On the heat of barangay elections campaign, Xavier University-Governance and Leadership Institute, in pursuit of its mission to build the capacity of the public sector, held a one day training on Barangay Governance last October 19, 2013. Despite the trepidation that barangay candidates are now busy with their individual campaigns, the GLI group, headed by the relentless Dr. Dixon Q. Yasay, launched a fearless campaign of its own.  Whilst the apprehension that we might just get a decent attendance of only 35 participants,  we were pleasantly surprised that 65 candidates hailing from all over Region X, and as far as Gingoog and also from our very own barangays in the city, came with one thought in mind - they wanted to learn more about barangay governance and be ready for the “battle” to unfold only in a few days to come - the barangay elections!  As I thanked one barangay captain candidate for coming despite the fact that he would miss his campaign sortie for the day, he matter of factly replied:  “dili ko pwede mo absent ani kay importante kaayo ni”,  that being said, he answers his cell phone and gave instructions to his caller   (his campaign manager, I assume) on what to do in his absence.

Topics discussed were : Introduction to Barangay Governance by Dr. Dixon Q. Yasay;  Basics on Barangay Planning and Budgeting by Mr. Edmundo Pacamalan, Jr., Provincial Administrator of Misamis Oriental;  Tips on  Campaign Management in the Barangay by Ian Q. Nacaya, former  Barangay Captain of Nazareth; and Spirituality and Leadership by Mr. Derrick Bart Pimentel of the Philosophy Department, XU.

The session ended with an impromptu prayer and  blessing by no less than Xavier University President, Fr. Roberto C. Yap,  giving the barangay candidates a much needed boost in spirit, confident that no matter what the outcome, they come out still winners in their own right.