SUBIC Bay Freeport—Former Mayor Jonathan Tan of Pandan, Antique has formally assumed his post as chairman and administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in a turnover ceremony on Tuesday at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center.
SBMA director Tomas Lahom III handed over the SBMA flag to Tan, with the rest of the facility’s board members and other officials in attendance.
Tan, who was also into public service and business, served as mayor of Pandan, for three consecutive terms.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Tan to the SBMA last April 28 and was sworn into office by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on May 3.
In his acceptance speech, Tan acknowledged the support he has been receiving as SBMA chief. At the same time, he urged everyone to continue that synergy and cooperation as he cited an African philosophy.
““I am because we are” – an African philosophy of Ubuntu, which reminds us that our sense of self is shaped by our relationship with others. My success is your success, and your failure is my failure. Let’s not just lift ourselves up, but lift our colleagues, as well. And whatever it is that we do individually and collectively, reflects the leadership of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,” he said.
“Some say that public service is a thankless profession. But I encourage you to look at your glass half-full rather than half-empty because when you change your perspective, you begin to see the world from a different light. We can all be great when we serve others,” he added.
He vowed to sustain his trademark initials “JDT,” which stands for jobs, development, and tourism.
Tan replaced former Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino, whose courtesy resignation was accepted by Malacañang on April 15.
Paulino has been appointed director of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.