Pampanga town mayor revives bag industry to benefit home-based elderly
MACABEBE, Pampanga— Mayor Annette Flores-Balgan is 64, but her boundless energy can easily put to shame some women half her age.
In a recent interview, reporters visiting her office at this town’s municipal hall were surprised to learn that Balgan is past 60 years old.
“She doesn’t look her age. The mayor seems younger,” said a local television reporter.
“I am insecure,” said the mayor’s granddaughter, Justine Michelle Balgan, a dean’s lister at the San Beda College and first runner-up at the recent Ms. Pampanga beauty pageant.
“She always looks younger than her age and she is my idol,” Justine said.
The mayor is unique in many ways. She does not hesitate to use her personal resources just to drive home a point about the importance of working hard.
Balgan is reviving the bag-making industry in the town. The main beneficiaries are the elderly citizens who work from home to produce those bags.
More than 100 families earn extra from the industry. By working at home, the workers are able to earn more.
The mayor said she has given the elderly population seed money to start their work.
“We let them borrow money and they pay it back,” said the mayor.
“The bag-making industry died in the 1990s after the Americans left their base in Pampanga. But we are reviving it to provide additional livelihood for our women, especially the older ones,” said Balgan.
Balgan said she is focused on providing health and livelihood projects benefiting her people, especially the elderly.
The mayor also taps older people in the making of religious images. She said they are very reliable and meticulous in fixing the statues’ clothes and hair.
Passion needed
“YOU have to be passionate in everything you do,” she said when asked about the secret of her success in life, business and politics.
Balgan’s firm hold on the trust and confidence of the town’s 71,000 residents was manifested during the 2013 elections when she ran unopposed for her second term. The mayoralty post in the first-class municipality had been hotly contested for decades.
But what’s more gratifying for Mayor Balgan was that her daughter, Councilor Bembong Balgan, topped the councilors’ race in May and registered one of the biggest leads in history against the other winners.
“Mayor Annette Balgan has been tried and tested. That’s the reason she was not opposed for her second term. The mayor is not just workaholic but effective as well,” said Macabebe Tourism Officer Catherine Flores.
Lonell Macalino, a municipal administrative officer 4 who is also board director of the local Pampanga Electric Cooperative, said Balgan’s brand of politics is borne out of honesty.
He said the two-term mayor will not hesitate to help as long as people seeking assistance are being truthful about their problems.
“Once you lie, that’s the end of it all,” said Macalino.
Manila families with small children looking for an accessible place for kids to have fun frequently visit private resort in Clark Pampanga to unwind relax in family bonding, top venue for reunion.
Some hotels and resorts offer free WIFI Internet connection to guests. This includes beach resort of Clearwater which also offers free Internet connection in the room as well as in the outdoor areas even near the beach and by the lake.
Fine dining restaurants like Yats Restaurants and Wine Bar also offers good internet connection to their guests. Highly recommended bar, pub and nightlife spot The London Pub located inside Mimosa also offers good internet connection to guests.
The London Pub is a classic English Gastropub frequented by local expats and business community. It serves up good food, plenty of excellent vintage wine by the glass and a good selection of Cuban cigars. The ambience is old English, dark wood, comfortable and relaxed.
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You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.
Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Yats Restaurant is one of the good restaurants in Pampanga, a restaurant with good food, a place that is nice for celebration, ideal for business dinner meeting, a good place to enjoy family reunion, and an attractive restaurant that serves good wines for dinner.
Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.
Frequent travelers and visitors staying in Angeles City Pampanga Clark Philippines look for restaurants, coffee shops, bars, pubs, hotels and resorts in Clark that serve high quality Nespresso coffee to guests. Here are some of the highly recommended places in Clark that offer good gourmet Nespresso coffee.
Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
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One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.
This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.
Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
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For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to <a http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
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