Mayor Bryan Celeste of Alaminos City, Pangasinan | The Political Conversations with The Mayors • Part 1

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Hi people of the Philippines and people of the world.

Hit the button below and you will be subscribing to the Boy Abunda Talk Channel on YouTube.

Let's keep talking.

Kaibigan, tuloy ang usap.

The Philippine Women's University and The Philippine Star

with JC Organic Barley, Joy Bus, and Boy So of La Carmela de Buracay present

The Political Conversations with the Mayors Part 1

Mayor Brian Celeste of Alaminos, Pangasinan.

Yes, Tito Boy.

Mayor, maraming salamat.

Thank you for the invite. It's an honor na nasama ako dito sa episode na ito, Tito Boy.

You were saying that in the beginning, takot ka magsalita sa harap ng publiko?

Actually, I grew up being the scrawny kid, mahiyain, always back of the class.

And I remember back in college…

Scrawny as in payatot.

Payatot. So mahiyain talaga ako.

I knew I had to do something about myself.

If I knew that I stayed the way I am, being the shy kid, I wouldn't achieve a lot.

Kakusapin ko sarili ko na kailangan mo magbago.

You have to get out of your comfort zone for you to grow.

So that's where it all started.

And sakto, my dad asked me, do you want to serve?

Do you want to serve the public?

And sige, sabi ko, for me, it was outside the comfort zone na iyon eh.

Public speaking, public service.

So I tried.

And my dad told me na, if you want to serve, you should be at the lowest position para masubukan mo.

And it was barangay captain.

So it was the lowest form of government and it's a good place to start.

And I saw my dad growing up being a public servant.

And nakita ko naman yung benefits in a sense na the way he helps people.

Nakikita ko yung impact na pwede mong ibigay sa tao.

And nakita ko, if there is a chance for me to serve,

and at the same time help me get out of my comfort zone being that shy kid,

then why not take it?

So it's like hitting two birds in one stone.

So you get to try this certain thing and at the same time,

you get out of that comfort zone which you have been wanting to do.

Pero hindi siya nabi ng dad na kung interesado ka,

kailangan ka tumakbo dahil kailangan kang sumunod sa akin.

Oh no.

Walang gano'ng pag-uusap.

I would always remember that my dad would always give us a choice.

Kaming mga magkakapatid.

So if you said no to your dad, you wouldn't have been in politics or public service?

Probably.

Because I would like to get your take on the very controversial political dynasties.

Anong iniisip mo?

Political dynasties are not necessarily bad.

And in a sense, hindi naman siya pinipilit ng mga dynasties.

It's not them that pushes for it.

It's the people's vote that brings us into the positions we're in right now.

If you want to battle the negative effects of political dynasties,

it's a matter of educating the voters.

The hands of the title, the positions we're in, are in the power of the voters.

So it's much more on educating which people to vote even if they're a dynasty or not.

But are they actually doing something good or not for their respective jurisdictions.

I totally hear your point.

Gaano kalala ang vote-buying sa Alaminos?

Well, it's not as rampant as in other provinces.

Because in our city, ang nakikita pa rin talaga ng tao is yung servisyon ng tao.

No matter how much you pay someone,

as long as you've helped this particular person with the programs that my father has done,

siyempre hindi nila kakalimutan.

So it's not as bad as other areas?

It's not as bad.

Elections can be scary.

It can be so negative.

It can be so chaotic.

It can be so toxic.

Nariyan na yung negative and positive campaigning.

Pwede ka naman lumaban na hindi kayo nagsisaraan.

But what was your experience like in the two elections you've been through?

Sabi mo nga, Tito Boy, that's very, ano na yan?

It's given.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, meron at merong mema.

May mamay lang masabi.

Of course, it's going to sting a little.

Pero sabi ko nga, when it's election time, walang magbabasa ng comments.

What was the biggest issue raised against you?

For me, it was my age.

They would mock me.

This kid is too young.

May gata sa labi, walang alam.

Sinabi pa nga, umuuhog pa.

How did you fight that?

