Pasig’s Proud Political Prodigy

"If we want things to improve, there's no one else who's going to do the job but you." — Mayor Vico Sotto

A quick trip to the Pasig City Hall to render my remaining wedding “ninong” duties presented an unexpected surprise: my first-ever encounter with its millennial Mayor, The Honorable Vico Sotto.

Only 29 when he was voted into office last 2019 (making him the youngest local chief executive elected in Metro Manila), he eventually became one of the most celebrated youth leaders of his generation. His greenness was a contributing factor to how contemporary and on-the-pulse this politician has been. Apart from his good looks, his colorful career entered the national consciousness when he triumphed against a political clan which reigned the city for over 27 years.

While he is known as a man of a few words, he certainly did not come across as reticent or reserved when I was personally introduced to him, even having gone through a punishing round of meetings that day. In fact, notwithstanding his natural, towering height of six feet, he instinctively bows his head as if to express his sincere deference and humility. He was not only warm, but welcoming in a very authentic way.

A short tête-à-tête instantly revealed his self-assured and calming personality. He was honest and a straight-shooter; his responses clustered around the crucial connection between competence and confidence. He believes in an inclusive government where all voices are heard; and wishes to develop a government where the common man gets as much attention as the higher-ups.

Indeed, Mayor Vico hit the Philippine political scene like a thunderclap, having earned praise for advocating good governance practices as Pasig's chief executive. He focused on key political endeavors to ensure transparency in public service, among them: the elimination of kickbacks in the awarding of city contracts, the establishment of a 24/7 public information and complaints hotline, involvement of civil society organizations in the city's budgeting and policy-making process, and the lowering by at least 10 percent the value of all city government contracts to reduce bribery in the contract-awarding phase.

What catapulted him to the national limelight, however, was his quick and adroit handling of the pandemic response at a time when other local chief executives seemed to be “missing in action.” As he has moved with unprecedented speed to build an administration that would bolster the confidence of a shaken nation under the COVID-19 PANDEMIC, his flash and dazzle of being born to TV legends have faded into the background.

In the waning days of his extraordinary term and on the cusp of his leadership, what now seems most salient about this freshman mayor is the opposite of flashy, the antithesis of rhetoric: he gets things done. Some of his milestone initiatives included, among others: providing free transportation for healthcare workers and front-liners, amid the transportation ban; the setting up of mobile markets and kitchens to ensure that front-liners were well-fed; the purchase of disinfectant drones that spray buildings and city streets for sanitation purposes; and the distribution of learning kits for early childhood care in day-care centers.

For his extraordinary brand of crisis leadership, this young hizzoner was named as one of TOYM Philippines: The Outstanding Young Men Awards honorees for government service in 2020, Stargate PeopleAsia’s “People of the Year” in 2021, and was named as one of the “12 Global Anti-Corruption Champions” by the U.S. Department of State in 2021.

It will be premature to talk about this political prodigy’s legacy; he will eventually be setting his sights for another term. But for what he has already done, it was nothing short of phenomenal: he has successfully upended Pasig’s local politics, shattered decades of conventional wisdom and overcame decades of the social pecking order dominated by entrenched political dynasties. He possesses a rare ability to read the imperatives and possibilities of each new moment and organize himself and others to anticipate change and translate it into opportunity.

For all he’s worth, the good mayor has set the bar high for the future leaders of our nation as he has brought illuminating hope to our people amid the economic gloom and political confusion caused by the Covid-19 health crisis.

Mabuhay po kayo!

Many thanks to a good friend and fellow Xavier School alumnus, Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Bryant Wong (XS ’06); as well as to my wedding goddaughter, Pasig Public Employment Service Office Chief Jelene Sison-Lopez, for their gracious accommodation and facilitating my meeting with the mayor.