YSEALI Spotlight

I'm happy and humbled to be featured in the cover page of YSEALI Website. The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in ASEAN. The YSEALI community consists of bright young leaders years old from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (https://youngsoutheastasianleaders.state.gov/)

Empowering the Youths.

I proposed this ordinance to the Sangguniang Bayan of Mansalay to develop a sports program in providing opportunities to bring out the best in the players and elevate them to a highest level in sports; To encourage all sports organizations be it municipality-wide or Barangay-based level, to foster a development program in an atmosphere of cooperation and participation; To support implementors and its leaders toward capability- building, and; To draw/elicit commitment from individuals and institutions, thus bringing Mansalay towards excellence in sports.

PRIVILEDGE SPEECH (January 8, 2014)

BAGONG TAONG 2014

Tulad ng dati, tuwing darating ang Bagong Taon,  pag-asa at tuwa ang inaasam ng mga kababayan natin. Una sa lahat, ang hiling ay pagbabago sa pananaw, sa sarili, sa mamamayan at bayan . Bawat isa sa atin ay naghahangad ng progresibo at maayos na pamumuhay .

Tuwing Bagong Taon, halos lahat tayo ay gumagawa ng pangako sa sarili sa pamamagitan ng “New Year’s’ resolution. Ang tanong: May natupad ba tayo sa ating mga ginawang  pansariling resolusyong? At sa loob ng mahabang taon ng iyong ginagawa ang New Year’s resolution, ilan ang natupad?

Samakatuwid, tayo mismo ang simula. Nasa ating mga kamay ang tunay na pagbabago na hinahangad natin para sa ating bayan. Ito ay panahon ng pagkakataon para sa ating lahat upang ilagay sa tamang landas ang sarili at bayan.  Napakahalaga ng papel natin sa ating bayan dahil sa pamamagitan ng tamang pamumuno at pagbalangkas ng bago at nararapat na batas ay kasabay din ang tunay at epektibong pagbibigay solusyon sa isyu ng korapsiyon, kahirapan, kaunlaran, kaayusan at kapayapaan.

Kung sa gayon ay kailangan tayong maging aktibo sa pakikilahok para sa pagkamit ng tunay na pagbabago para sa ating bayan.

Totoo: kapos ang pagsisikap na baguhin ang mga istrukturang panlipunan kung hindi babaguhin ang indibidwal, kagawian o kultura. Pero kung hindi hahantong sa nauna, kapos din ang ikalawa – magpapanatili sa mapagsamantalang kaayusan at magbibigay lang dito ng makataong itsura.

Kung tutuusin, kung palalalimin sa mga istrukturang pang-ekonomiya’t pampulitika ang mga suliranin ng bayan. Malamlam man sa pandinig subalit nararapat lamang na pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga serbisyong tunay na kailangan ng ating mamamayan: Pagkain, malinis na tubig, trabaho, gamut at serbisyong medical, malinis at tahimik na kapaligiran, karapatang pantao at kalidad na edukasyon.

Samakatuwid ay malaki ang gagampanan nating papel para sa pagkamit ng pagbabago sa ating bayan. Kaalinsabay ng mandatong ipinagkaloob sa atin ay kailangan nating iparating sa mas nakatataas at aksyunan ang tunay ang hinaing ng maliliit na mamamayan at nilalaman ng ating mga puso at isipan, hindi puro pangako at salita lamang. Manapa’t kailangan nating makialam upang siguraduhin na ang interes ng mamamayan ang isusulong ng mga taong nakaupo sa Barangay, Munisipyo, Kapitolyo, Kongreso at Senado at hindi ang interes ng kung sino man ang gusto umupo at manungkulan.

Sama-sama nating harapin ang bagong taon taglay ang pusong hangad ay tunay at makabuluhang pagbabago para sa sarili at para sa bayan.

Maraming Salamat po. Maligayang Bagong Taon

Hon. SHERNAN F. GAMOL, RN

Municipal Councilor

Mansalay, Or. Mindoro

Election 2013: My Experience

To the mighty cast of Liberal Party volunteers and the campaign team (you know who you are!), that motley crew of hopeful folks, this election campaign would have been nothing without you. Such a wonderful diversity of people out on the streets hammering in poster signs, tarpaulins, dropping off leaflets and of course, with your vote – my unending thanks. You were such a source of inspiration to us – young people shouldering the load to let our community know that today’s politics can be positive, that we can work together to provide a voice for the youth, indigents and health sector in the council, and that government can be a place of coming together for the common good.

I had to campaign to my constituents with my platform and policies in other to get their votes. The five weeks of campaigning was intense, I spoke to so many people in halls of residents, streets, markets both on and off meetings and around the community and also spend several afternoon in the headquarter with the staffs.

After months of hard work, I am so delighted that I won the election. I promise to work on each of these policies & platform and also some others I came across whilst talking to the local and indigent communities. I want to be the public official who represents the youth, health sector, Mangyan and education. I have worked with different civic organizations for the past years and I understand my community. I want to work with my people on issues that concern them.

I found the elections even more challenging because my position was the only one that had 29 candidates, so I was running against twenty-seven strong individuals. In the end we all campaigned really well and so it was a blessing to have won. Thanks to my friends and family for reassuring me and to the Sangguniang Bayan for their wonderful support and, finally, for all those who took their time to vote for me.

I know you voted for me because you believed in me and you know I will drive change and I look forward to a term of success!