I just told them, at the end of the day, it's your choice if you want to try me.

Yan lang naman yung sinasabi ko.

Just give me the opportunity to serve.

Ngayon na ikay pangalawang term na as mayor, pag-usapan natin yung style of leadership.

Are you in the shadow of your father?

Are you crafting your own style of leadership?

Sino ka bilang isang leader?

My dad and I are very different.

Different in a way na I'm very meticulous.

And your dad is not?

Basta when he was the mayor, he was like, I want this done.

Let's do it.

Ikaw?

I look at the data, I look at the resources, the pros and cons.

So, I look at everything before actually deciding.

And I look at my peers for evaluation.

What do you think of this?

What do you think of that?

Consensual.

So, it's more of a collaborative leadership that I do in the city.

If you were asked as to what your biggest achievement is for your town, anong sasabihin mo?

Yun, ang ginagawa natin ngayon is we're actually developing a new downtown.

And that's something that I would want to leave a legacy.

Kasi, syempre, that's the vision that I have.

Since nung last three years was mainly on pandemic response.

And majority of the funds went to the pandemic response.

So, in terms of infra, infrastructure development, wala masyado.

Because you have to focus on other things, which is the pandemic.

So, marami kami mga plano na ginagawa ngayon.

And hopefully, in this term and the next term, hopefully that I get,

ma-fulfill yung vision ko for Alaminos to have to be its own commercial hub in Western Pangasinan.

How much political resistance do you have in the City Hall?

Ka-alyado mo ba ang mga konsehal?

Ka-alyado mo ba ang mga katrabaho mo?

Or do you fight for your programs, for your policies?

Nung 2019, I could see the tension of the munisipyo noon.

Kasi, syempre, bata and all the department heads were more or less double my age.

So, I knew that I had to do something.

I had to gain their respect somehow.

So, it was a challenge for me.

How'd you do it?

And that's how I did, nung pandemic.

All the services were good.

And people saw what I did.

And, syempre, naging snowball effect.

And a lot of people were proud of me.

And then, sila na rin nadala na, okay, this is my mayor and I'm proud.

Okay, I get it.

Do you have a local party?

Do you belong to a national party?

National party.

Which is?

With the Villars.

Nationalista party.

Okay, how important is that?

I mean, do you believe that the multi-party system in this country, from the lens of local government, does it actually work?

Are you for a multi-party system?

Are you for a two-party system?

You know, something, ano talaga eh, that's the thing, that's the scary about a two-party system.

It might get too polarized.

Okay.

So, that's the scary thing when it becomes a two-party system.

But, with what we have now, parang, oo, nandyan na yan.

It doesn't talk about ideologies or whatever.

You're basically going to a party because someone's here, someone's there.

Kasa kaibigan mo yung ganito, o ganon.

Oo, medyo wala siyang effect in the way that you want to.

But, it's just scary when you put a two-party system and the country becomes too polarized.

I understand.

Polarization happens also in a multi-party system, which happened very, very clearly in the last presidential elections.

Napaka-divided pa rin, napaka-polarized pa rin.

Well, elections in general are polarizing.

Are polarizing.

Pero, ang paniniwala mo, Bryan, pag dalawa, mas lalong magbabakbakan.

Exactly.

And, for me, it doesn't really have an effect.

Parang, being in a political party doesn't really give that a big of an effect, in a sense, when you're managing.

Okay.

When you're managing.

But, in election, it helps.

So, for me, political parties are there when election comes.

Okay.

Four, five years into politics, what are the things that you still want to learn in government service, in public service, in politics?

Actually, one thing that I would want to learn more is urban planning.

Kasi, that's one thing that really…

Ano yan? You're managing a city.

So, when you want to make something, a lot of politicians would just do projects in a pitchy-pitchy.

And then, pag dating na 10 years, 15 years, you would think back, you should have done this.

Right.

We did this, and now, mali pala siya.

And, it takes a lot of…

What are you doing to adjust this?

Do you have experts advising you?

We are getting.

