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Galing Lider Forum, Iloilo City (2026)

15/06/2026

Iloilo City Sports Academy: Building Champions, Transforming Lives

What if every child—regardless of background, income, or circumstance—had the opportunity to discover their potential through sports?

That question inspired the creation of the Iloilo City Sports Academy (ICSA), a pioneering grassroots sports development program established by the City Government of Iloilo during the administration of former Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, with Rudiver Jungco Sr., Executive Assistant for Youth and Sports, serving as one of its key architects and champions. Together, they envisioned a program that would make sports accessible to every young Ilonggo while helping shape a healthier, more disciplined, and more resilient generation.

Launched in 2019, ICSA was designed to remove barriers that prevent children from participating in organized sports. The academy provides free, year-round training in 16 disciplines, including athletics, arnis, badminton, boxing, chess, cycling, football, futsal, lawn tennis, pickleball, taekwondo, volleyball, wrestling, and wushu, among others. Through the program, young athletes receive structured coaching, access to training facilities, and opportunities to compete at various levels.

But ICSA is about much more than winning medals. It recognizes sports as a powerful tool for youth development. By engaging children in meaningful and productive activities, the academy helps address challenges such as juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, internet addiction, and other social concerns. At the same time, it instills values such as discipline, teamwork, perseverance, respect, humility, and integrity—qualities that serve young people well beyond the playing field.

The program’s impact has been remarkable. From an initial group of just 160 athletes, ICSA has grown into a citywide movement that has benefited more than 3,300 young athletes. Its participants have earned medals in regional and national competitions, secured athletic scholarships, and gained opportunities to pursue higher education through sports. The academy has also helped elevate Iloilo City’s standing in national sporting events, proving that grassroots investment can produce extraordinary results.

One of the program’s defining strengths is its commitment to inclusivity. Children from public schools, private schools, underserved communities, and even out-of-school youth are welcome to participate. By ensuring that access to sports is not determined by economic status, ICSA has opened doors for countless young people to pursue their dreams and develop their talents.

The academy’s success is further strengthened by partnerships with schools, sports organizations, parents, coaches, and private-sector supporters. This collaborative approach has created a strong ecosystem that nurtures athletes while encouraging community participation and ownership of the program.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional training methods, ICSA adapted through innovative initiatives such as the SAFE Sporting Campaign and Sports at Home, allowing athletes to continue developing their skills through remote coaching, instructional materials, and online engagement. These efforts ensured that progress did not stop even during one of the most challenging periods in recent history.

Today, the Iloilo City Sports Academy stands as a model of how local governments can harness the power of sports to create opportunities, build character, and transform lives. Through the vision of former Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, the leadership of Rudiver Jungco Sr., and the collective support of the community, ICSA continues to prove that investing in the youth is one of the most meaningful investments any city can make.

At Galing Lider Forum, we celebrate initiatives like the Iloilo City Sports Academy—programs that empower communities, unlock human potential, and demonstrate how innovative local leadership can create lasting impact.

20/05/2026

BEYOND THE FIRELINE: A FIREFIGHTER WHO BUILDS SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

Public service is often measured not only by titles or awards, but by the lives protected, the communities empowered, and the trust earned through consistent action.

One public servant who exemplifies this kind of leadership is SFO1 Daryl Nidea Guianan of the Pilar Fire Station in Sorsogon, whose work goes far beyond responding to emergencies. Over the years, he has helped strengthen emergency response capabilities, disaster preparedness, and community safety awareness through a combination of operational excellence, innovation, and public engagement.

As Team Leader of the Pilar Fire Substation and Unit Commander of the Special Rescue Force Sorsogon, SFO1 Guianan has led hundreds of emergency operations involving vehicular accidents, medical emergencies, rescue incidents, flood response, and high-risk rescue missions. His experience includes participation in the difficult Cessna aircraft crash operation on Mt. Mayon and rescue operations during Typhoon Kristine.

But what makes his service especially noteworthy is his recognition that public safety does not begin only during emergencies—it begins with education and preparedness.

Among his most innovative initiatives is the authorship of children’s storybooks focused on fire safety awareness, helping introduce life-saving lessons to young learners through creative storytelling. He also actively conducts fire safety advocacy campaigns, Basic Life Support training, and community awareness programs aimed at strengthening preparedness at the grassroots level.

His advocacy also extended to improving operational readiness through support for acquiring better rescue equipment, including a dedicated rescue truck equipped with essential life-saving tools for emergency response operations.

These efforts have earned him national recognition, including being named among the Ten Outstanding Firefighters of the Philippines and receiving the prestigious Dangal ng Bayan Award from the Civil Service Commission.

