigbian, Bohol!
Presently, she is pushing the projects of the previous administration like providing water services in all Barangays of the town. She lobbies with national government agencies to construct farm-to-market roads that she deems will strengthen the position of Catigbian as an agricultural municipality. She is proud of the town’s cattle industry which it shares with the adjoining town of Sagbayan. She prides in her town’s position as supplier of hybrid rice “binhi” which is bought by other municipalities. She is also pushing the granting of benefits to Senior Citizens, and hopefully, all residents who have urgent needs, supported by legislation originating from the municipal council.
It’s all systems go for Mayor Elizabeth Mandin and we can only wish her well in her journey!
With a good heart, sharp business sense, commitment to serve her constituents, and fear of God, the lady chief executive is certain to overcome the challenges coming her way, including the dynamics of local politics in Bohol.
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Special thanks to my cousin, former Catigbian Kagawad Ariel O. Lungay, for arranging the interview.
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For comments, you may reach the writer at belca.87@gmail.com./PN
