PUBLIC service is about “doing the right thing” with all your heart and mind, this is how Junrey Bantilan Sevilla, administrative officer 5 of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Davao, defines his work.
For him, doing the right thing is an unwritten qualification one must have not only upon entry to public service but all throughout.
“Success will come and go, but integrity is forever,” Sevilla said, adding that in the field of public service, the country’s development basically lies in the hands of both men and women of integrity and dedication, with the Creator’s help.
Born on August 2, 1986 in Davao City to Raymundo Banquerigo and Bebiana J. Bantilan–Sevilla, 31-year-old Sevilla has been a public servant for about four years and still aspires to do more for the people.
Sevilla holds a Completed Academic Requirements (CAR) certificate for his Master of Business Administration from University of Mindanao in 2012. He finished Bachelors of Science in Accountancy and Management Accounting in 2007 and 2008.
From 2004 to 2005, Sevilla worked as a canvasser at the University of Mindanao. Then, he became an administrative assistant in the same school until year 2007, before he worked as junior researcher analyst at the ITPPL Services, Inc.
In 2008, he was promoted to senior researcher analyst at ITPPL Services and became a team leader/supervisor in the same firm from 2011 to 2014. Sevilla then worked as an administrative aide 4 and support staff of the Ombudsman.
Sevilla was transferred and designated as an administrative officer to LTFRB-Davao from the Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao this year. He admitted that his post brought several challenges to him as a public servant and as a person.
But despite the immense responsibilities, Sevilla never thought of quitting. It's all about finding the balance in his personal life and public service.
As administrative officer, Sevilla considers himself as a leader and thus vowed to continuously set a good example for his fellow workers.
Sevilla is also a choir member at the Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague in Matina and was recently accepted as one of the theater actors of the Association of Creative Artists, Inc. He dedicates his talent to God and his loved ones.
He had his share of downs, including losing his father in 2009 and his mother in 2010.
“It took me quite a long time to recover from all those pains,” Sevilla said, although he did not complain. The experience brought him close to God, he said.
As the youngest of the 12 siblings, he is the one who usually initiates plans for family gatherings and also mediate in some concerns.
Sevilla said he believes that God has plans for him and that he will always be open to whatever these are.