THE PROLOGUE: A RETURN TO THE PAGE
Welcome to the debut of Grace & Governance. I return to the pages of the Visayan Daily Star not merely as a columnist, but as a lifelong learner and a servant of the community. While I have entered my “golden years” as a senior citizen, my spirit remains in the classroom, where I continue to mentor the next generation of leaders in subjects like accounting, business analytics, strategic planning, and tax management.
My “analytical toolkit” is built on twenty years of industry leadership in operations auditing and finance, alongside significant service within our local government—specifically within the City Mayor’s Office. However, beyond the titles of CPA or MBA, I am a practicing Roman Catholic who spent 15 years active in the charismatic community. My worldview is rooted in the belief that true leadership requires both technical excellence and spiritual integrity. In this space, we will seek the intersection of efficient policy and ethical faith—because good governance is impossible without the presence of grace.
THE SALVO: A CITY OF RESTRAINED ANGER
Bacolod is currently a city of “restrained anger.” As a CPA, I have spent a career looking at ledgers, but the current math in our city simply does not add up. There is a profound disconnect between the billions being spent and the reality of the streets we walk on. Our citizens are weary, and that weariness is turning into a deep-seated skepticism toward the “TraPo” culture that many believe is draining our city coffers.
Let’s look at the cold, hard numbers. Our city has seen P5 Billion allocated for flood control. To any auditor, that is a staggering sum. Yet, with every heavy rain, Bacoleños are left wading through the same rising waters, wondering where that investment went. When “flood control” results in no control at all, it isn’t just a technical failure; it is a breach of the public trust.
Furthermore, we are now tethered to a P4.2 Billion DBP loan. As a finance professional, I know that debt can be a tool for growth, but only when it yields clear public benefits. Instead, our citizens see “extravagant” projects while their most basic needs—clean water, manageable traffic, and social services—remain unaddressed. When we borrow against the future of our children to fund the optics of the present, we are not governing; we are over-leveraging our collective soul.
THE MORAL GAP
This is where the “Grace” in our governance must intervene. We owe a debt of gratitude to the religious leaders of various denominations who have stepped into the gap, providing a peaceful but firm voice for transparency. Their leadership has, in many ways, kept the city’s anger from boiling over into chaos.
However, a “call for transparency” from the pulpit is only the first step. There is a growing, urgent plea from civic partners for the Church to do more. Accountability at City Hall is vital, but spiritual, moral, and social renewal must begin in our homes and barangays. We cannot expect clean governance from a society where the moral fabric of the family is fraying.
The Church must lead a grassroots “Audit of the Heart.” We need a movement that doesn’t just demand honesty from politicians, but fosters a culture of integrity within every household. We must ask ourselves: are we raising citizens who value the common good, or are we inadvertently feeding the same culture of entitlement we claim to despise?
THE FINAL AUDIT
Good governance is not just about balanced books; it is about a balanced conscience. If we spend P9.2 billion but lose the trust of our people, we are morally bankrupt.
In this column, we will continue to ask uncomfortable questions. We will demand that our leaders in the Lower House and the City Hall justify the “Governance” they provide. But more importantly, we will seek the “Grace” required to transform Bacolod from a city of skepticism back into a city of genuine, well-earned smiles.*
