FEU Nursing alumnus Kristine Estipona Hao (IN-2008) won the mayoralty seat in her home town of Mandaon, Masbate in the recent elections. What makes her story unique is that she is only 22 and graduated just two years go. The FEU Alumni Affairs Office recently had a chance to interview the new Mayor and get her thoughts on being a Tamaraw and the challenges she expects to face in this new phase of her life.

1. Why did you decide to run for mayor at such a young age?

I’ve been answering the same question throughout the campaign. Let me start with my brief political background. I was born to a family of politicians. My father (Former Mayor Erly Diaz Hao) was a 3-term mayor and my mother [Mayor Emily Estipona Hao, also a nurse] is the incumbent mayor and happened to be in her last term. I cannot deny the fact that I decided to run because my mother influenced and encouraged me to run. My mom still has a lot of unfinished/on-going projects in our municipality and I was given the responsibility to continue what they started. I never minded my age. The fact that I was allowed by the Commission on Elections to run for office was a clear manifestation that I have the capability to take charge of our municipality and to be of service to people.

2. What were the major realities you discovered during the campaign?

You cannot please everybody is one reality I discovered during the campaign. Despite the projects done by the previous administration, there are still people who cannot see it, or just pretend to be blind. In politics, age does not matter. People are not very particular with the age of a candidate; they are more particular with what a certain candidate can do.

3. What are the things you learned from your training as a Tamaraw nurse that would help in your work as Mayor?

Allow me to start with my training during community immersion wherein we were sent to different Barangays in Cavite to interact with the people. That would help me since as a public servant I will need constant interaction with the people for me to know the projects that should be prioritized. Constant interaction would also pave the way for me to get first hand information from them.

Skills in prioritization were also sharpened during my stay in this University. In public service, prioritization of problems must be observed at all times. Being a Mayor also means nursing your municipality and your people. If I don’t know how to prioritize, I will leave all the people dead in dismay with my service. Lastly, fortitude. if I did not have the courage, I would not be where I am now.

4. What is your message to the youth who want to play bigger roles in their community?

To my fellow youth, never underestimate your capacity. Never underestimate the capacity of the young generation. Do not be afraid to stand firm in what you believe, so long as you live by the laws of the Lord. Let’s prove to everyone that we are indeed the hope of the fatherland, for together, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

5. What is your message to the FEU community?

To the FEU community, THANK YOU SO MUCH for nurturing me. Please include me in your prayers as I lead my municipality. BRAVO TAMARAWS

Taken from Far Eastern University official website

 

June 26th, 2010 by aldrinv graduate of BS Nursing from the Institute of Nursing of Far Eastern University, Manila in 2007, former artist and associate web editor of The Advocate, currently a registered nurse & one of the founders of The FEU TAMBayan.