Mayor Ruffy Biazon paid tribute to outstanding residents, including most valuable player in basketball Karl Kevin Argana Quiambao, and cited the gains of the city government this year as Muntinlupa celebrated its 106th founding anniversary on Dec. 19.
“Today, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, proud inheritors of a legacy that stretches back over a century. In fact, it has been 38,690 days since Muntinlupa was established as an independent municipality by the stroke of a pen by an American Governor-General of the Philippines,” said Biazon in his address at the anniversary celebration.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon with outstanding and retired employees (Photos from Muntinlupa PIO)
It was on Dec. 19, 1917 when Governor-General Francis Burton Harrison signed Executive Order No. 108 that made Muntinlupa a municipality.
“Muntinlupa remains a beacon of strength and resilience. Our city has weathered storms, both literal and metaphorical, and emerged stronger each time. As we reflect on the past year, let us not only acknowledge the challenges we faced but also celebrate the victories, both big and small, that have shaped our community,” said Biazon.
Awards
Biazon cited the different awards the Muntinlupa City government received this year.
One of them was the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), which, he said, meant that the city government has been delivering excellent services to the public.
Muntinlupa also received eight awards at the Urban Governance Exemplar Awards of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
In city competitiveness, said Biazon, Muntinlupa garnered third place in resiliency and infrastructure pillars and fifth place overall most competitive local government unit among highly urbanized cities in the country.
Muntinlupa also received the Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award, “the highest recognition given to LGUs for its sustainable intervention programs to combat and completely eradicate malnutrition especially among children.”
“Each individual department and office of the City Government also has its own share of victories and triumphs. In the past year alone, we have welcomed and hosted several fellow local governments (cities and municipalities) both from Metro Manila and the provinces which conducted benchmarking activities and learning visits in the City,” said Biazon.
Outstanding residents
Biazon named residents who stood out in their respective fields this year.
One of them is tricycle driver Dexter Pacquiao from Barangay Cupang who returned P413,000 in cash that was left by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW).
Quiambao, a resident of Barangay Bayanan, was also hailed by the mayor for being the MVP in basketball in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86.
Biazon also mentioned athletes who won medals for the country in different sports events including the 19th Asian Games.
Among them were Asian Games gold medalist Annie Ramirez of Barangay Cupang who won the feat in the Jiu-Jitsu Women’s 57KG category, and bronze medalist Kaila Napolis of Barangay Poblacion who bagged the award in the Jiu-Jitsu Women’s 52KG category.
He also cited brothers Shugen at Keisei Nakano who won silver and bronze medals, respectively, in judo in the 32nd SEA Games, and Daryl Mercado who won a bronze medal in the same sport.
The mayor also mentioned three students of Colegio de Muntinlupa who competed in the 2023 Vex Robotics World Championship. They were Arthur Simundac, Kenneth De Guzman, and Mark Lawrence Ragus.
“It has been 437 days since I assumed the post of Mayor of Muntinlupa City. It is not just the leaders who make reform and progress happen..it is often the hard work of those on the ground,” said Biazon.
He added, “We are here now celebrating this significant day because of all the men and women who showed up, who fought hard, whose battles were marred by defeat and victory, but showed up nonetheless in the arena.”
“We are here today celebrating ordinary people with extraordinary courage—courage to try, courage to fail while daring greatly, whose dedication and commitment inspire us everyday to reach for our own potential and make a positive impact in the world,” he said.
Biazon said, “Muntinlupa, let us dream boldly and aspire for greatness. Let us continue to build a city where every resident has the opportunity to thrive, where diversity is celebrated, and where the bonds of community are unbreakable.”