Flor Deleon: A leader rises
Flordeliza De Leon-Bonador, fondly called Flor, is a college professor, a full-fledged Rotarian, a public servant, a youth leader, a wife and a doting mother to her 5-month old daughter, Sahaya. She is married to Rowel Rosero Bonador, a merchant marine based in the United States.
Flor’s vibrant political career took a headstart when she became the first Chairwoman of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of Barangay Hulo, Mandaluyong City in December 1992, where she initiated quite a number of remarkable programs and projects for the youths. A vital component of her physical and social development program was the regular conduct of summer sports league (e.g., basketball, volleyball, chess, etc.) inculcating in the youths such positive values as sportsmanship, camaraderie, brotherhood and unity.
Sports was not merely her focus. She also turned her attention on other socially-relevant programs that would respond to the indigent members of the community such as Free Medical and Dental Missions, Free Circumcision, Free Haircut, Leadership Seminar-Orientation for Youth Leaders and the like. People empowerment has always been her main thrust. Hence, regular consultations and dialogues with her young constituents became a permanent fixture of her administration.
Her involvement in the youths’ total holistic development was not solely confined in her barangay. Her leadership skill was recognized when she was elected Secretary of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF) of Mandaluyong City enabling her to command the respect of fellow SK Chairmen. Her leadership stint was further honed when she became an active member of the SAMAKANA (Samahan sa Mandaluyong ng mga Kabataang Nagkakaisa), an umbrella organization of all youth-oriented organizations founded by then Atty. Benhur Abalos, now the City Mayor. Undoubtedly, she became a prominent figure not only in her barangay but in the whole city as well.
Believing that public service (politics) is a continuing complex learning process , she mastered the craft of public administration by completing her Master in Public Administration at the then College of Public Administration (now National College of Public Administration and Governance) University of the Philippines- Diliman, Quezon City. Her specialization is in the field of Local Governance and Regional Administration. Her academic background bespeaks well of her incessant passion for scholastic excellence, being a consistent Dean’s Lister in the university.
Apparently, her interest in the art and science of politics stemmed from her heydays at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) at Sta. Mesa, Manila, where she completed Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with flying colors. She capped her college education by bagging the University Best Debater during the annual university-wide Debate Tournament. Her forensic skill was clearly demonstrable when she has shown real mastery of her stand in the proposition “Should the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant be abolished”? Also, Flor was a consistent university scholar, Dean’s Lister and student leader. Her academic achievements were recognized when she bested numerous aspirants to covet the Hasegawa Scholarship Foundation from Japan. As a student leader, she became a College Councilor at the College of Economics and Politics enabling her to effectively represent fellow students on vital issues concerning them. Evidently, Flor’s political know-how had been shaped by her long years of experience as a student and practitioner of political science and public administration.
Her laudable stint as Chairwoman of the Sangguniang Kabataan was her springboard to a more dynamic political career. In the 1997 election, she ran as Barangay Councilwoman (Kagawad) and landed in the No. 1 spot. Not being a novice in the workings of the Sangguniang Barangay, (Note: The SK Chairwoman sits as an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Barangay) she effectively pursued doing the things she enjoyed doing the most, “public service”.
She spearheaded the regular fumigation coupled with an intensified information drive dissemination as viable anti-dengue prevention measure. More so, anti-rabies vaccination was held every year. Free medical and dental missions became constant fixtures of her reign as a kagawad. Notably, all these she had done through her resourcefulness considering that she does not get any budgetary allocation from the council. Hence, she constantly established linkages with the city government and various non-governmental organizations, especially the Rotary Club of Mandaluyong Central (RCMC-District 3800) where she became an active member until 2004.
In 2002, upon encouragement from the Rotarians, Flor applied for membership in the Group Study Exchange Team bound to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The program is one of the international cultural exchange components of Rotary International (RI) aiming to foster global harmony through cross-cultural linkages. Not only did she ably represent Mandaluyong City but the country as well when she shared her relevant experiences as a civil servant.
