On May 16, 2016, one week after the Presidential Elections, I joined the group of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in greeting and congratulating then President-elect Rody Duterte in the Matina Enclaves in Davao City.
After congratulating the President-elect, I was pulled to the side by his trusted aide, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who asked me what post I would prefer if I were given a chance to work with the new administration.
Without batting an eyelash, I told Bong that I would prefer Agriculture.
“What’s your second choice, Sir?” Bong asked me.
“None. If I don’t get to do Agriculture, I will just go home to my farm and enjoy my retirement,” I told Bong.
Unknown to me, the President-elect had already intimated to Bong the night before that I was his choice as Agriculture Secretary.
Shortly after Bong and I talked, the President-elect asked me to stand beside former Congresswoman Andrea Domingo, who was appointed chairperson of the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp.
Then, he announced to everybody in the room that I would be his Agriculture Secretary.
Why am I relating this story?
Many people have continuously asked me why I can’t seem to get tired working.
The reason is simple: I love what I am doing. I love this job. I find fulfilment in seeing farmers and fishermen smile and shed a tear when they receive help from the Duterte Presidency.
Today, Monday, I woke up at 1:30 a.m. to catch an early morning flight from Davao to Manila.
I will sign papers and have meetings in the office in the morning.
At noon, I will meet with Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion to strengthen the collaboration between the Dept. of Agriculture and Kapatid Go Negosyo to link up our farmers and fishermen with the market.
In the afternoon until late tonight, I will attend a Cabinet meeting with President Duterte.
Tomorrow, I will have an early breakfast with a farmer from Malabang, Lanao del Sur who has 100 hectares of Aromatic Coconut because the Dept. of Agriculture would like to buy his seed nuts which will be distributed to farmers near the Franklin Baker coconut water processing facility in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.
At noon, I will attend the Land Bank of the Philippines board meeting where I sit as Ex-Oficio Director and at 4:30 p.m. fly to Tacloban City to pay my last respects to the late DA Region 8 Regional Director Dr. Wilson Cerbito.
From Tacloban City, I will cross the Surigao Straits and make a long trip to Cagayan de Oro City and other parts of Northern Mindanao which were hit by the recent tropical storm and flash floods.
From there, I will proceed to Agusan del Sur and then Maguindanao Province where farm lands were also damaged by floods.
Tiring? Yes. I am not young anymore.
But the joy and the fulfilment I get from doing the things I love to do serve as the balm which soothe the aching old body.
Indeed, work is not hard when you love what you are doing.
For those of us working in government, please remember that there are millions of Filipinos out there who still have to feel that government really cares.
Let us reach out to them. Let us walk the extra kilometer to touch their lives.
Believe me, you will feel good doing it.
Have a great working week ahead!
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