Navotas: A story of faith and unity
MANILA, Philippines - In the northern Metro Manila city of Navotas, the May 10 election was very peaceful and the campaign period which preceded it was without much frenzy. The reason? The incumbent mayor, and now congressman-elect, Toby Tiangco who ran for the city’s lone congressional seat, had no opponent. The same with the new mayor-elect John Rey Tiangco, the incumbent’s younger brother. And to triple the electoral phenomenon, the incumbent vice mayor, Patrick “PJ” Javier, likewise had no opponent, No, there were no goons or guns to scare away challengers to the three top local positions. The Navoteños simply did an admirable exercise of unity as a city — the absence of challengers spoke of the constituents’ tacit approval of good governance showed by the incumbents.
Aside from building the modern, four-storey Navotas city hall, the incumbent administration has instilled professionalism in the performance of all departments of its governance. From summer sports programs for the youth to senior citizens’ social and medical mission support, from efficient garbage collection to consistent road cleanliness programs, from annual Navotas Day anniversary weeklong activities to co-sponsorship of job and trade fairs and scholarship programs, their constituents saw the young and dynamic Tiangco-Javier tandem fulfill their promised “Angat Navotas!” battlecry. The Sangguniang Lungsod (city council) and all 14 barangays of the city rallied behind them and supported programs under their able leadership.
Probably one of the most important improvements visible to Navoteños is the near-eradication of floods in their city. The “Bombastik” program of pumping floodwaters off the city streets during the rainy season helps prevent the rising of floodwaters, except during expected high tides from the Navotas-Malabon river and the Manila Bay. Navoteños were in awe during the Typhoon Ondoy devastation last September which flooded even considerably high areas in Metro Manila. No floodwaters, except the normal high tide, affected Navotas! Navoteños could only raise their eyes to the Almighty in gratitude for what they indeed call “A Miracle!”
Started in the city in May 2008, this exercise started with the request of Two Hearts Foundation International, Inc. a non-sectarian, non-political, spiritual foundation, to Mayor Toby Tiangco to donate a Crown of the Holy Spirit for the city of Navotas as a symbol of the reign of the Omnipotent God over His people. From May 23 to June 1, prayers were held every 3 p.m. with songs and flower offerings to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over each barangay.
On the feast day itself or June 3, interfaith prayers were held in front of the Crown, followed by a simple breakfast and games spearheaded by the youth leaders of the Federasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan. In the afternoon, the SK federation, led by councilor Carolyn Tan, and the officials of the various Barangay SK helped put up a beautiful float featuring the 7 Mutya ng 7 Utos Diyos-Espiritu-Santo (Seven Muses of the Seven Commandments God-the Holy Spirit) with select female SK officials themselves personifying the seven virtues of pag-iibigan (love), pagsusunuran (obedience), pagbibigayan (generosity), kalinisan (purity), katapatan (honesty), kagandahan (beauty), and pagpapakumbaba (humility). This float preceded the main float with the Crown of God-the Holy Spirit escorted by the Reyna ng Mga Lingkod (symbolizing the adult or mature God’s Servants), the Reyna ng mga Apostoles (symbolizing the young singles who serve God, 14-25 years old) and the Reyna ng mga Angheles (symbolizing the little ones below 14 years old), all clad in white.
Now in its third year of celebration, Navotas City officials will bow down once again before the divine power and and lead their people in the spiritual unity exercise through the 12-day barangay vigils culminating in the festivities of the Araw ng Korona ng Diyos Espiritu Santo on Thursday, June 3 as they continue to believe that miracles do happen when God is held sovereign!