So, itong development na ginagawa namin.

It's not pitchy-pitchy.

Okay.

That's why we're developing a 40-hectare property.

Hindi siya yung basta-basta lang.

Kasi nga, that's hard to undo.

That's the thing that I realized before.

Kaya, ang hirap ngayon, like yung traffic in Alaminos.

You're spending people's money.

That's why you cannot rush things.

Tama yung sinasabi mo.

Hindi ka nahihirapan.

From urban planning, to education, to climate change, to tourism.

Tapos, may araw-araw kang buhay.

Expectations are very high.

Kasi kung disadvantage yung youth mo during the elections,

pag nanalo ka naman, napakatasang expectations.

In a study, somebody said that,

tumataas naman yung expectations sa mga tao,

dahil you have so much energy,

you have so much to give,

hindi ka napapagod.

Well, sabi ko nga eh.

I tell my friends, kasi I have other hobbies as well.

They tell me, like small hobbies,

like photography.

I used to make short films.

So, they tell me,

ba't may time ka pa niyan to do all those things?

And I tell them,

alam mo, we have 24 hours in a day.

You say, 8 hours of that is for you sleeping.

Another 8 hours is you working.

So, that's 16 hours.

Another 4 hours of that is you eating or doing whatever.

And you're still left with another 4 hours that you can do.

And an hour of doing something,

maraming malaking bagay.

Malaking bagay na when you do it every day.

So, that's one thing that I try to manage.

You time manage.

In time mo.

So, 24 hours, how many hours are for love?

Love for the people.

Ano yan? 24 hours yan.

24 hours.

But you also have to take good care of yourself.

I mean, not just health-wise,

but holistically.

Diba? Yung natutunan natin.

Of course, of course.

At the end of the day,

malaking bagay yung mental health.

Tama.

Mahirap yung nagsisimple ka nang wala ka sa mood.

Kasi the days grow longer.

Okay.

Diba?

You know, one of the greatest leaders of the world said one time,

na ang kanyang political equation ay,

what is it that you want in the end,

and what is the best way to get there?

Your comment.

I tell this to my friends.

And sinasabi ko sa kanila,

the one thing that makes me happy in life

is not to actually make me happy,

but to see others happy.

And I know that a part of them being happy is because of me.

So, that's one thing that resonated with me.

And for me, naging sustainable in a sense na you'll always be fulfilled.

That's servant leadership.

You'll always be fulfilled.

Kasi you see the happiness in other people's happiness.

And when you focus on yours,

at the end of the day,

there are always going to be people that will have a better life,

that's always going to be more happy,

and you're always going to want more

when certain things make you happy.

And yun, it's very sustainable

when certain things that make you happy

are other people that are happy.

If you have the power to do this, Brian,

as a public leader, as a public figure,

hypothetical,

nagkasala ang kapatid mo,

kaya mong ipakulong?

Depende sa sala.

In a sense na...

Halimbawa na patunayan na may sala.

O siyempre, the law is the law.

You could have been into business.

I know your dad asked you to get into politics.

You could have been really rich.

You could have been so much,

you could have been a big entrepreneur or a businessman,

but you chose to get into public service.

In hindsight,

I know you've been in politics not for a long time,

in hindsight, you're happy with that decision?

Like I said,

being rich doesn't really make me a fulfilling person.

It's the one thing that,

seeing other people happy is the thing that makes me happy.

Sabi ko sa mga kaibigan ko,

I mean, when they see politicians,

they see them up there.

They see politicians as someone who's above everyone else.

And I told my friends,

actually, you know,

I would give it up just to have a simple life.

And yun.

And I think I still stand by it.

Four years in being a mayor,

having all the authority,

and siyempre,

people would corrupt.

Absolute power corrupts.

And there are instances,

being in a certain position as I have right now,

that it will give you the opportunity to use absolute power.

Okay.

But it's not me.

Last night of the world,

you were supposed to host dinner,

and you were to invite five guests.

Last night,

sinong iimbitahin mo at bakit?

Of course, it would be my family.

