For the love of Tacloban

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The scene at the Tacloban City Hall Grounds in the afternoon of June 30 looked as if there’s a glittery showbiz affair about to happen. A red carpet was rolled out before an excited crowd seated under the covered tents. But when cameras started clicking away from all directions, Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzales-Romualdez sashayed on the red carpet neither for a movie scene nor acting awards ceremonies but for oath-taking rites that officially signaled the start of her taking on the responsibilities as Tacloban City chief executive. 

Mayor-elect Cristina took her oath under Barangay 88 chairman Emelita Montalban following the turn-over of documents and flag of the city government to her by husband and former Mayor Alfred Romualdez who served the city for nine years. The rites were witnessed by 500 guests composed of representatives from various organizations, relatives, friends and newly-installed Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin, Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt-Romualdez and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. It was a first in history of this city that a first lady of the outgoing mayor won the mayoralty seat.

In her speech, Cristina sincerely thanked her family and supporters for giving their full trust to lead in working for further development of Tacloban. She, likewise, thanked the Lord for granting them the strength to survive the devastation of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. “I thank the Lord for giving me this now, my appointment with destiny. I thank Him for keeping our people bonded together and for having guided us to the reconstruction of our city and our lives.

“Every suffering, every fear and every lost that we went through have brought us all closer to the fulfillment of our dreams because we’re building upwards from ground zero, we’re building higher and building better.”

The lady mayor shared she would do everything to develop the city in a sustainable manner by working hand in hand with the private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), INGOs and the national government. 

 “Daming assignment ‘no? Ang daming gagawin,” Mayor Cristina told The STAR and other select members of the entertainment press who caught up with her after the event. “But of course, I’m blessed to have a husband who was mayor for nine years who can give me sound advice and at the same time it was good that I was councilor for nine years before becoming city mayor now.”

Her first 100 days in office, the mayor added, will be devoted to her top three priorities that she deemed necessary for her constituents to continue to live a decent life.

“Well, I would really be happy to see the 16,000 displaced families to be in their permanent houses because right now, there are still many in temporary shelters and in danger zones. So, I want them to be transferred to safe grounds in the north.”

Second, she will make sure that there will be sustainable livelihood for them. “Livelihood is one important aspect so we’re hoping for different kinds of livelihood because most of them are fishermen at wala naman dagat sa norte so we would device ways for them to earn. It’s a relocation site but it’s like a whole new city because it has a marketplace and school.”

She recalled how her projects during her term as a city councilor —  that started in 2007 — paved the way for Taclobanons, especially the women, to gain knowledge and skills that helped strengthen rural livelihoods. Cristina said they started with a salon until they offered courses for massage (therapy), cooking and food preservation. “Now, we’re working with TESDA and Department of Education for us to be able to offer carpentry, masonry and other courses.”

Environment-related projects are also included in her Top 3 priority list. The mayor will continue to encourage people to plant more trees. She, too, is bent on putting back mangrove forests. The plants’ interlocking roots, trunks and branches help diminish the erosive power of waves. 

“To go with that,” said the mayor, “we will be expanding our NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) team and share informative things to people so there will be more trainings and drills in the barangays to make sure that they are well-informed of what to do when there’s a typhoon or tsunami. At least alam nila kung ano ang gagawin at saan pupunta. We are also launching the text alert system to quickly share to people the news as soon as we receive information regarding typhoon. Let’s say five days before, alam na nila na may paparating na bagyo.”

Asked if she thinks that Tacloban has already been healed from the trauma caused by Yolanda, Mayor Cristina replied, “I can’t say totally healed but, of course, the important thing is we have to continue moving forward. Another is to encourage more investors to create more jobs to boost our economy and our tourism so we have to continue moving forward making Tacloban better. The city is the largest city in Region 8 and the center of trade. We have many schools  — colleges and universities — hospitals and major banks are here. Kung mapilayan ang Tacloban, maaapektuhan ang rehiyon.”

Is she also ready to support the change espoused by President Rodrigo Duterte? Without second thoughts, the mayor is giving her full support to the new administration reminding everyone that Duterte was one of the first mayors who came to Tacloban after Yolanda wreaked havoc in the city. “So we really cannot forget him and he won here overwhelmingly; ‘yung mga tao hindi makakalimutan yung mga tulong n’ya.” 

Incidentally, the oath-taking coincided with the week-long celebration of the feast day of Sto. Niño de Tacloban. Aside from novenas, fiesta masses, land and fluvial processions, highlights of the festivities were the Sangyaw Parade of Lights and Sangyawan Music Festival where Sofia, the daughter of Kring and Alfred, displayed her vocal power with her rendition of some of Taylor Swift and Adele hits.

“Her passion is really music. She plays the guitar and the piano. She also composes songs. Perhaps, she got it from my dad (former Rep. Jose Mari Gonzales) who had a band during his younger years. But I’m not gonna push her because she has her own style. Basta, if she wants to do an album, I’ll support her.”

The mayor also shared that she and her family will take a vacation in the States before the start of her daughters’ classes in August.