Magalong: Mayor Material

By Fox Steven B. Jaleco

Benjie Magalong, first of his name, mayor of Baguio, and protector of the realm and its
people. One faithful day, then-President Fidel V. Ramos arrived at the garrison where now-
mayor Benjie Magalong was posted. Ramos presented each soldier of the encampment, including
Magalong, with their stipend. Ramos treaded down the mountain for his departure. Knowing he
received more than the supposed amount, Magalong rushed down the rugged mountainside just
to tell then-President Ramos that he was mistakenly given a bit too much pay. “Sa'yo na iyan,”
Ramos replied in astonishment towards his[Magalong] display of integrity. Anyone could have
kept an excessive pay, but Magalong did not. A man formerly of service; now a man of
leadership. However, who really is Magalong? Or is he just one of the common folks?
Now mayor of Baguio, Magalong has progressively stripped the city off its unsentimental
flaws. Just a start he’s come, but there is much to learn from him. His campaign slogan goes:
“magaling, magalang, at marangal” which in translation states: “good, respectful and
honourable”. Anyone could be of the first two, but none can be as honourable as Mayor
Magalong. He may be a fresh face in the screen of politics, but his work has exemplified honour
in his name. From a field operative in his formative years, and now to being the head of the city.
Anyone could have owned up to being the mayor, but as a local of Baguio City I can say that
no candidate can beat Magalong. From the very moment he decided to pass the excess pay back,
it was set on stone that he is mayor material. A mayor is integrity-filled; a mayor is fair and
honest. Holding fairness in the field of work, Magalong has displayed unclouded judgement,
hence conveying his fair play in his work. None, there is like him.
In this reality, it is hard to play fairly. Magalong can be an example. In his formative role as
the mayor, he has shown his own share of fair play—satisfying the welfare of his city, and not
his own reputation. Regardless the setbacks, regardless the incurred adversaries, Magalong has
owned up to his slogan, of being good, respectful, and honourable.