Post by Neil Allan C. de Leon on Jan 28, 2008 8:26:09 GMT -5
First Lady Imelda T. Aguilar:
Gone are the days when First Ladies merely served as “proxies” to their husbands who hold high public office. The common notion is that wives in the public eye performed duties that were “ceremonial” in nature, such as cutting inaugural ribbons, attending baptisms, and comforting the bereaved.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the truth as the “trophy wives” of yore have transformed themselves into active movers in the community. They still work behind the scenes, yes, but their contributions can no longer be ignored as they implement projects that matter most to the lives of their constituents.
Such is the case with Las Piñas First Lady Imelda Aguilar who took over the mayorship of Las Piñas from 2004 to 2007. While other women would balk at assuming such heavy responsibility, Madam Mel finished her duty with efficiency and grace. By having a first-hand experience with the stringent demands of public office, she was able to push her advocacies for women, children, the urban poor and the continuous “greening” of her city.
The First Lady is sifficiently trained for the job since her family is no stranger to public service. The late patriarch, Felimon was mayor of then-municipality of Las Piñas for 24 years, while a brother-in-law is no other than the former House Speaker now Senator Manuel B. Villar.
Her supporters point out that while Mayor Aguilar was busy running the affairs of Las Pinas all these years, his capable wife was holding her own managing the family’s huge real estate concerns, raising their four children, keeping house and attending to the stringent demands of being a First Lady.
The Aguilar couple have four daughters, all of whom are professionals. April and Alelee, who are both married, are executive vice-presidents of the family-owned V.A. Aguilar Propertoes, Inc.; Aivee is a doctor and Anne Virgil is a restaurateur.
Her unqualified support for her husband’s projects has certainly contributed a lot in making Las Piñas one of the country’s fastest growing cities. Her stewardship of the Clean and Green Council for one, has earned for Las Piñas the recognition of being the Cleanest and Greenest City in the National Capital Region and United Nations Awardee on Environmental Program (UNEP).
To achieve this, Madame Mel executed a well-planned, feasible program. All sectors were called in to do their share, big businesses in the area donated free garbage bags, beautification contest were launched in public schools and economically disadvantaged communities, a 1,000-strong army of street sweepers called the Kaagapay sa Kalinisan at Kagandahan (KAAGAPAY), partners in the cleanliness and beautification of Las Piñas, was mobilized to regularly clean major and secondary streets in the city and take over the landscaping of open spaces. There is also her “eco-aides” which coordinate with the non-governmental group Linis-Ganda (Clean is Beautiful) in collecting junk and refuse in all villages and subdivisions.
All these, coupled with the city government’s decision’s to take over garbage collection from private contractors through the purchase of its own fleet of compactor trucks, has enabled Las Piñas to achieve its zero-waste target in a little less than five years-so far, the only local government unit in Metro Manila to do so.
It is with the same zeal that the First Lady of Las Piñas approaches her other concerns like the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina or KALIPI which provides livelihood opportunities to women and the nutrition program which has earned the Green Banner award from the National Nutrition Council for reducing by half the number of malnourished kids in the city.
Madame Mel proudly points out that while Las Pinas has one of the lowest incomes among the cities in Metro Manila, it ranks highest in terms of delivering basic social services to its residents. Proof that the Aguilar administration puts a premium on wise fiscal management, good governance and prioritizing the people’s welfare.
For example, Las Pinas has a city college which offers free college education to poor but deserving students. Residents can also avail of free hospitalization in accredited, first-class hospitals at a cost of P25,000 per person. This is not to mention the other noteworthy projects which the Aguilar leadership has undertaken such as a state-of-the-art garbage collection system, tricycle terminals and the opening of “friendship routes” in private subdivisions to declog traffic in the city. All of these have contributed to Las Pinas’ rise as one of the best, most livable places to settle in Metro Manila.
The secrets of her success, she says, is her passion for public service, her “soft spot for people” and the fact that she can easily adjust to any given situation.
“Kahit sino puwedeng lumapit sa akin kasi matiyaga ako sa tao. I always put myself in their place and I don’t ignore their problems. My greatest happiness is seeing my constituents happy at mag-thank you sila kapag nakikita ka,” Madame Mel declares.
“What makes a program stand out is not the program itself but constant monitoring. I always set the standard for my people and inject the ‘personal touch.’ They know there are no walls or boundaries with me when it comes to relaying their problems. I always try my best to be there for them-anytime.”
By getting into the limelight, Imelda Aguilar may have lost her privacy but gained fulfillment by serving her fellowmen. Her favorite Christian dictum, after all, is: ” Only in sharing can one find true happiness.” A pious woman, devoted wife and mother, now we know that she is also no ordinary First Lady.