As one of the four distinguished members of the GSE Team, she had learned more about the dynamics of local politics/governance from the standpoint of view of another culture. What emerged clear from Flor’s perspective, however, was the emphatic need to deliver to the needs of the less privileged peoples. It must be noted that Brazil, a Third World Country like the Philippines, has its shares of woes and hardships, particularly the problem of the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.
Her constant involvement with the Rotary Club paved the way for the institution of the COMPLITARY (Computer Literacy of Rotary) in November 2001. Her brainchild project was brought to bear by her recognition of the value of basic, if not advanced computer education among the youngsters. Needless to say, the 21st century is an era of information technology. Through the RI’s Matching Grant Program, Flor’s COMPLITARY was chosen by the Rotary Club of Japan-District 2770. Her project was selected from a roster of countless proposals from various parts of the world given its relevance/timeliness, and the articulate explanation of the program’s mechanics. Now the program has taught at least 200 students, both young and old, since its creation in 2001. The program operates on a “1 computer, 1 student basis” and “first come, first served basis”. There are 8 computer units in the COMPLITARY Center now housed in the former Barangay Hall in San Jose Street of the Sangguniang Barangay of Hulo, Mandaluyong City. The COMPLITARY Program boasts of being the first ever community-based computer learning center that offers free tutorial lessons to a predominantly young clientele.
Simultaneously, she served as Secretary of the SAMAKABA (Samahan sa Mandaluyong ng mga Kagawad ng Barangay), an umbrella organization of all duly-elected barangay kagawads in the city. It is a non-governmental organization designed to represent the ranks of all 189 kagawads in the city.
Her characteristic leadership did not go unnoticed. In the annual celebration of the “Linggo ng Kabataan” at the City Hall of Mandaluyong in 2001, Flor was acclaimed as one of the “Most Outstanding Youth Leader” in the city by the Mandaluyong Youth Commission then chaired by Councilor Che-Che Pablo-Santos.
In 2003, Flor hurdled yet another challenge when she passed the “Japan-Phillipines Friendship Youth Programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Japanese Government. Under the Local Development category, she joined other Filipinos from various regions of the country in Tokyo, Japan, to impart and obtain knowledge from her counterparts in the Land of the Rising Sun. True enough, her exposure in other parts of the world bespoke well of her impressive and impeccable educational background.
In the barangay election of 2003, Flor received another fresh mandate from her constituents and overwhelmingly occupied the No.1 slot. Such was a fitting show of support from her people whose welfare she preciously holds.
Another approbation of her contributions in local politics was her being voted as President of the SAMAKABA. In a predominantly male-dominated political arena, it was indeed noteworthy that she won the election held for the purpose. Since the foundation of SAMAKABA in 1990, Flor has become its youngest President ever.
Under her stewardship, she effectively took the cudgels for all kagawads in the city. She instituted the grant of PHILHEALTH medical benefits and held a number of programs in various programs under the auspices of SAMAKABA, such as Free Medical and Dental Services, Jobs Fair, Blood Letting, etc.
Notably, politics is not her only passion. Teaching is an equally rewarding and gratifying profession for her. A noble profession, indeed, it is in this realm where Flor imparts her knowledge of the theory and praxis of political science/public administration. She has taught in various reputable learning institutions namely, University of Manila, Concordia College, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, and Rizal Technological University. Currently, she teaches at the School of MultiDisciplinary Studies-Consular and Diplomatic Affairs at Dela Salle-College of Saint Benilde. Her expertise is in the field of International Relations, Political Science and Public Administration.
Apparently, in view of the foregoing, Flor de Leon-Bonador is up to more political and academic challenges. And undoubtedly, whatever the climate is, she can withstand through all its rigors because she believes in this dictum: “Lofty ideals should never be abandoned despite the glaring gap between inspired expectations and harsh realities of life”.
It is within this context that Flor shall start another excruciating yet rewarding and fulfilling journey to a higher end. Certainly, all her contributions and unwavering commitment to public service will reap positive benefits. At the age of 34, undoubtedly, Flor is a formidable figure to reckon with.