| Maranon and del Castillo |
More than Public Service GlamPublic service seems to take an overrated image and much abused words these days. With the influx of controversies maligning the supposed benevolent causes of various individuals, separating the unadulterated from the white-washed seems to get harder and harder as the days progress.  Joseph Marañon, the revered governor of Negros Occidental, and Cecilia del Castillo, an average citizen who made a difference in the thrift bank sphere, were only two of the people that were visibly filtered from the rest of the pack. Both establishing firms that did not only give means of living but also establishments their kababayans can be proud of, these duo undoubtedly etched a mark in the hearts of the people in Bacolod.As tourism promotion form part of the seven-point agenda of Governor Marañon when he assumed the office in 2001, he made it a point to develop a spot in his administered land that will lure both local and foreign tourists to flock their hometown. Realizing the potential of Mambukal Resort, one of the oldest tourism destinations in the province, he led the Negrenses in building infrastructures and attention-grabbing spots in the area, hoping that they would soon revive its status as one of the country’s premier tourism destination. Today, Mambukal prides of a very rich flora and fauna with seven spectacular waterfalls. Over 2, 000 bats of three different species abound the trees surrounding the resort. It has overnight cottages, dormitory-type accommodation, and affordable rooms in the Tourist Lodge. There are also 32 picnic huts and a number of canopies available for excursionists. The 80-year old Ishiwata Bathhouse was also recently renovated and now has five dipping rooms that provide a more private experience. Because of the governor’s efforts, Mambukal is now being flocked by various people from across the region. Other than the provinces’ locales, the resort has been getting a lot of visitors from nearby provinces like Iloilo, Aklan, Negros Oriental and Cebu. The warm sulfur pool also lures Koreans, Japanese and several other foreigners in the region. Government offices now hold most of their meetings, seminars and team buildings in Mambukal. Religious groups also find the place very suitable for their retreats and workshops. Heading the first microfinance thrift bank in Western Visayas, Cecillia del Castillo paved the way for smart investing for her kababayans. As President and Chief Exceutive Officer of Dungganon Bank, Inc., she has offered ways and means of saving up for the Negrenses, impressing on them the significance of wisely allocating their hard-earned money to those that would matter in the future.  Realizing that there were few projects in the province that focused on women, she also established the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF). Inspired by the Grameen experience in Bangladesh, NWTF embarked on a journey of upholding women’s rights and status in the society and organized credited several programs and activities which all promoted women empowerment. To gain better insights on how else she can help the organization, she went several times to Bangladesh to train and participated in several forums in Grameen. Today, the foundation has about 75,000 members predominantly composed of poor women, from different islands. She also became an elected board member in the province of Negros Occidental from 1988 to 1992.Because of their significant contributions in their province, Maranon and del Castillo will be hailed by President Gloria Arroyo and Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as Inspiring Bacolod Entrepreneurs, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo sa Bacolod slated on July 13-14 at the La Salle Coliseum. Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is part of PCE's latest endeavor, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities outside Metro Manila. Go Negosyo sa Bacolod is presented by Philippine Airlines, PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, PLDT, Smart, Islands Souvenirs, DTI-OTOP and RFM Corporation. Other partners of the event include SM Supermalls and the Cebu City Marriot Hotel, The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law, Ideal Minds Corporation, La Salle Bacolod and Full Circle Communications. Helping people may serve different purposes to various individuals. But with both Maranon and Del Castillo’s efforts that resulted to changing the lives of their fellow Negrenses, they have indeed given public service a reasonably different but highly respectable name. |