Gone are the days when First Ladies merely served as “proxies” to their husbands who hold high public office. The common notion is that wives in the public eye performed duties that were “ceremonial” in nature, such as cutting inaugural ribbons, attending baptisms, and comforting the bereaved.
Unfortunately, this is no longer the truth as the “trophy wives” of yore have transformed themselves into active movers in the community. They still work behind the scenes, yes, but their contributions can no longer be ignored as they implement projects that matter most to the lives of their constituents.
Such is the case with Las Piñas First Lady Imelda Aguilar who took over the mayorship of Las Piñas from 2004 to 2007. While other women would balk at assuming such heavy responsibility, Madam Mel finished her duty with efficiency and grace. By having a first-hand experience with the stringent demands of public office, she was able to push her advocacies for women, children, the urban poor and the continuous “greening” of her city.
The First Lady is sifficiently trained for the job since her family is no stranger to public service. The late patriarch, Felimon was mayor of then-municipality of Las Piñas for 24 years, while a brother-in-law is no other than the former House Speaker now Senator Manuel B. Villar.
Her supporters point out that while Mayor Aguilar was busy running the affairs of Las Pinas all these years, his capable wife was holding her own managing the family’s huge real estate concerns, raising their four children, keeping house and attending to the stringent demands of being a First Lady.
The Aguilar couple have four daughters, all of whom are professionals. April and Alelee, who are both married, are executive vice-presidents of the family-owned V.A. Aguilar Propertoes, Inc.; Aivee is a doctor and Anne Virgil is a restaurateur.
Her unqualified support for her husband’s projects has certainly contributed a lot in making Las Piñas one of the country’s fastest growing cities. Her stewardship of the Clean and Green Council for one, has earned for Las Piñas the recognition of being the Cleanest and Greenest City in the National Capital Region and United Nations Awardee on Environmental Program (UNEP).
To achieve this, Madame Mel executed a well-planned, feasible program. All sectors were called in to do their share, big businesses in the area donated free garbage bags, beautification contest were launched in public schools and economically disadvantaged communities, a 1,000-strong army of street sweepers called the Kaagapay sa Kalinisan at Kagandahan (KAAGAPAY), partners in the cleanliness and beautification of Las Piñas, was mobilized to regularly clean major and secondary streets in the city and take over the landscaping of open spaces. There is also her “eco-aides” which coordinate with the non-governmental group Linis-Ganda (Clean is Beautiful) in collecting junk and refuse in all villages and subdivisions.
All these, coupled with the city government’s decision’s to take over garbage collection from private contractors through the purchase of its own fleet of compactor trucks, has enabled Las Piñas to achieve its zero-waste target in a little less than five years-so far, the only local government unit in Metro Manila to do so.
It is with the same zeal that the First Lady of Las Piñas approaches her other concerns like the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina or KALIPI which provides livelihood opportunities to women and the nutrition program which has earned the Green Banner award from the National Nutrition Council for reducing by half the number of malnourished kids in the city.
Madame Mel proudly points out that while Las Pinas has one of the lowest incomes among the cities in Metro Manila, it ranks highest in terms of delivering basic social services to its residents. Proof that the Aguilar administration puts a premium on wise fiscal management, good governance and prioritizing the people’s welfare.
For example, Las Pinas has a city college which offers free college education to poor but deserving students. Residents can also avail of free hospitalization in accredited, first-class hospitals at a cost of P25,000 per person. This is not to mention the other noteworthy projects which the Aguilar leadership has undertaken such as a state-of-the-art garbage collection system, tricycle terminals and the opening of “friendship routes” in private subdivisions to declog traffic in the city. All of these have contributed to Las Pinas’ rise as one of the best, most livable places to settle in Metro Manila.
The secrets of her success, she says, is her passion for public service, her “soft spot for people” and the fact that she can easily adjust to any given situation.
“Kahit sino puwedeng lumapit sa akin kasi matiyaga ako sa tao. I always put myself in their place and I don’t ignore their problems. My greatest happiness is seeing my constituents happy at mag-thank you sila kapag nakikita ka,” Madame Mel declares.
“What makes a program stand out is not the program itself but constant monitoring. I always set the standard for my people and inject the ‘personal touch.’ They know there are no walls or boundaries with me when it comes to relaying their problems. I always try my best to be there for them-anytime.”
By getting into the limelight, Imelda Aguilar may have lost her privacy but gained fulfillment by serving her fellowmen. Her favorite Christian dictum, after all, is: ” Only in sharing can one find true happiness.” A pious woman, devoted wife and mother, now we know that she is also no ordinary First Lady.