I look back on my years of service with deep gratitude and humility, marveling at how far San Fernando has come. Our city’s journey from a municipality to a dynamic component city—solidified by Republic Act No. 8990—is as much a testament to good governance as it is to the indomitable spirit of the people who call this place home.
When I introduced the House bill that paved the way for the creation of the City of San Fernando (Pampanga), my guiding principle was clear: true progress can only flourish when local governments have both the autonomy and the capacity to sustain development. Since becoming the provincial capital in 1904, San Fernando had shown immense promise. By securing a city charter, we unlocked more robust fiscal powers, a larger Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), and an institutional framework suited to our rapidly expanding population and economy. Yet, we nearly faced a critical stumbling block in the legislative process. Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. sought to raise the bar for cityhood, not just in terms of income but also population and land area—changes that would have disqualified San Fernando. I appealed directly to him, emphasizing that although we might not meet an elevated land area threshold, we were eminently capable in terms of economic viability and governance potential. Thankfully, Senator Pimentel honored our request, focusing instead on the income requirement in what eventually became R.A. 9009. This concession ensured that San Fernando—and other similarly positioned municipalities—would not be locked out due to mere geography. On February 4, 2001, our people spoke decisively through a plebiscite, ratifying cityhood by a wide margin. San Fernando thus entered a new chapter. Little did I know that just three years later, I would step into the office of City Mayor, where I would be called on to make the most of that fresh mandate.
Elected as mayor in 2004, I was determined to uphold the ideals of transparency, participatory governance, and transformative leadership. Our city’s charter was not a mere certificate—it was a call to action. I often reminded our constituents: “Cityhood is a promise that must be fulfilled through genuine service thus the slogan MAGSILBI TAMU!” We adopted a strategic roadmap, aligned with the Performance Governance System (PGS)—a local adaptation of the Balanced Scorecard—to set concrete targets for development, measure progress, and engage citizens in policy-making. Regular multisectoral consultations and public fora became a staple, reflecting my belief that people’s voices are integral to crafting sound local policies. Under our administration, San Fernando garnered numerous awards for innovative programs in education, environment, and social services. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) accorded us the Seal of Good Housekeeping, recognizing our commitment to transparency in financial transactions and adherence to best practices in local fiscal management. We received recognition as a “Most Business-Friendly City,” a testament to streamlined processes that encouraged entrepreneurs and fostered sustainable economic growth. We prioritized infrastructure projects like road expansions, improved drainage systems, and upgraded public facilities. We partnered with private stakeholders to spur growth, attracting major investments in retail, manufacturing, and tourism. This propelled San Fernando to become one of Central Luzon’s leading commercial hubs. Believing that true progress is rooted in an educated citizenry, we strengthened our public schools, bolstered scholarship programs, and built additional classrooms to reduce overcrowding. We expanded healthcare services, focusing on maternal health, nutrition, and community-based clinics—ensuring that quality services reached even marginalized sectors. Cognizant of our vulnerability to floods and other calamities, we implemented disaster risk reduction strategies, earning Gawad KALASAG citations for effective local disaster preparedness. We launched environmental initiatives, including tree-planting drives, river clean-ups, and strict enforcement of waste management regulations to protect our shared natural resources. A hallmark of Fernandino pride is the parol (Christmas lantern) tradition. We promoted festivals and local craftsmanship, ensuring our cultural identity remained vibrant and recognized nationwide and even globally. Efforts to preserve heritage sites and champion the Kapampangan language reflected our deep-rooted commitment to honoring the past while embracing the future. By the end of my tenure in 2013, San Fernando had evolved from a fledgling city into a robust urban center hailed for its accountability in governance, business-friendly environment, and culturally vibrant community life.
Looking back, the vision we espoused—of a city that marries prosperity with inclusivity—could only be realized through collective effort. The legislative groundwork laid by R.A. 8990 and the wise, if sometimes challenging, debates around R.A. 9009 represent just one facet of the city’s story. The real fuel behind San Fernando’s transformation was the Fernandino spirit: our citizens’ unceasing resolve to uplift themselves and their neighbors.
From the countless dialogues in barangays to the broad alliances forged with civic groups, I witnessed how participatory governance unifies public officials and ordinary citizens under a shared banner of progress. The city’s achievements—be they local awards or national accolades—are but symbols of a more profound truth: when leaders trust their people, and people hold their leaders accountable, entire communities flourish. Cityhood, after all, is not the final destination; it is merely a framework that can open doors to growth if wielded responsibly.
I trust that the leaders succeeding me and future generations of Fernandinos will safeguard the ethos of transparency, inclusivity, and resilience that guided us through those transformative years. As I reflect on this journey—our behind-the-scenes negotiations in Congress, our relentless pursuit of good governance, and our shared victories—I am filled with hope. May the story of San Fernando inspire other localities to champion local autonomy, uphold the public trust, and embrace cultural heritage as the compass for sustainable development. In unity and service, we find the key to unlocking every community’s potential—one city at a time.