At the Galing Lider Forum, we believe leadership is best reflected in people who quietly and consistently make communities safer, stronger, and more resilient. SFO1 Daryl Nidea Guianan’s story reminds us that true public service is not only about responding to danger—but also about building a culture of preparedness, compassion, and responsibility long before emergencies happen.

14/05/2026

THE IRANUN STORY: REBUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SHARED GOVERNANCE

What was once a region deeply affected by the destruction of war is now building a future anchored on cooperation, connectivity, and shared progress.

The Iranun Development Council (IDC) and its Integrated Infrastructure and Investment Development Planning (3IDP) initiative present a compelling example of how neighboring communities can transform adversity into opportunity through convergence governance and shared services.

Covering the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Matanog, and Parang, the initiative promotes the idea of “One Corridor, Four Municipalities, Shared Growth, Sustainable Future” — a vision that recognizes that development becomes more meaningful when communities work together instead of operating in isolation.

At the heart of the concept is the Iranun Shared Services approach: pooling resources, infrastructure, capabilities, and investments across municipalities to strengthen regional development. Rather than duplicating limited resources, communities coordinate efforts in infrastructure, agriculture, transport connectivity, economic development, disaster resilience, and public services for the benefit of the wider corridor.

The framework also highlights key goals that resonate strongly with modern local governance: better connectivity, a stronger economy, inclusive development, resilience and sustainability, and long-term readiness for future growth.

More importantly, the initiative carries a deeper message. The Iranun communities were brought together not by convenience, but by the realities and hardships left behind by conflict. Yet from those difficult experiences emerged a collective realization: recovery becomes stronger when communities rise together.

The IDC model demonstrates that peacebuilding is not only achieved through political agreements or security measures. It is also built through roads that connect communities, systems that share opportunities, and partnerships that create common prosperity.

At the Galing Lider Forum, we continue to highlight governance models that turn shared struggles into shared solutions — because leadership that builds bridges creates lasting peace and inclusive development.

01/05/2026

HEALING STARTS IN THE COMMUNITY: LAHUG, CEBU CITY

Mental health care is often out of reach—too far, too costly, or burdened by stigma.

In Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, they chose to change that.

Through the Barangay Behavioral Health Unit (BBHU), mental health services are now brought directly to the people—integrated into the barangay health center and made accessible at the grassroots level.

From awareness campaigns and community training, to counseling, crisis intervention, and access to medication, the program delivers education, support, and treatment in one accessible system.

But what makes it truly impactful is this:

It empowers the community itself.

Barangay health workers, youth leaders, and local partners are trained to identify, respond, and refer—ensuring that help is not only available, but within reach.

This initiative is implemented under Punong Barangay Hon. Hazel Ann Muaña-Empleo, with program leadership from BBHU Director Manuel “Pocholo” C. De los Santos, and institutionalized through the efforts of City Councilor Mary Ann C. de los Santos, who authored the enabling ordinance.

This is what real leadership looks like:

Building systems that listen.
Creating spaces that heal.
Bringing care closer to the people.

Because when help is within reach,
more people find the courage to seek it.

22/04/2026

Thank you to Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the trust and confidence in appointing me as Secretary of Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

We will work tirelessly toward the attainment of sustainable peace—bringing together communities, strengthening partnerships, and addressing the roots of conflict—as our contribution to achieving our shared national vision, Ambisyon Natin 2040.

Even with this responsibility, I will continue to advance the advocacy of the Galing Lider Forum—promoting worth-emulating policies and best practices in local governance and community development.

Our community will remain NON-PARTISAN and will focus only on sharing solutions, highlighting what works on the ground, and encouraging collaboration among local governments for the common good.

Together, let us build a more peaceful, inclusive, and united Philippines.

Mel Senen Sarmiento
-Galing Lider Forum

(Photo taken during the Galing Pook Awards Ceremony on November 23, 2022)

21/04/2026

Honored to join, as Chair of the Galing Pook Foundation with The Asia Foundation, the launch and MOA signing of the Sebangan A Unayan Development Council (SUDC), with BARMM Chief Minister Sammy Macacua, represented by Sol-Gen Atty. Batuas Lucman, the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur led by Gov. Bombit Andiong and House Rep. Yasser Balindong.

This marks not just a milestone, but a shift toward convergence, LGUs working together to accelerate growth and improve lives, as encouraged under Article X, Section 13 of the Constitution, which promotes the grouping, consolidation, and coordination of local government efforts, services, and resources for common benefit, in accordance with law, as provided in RA 7160 and the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code.

Congratulations to our mayors, vice mayors, councilors, and officials of the municipalities of Butig, Lumbaca Unayan, Sultan Dumalondong, Lumbatan, and Lumbayanague. Mabuhay ang SUDC!

