BONTOC, Mountain Province – Allow me to pay tribute to my Governor for 6 years, Governor Leonard G. Mayaen, who just passed on so suddenly to the spirit world on March 31, 2016 that left us so dazed. He was running unopposed as governor of Mountain Province for the third term and we were very happy for him. For me, his subordinate, I was happy, too, as this meant a less stressful capitol and working environment. This also meant less stress for the general populace as they won’t have to make the painful choice who among friends or relatives will they vote for governor. He had plans laid out for the next three years and even beyond. And then pfft, he was gone.
Graduating from Grade 6 (he was the class valedictorian), the young Leonard decided he wanted to become the best lawyer. He wanted to become like their guest of honor – a lawyer. He saw how the people deferred to him as he entered the school compound, listening intently to what he was saying. And he remembered his father, who said a lot of good things, but was not listened to. In his young mind, he discerned that people didn’t listen to him because he was “just” a farmer. So he worked his way to school and he continued to excel, reaping honors as he graduated from one level to the next. But “why did you enter politics?”, I asked him. I didn’t wait for his reply and said “Now you want to be the best politician.” This dialogue took place during our last module in the Provincial Leadership and Governance Program where we were required to make a public narrative. He didn’t mention the honors, though, it is not his character. I got those information elsewhere. Although he didn’t grow up in the traditional “ili” of Besao, he was raised well by his parents who inculcated to him the indigenous values of humility, industry, diligence, respect for elders, etc. He wasn’t comfortable with personal accolades. He would always say that his achievements in Mountain Province are because of everybody’s effort, which is, of course, we would happily say “yes.”
I met him the first time as a governor in 2010 when we (provincial health staff) paid a courtesy call to him at the capitol. He informed us about his management style- among other things, that he doesn’t micro-manage. The message was that we cooperate with whoever is our immediate boss- and that is good management. He delegated tasks, including fund management as much as possible. When we had outside fund assistance for health infrastructure, he requested that the funding agency download the funds to the end-user even down to the municipal level. (That request was not usually granted, though.) He knew that tasks would be carried out better and faster if the person is in control of its financial resources.
The Provincial Health Office where I work is a devolved office and so Governor Mayaen, not the Secretary of Health, was our boss. Our various funding partners like the Department of Health and UNFPA usually required governors and mayors to be actively engaged in health activities so they were often called for meetings, launchings and conferences with us as their alalay. It is also mandated by law that each local government unit have a local health board with the local chiek executive as the chairperson. Governor Mayaen thus chaired the Provincial Health Board (PHB), with myself as the vice-chair and it religiously met monthly. So for the last six years, I have been with Governor Mayaen at least once a month, up close. For six years, we have seen how he dealt with problems, big or small.
At the Provincial Health Board, we felt his fatherly role, which is to provide for his family and for his children. We were his family. The members of the PHB would come to our meetings with their problems and he was willing to listen (but say it direct to the point please) and was willing to provide solutions (if within his mandate) usually financial, of course. We saddled him with a lot of problems – from busted light bulbs to leaking roofs and dilapidated buildings/ lack of facilities. And yet it was not only us seeking solutions. There was the Provincial School Board, the Peace and Order Council, the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children, etc, etc., with the governor expected to chair all these bodies. And also the general population of Mountain Province is his one big family, too, who would come to him for money to buy medicines or pay transportation, etc. He gave, as a doting father would give. He even expanded his family to Kalinga and anyone else who comes to Mountain Province for hospitalization. This is through the Point of Care Program which is being implemented at the Bontoc General Hospital, Besao-Barlig-Paracelis District Hospitals (all of which are provincially-managed) where anybody who is hospitalized without Philhealth membership is enrolled by these hospitals. Residents of Tinglayan, Kalinga usually come to Bontoc General Hospital for their hospitalization as it is nearer them (and is peaceful, I would say.) Governor Mayaen would give away his personal money, if necessary. He was a true public servant.
He knew how it was to be poor. And he felt for them. Thus there is a big budget in the province for livelihood programs and he initiated the rebel-returnee program (the only one of its kind in the Philippines) because he believes that it is poverty that breeds rebels. So the solution is not arms but livelihood.
Governor Mayaen doesn’t talk much nor does he coat his words with sugar. He often said that “One word is enough for the wise.” So when we go to his office we make sure we talk direct to the point, more so that there are many more clients waiting to see him.
He was known for being a “pro-employee” governor. As much as he can, he gave all the benefits due the employees. Because he believes that “a happy employee performs well.” We, the health staff under the provincial government, are so happy because he granted our request for the full implementation of Magna Carta benefits which we have been lobbying for since devolution in 1993. He acceded to our request because “you (health workers) have the law.”
As a team player, he saw to it that all stakeholders were involved. He talked to people, even if they were not of the same political colors. He was running independent, though, so he is color-blind. Politically, that is. And that again, is good politics in the Philippines. As much as possible, he promoted harmony among differing people or groups- whether it is political parties or tribes or churches. He was inclusive, not exclusive, just like a good father.
As for people who wouldn’t come into his fold or circumstances that we cannot change, what can one do? On one occasion, we took part in the tedious bidding process and yet we were so unhappy with the results so I expressed my extreme disappointment to Governor Mayaen and he said, “Well, we underwent the process.” In other words, let’s move on.
He stood by what he believed was for the greater good even if it would cost him his political career. Like how he stood pat on his decision for the old capitol building to be changed to a new one. He still won the people’s votes, though, despite that unpopular decision.
In 2012, he created the Provincial Coalition on Healthy Lifestyle after knowing that the leading cause of deaths in Mountain Province is lifestyle diseases. He divulged that he was a smoker in the past but he quit when he saw the poster of a person sick with smoking-related diseases. He was known to be careful with his food and took care to have regular walking exercises so it was appropriate that he was the chairperson. (If he wasn’t careful, he could have gone away earlier.) And upon years of our lobbying, early this year he signed two executive orders promoting healthy lifestyle in the province. Before this, he was apprehensive that nobody will come to our meetings if we served vegetables and other healthy food.
There were other initiatives on health. For one, he signed an executive order establishing the Mountain Province Medical Doctors Scholarship Program to address the lack of doctors in Paracelis, Natonin and Barlig. He also signed another one on the Volunteer Nurses Training Program.
On April I, 2016, the day after Governor Mayaen died, the Department of Health awarded the Provincial Health Office and Bontoc General Hospital with the Red Orchid Awards for being 100% smoke-free. There were a lot more awards on health for Mountain Province and although Governor Mayaen was not there to receive them, all these were, in one way or another, attributed to his exemplary leadership and governance. He was able to inspire his staff. He managed the resources of the province astutely. And he was at peace with most. (Well, one cannot please everybody.)
He stood tall for Mountain Province, literally and figuratively. We are mighty proud of him as our governor.
We have come to a point where Governor Mayaen was steering Mountain Province to greater heights at full speed when suddenly he came to a full stop, shattering everything except our faith. It has been a week now since and we are still reeling from the impact, bewildered and grieving by what happened. But such is life, like the toy car of my grandson, you have to pull it backward for it move fast forward. By God’s grace and with the help of those we see no longer and with our next set of leaders, we pick up the pieces, mend them and move on.
My condolences to his wife, Sonia, and his children and their families. We grieve with you. And thank you for allowing Governor Mayaen enter politics and be our father in Mountain Province for these past years. Thank you, Sir Governor, for being the best lawyer- for using the best you knew of the law for the benefit of the people in Mountain Province and elsewhere. Till we meet again.
By Dr. Penelope A. Domogo