Regina

I love being part of historical tours in the metro, it makes me understand and know more how a once rural area became a developed and urbanized city. One example is San Juan City, I never thought I would look at San Juan now like I did in the past. After touring some of the key places, I can now totally say that the city has been governed wisely by the recent administration that they had specifically with former Mayor JV Ejercito who is now running for senator then to her wonderful mother who is the incumbent mayor of San Juan no less than Guia Gomez. Our first stop was the Government Center of  San Juan San Juan City is in the heart of Metro Manila, the once wooded area surrounded by rice fields has evolved into a populated and progressive city. "San Juan City" is a contraction of the city's traditional name of "San Juan del Monte". As with numerous other places in the Philippines, the name combines a patron saint and in this case Saint John the Baptist with th...

It was not an ordinary day last April 22, 2019, aside from the fact that it was Black Saturday, it was also the 77th birthday of Guia Guanzon Gomez. Mayor Guia of San Juan City is indeed a one of a kind woman, I am really glad and thankful that I was able to meet her in person. On her 77th birthday, we were invited in her humble abode to celebrate her special day and to finally taste the her most special dish and also a favorite of her son Senator JV Ejercito, it's no other than the BACALAO. This is the much awaited BACALAO dish: The Bacalao dish is a Spanish style fish stew. According to Mayor Guia, she is very careful when it comes to preparing this dish, they use cod fish and needs to be marinated. She added that it was Senator JV's favorite even when he was still a kid and he would always clamor for her to cook it which is why every year come holy week, she makes it a point to cook Bacalao. It was not just a gathering about delectable food but we also had an intimate talked...

Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito was born on December 26, 1969 to former President now Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, and businesswoman, philanthropist and current San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez. He was given the name “Victor” because he was born shortly after the elder Estrada won his first term as Mayor of the town of San Juan. He attended Xavier School and completed his degree in Political Science at the De La Salle University. Senator JV’s life away from the legislative halls of the Senate revolves around his family – his wife, Ma. Hyacinth Lotuaco, and his two sons Jose Emilio and Julio Jose. Senator JV as fondly called by the Filipinos, is a reliable ally of the people in the Senate. He began his career in public service as a young leader and President of the Junior Chamber International Philippines (JCI-Philippines). He then became the Mayor of his hometown in San Juan City and later elected as Congressman. In 2013, he became  Senator of the Republic of the Philip...

It was an evening full of reminiscing, learning and inspiration with Mayor Guia Gomez, who will turn 76 on April 20 but doesn't look her age at all, not even close. Mayor Guia Gomez who have been a long time resident of San Juan and also a public servant by heart when she later on replaced her son Senator JV Ejercito as the Mayor of the city. For the past 10 years, she has done her part as the mother of San Juan and thankfully, bloggers got the chance to know her more, not just the Mayor of San Juan and also an actress in her prime days but also a mother who loves to spend time with her family and children, a lola who showers her apo with love and so much more. For the past 9 years, Mayor Guia has done a lot of improvements in San Juan, with additional housing programs for the less privilege, job generation and skills training, the sustainable programs shall eventually free the majority of the San Juaneños from poverty. Mayor Guia is the eldest child of Dr. Dominador Gomez of ...