January 16, 2025

Emmanuel "Manny" F. Piñol

Official Website

Passing the torch!

Manny Piñol October 11, 2018 2 min read
DAUGHTER VIES FOR BM SEAT;
I SAY GOODBYE TO POLITICS
By Manny Piñol
Yesterday, I accompanied my eldest daughter, Maria Krista, a medical doctor to the provincial office of the Commission on Elections where she filed her Certificate of Candidacy for a seat in the Provincial Board in the 2nd District of North Cotabato.
It was an emotional moment for me because my daughter’s entry into politics marks the end of my political career which started in 1995.
The event yesterday would now put to rest all speculations that I was using my position as Secretary of Agriculture and my highly visible programs as jumping board to vie for a national political position.
As I have declared repeatedly, I harbored no plans to run for a political position.
All that I wanted was to serve as Secretary of Agriculture and be with President Rody Duterte until the end of his term in 2022.
At the end of office hours on June 30, 2022, I will return to farming and enjoy the remaining years of my life in the peace and quiet of my farm.
I have done my part as a political leader in my province where I served for three years as Mayor of my hometown, M’lang, nine years as Governor and three years as Vice Governor of North Cotabato.
Actually, I have retired from active politics in 2013 when I failed to regain the Governorship in two very exciting contests.
I was only brought back to public service when Mayor Rody Duterte won the Presidency AND I was asked to take the Agriculture portfolio.
My daughter Maria Krista, who is married to her high school boyfriend Chito Solis and has a bubbly and very intelligent 4-year-old son, Duane, will now take over where I left off.
She has the heart for public service and finds joy in serving and mingling with people.
I am sure she will develop into a fine political leader because the desire to serve is genuine and in her heart.
When I convinced her to join politics, I gave her a guiding philosophy in public service and that is “Everything that you do must answer very basic questions: Will this program benefit my people? Will it help realize their dreams of a better life?”
After all, public service is all about people who voted for you in office and never about yourself.
(Photos by Bert Degamon and Joyce Tupas)
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