Balanga City was awarded for Island of Good Governance (IGG)

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As the old saying goes, there's a rainbow after the rain..We have no control over everything, life must go on and eventually everything will turn back to it's normal routine. Back to work!

Balanga City was recognized as model of sustainable transformation at par with global standards of governance. 

Five LGU's Awarded for Good Governance: The City Government of Balanga (Bataan), Butuan (Agusan del Norte), Dipolog (Zamboanga Del Norte), Mandaue (Cebu), and Talisay (Negros Occidental) were named among the Philippines' first Islands of Good Governance during a public forum spearheaded by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA).

The real Game Changer model of good governance, Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III while busy preparing for his oral defense and presentation. How I wished that all aspiring political leaders all over the Philippines have the same visionary skills like this man.

The City of Balanga Public Governance System (PGS) selected Core Team members, MSGC, OSM Staff & City Councilor as we introduce by our LCE to the  panelist.

The women behind the Balanga PGS Core Team, my fellow colleagues, not in picture is our City Accountant, City Budget Officer and Legal Officer as member also of the PGS core group.

Photo Ops with Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) Chairman Francisco T. Duque III MD, MSC and currently Chairman of the Philippine Civil Service Commission 

City Mayor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III spearheaded the city’s presentation of its breakthrough results to prove that COB is one of the model cities that heed to the call of Philippine transformation. Successful cities of IGG will be showcase at the APEC Summit prepared by the national government this November 2015.  

The City of Balanga retains its mission statement to build a family-oriented city with a strong learning atmosphere that will ensure sustainable development and participatory governance. With its high value for education, this city envisions itself as Balanga University Town 2020: the emerging hub for knowledge-based businesses in the Philippines. Balanga aims to achieve its ambitious goals of installing 48 free Wifi zones, 8 pocket parks, and 5 information kiosks in the city by 2015, in effort to make information more accessible.

The Public Governance Forum is an open event where public institution in the Performance Governance System (PGS) Pathway publicly presents their progress reports to a panel of governance specialists and field experts. They are evaluated for completion in their stage of the PGS. 

Eulogy of LOVE

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Just like a wounded soldier in the midst of woes you have given us a good fight. You didn’t surrender, not until you saw us strong enough to accept that you would leave us anytime soon. As Plato said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war”. You gave us time to contemplate and accept the reality of life, that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us would end up underneath some sheet, never to wake up again. The idea that someone is gone is not an easy thing to accept, especially if that someone is close to your heart and is as a mother to you. That moment before I let you go brings anguish, but in the depths of it I know that all your pains brought by the big C will vanish.

As you passed thru the gates of suffering while on earth and found your inner peace in the Kingdom of God, and as I always whispered in your ears even during the time that you breathed your last, I told you that once you stand in final judgment before the Lord in heaven, please do ask forgiveness for my sins. And as you wait for me to follow you, do prepare our rooms in heaven so we can share the same blessings and promises of our Creator.

We will surely miss one of the best Auntie and teacher in the whole world. You're one of my idol. Thank you for all the sacrifices for the family. Thank you for all the life's advices and most of all thank you for all the support especially during my school days and I was empty handed. As promised I will return the same favor to the member of the clan, you’ll have my word. Your good deeds will forever be etched in our heart.

BORACAY 2015: GEEK ON A BEACH (GOAB)

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It’s my 4^th chance to visit Boracay, and this time it’s official business. Sadly the weather was not good that time as we experienced heavy rains and gusty winds brought about by typhoon Ineng. I was so nervous during our flight back to Manila due to delays and super-scary air turbulence. Anyway, we stayed 3 nights and 4 days at La Carmella Resort from August 19-22, 2015. We met new people in the industry and learned technopreneurship ideas from powerful and influential speakers both local and foreign. Almost 500 delegates and 85 speakers all over the world attended the conference and I think it is safe to assume, based on attendees and activities that the conference ended successfully.

GOAB is an honest-to-goodness, no-holds barred conference where people speak the truth about startups, tech and design industries. It is a place for dialogue where you can exchange ideas along the beautiful Boracay beach wearing your most comfy beach wear. This is one conference I attended that had no rules. You could wear anything as long as you are comfortable in it. You can even attend the conference’s various sessions wearing your epic short shorts or sexy tank tops! And knowing that I have no beach body to flaunt, I just decided to wear my bare- back white dress paired with my navy neon orange slippers! Cool! Do I look like a fashion geek here? Hehe

In this photo is the visionary Local Chief Executive of the City of Balanga when he was invited as one of the guest speakers from the Local Government to discuss the initiatives of the City of Balanga in promoting and developing the startup ecosystem in Bataan--- the man who turned Balanga City 180 degrees progress on its economy. As early as now I want to congratulate this man for a job well done. May your passion to serve people with integrity continue as you take another step toward your next goal. I just hope that I was able to help you in my own little way in delivering quality service to your constituents for almost nine (9) long years.  

Goofing around with Ms. Cristina Lawskowski (in black), President of Science and Technology Advisory Council (STAC) Silicon Valley, an organization committed to cultivating holistic entrepreneurship, strengthening the tech ecosystem, empowering entrepreneurs & accelerating global business ideas. She is the woman behind our US invitation to Silicon Valley Exposure trip in May of this year. I admire this intelligent and empowered woman. She is a very down-to-earth person, too! I always suffer nosebleed whenever we converse. Lol

I remember what Dave McClure, 500 Startups founder and famous Silicon Valley Investor, said, “Don’t worship Silicon Valley! Learn from them. They will be YOU five-years from now”.

On my left is my smart colleagues. Our City Accountant-Ms. Myrna Roman.

It’s been a blast learning from the Philippine startup ecosystem and growing financial technology opportunities with real geeks. I was able to rub elbows once again with my colleagues in the ICT industry. Hoping and praying that the next Geek-on-a-Beach will be held in the beautiful beaches of Bataan as Mayor Joet Garcia invited the techtalkph organizer and the rest of the delegates to come visit Bataan in 2016 GOAB conference.