When the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) celebrated its 31st founding anniversary last Nov. 24, a festive mood was felt by all denizens and stakeholders in the SBMA community. After all, it is the first of such observance under the new administration of Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan.
Sports and physical exercises were the focus of the celebration, highlighted a day earlier on Nov. 23 with a three-kilometer costume fun run from Waterfront Road, turning left going to the Lighthouse Marina, then making a U-turn at the Rotunda, to return to the starting line on Waterfront Road.
The fun run activity was followed by Zumba exercises held at the Mini Golf Course, were participants also engaged in sports contests including sack race, team walkers, obstacle course and tug of war contests, both for men and women participants from the SBMA community. The SBMA Friendship Games at the Subic Gym followed these activities.
The highlight of the celebration proper was the program held at the Volunteer’s Shrine on the day itself, Nov. 24.
The venue of the program was most proper, for it commemorates the cutting-teeth days of Subic Freeport, its controversial transition from an important US Navy base to an even relevant cog in the Philippine economy. Hundreds of volunteers were mobilized then by Olongapo Mayor Richard Gordon, later first chairman of SBMA, to take over American assets left on the base and transform it to a promising locale for business and investments. This occurred more than 31 years ago but it has a long-running impact on Central Luzon economy that reverberates to this day.
The program was attended by Chairman and Administrator Tan, and members of the Board of Trustees of SBMA. They also witnessed the awarding of the SBMA Employee of the Year 2022.
We find it most important to remember the admonition made by CHAD Tan as he exhorted the employees and workers of SBMA.
He said: “Lagi nating tatandaan na ang paglilingkod ay isang pagkakataon upang lubos tayong makatulong sa ating kapwa, sa ating pamahalaan, at sa ating bansa. “ (Let us always remember that government service is an opportunity for us to help other people, the government, and our country.)
With these remarks, Tan revealed how seriously he values public service. A former mayor, Chairman Tan knows that the essence of government service is to deliver the best possible assistance to his constituency. Believing that a government office, whether elective or appointive, is just an opportunity to serve the people and contribute to the present and future upkeep of society, he enjoins all SBMA personnel to give their level best in terms of public service.
We hope the SBMA will be able to achieve its lofty goals under the able management of Chairman and Administrator Jonathan Tan.
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