Kinsa si Maymay Barcelona?

Without a doubt, he is considered to be a ‘bridge’ of Escalante from a massacre town into a progressive city. Some people described him as the one responsible of putting Escalante into the map. Some said, he is a not a politician, but a crusader. The only City Mayor who manages his constituents by providing a compassionate ministry. Indeed, a leader by example. And he happened to be, HON. SANTIAGO ‘MAYMAY’ GO BARCELONA, JR.

Hon. Barcelona was just known to have possessed the qualities of a typical father. He is humble, quiet, strict, and only wants the best for his children. But who really is Maymay Barcelona?

Mayor Maymay, as fondly called by Escalantehanons, was born last June 25, 1949 at Brgy. Balintawak, Escalante, Neg. Occ. Young Santiago spent his Elementary and Secondary years at Bacolod Tay Tung High School where he was concluded as First Honorable Mention and Class Valedictorian, respectively. Graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Business Administration at La Salle Bacolod (now Univ. of St. La Salle), again he passed with flying colors. Magna Cum Laude! With his expertise in Business Administration, he took part on several family businesses by being the Manager of Barcelona Ventures (mining-rock phosphate), Gas Plus Service Station, Neighborhood Developers, Inc. (Subdivision Development).Also, he is the Past President/Operations Manager of Magdalena Sea Land Development Corp, Barcom Trading Corp, Barcelona Port Services and a Proprietor of Barcelona Brothers Trucking Services Corp. After a year of having Escalante Massacre, he was appointed as an OIC Municipal Councilors from July 1986-November 1987. He assumed assumed office as the Municipal Mayor of Escalante from July 1,1998- March 31, 2001, the City Mayor from April 1, 2001-July 30, 2007, and took oath as the City Vice Mayor from July 1, 2007 up to the present.He took the headship on several civic, religious, and business organizations, to wit:

PROJECT DIRECTOR : Kalinga (Escalante) Negros, Negros Kaisa, Inc.

MEMBER : Negros Kaisa, Inc.

VOLUNTEER : Gawad Kalinga

PAST CHAPTER HEAD : Couples for Christ – Escalante Chapter

PAST PRESIDENT : Rotary Club of Escalante R.I. District 3850

PAST GOVERNOR’S GROUP REPRESENTATIVE : Rotary International, District 3850

PAST PRESIDENT : Escalante Jaycees, (Adjudged 1976 Most Outstanding New Chapter Of the Philippines during incumbency)

PAST REGIONAL VP : Philippine Jaycees, Inc. – R-6

PAST EXECUTIVE VP – VISAYAS : Philippine Jaycees, Inc.

PAST PRESIDENT : Negros Island Shell Dealers Association, Inc.

PAST MASTER : Joseph Shoon Memorial Lodge No. 186, F&AM

When he assumed leadership last July 1, 1998, comes a mandate for the restoration of Escalante from the shadows of fear and darkness, and to uplift the dignity and self respect of the people thru fair and corrupt-free governance. With the help and cooperation of those believers of good governance, he crafted and implemented the fundamental framework of governance coined as HELPERS PLUS, a total human liberation package with different entry points of engagement and concerns to alleviate the QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE. HELPERS PLUS refer to as H – ealth & social services; E- ducation, and sports development; L – ivelihood and Entrepreneurship; P- eace and Order, Public Safety; E – nviroment protection, preservation and development; R – evenue generation and resource development; S – helter; the plus includes all developmental infrastructures i.e. farms to markets road networks, power, water; programs e.g. tourism and investment promotion and development and other priority projects that will redound to a better Escalante City!

