ARAYAT – “For my long struggle for change, not only for Arayat, nawalan na ako ng dalawang anak at itong award na ito ay para sa kanila.”
So said Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino of this town on Thursday as he dedicated his third Most Outstanding Mayor Award (MOMA) to his two sons who both faced untimely deaths.
Alejandrino made the statement during his privilege speech after receiving the MOMA given by Superbrand Marketing International Incorporated (SMII) on March 30 at The City Club, Alphaland Hotel in Makati.
The local chief executive was referring to his son, Vladimir Alejandrino, and stepson Melvin Guevarra, who were both killed in a bloody gunfight.
In 2005, Vladimir was killed in an ambush by heavily armed men after reportedly covering his body to save the older Alejandrino in Mexico, Pampanga.
Meanwhile, Guevarra, who was a village chief of Cupang, was killed in an armed encounter with policemen recently after allegedly refusing to cooperate with authorities serving him a search warrant.
Alejandrino lamented that he is saddened that his family is being exposed to threats and danger since he chose to run for office and bring change to his hometown.
Despite such incidents, Alejandrino said that he will not stop his crusade to renew Arayat and bring development for his fellow Arayateños.
“Mahaba pa po ang aking pakikibaka para sa pagbabago pero itutuloy po natin ito,” he noted.
He also urged his fellow Kapampangan local chief executives, among them Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago who also received the same award, to join the battle for change and leave a legacy of a peaceful Philippines for the future generations.
Meanwhile, Alejandrino also expressed his gratitude to SMII for continuously recognizing his efforts in initiating change in his hometown.
“Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon po tayo mas ginaganahan na magserbisyo para sa tao at para bayan,” he said.