Mayor Benjamin Magalong here apologized to his constituents for being busy in the past weeks due to his duty as Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser. (Video courtesy of Baguio PIO/Benjie Magalong)
00:00To our Vice Mayor, Tino Oloan, and the distinguished members of our City Council, to all our awardees and members of their families, our retirees, those who have demoted themselves to the noble calling of public service, our distinguished guests.
00:21It's been a long time since I saw each and every one of you, magpasensyahin nyo na ho.
00:39We're gathered here today, not only to recognize our achievements, but to celebrate your sacrifices and unwavering commitment to serve.
00:49The Breeze Awards is about honoring personnel who consistently go beyond what is expected, those who embody excellence, deliver extraordinary results and services, and those who serve with overwhelming, enthusiastic dedication.
01:11This event is an important occasion because we pay tribute to the pillars of our workforce.
01:19Our retirees who have given the best years of their lives in service, the families of our departed colleagues whose legacy continues to inspire us,
01:30our loyalty awardees who prove that true dedication is measured by years of steadfast commitment,
01:37and finally, our outstanding employees of the year who set the standard for excellence and professionalism.
01:47We also commend our employees' choice honorees who earn the trust and respect of their peers,
01:54our exemplary departments who show the power of collective efforts,
02:00and the star family awardees who remind us that service is not carried out by one person only, but supported and nurtured by family values of sacrifice, love, and dedication.
02:16Public service is never easy.
02:21Each day calls us to go beyond ourselves, to smile even when we are tired, to give even when we are already stretched thin,
02:33to rise above challenges and stand firm for the people who depend on us.
02:38Yet, it is always a sacrifice that is filled with a lot of fulfillment.
02:46And this is precisely what I'm going through now, at present.
02:53I've never been so busy in my entire life.
02:58I would like to apologize to each and every one of you if I cannot perform my task as your mayor of the city of Baguio.
03:12It's not an easy task, believe me.
03:15It's very challenging and it is very dangerous as well.
03:20I'm fighting all these very powerful and money people in our country today.
03:29And I was expecting, I anticipated that corruption is widespread.
03:37But now that I've been going around the country, I've never expected that it is just so deep, deeply entrenched.
03:49The magnitude is unbelievable.
03:52The magnitude is incredible.
03:56Corruption, especially in the infrastructure projects or infrastructure sector, has already become a cottage industry, a livelihood program.
04:11And these are in nine hundreds of millions of pesos.
04:27Ibig sabihin yan, it has become so systemic, highly organized, highly syndicated.
04:37Nakakalungkot isipin na itong mga taong ito, sinisira nila ang kinabukasan ng ating bansa.
04:50And please, let us not allow this passion to address corruption shortly.
05:02It should be a long term engagement.
05:07Huwag po natin pabayaan na nakawin nila ang kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan.
05:17Huwag natin pabayaan na nakawin nila ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan.
05:24And sometimes in my private moments, I weep because I've never seen this kind of corruption.
05:37Nakita ko yung mga extortion, mga pangikikil, pero believe me, this is something very, very different.
05:49I can only bow my head and express my frustration.
06:06It's a sacrifice.
06:08Sometimes I think the safety of my family.
06:15Napakahirap labanan ang corruption.
06:18Dahil lagi na lang may mga taong wala nang ginawa kundi mamuliti ka at sirain pa yung ating reputation.
06:31Ganyan na kag*** ang sistema natin dito.
06:36Nakikipaglaban na tayo araw-araw sacrificing our safety, sacrificing our life.
06:51Pero may mga tao pa dyan na walang konsensya, na walang ginawa kundi.
06:55Puro na lang politiko ang pag-iisip.
07:06Kasi dumi ng kanilang mga konsensya.
07:12They're no different from these very powerful people who continue to destroy our nation.
07:22Let me go back.
07:25Please know that we deeply appreciate the support each one of you have given to our focuses.
07:31Even as you understand that sometimes some of us need to be away to fulfill our tasks beyond what we do in our city.
07:41Everything we do, everything we push for is with one dream in mind so that future generations will no longer have to endure the struggles and difficulties that we are experiencing today.
07:56Always remember that public service is both an honor and responsibility.
08:02What you do every day is strengthen the foundations of good governance, uplift the dignity of our people, and inspire others to believe that change is possible.
08:15I keep on saying this as well.
08:18It doesn't take one to have a title, to have money, to have fame, to change the world.
08:28May you never lose your heart in this mission.
08:33It is for the generations that will come after us.
08:38So to our awardees, I congratulate each and every one of you.
08:45You are the embodiment of what it truly means to serve with excellence, extraordinary dedication, and sacrifice.
Be the first to comment