Being a Local Chief Executive, he took the chairmanship as well as involvements in several organizations. These were as follows:

CHAIRMAN : North Negros Aquatic Resource Management Advisory Council

(NNARMAC) a nine member inter-LGU alliance of North Negros

Occidental focused on Coastal Resource

Management and

Enviromental concerns, consisting of 5 cities and 4 municipalities

CHAIRMAN : First Congressional District Peace and Order Council

CHAIRMAN : D’ BEST CA Inter Local Health Zone (Ist District – Negros Occidental)

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL

REPRESENTATIVE

MEMBER : Visayan Sea Coastal Resources and Fisheries Management (VisSea)

REGION VI

REPRESENTATIVE : League of Cities of the Philippines

MEMBER : Regional Development Council, Region 6

MEMBER : Economic Development Committee

Regional

Development Council, Region 6

MEMBER : Infra Development Committee

Regional Development Council, Region 6

MEMBER : Provincial Development Council

HELPERS PLUS became the main thrust of governance during the reigns of the Barcelona Administration during his humble watch from 1998-2007 which had resulted as multi-awarded governance with nationally recognized programs and advocacies. Proudly, during his incumbency, Escalantehanons experienced triumph and victory as this humble Exec brought home the following recognitions and awards. Major awards include:

2007 : MOST OUTSTANDING PEACE & ORDER COUNCIL OF THE

PHILIPPINES

FOR 2005, awarded last September, 2007, Malacanan Palace

2007 : OUTSTANDING INTER LOCAL HEALTH ZONE OF THE PHILIPPINES

July, 2007, DOH

2006 : MOST OUTSTANDING INTER LOCAL HEALTH ZONE – REGION 6

D’BEST CA INTER-LOCAL HEALTH ZONE

By DOH Region 6

2006 : OUTSTANDING CITY MAYOR OF THE PHILIPPINES, 2006

By

the

Local Government Leadership Award – Philippine

Senate/UP/LaSalle/

Ateneo

2005 : DR. JOSE P. RIZAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PUBLIC SERVICE

by the MANILA TIMES

2005 : PARANGAL PARA SA MARARANGAL AWARD

By the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng – Free Philippines

Bishop Cruz

2004 : KAAGAPAY SEAL OF EXCELLENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE

By the DILG and Philippine-Canada Local Government Support Program

2004 : PARANGAL PARA SA MARARANGAL AWARD

By the Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng – Jueteng Free Philippines -

Bishop Cruz

2003 : BEST OF THE BEST PNP STATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, CITY

CATEGORY

By PNP National Headquarters

2003 : KABALIKAT AWARDEE - TESDA

2003 : OUTSTANDING WEBSITE (E-Barangay)

By Cebu City Chamber of Commerce

2003 : PARANGAL PARA SA MARARANGAL AWARD

By Krusadang Bayan Laban sa Jueteng – Jueteng Free Philippines Bishop Cruz

2002 : OUTSTANDING CITY MAYOR OF THE PHILIPPINES 2002

By the Local Government Leadership Award, Philippine Senate/UP/LA SALLE/

ATENEO

2001 : BEST EXECUTIVE AGENDA

LCE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY COURSE

AIM INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, Makati City

These were only few among the series of honors and rewards that our city received during the holistic development under Mayor Maymay's leadership. With the help of several co-believers, he subsequently promotes and encourages employees to serve the public with excellence and was proven by several recognitions by the city employees like the 2-time Best Treasury Office in Region 6 under the headship of City Treasurer Wilfredo Ruiz and the National Best City Civil Registrar's Office under Mrs. Thelma Ruiz. Additionally, the motivations made by this great leader had resulted to several accreditations given to various city agencies.

Today, Escalante stands a living miracle of faith and renewal. Of endings and new beginnings, 20 lives had been sacrificed during Escalante Massacre that brought about renewal and transformation. Through 20 years, repentance and forgiveness found its healing to the very soul of Escalante.

Behind all these is one man. A friend who listens and endures. A brother to lean on in times of sorrows and laughter.

He is a partner to build dreams with. A teacher who shares...

and a father whose strength and wisdom you can always depend on..

Kinsa siya? Siya si Santiago "Maymay" Barcelona Jr. Indeed, a leader who at all times persevere with his vision to bring development right to where it matters. Through the cradle of the most difficult times, Mayor Barcelona and the Escalantehanons now faces the future with gratitude and faith. Let us continue the journey with the bridges of faith, hope and love, and together we shall never fail again in traversing the future.