LUCKY are the Filipino masses for these three brothers – Senator Win Gatchalian, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian – who have committed themselves to public service.
Indubitably, the ‘Tres Hermanos’ have unquestioned and spectacular government service records in their own style and brand of leadership without necessarily competing with others who also want to prove theirs.
Coming from a notable and business-minded family, the Gatchalian brothers hit a united path, that is public service, rather than enriching themselves by engaging in businesses as their patriarch does.
To them, happiness and contentment is seeing the people especially the underprivileged, those in the vulnerable sector smiling and happy for they get fair treatment and concern from those who have more in life.
Yours truly could fairly attest to their achievements in public service as he’s a witness when they started entering politics that began with Senator Win who first ran and won a congressional seat in the city before completing the three nine-year terms as mayor.
Now the senator becomes one of the most active and visible lawmakers at the upper chamber principally authoring a number of key measures like the Murang Kuryente Act, Energy Efficiency Conservation Act, the Mobile Number PortabilityAct and co-authoring the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, among others.
And so with Secretary Rex, who first excelled during his time in Congress before succeeding the former as city chief executive, also finishing the full nine years in the local government.
There’s no doubt when Secretary Rex emerged as the second top performing Cabinet official of the Marcos administration based on the latest ‘Boses ng Bayan’ survey conducted by a reputable research firm.
Here comes Mayor Wes, like his two siblings he’s also a well-accomplished member at the lower chamber before taking over the place of Secretary Rex as the ‘Father of Valenzuela.’
What’s truly amazing with this guy is that he’s more visible outside his air-conditioned office, taking more time mingling with his constituents -from all walks of life – ‘Tiktok’ dancing and singing with the youngsters, listening intently on personal and even trivial stories of the elderly and eating in ‘carinderias’ all over the city.
Lucky I am too that I knew the Gatchalian brothers, may your tribe multiply!
