What’s the key to the success of the City of Taguig?
Faith in God, according to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
In a Facebook live on Sunday at the Mercado del Lago in Lower Bicutan, the gentleman from Taguig said while people can debate on opinions, “we cannot debate on principles.”
“Why do we emphasize loving God above all else? Hindi para sa Diyos y’un kundi para sa atin. Because ‘pag may isabay tayo sa Diyos, idolatry ‘yan. Mawawala tayo,” he said.
Cayetano has always emphasized that when his wife, Mayor Lani Cayetano, took over the city in 2010, one of the first things her administration did was offer Taguig to God and refuse activities that do not honor him — including casinos and other gambling establishments.
He has also said that when Mayor Lani first came to office, the city had P1.6 billion in debt. By 2019, the city was officially debt-free as her administration made sure funds were used efficiently for health, education, and social services.
“Ang pera o ang trabaho… ‘pag ‘yan ay sinabay mo sa pagmamahal sa Diyos, mawawala ka. Pero ‘pag Diyos ang una, maniwala ka, lahat ng pangangailangan mo ay dadating,” the senator said.
Vision
In a second Facebook live at the grand launch of livelihood programs for the Progressive Ladies League of the Philippines (PLL), Cayetano spoke of the importance of having a vision, saying each person’s contribution to society adds up to fulfill a greater goal.
He likened this to three men constructing a building, two of whom only saw that they were mixing cement and laying blocks while the third knew that they were not just putting up a structure but helping build a community.
Citing the PLL, Cayetano said while each member does seemingly separate activities, they all work together to fulfill God’s plan for the city.
“Ang ladies ay isang haligi na ginagamit ng Panginoon na baguhin ang ating siyudad ng Taguig. You are not only agents of change but agents of transformation,” he said.
Cayetano ended his speech by urging the PLL members not just to love God but also to love and take care of themselves so they can love and serve others.
“Mahalin mo ang sarili mo at pagkatapos mahalin mo ang iba katulad ng pagmamahal sa sarili mo. Kung galit ka sa sarili mo, paano mo mamahalin ang iba? Kung hindi mo inaalagaan ang saili mo, paano mo ibibigay ang klase ng alaga sa iba?” he said.
“So sa ladies po, ang inyong health, mental health, physical health, health ng inyong pamilya, spiritual health ay importante sa amin,” he added.