Mel Senen Sarmiento
-Galing Lider Forum

18/04/2026

I had a wonderful exchange with our scholars from Batch 19 of the Public Management Development Program’s (PMDP) Local Government Executives and Managers Class (LGEMC) of the Development Academy of the Philippines, composed of seven mayors and provincial, city, and municipal department managers.

I look forward to seeing them successfully complete the program, graduate, and put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice in serving their constituents and contributing to the development of our country.

15/04/2026

Building Livelihoods that Last

I have always believed that the most meaningful solutions are the ones that take root in communities.

In Calaca, Batangas, a program called NASA TIYAGA, led by City Mayor Sofronio “Nas” Ona Jr., shows how local governments can move beyond short-term assistance and invest in something more lasting—livelihoods that empower people to stand on their own.

What stands out is its simplicity and practicality. Communities are supported in building small but sustainable enterprises—from hog and poultry raising, to fish processing, food production, and agri-based ventures like banana and cassava chips. The program also includes initiatives such as Bigasan sa Barangay, frozen food stores, and even support for coastal livelihoods through the provision of fishing boats—ensuring both income generation and access to essential goods.

But more than the projects themselves, it is the system behind them that matters.

There is support for training, basic business management, and continuous guidance. These are not one-off interventions. They are nurtured, monitored, and strengthened to ensure that they endure. More importantly, community organizations are treated as active partners—aligned with a participatory governance approach where people are directly involved in shaping their own development.

The scale of support is also significant. Livelihood groups have received assistance ranging from ₱300,000 to ₱2,000,000, with total funding reaching over ₱35.6 million—a clear indication of sustained investment in grassroots enterprise development.

This is where real progress begins.

Not from temporary relief, but from building the capacity of people to create opportunities for themselves and for others around them.

The initiative of Mayor Ona reminds us that development is not just about programs—it is about people, and how we enable them to move forward with dignity and purpose. It transforms beneficiaries from passive recipients into active community entrepreneurs, strengthening not only incomes but also cooperation, resilience, and food security at the local level.

At Galing Lider Forum, we continue to highlight these kinds of initiatives—quiet, grounded, and practical solutions that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Because when communities are empowered, progress becomes not only possible, but sustainable.

MEL SENEN SARMIENTO
-Galing Lider Forum

08/04/2026

SHARING LIFE: HOW QUEZON CITY’S HUMAN MILK BANK IS SAVING THE MOST VULNERABLE

There are programs that deliver services—and there are programs that save lives.

Quezon City’s Human Milk Bank: Sharing Milk, Saving Lives is clearly the latter.

At its core is a simple but powerful truth:
breast milk is not just nourishment—it is protection, healing, and survival.

And yet, for many infants—especially premature and critically ill newborns—this essential source of life is not always available.

Faced with this reality, the Quezon City Government chose to act.

Through a city ordinance and a clear commitment to maternal and child health, the Quezon City Human Milk Bank (QCHMB) was established to ensure that every infant in need has access to safe, pasteurized human milk.

At the forefront of this initiative is Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, together with the Quezon City Health Department, local government hospitals, and a dedicated team led by Dr. Lesley S. Villanos, Head of the Quezon City Human Milk Bank.

What makes this program truly remarkable is not just its medical value—but its community-driven approach.

Through an extensive network of hospitals, lying-in clinics, barangay health centers, and volunteers, the city built a system that encourages mothers to donate excess breast milk—turning compassion into a life-saving resource.

The numbers tell a powerful story.

Since its implementation, the program has:
• Served thousands of infants in critical need
• Collected and distributed millions of milliliters of breast milk
• Mobilized over 16,000 milk donors—many of whom were once beneficiaries themselves

But beyond the numbers are the lives saved.

Premature babies who now have a fighting chance.
Mothers who found support in their most vulnerable moments.
Communities that learned the power of shared responsibility.

The program has also shown resilience in times of crisis—continuing operations during the pandemic, and even extending support to other hospitals and disaster-affected areas.

This is what leadership looks like.

Leadership that listens to the needs of the most vulnerable.
Leadership that builds systems, not just solutions.
Leadership that empowers communities to care for one another.

As I reflect on this initiative, one thing becomes clear:

Programs like this do more than address health issues—
they restore dignity, strengthen solidarity, and save lives.

And perhaps the most powerful lesson of all:

When a community chooses to care, even something as simple as sharing milk can become an act of nation-building.

MEL SENEN SARMIENTO
-Galing Lider Forum

05/04/2026

Even as conflict casts shadows and rising fuel costs weigh on daily life, Easter reminds us that hope is never defeated. From the darkness of the tomb came new life, quiet, steadfast, and enduring.

May this season renew our faith that peace can still prevail, compassion can still rise, and even in uncertain times, light will find its way through.

Happy Easter, everyone!

MEL SENEN SARMIENTO
-Galing Lider Forum

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