“Let us make Bago better.”
This was the call of Mayor Marina “Mayette” Javellana-Yao, who took her oath as the new local chief executive of Bago City in rites held at Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center on Friday, June 27.
In her inaugural address, the mayor rallied Bagonhons to push for real, impactful and lasting change for the continued progress of Bago.
Making the city better, she said, is an obligation to each and every Bagonhon who hopes, dreams, and prays that in their lifetime they will live to see and experience “bag-o nga Bago” (a new Bago).
“The tasks ahead are overwhelming, but I pray that God will unite our hearts and minds for one common purpose, and that is public service,” Javellana-Yao said, adding that “hence, let us continue to make Bago our home, our sanctuary, our haven. Let us continue to adorn her with all our successes and achievements.”
Accompanied by her family members led by her husband, Aquino Yao, the mayor took her oath before Bago City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Mary Jennifer Protasio-Arches.
Javellana-Yao underscored that the governance, under her administration, will be anchored on the framework ASENSO BAGO as the city is positioned to move forward strongly.
ASENSO stands for Agriculture; Sustainable Livelihood; Education, Culture, and Sports; Natural Resources and Environment; Social Services, Health, and Gender Equality; Opportunities for Employment; Business and Tourism; Access to Roads and Basic Utilities; Good Governance and Transparency; and Optimization of Communication and Technology.
“This is a fitting tagline of where this new administration is leading Bago to in the next three years,” she said, as she expressed excitement in launching the city’s flagship initiatives.
These include Iskolar Bago, Ulikid Bago, Asenso Bago Service Caravan, Asenso Bago Aksyon Dayon Center, Lab Bago, Botika Bago, Build Bago, and Digital Bago, among others.
“These are the causes I am strongly committed to realizing with the support of all of you our dear Bagonhons onward to make our dream of a Bag-o nga Bago — a beautiful, loving reality,” she said in her inaugural message.
As the mayor poised her administration as a “fresh start and a new beginning for our city,” she also urged her fellow Bagonhons to stand united with their elected city officials as partners in progress.
Javellana-Yao also urged her constituents to engage actively in meaningful public dialog, contribute their voices to important conversations, and always choose to be architects of positive change.
She called on department heads and dedicated city government employees to continue exemplifying the highest standards of public service, channeling their unwavering commitment and selfless devotion toward the people of Bago, whose trust they have been honored to receive and whose welfare remains their responsibility.
“The election has long passed. Let us not allow politics to hinder our way to see and feel that ASENSO BAGO is what we all dream for the city,” she said, urging them to “move forward altogether—strengthened with our faith and with one common purpose—to serve our constituency and put into practice the oath we have sworn today.”
Aside from the mayor, vouncilors Robert Javellana, Imelda Precion and Dr. Leonilo del Carmen also took their oaths as elected members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The inauguration and oath-taking ceremonies were witnessed by the family members of the elected officials, city hall department heads, representatives of various national government offices and agencies, friends, guests, and supporters, among others.
“Today is more than just an inauguration. It’s a reminder of what brought us together here: the people’s trust, and above all, their love,” the mayor said, underscoring that “In this new chapter, we are reminded that true service doesn’t begin with power. It always begins with love.”*