Sakto, lima sila.

You will have dinner with your family?

Yeah.

Actually, that's one thing na medyo nawala,

being a politician now.

I mean, being a mayor.

Kasi we all have separate lives.

Right.

I mean, my dad,

my dad still lives in Alaminos,

but he's a congressman now.

Laging nasa,

lagi siyang nasa Manila.

And whenever I'm in,

whenever pag weekend naman,

ako naman yung nasa Manila,

he goes to,

never nagsasabay.

So, long story short,

never nagsasabay yung time namin,

especially with my siblings.

And that's really something that I miss.

Na nakikita na lang kami

pag special occasions.

Yeah, right.

That's something that you really miss.

If you have your way,

would you want to get married

in your 30s or late?

You're 27 now.

On my 30s.

Oh, no, I mean,

my limit is 30.

30?

Because I want to grow up with the kids.

Tama.

So, I'm really inclined to being

a family-oriented person.

Okay.

Probinsyano ka, probinsyano ako.

I'm sure tinatanong ka

ng mga kababayan mo,

Mayor, kailangan mo mag-aasawa?

I'm sure you get that question.

Sabihin ko,

tagal pa yun.

Tagal pa?

It's about three years from now.

Actually, before yun.

That was before.

Ah, yun ang sagot mo?

Oo, but now,

come to think of it,

I have to rephrase my answer

kasi wala pang

nagtatanog sa akin nun recently,

but my life goal would hopefully

by 30.

Mayor Bryan, are you single?

Yes.

Okay.

If you were to create

a slogan for Mayor Bryan,

not the slogan of

the family of the party,

what would that slogan be today?

It would be something

that would resonate

in a lot of people.

Being in politics,

syempre, like I said,

people see you differently.

And siguro,

if I were to have a slogan,

it's,

me, Bryan Celeste,

para lang ikaw at ako.

Something that goes along those lines.

It's hard to make now.

But it's very personal.

It sounds very personal.

It's about ikaw at ako.

You are at the pearly gates.

You are at the entrance of heaven

and God is there.

And he says,

Bryan,

ano ang pinakamabuting bagay

na nagawa mo para sa akin?

Anong sasabihin mo sa Panginoon?

Well, siguro,

I wouldn't say something

that's very band-aid.

But I think it's,

I inspired someone to be better.

Like, holistically.

Like, as a person.

And I think that's something

that I'm really proud of.

And I had a friend,

I told him,

I'm getting a tattoo.

And I want it to be personal.

But if you were to describe me

as a person,

what would it be?

Na yun ang ipapatattoo ko.

And he said,

Bryan, siguro,

pagmamili ako ng tattoo,

to be a lighthouse.

Bakit? Sabi ko, bakit?

Because you helped me find the way.

So, yan.

Now I have a lighthouse tattoo.

People ask me,

bakit lighthouse?

Sabi na, it's so random.

So you have that now?

Oo. It's so random.

Bakit lighthouse? Sabi ko.

Well, I tell them that story.

I find lost souls,

find their way.

And it's something

that I'm very proud of.

Huli na lamang,

as a follow-up,

because you spoke about

the lighthouse.

If your dad,

Congressman Celeste,

were to describe you

in a word,

and don't tell me

to ask your dad,

because I will one day.

If he were to describe you

in one word,

ano sa palagay mo

ang salita

na sasabihin

ng iyong ama?

Ang hirap naman

ang one word.

If my dad would describe me,

determined.

Bryan, maraming salamat

and continue to serve.

Continue to love your country.

Thank you.

Thank you, Tito Boy.

Will always do

for our city

and, of course, our country.

Maraming salamat.

Thank you.

Presented by

The Philippine Women's University

and

The Philippine Star

with

JC Organic Barley,

Joy Bus,

and

Poiso of La Carmela de Buracay.

Hi, people of the Philippines

and people of the world.

Hit the button below

and you will be subscribing

to the Boy Abunda Talk channel

on YouTube.

Let's keep talking.

Kaibigan,

tuloy ang usap.