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In the News BCDA employee wins 3rd prize in civil service essay writing competition An employee of the staterun BCDA Public Affairs Department bagged third prize in an essay writing competition spearheaded by the Civil Service Commission ( C S C ) t o w i d e n p u b l i c awareness and appreciation of the role of government workers as heroes in their own right. Maricar Savella-Villamil’s entry entitled “Raised by Heroes” was inspired by her admiration for her parents who are both public servants. The CSC tilt formed part of the 111th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) observance. The contest had for its theme Kawani, Kaya Mong Maging Lingkod Bayani (Worker, You Can Become a Public Servant) and participants of the essay-writing contest had to answer the question, Ano ang Lingkod Bayani? (What is a Public Servant)? Contest rules provided that entries should focus on the role of government employees in the delivery of effective, efficient, and excellent service. The essays should also explain how government employees could be called servant heroes in the eyes of God and the country. Distinguished judges were UP Professors Jose Dalisay, Jr., Maria Oliva Domingo, DPA and CSC Commissioner Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza. Villamil revealed that she never had any reservations about joining the contest. “I was really excited by the challenge to write about civil servants because I thought it could also be a tribute to my parents who both served in the government,” she stressed. BCDA Public Relations Officer Maricar Savella-Villamil (2nd from left) receives an award from Civil Service Comission (CSC) Director Lydia A. Castillo of the CSC Regional Office No. IV (3rd from left) for winning 3rd Place in the CSC Essay Writing Contest. Looking on are: (from left) BCDA Vice President for Corporate Services Eleanor L. Atienza, CSC Asst. Director Lucina Flor B. Ramos, and CSC Asst. Director Atty. Katherine Limare-Delmoro. The CSC Essay Writing Contest was spearheaded by the CSC Regional Office No. IV on the occasion of the 111th Anniversary of the Philippine Civil Service. Her father, Oscar Savella, is an acting manager of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Starting off as a public school teacher, he spent the past 36 years working for the government. Her mom, Marilyn Savella, a training supervisor at the Quezon City General Hospital Medical Center, has also been a state worker for 29 years now. Her late grandfather, Francisco, a writer, and aunt, Alicia, are both public school educators based in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur. Doubtless, being public servants is in the blood of the Savellas. The BCDA is a government agency tasked with the conversion of former military bases such as Subic and Clark, into lands for public use. It is also the agency responsible for the development of Bonifacio Global City and Newport City, among other military lands. “Joining the contest was also a way for me to show my appreciation for BCDA and the admirable way it pursues its mandate,” she added. 6
In the News Raised by Heroes By Maricar Gay Savella-Villamil hree decades of processing the impact Tof heroes in my life does not entail much effort. It is a daily fact of my life. In fact, this very process is effortless and as uplifting as watching the beautiful sun rise and set day after day. I have lived 30 years, under one roof—with civil servants. My father started out as a public school teacher and has worked most of his 40 years in government service at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. My mother was once a staff nurse doing the evening shift at the Quezon City General Hospital. Back then, she arrived home every morning with a small brown paper bag of goodies for her firstborn, me. She stayed on for 29 years, studied more and rose from the ranks to becoming Hospital Training Supervisor. It wasn’t difficult at all to notice how hardworking they were; nor was it hard to feel that the family was always on a budget. Yet, we achieved modest milestones, that made us step back and appreciate more all the hardwork and its rewards from The Great Provider. My parents only had good friends; and no enemies. And they opened their home and their hearts to a relative, or a neighbor in need. Growing up, I was a witness to their capability to live within their means, their struggle against stories of corruption and incompetence, the desire to improve one’s skills and surpass challenges, and the heart to listen. I was indoctrinated by parents who not only recognized government but were appreciative of government, thus, I joined the same race my parents were running at the age of 24. And since, I have been with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority for close to nine years. Surviving 12 years of studies in the University of the Philippines, “paying it forward” seemed to be most appropriate for us students because we were indebted to the citizenry who put us through school. But the journey to a life of public service is not fueled by what is appropriate but, rather, by what is recognized. For indeed, public service is a calling anchored on the recognition of the opportunity to serve the people and to be a servant hero. Servant heroes have developed a meaningful sense of ownership for the word “civil servant”. By “owning” it, government employees, such as my family, embrace solid values and employ the right social attitude that are essential in carrying out tasks in dealing with their stakeholders covered by their institution’s mandate. Given this, servant heroes are at the frontline of values-formation. They serve as lead promoters of the right set of values anchored on respect—respect for authority; respect for the country and its resources; respect for the trust given and earned; and, respect for life. Respect is the forerunner of the values of good governance, anticorruption and transparency in government. In practicing your profession, you should realize the proximity of your position to the head of your agency and even to the Chief Executive; thus, in your individual transactions you represent government—a public trust. To deliver excellent service, servant heroes are recognized not only for their competence and their desire to be brilliant in their field but also for the way they developed themselves individually based on their years of experience and pursuit of advanced learning. On the other hand, one’s efficiency in delivering efficient services is reliant on their ability to rise above their situation and show resilience. Servant heroes recognize the value of their stewardship of resources. And finally, to be effective, one must have an understanding of people. And that as part of government, you are inevitably a part of the lives of everyone—whether it be one’s marriage, childbirth, oil regulation, traffic enforcement, justice, asset disposition or public private partnership. Servant heroes engage the public and engage them further to converse about life. To sum it all up, a servant hero is a civil servant who understands the face of humanity and the humaneness of living. We all live in the midst of civil servants. And belonging to a league of government employees, one must exercise pride in the kind of values which come with one’s profession. Again, I was raised by heroes. And I have a lifetime of reasons to be proud of it. EDITOR’S NOTE: The author has works published by Star Records, Communication Foundation for Asia, the UP-University Center for Women’s Studies and the Ford Foundation. She graduated with a Master in Public Administration Degree in Organization Studies and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the UP. 7
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