New Role as Councilor: Principles & Platform

POLITICAL PRINCIPLES
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My role as Councilor will endeavor to realize my commitment to God and all the residents of our municipality, a commitment that revolves around these five principles of government:

Austerity

• Our town needs government that is efficient and which makes careful use of financial resources. The current difficult times demand that we do more with less, that we eliminate the non-essential, and that we act responsibly to achieve better government with resources which belong to everyone.

Information

• All activity of our Town Hall must be transparent. Our government must be committed to supplying information about its activities on a constant basis. Provide maximum advance information and transparency in all future decisions, making use of new technology such as the internet in order to do so, publicizing plenary meetings, carrying out public consultations, etc.

Standards

• I believe in improving the town’s image, to act responsibly and openly, and in accordance with the highest standards of public office as well as government by rule of law. Ensuring that the future development of Mansalay be planned and supervised through legislative processes according to the real needs of people, not based on short-term and unsustainable speculation.

Dialogue

• I believe in continuous dialogue and will work towards finding the best solutions, in broad-based political agreements that join together and benefit all our people.

Freedom

• I believe that a free society is also more equitable. That is why we must ensure that when we act in the name of freedom, in whatever form it might take, that that freedom is real for all the citizens of our municipality.


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PRIORITIES & PLATFORM
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1. HEALTH

• Work towards improving health services in Barangay level, including availability of regular health check-ups and free medicines, exploring all avenues to rectify inadequate services to the outlying and remote areas.

• Review community health and sanitary problems related to incomplete infrastructure such as the sewage and waste disposal system as part of primary health care and attempt to address them.

• Work towards improving existing local health services, especially regards to the health and nutritional needs of the children, child bearing population, elderly and indigenous population.

• Endeavor to sustain Feeding Program and Healthy Teeth Campaign at Community Day Care Centers and elementary schools I personally started five years ago.

• Conduct regular health teachings and family education with regards to local health concerns, nutrition, morbidity and epidemics.

2. EDUCATION

• Provide maximum advance in terms of education through the use of new technology such as the internet and computers.

• Improve the town educational status through teacher empowerment, without forgetting to invest in and maintain the indigent Mangyan communities which have traditionally been overlooked.

• Promote opportunities for college and technical education.

• Attempt to accelerate the provision and construction of low-cost education and training programs.

• Endeavor to ensure maximum transparency in the municipal budget, as well as equitable allocation of services and funding for education.

3. YOUTH & EMPLOYMENT

• Encourage recreation activities for young people such as sports and other skills training.

• Encourage participation of young citizens in matters related to town activities.

• Encourage to increase youth participation in all major decisions affecting the town, encouraging attendance at public gatherings and meetings

• Increase activities to facilitate meaningful integration of the different Christian & Mangyan youth groups.

• Help in providing opportunities for technical skills training, scholarships and college education.

• Help in coordinating the town’s tourism plans such that local businesses are supported.

5. ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM

• Encourage the creation of sustainable employment, particularly in sectors related to the development of tourism and the town’s historic & ethnic heritage, sustainable construction and maintenance, or workshops in new ecological activities, etc.

• Help in designing a comprehensive tourism plan highlighting the town’s historical and ecological value, encouraging participation of all commercial sectors of the town.

• Encourage a professional workshop for the introduction of and experimentation in ecological agriculture in Mansalay.

• Promote the reforestation and proper garbage disposal

• Lobby for and promote usage of a municipal tourism site built according to ecological and sustainable principles.

Servant or Leader?

“Servant Leaders bring in the best talent in the business in order to accomplish their goal, even when that means they may be upstaged.” (russcanto)

As humans, we naturally organize people into two categories: servants and masters, or leaders and followers. But there is a third category that Jesus asks us to participate in… many knows it as the “servant leader”.

I’ve had small bits of leadership during my life, and this is never something that I’ve thought deeply about. Servant leading? Yeah, okay, totally. I’ve heard that term since I was a kid, in Sunday school and on mission trips.

But in the recent future I’ve suddenly begun to have real leadership positions… I have people working under me, and I have to lead WELL… and I’m glad that there is a learning curve, because I have a lot of work to do! I like to lead, but I’m not always necessarily GOOD at leading, I’ve found.

And then today I stumble upon John 13. (Well it wasn’t too much of a stumble, really - since I’m reading through John)

This is the chapter of the Bible where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. Wow. It’s kind of crazy. He is the leader of ALL, and yet he’s stooping to do something dirty and menial, but he’s doing it FOR THEM. He isn’t too much of a leader to serve. Because the right kind of leader is one who serves. Yes, a leader is needed to stand up and give instructions and organize and hold people to deadlines and all that… but there’s also this part of being a leader - a very important part - that included being willing to SERVE those who are following you. To be willing to do their jobs, or even jobs below what they do, in order to help them or care for them.

I think the idea of a servant leader is nice and idealistic, but it’s not often seen. Sure, there is the perfect model that Christ gave us, but where else do we see this being carried out?

The modern business world often promotes an, “ahead at any/all costs” mentality. The modern world of church leadership often values flash, numbers, and giving rather than substance, service, and sacrifice. Don’t even get me started on the modeling that occurs within Hollywood and those of fame and status.

When you become a leader, you get a whole lot more responsibility. You become partially responsible for those who are following you, or working for you. It’s easy to just get caught up with finishing your task, and forget about serving those you are working with. (Courtesy: Natalie of http://coffeetimewithgod.tumblr.com/)

And I’m determined to learn how to NOT do that. Like Jesus.

“Whenever we have an opportunity or responsibility to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of others, the first choice we are called to make is whether to see the moment through the eyes of self-interest or for the benefit of those we are leading.”

—           Ken Blanchard