Emman T. Prado's First 100 Days in Service as Public Servant

One hundred eight years ago in 1902 Pedro Bustamante took his oath as the first municipal mayor of this town called Camaligan. Camaligan derived from word "camaligs" or storehouses of the early settlers called "certadores" - cutters of trees. At the time, the images of the flowing river and its bends adored by faces of the "certadores" were younger, the furrows and callous on their hands and faces clearly revealing the risings and settings of the sun and the scores of moons changing. The houses then were still very few and far in between. The wy of life less complicated like the planting and harvesting of rice and the making of "bukayos" and "champorados". Yet, that was one hundred eight years ago.

Today, after more than a century, Emmanuel T. Prado took his oath as the 32nd Mayor of Camaligan. Today, the color of the river is a lot darker, the "camaligs" and the "cetadores" gone, but the "PAG-ASA" or hope still lingers with the lilies.
Emmanuel T. Prado is a native o Camaligan. His mother is from Marupit who dedicated her life teaching the young about a Higher Being and a higher way of living. His mother was a "katekista". His father is from Sto. Domingo. He was a bell tower man of Camaligan. He was there waking up and reminding veryone that it is time to go to church to attend the religious ceremonies. He was ringing the bells to celebrate weddings and births, and he was ringing the bells to mourn passing of the dead. We do not know if these are the reasons why Mayor Emman T. Prado decided to become an engineer and a man of god at the same time that eventually led him to become the mayor of this town. Who knows, it might be his simple desiny in the long crooked lines of the Master's design.
Today, the newly elected young mayor is facing different challenges of a different time. Camlaigan is more congested and more populated. After many years of being an independent town it remained a fifth class municipality dependent with the allotment coming from the national governmen. It failed to grow - the rice fields are dwindling while the houses are sprouting. The constituents of Camligan after so many years seem to be contented where they are and what they have, or maybe they are just resigned. However, evry now and then you get to hear a good news about some people from this place who left and thrived and became successful.
Mayor Emman campaigned and now leading with a very clear vision. His battle cry "IMUKLAT ang CAMALIGAN!". His desire is not only to make this town a peaceful and a better place to live in but also to create a desire for change in the minds and hearts of "camaligueños". To dream and to do more, to rise beyond mediocrity and to achieve more, not only for the generations of today but more for the generations that are to come.
The "camaligs" and the "certadores" may be gone but the hope or the "pag-asa" shall remain in the hearts and minds of the constituents of Camaligan for the beacon of a more meaningful and transparent public service is in the hands of sincere servant - his name is EMMAN, all for the greater glory of GOD.

Source: http://www.camaligan.gov.ph/