|
Man in a
hurry
Text: By Joy Magdayao
Photos: Freger Reyes
Being governor of the biggest province in the region may sound
like a major power trip, but spending a day with the guy would
reveal that the position is 10% glamour and 90% hard work.
The pressure to do so much with so little at so short a time
is a heavy burden. But for Zamboanga del Norte’s Rolando
Yebes, the opportunity and capacity to at least do something
to make some people’s lives a little better is a major
inspiration.
Perhaps, he is spurred by his own family’s
experience of poverty when he was younger, when
coffee and pan de sal were all that staved off the hunger
pangs. He, of all people, could understand a poor man’s
powerful dream of escaping the dregs of economic desperation.
Perhaps, he is propelled by his own family’s testimony where,
by sheer determination, all his siblings moved on to craft
better lives – each one a professional, himself included.
Whatever his reasons, his actions are purposefully
clear: play up the province’s potentials to provide
opportunities for growth. He has been networking with all
sectors of society, knocking on fellow-politicians’ doors,
partnering with businesses, finding funding agencies.
Obviously, promoting the welfare of his province has become
this man’s passion.
Just what keeps him going? January
26, Wednesday, was a splendid day to tag along with Rolando
Yebes to discover the driving force of this man in a hurry.Share the enlightening experience.
8:00am Gov.
Rolando Yebes reports for work. He is closeted for quite some
time with Dapitan City’s Mayor Dominador Jaloslos, and then he
meets with some staff.
8:45
Gov. Yebes gets a copy of Zamboanga Agenda and meets with the
editor (ok, that’s me) and its publisher, Mel Magdayao. Nic
Nacaytuna, chief of REACT SPACE Group, facilitates the
meeting. We got ourselves invited to the Governor’s many
activities for the day.
10:00 First event of the day: ribbon cutting
on a road concreting project in Nabilid, Roxas. He is
assisted by the Congressman Roseller Barinaga’s
representative, daughter Esther Faith Barinaga-Lim.
The road is
essential for children’s safety, said school officials of
nearby Nabilid Elementary School. Students previously used
the national highway, exposing them to swift and dangerous
traffic. Projects such as these have a 40 days deadline since
Gov. Yebes is insistent that all government projects have to
be treated with urgency.
10:20
Teacher’s of Nabilid Elementary School in Roxas serenade Gov.
Yebes with a song composed especially for him. The musical
outburst is in gratitude for his completion of a 1-unit 2
classroom building. The project began from the previous
administration, and most teachers feared it would remain
unfinished because they supported another candidate in the
last election. Gov. Yebes lost in Barangay Nabilid by 8
votes. “Maayo sya kay gipadayon niya,” observes Lydia Risentes,
Grade 3 teacher and recipient of the new classroom.
Gov. Yebes
explains his philosophy of service: Ngano man ipadayon ang
proyekto sa kanhi nga gobernador? Kaning pang serbisyo sa
gobyerno, dili kini pinaagi sa kaaligutgot, negatibo, kasuko
sa imong kontra. Ang akong pagtooi, kung ikaw gipili sa tawo,
bisan pa pilde aning lugar kinahanglan sa katawhan tabang –
atong humanon ug pagabuhaton.
12:30
After lunch shared with teachers and parents, the ubiquitous
pan de sal and coffee make their appearance. Here, he relaxes
and shares some more of this thoughts. He believes, for
example, that a local government unit should not be run like a
corporation all the time. “All investments need not have a
return. Sometimes, just being able to help is enough.”
1:00
Gov Yebes makes a tour of the grounds of Minang Elementary
School, where a grateful crowd of students await
him......
10:20
Teacher’s of Nabilid Elementary School in Roxas serenade Gov.
Yebes with a song composed especially for him. The musical
outburst is in gratitude for his completion of a 1-unit 2
classroom building. The project began from the previous
administration, and most teachers feared it would remain
unfinished because they supported another candidate in the
last election. Gov. Yebes lost in Barangay Nabilid by 8
votes. “Maayo sya kay gipadayon niya,” observes Lydia Risentes,
Grade 3 teacher and recipient of the new classroom.
Gov. Yebes
explains his philosophy of service: Ngano man ipadayon ang
proyekto sa kanhi nga gobernador? Kaning pang serbisyo sa
gobyerno, dili kini pinaagi sa kaaligutgot, negatibo, kasuko
sa imong kontra. Ang akong pagtooi, kung ikaw gipili sa tawo,
bisan pa pilde aning lugar kinahanglan sa katawhan tabang –
atong humanon ug pagabuhaton.
12:30
After lunch shared with teachers and parents, the ubiquitous
pan de sal and coffee make their appearance. Here, he relaxes
and shares some more of this thoughts. He believes, for
example, that a local government unit should not be run like a
corporation all the time. “All investments need not have a
return. Sometimes, just being able to help is enough.”
1:00
Gov Yebes makes a tour of the grounds of Minang Elementary
School, where a grateful crowd of students await
him......
3:00
First stop of the day: Tanayan Elementary School. Still
another inauguration of a 1-unit 2-classroom building.
In this third engagement of the day, it becomes clear that
Gov. Yebes and his staff operates with precision. He is on
time with his appointments and the series of activities flow
with ease, an unmistakeably sign of an efficient advance
party. The barangay captain appeals for a water system to be
installed in his area. Gov. Yebes first inquires whether
there is a viable water source, and when assured that the
source would be sufficient for several homes, promises funding
for the project. “We prioritize funding for basic needs such
as that. The needed fund is actually very small,” he later
comments.
 |
5:00
Coming down from mountainous Tanayan, Gov. Yebes makes a quick
stop on a solitary home displaying bananas and camote. It
takes a while before the residents recognize their visitor,
their pleasure heightening at the unexpected visit – and
sale. He wants his bananas “ginanggang” and eats camote raw,
hinting at a man whose appetites remain simple.
5:20
While on the road home, he makes several calls to his staff,
and re-arranges his schedule for the next day, which again is
a grueling 6am-6pm grind. He enjoys a short chat with
Congressman Roseller Barinaga who calls from Manila and
confirms a get-together with other top political honchos on
the weekend.
5:45
Back at the provincial capitol, he drops us off as he prepares
for a dinner function. “I still have to freshen up,” he
explains his hasty departure. His staff stays for overtime at
the capitol to wrap up the day’s work.
HOME |
