THE days I spent recovering from my ailment were interrupted by news of the death of former Cagayan de Oro City mayor Pablo “Ambing” Magtajas and since then I've been monitoring social media posts on his wake at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes.
I saw numerous posts not only from his daughter, City Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba but also from friends of friends. From the looks of things, it seems that those attending the wake that came from all walks of life is a story by itself. The late mayor who died at 77 years of age is considered by many as one of the best serving mayors of the city and there's no doubt that he touched many lives.
I recognized many of those on the photos and they brought me to a journey back in a different place and time. The photos also reminded me of Stephen Covey's book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” that was given to me by former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Regional Director Perla Bala.
I could not recall anymore which habit was included in the book but I'm sure there is one in there which said something about “Begin with the end in mind.” Covey told readers to imagine themselves attending their own funeral and thinking what people would say about them as a person.
Maybe Mayor Ambing read Covey's book since I knew him to be a voracious reader by just looking at his office in his house at Barangay Nazareth. Maybe he already had in mind what people would say about him at his funeral.
I started media work as a reporter at Gold Star Daily until I was hired by Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) dxCC and there were times I had to visit the Magtajas house in Barangay Nazareth. It's so hard to get in contact with officials back in those days.
I try to schedule my visits at their houses early morning or wait for them to get up and about. Yes I did experience those times in the field until I became an anchor and then I couldn't leave my post. At the Magtajas home, one is served with coffee and pan de sal while waiting for the mayor.
I was familiar with the area since I lived in Barangay Nazareth for two years renting a unit from the Caharian family, the neighbors of Magtajas. I didn't know then that someday I would be interviewing the guy next door. Yeah, that’s how it is sometimes.
The people you met in your travels will someday meet you again. It was also easy for me to approach the mayor since I told him that my tatay (father) was the elder brother of his classmate Mauro Naelga at MOGHS. Same thing with the late Ma’am Nitz Magtajas. I introduced myself as the niece of her co-teacher at Cathedral High School Vicky Naelga Pagsuguiron.
Due to these little connections I had no problem getting appointments for interviews with Magtajas. One thing I noticed was that he was surrounded with lady department heads at City Hall. That was where the start of the so-called “Tres Marias” or the three major women department chiefs which according to reports then were picked by Magtajas in Nazareth.
I think it did good because Mayor Magtajas became the mayor with many firsts in Cagayan de Oro City, the City of Golden Friendship. Mayor Ambing Magtajas is approachable and simple. He would always be recognized in a crowd because he would be in a crowd within the crowd. He was sporting always a short polo barong or a collared polo shirt. His hair stays in place even if there are strong winds. He was soft-spoken even when the questions are tough. He maintains his cool during interviews but he doesn't mince words when he is passionate about something even when his demeanor is calm. Maybe since he was a labor lawyer and he was already used to talking to people and hearing about their problems that it became useful to him when he served then as vice mayor and eventually became the mayor of the city. It was during his time that Cagayan de Oro developed by leaps and bounds and was even considered to be the capital city of northern Mindanao or region 10. Of all the highlights in his term as mayor—I think he was the longest serving mayor of the city starting in the early 80s and ending in 1998—it was his stand against the establishment of a casino that stood out.
His administration stood against the rich and the influential people who wanted the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation to set up a casino in the city at Pryce Plaza Hotel. It was a long fight both in the streets and in the court. People from Cogon market, farmers and church goers took to the streets to protest while the mayor's lawyers fought all the way to the Supreme Court to oppose the opening of the casino.
It was indeed a win for the people for all the right reasons. Until now it is part of jurisprudence that the people or the local government has the final say on whether or not to allow a casino to open in their area. I also credit Mayor Magtajas for his belief in investing on young people who can become leaders. I can cite examples like former City councilors Dante Pajo and Ian Acenas and even incumbent Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.
Correct me if I am wrong about this. Maybe he was a wedding sponsor to former kagawad Dante. But Magtajas also gave a chance to his employees to pursue advance education during night time. That's why those who worked at the mayors office are now lawyers like Enrique Ike Naduma and Prosecutor Gladys Naduma to name a few.
After the eulogies are said and people talked about their experiences with the late mayor, I can imagine that the person in the casket smiled and told himself that he had done his share and it's time to go home for good. Goodbye Mayor Ambing Magtajas and may your good deeds be remembered by the people you served and the family you left behind.