PUBLIC service runs in the blood of Angeles City traffic enforcer Jojo Yalung Maninang. At a young age, he learned the value of hard work from his grandfather, a former village chief in Barangay San Nicolas.
Maninang gained popularity among netizens after his photos were uploaded over Facebook at the height of strong rains on August 20. The soaked Maninang continued to direct traffic amid heavy rains.
Angeles City traffic enforcer Jojo Yalung Maninang (6th from left) proudly receives a copy of a framed resolution commending him during the regular session at the City Hall on August 30. Joining him are (from left) Councilors Jay Sangil, Pogi Lazatin, Alex Indiongco, Jericho Aguas, Edu Pamintuan, Jae Flores, Joseph Ponce, Amos Rivera, Alfie Bonifacio and Dan Lacson. –Joey Pavia
The City Council on Tuesday afternoon through a resolution commended Maninang “for performing his duties and not leaving his post despite heavy rainfall and lacking raincoat to ensure safety of the motorists and to ease traffic condition.”
The recognition was sponsored by Councilors Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jericho Aguas, Joseph Ponce, Jesus Sangil, Jae Vincent Flores, Danilo Lacson and Edgardo Pamintuan Jr., who read the content of Resolution No. 7490 (Series of 2016).
“I learned the value of hard work and dedication to one’s career from my grandfather who was a former Kapitan del Barrio (Village Chief),” said Maninang in the dialect during an interview outside the session hall after receiving cash gifts and a framed copy of the resolution. He was referring to his late grandfather, Carlo Ocampo Yalung, who served as barangay captain of San Nicolas for 9 years.
“I saw him doing his task well and way beyond the call of duty. I idolized him while growing,” said Maninang, who was a former member of the Sangunniang Kabataan (SK) council of San Nicolas.
Maninang disclosed that he ran for kagawad of San Nicolas in 2013 but lost.
“I am running again for village councilor in the next elections,” added Maninang, who was a former sales agent. He recently broke up with his partner and they had no children.
“It is just a small amount from my pocket. Hanga po ako sa kanya. Sa kanyang dedikasyon,” Lazatin said in a statement.
Maninang was photographed while performing his duties along the Porac-Angeles City intersection in Barangay Cutcut despite heavy rains at around 2 p.m. He was not wearing a raincoat when IC Calaguas, general manager of Central Luzon Businessweek, took photos of Maninang while stuck in the traffic.
The Facebook account of Calaguas entitled “Dapat Tularan!” (must be emulated) gained 4,130 shares and more than 13,000 likes as of August 30, 10 days after it was posted.
“I don’t know that it will become viral in the social media. I just uploaded it because I am an admirer of dedicated public service. While driving taking his photos, I also remembered our days at the city hall when we, led by Mayor Tarzan Lazatin, put premium in the general welfare of city hall workers and traffic enforcers,” said Calaguas, who is also the Executive Assistant of Mayor Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin from 1999 to 2007.
Maninang had a raincoat but it was damaged preventing him from using it, it was learned from his superior.
Calaguas posted at 2:31 pm (August 20) : “Dapat Tularan!” where she asked her friends from Angeles City Hall to name the traffic aide and asked officials of the local government to “give the guy distinctions or to the least a raincoat.” Exactly 16 hours after posting the photos, 9,500 netizens reacted to the post with 2,750 shares.
ABS-CBN Channel 2 and local newspapers, including Punto Central Luzon and Sun Star Pampanga, run a story on Maninang.