Outgoing Muntinlupa Mayor and congressman-elect Jaime Fresnedi was given a plaque of recognition signed by department heads of the city government to express their thanks for his years of public service.
Fresnedi graced the flag-raising ceremony at the Muntinlupa City hall quadrangle on Monday, June 20, his second to the last time to attend before he bows out of his post and assumes his new position as representative of the lone district of Muntinlupa.
City Administrator Allan Cachuela led department heads in paying tribute to Fresnedi, who has completed three full terms as mayor and started his public service in 1986 when he was appointed municipal attorney after the historic EDSA Revolution.
The plaque read, “Fair winds and following seas. Ito’y katagang sinasambit sa mga maglalayag patungo sa mga lugar na hindi pa nararating. Ito rin ang nais naming iparating sa pinakamamahal naming pinuno, mentor, ama, at inspirasyon sa serbisyo publiko. Saan man kayo makarating, hangad namin ang pagpapala ng Panginoon sa bawat desisyon na inyong gagawin, sa bawat hakbang na Inyong tatahakin, sa bawat balakid na inyong pagtatagumpayan. (This is the term uttered to sailors who will go to places they have not been to. This is also what we want to convey to our beloved leader, mentor, father and inspiration in public service. Wherever you go, our desire is the blessing of God in every decision that you will make, in every step that you will take, in every obstacle that you will triumph).”
“Nakakalungkot man na isipin na yung matagal na panahon ni Mayor Fresnedi na kasama natin siya dito sa pamahalaang lungsod, siyempre hindi naman siya mawawala. (While it is saddening that in all the long time of Mayor Fresnedi who has been with us here in the city government, of course, he will not go away),” said Cachuela.
He added, “He is still around. Kaya lang yung tungkulin na naiatang sa kanya ngayon, nahalal siya bilang representante sa nag-iisang distrito ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso, nandoon po ang kanyang trabaho (However the duty imposed on him now, elected as representative of the lone district of the City of Muntinlupa in the Lower House of Congress, his job is there).”
“Mayor, you inspired us to work and to serve with dignity,” Cachuela told Fresnedi.
In response, Fresnedi said, "Damang-dama naman ho ang pagmamahal ninyo sa akin. At ito po ay aking pinasasalamatan, sa inyong pagmamahal. Yun pong serbisyong may pagmamahal ay talagang nakikita. Pero ang paglilingkuran sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, ang mga mamamayan ang nagsasabing nararamdaman nila ang serbisyo dito sa Muntinlupa (I really feel your love. And I'm thankful for your love. Service with love is really seen here. But for the service in the City of Muntinlupa, residents are saying they feel the service in Muntinlupa).”