By: Gil delos Santos
I am glad to see these kids (on the photo) when I visited my boat at Tulubhan Beach yesterday. They remind me of how we were, back in time during my childhood in the island. We used to make a foot deep sand holes, install twigs as screen with tree leaves on top then cover with sand. It's like a trap we intend for other friends that when they step on it, their foot get caught. That is a source of amusement for us, island kids, during the old time.
We might have gotten the idea from Japanese war exposure when traps became popular, with our grandparents passing it to our generation.
Fast forward today, it feels great to get reminded by this Tulubhan Kids do the stuff we used to do during our childhood in Boracay.
This is one of my island frustrations. How I wish we could keep our tradition and cultural system. This is the reason why I fight hard to go against the chinese operated casino in Boracay. Introduction of strong chinese and international gamblers' presence in the island will change the way we live. Will alter or stain our indigenous practices.
The ATIs of Boracay are the only IP community recognized by NCIP but we natives have co-existed and co-inhabited with them eversince - sharing the same culture, the same tradition, and the same place we live.
Anak po ako ng isla, born in 1976. My mother, who is everybody's "Manang Olive" was a long time bank employee of Samahang Nayon, the first ever bank in Malay. Pedro delos Santos, my father, was Doña Paz captain. My parents have established themselves in Boracay and Malay without tarnish. I am glad to grow up and be nurtured by their disciple. They are great family providers. They later established a family resort which I was lucky enough to inherit that from them with my doctor brother and US based physical therapist sister.
This is a privililege that Boracay gave me and my family. How it provided us so well. I have travelled the world for 2 decades professionally and for pleasure. I came back for good in 2017 to pay my parents and Boracay forward while thinking of semi-retiring while running our family business and co-managing my parents' passenger boats. My father is one of the first founders of Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative, one of the country's biggest transport cooperative.
Added to the resort, I have established a travel agency, freight services, now building my own fiber glass ferry too after wooden hull boats got phased out (during pandemic pa) for transport modernization program.
The 20 years of travelling and working abroad was a luxury and a successful career journey. Yours truly have been professionally featured on "The Islander", an international yachting magazine based in Spain in 2015, been professionally awarded for excellence, established an international network of renowned personalities of the industry, at iba pa. Lol. The thirst for professional attention and recognition was quenched already.
I apologize why I needed to mention all this. You will know later.
When the pandemic first hit in March 2020, it was a celebration for me. I celebrated hard because I needed that break. Until it went more than I expected. I did not realize that something like that could ever exist in my lifetime. Our businesses slowly got quiet.
It was a good chance for me to create new opportunities to respond to the situation. That's when I saw the pathway towards the government service. It has always been a desire to help the tourism industry in Boracay and Malay. Since I am a seasoned hospitality and tourism professional, I pushed to get into the Malay-Boracay Tourism Office.
I first got there empty handed in terms of job description. I got there without a specific role. Until our creativity starts to surface slowly in its natural course. How I become the Tourism Information Officer is a spot that I have created for myself.
I feel I have the ability to create...driven by our passion for excellence, create opportunities with great foresight.
I am running for office for the 2022 election as legislator (SB Member).
When I and my team of volunteer friends start to strategize for my campaign, first I have presented my agenda and created own branding. I used the hashtag #ForExcellentMalay as I am all for it, but they said it's a bit too ambitious. Of course I listen to people. When I consult people, I sincerely listen and get the pulse. But deep in my heart, I will get it without going against the flow of the universe. I do workarounds. Ultimate goal is excellence for Malay. I know the fix. I've been inside and tried our way already. Some worked, some not. Authority is the lacking key which we try to get through the next election.
Some of you might know, some might not. We have been fighting hard with issues how to improve the situation and the life climate in Boracay and Malay silently and loudly. We have been part of the movements inside and outside of social media to fight for what is due to Malaynons, Malay, and Boracay. Some of you might saw me on tv, heard me on radio, read me on prints, we even appeared on SP and SB hearings for our campaigns and lobbying.
However I realize, doing all this without proper representation and authority...it's a mere noise. A noise that cannot produce solid, quick, and sustainable results. That's why I am seeking for a government seat to put strength and authority to our campaigns, to be able to legislate solid policies for protection of Malay's welfare.
I don't offer public service as I have a different definition for it. I offer good policy making - that's my public service...not to dole out charities (except for response to emergencies). I would create policies to create opportunities and improve life climate. That's sustainable how to break the Pinoy mindset of "asa sa ayuda".
I have said this before, I'll say it again, "I am not desperate for position nor have the greed for money." I even left the tourism office because I have issues that can't be compromised.
This is a chance I offer to Malay - in our attempt to break the traditional politics. I give up personal space and peace in exchange for our intention to lead to deliver reforms.
I don't intend to criticize our local leaders because everyone have their own strengths and weaknesses. My only frustration is that...only if I were the decision maker, it could have been better.
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