𝐂𝐄𝐁𝐔 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 ‘𝐁𝐔𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐘’

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro joined fellow local chief executives on September 11 for the launch of BUGSAY Leadership & Governance Executive Course, a fellowship designed to strengthen leadership and governance capacities among Cebu’s local leaders.

Held at the Performance Arts Hall of UP Cebu in Lahug, the program is jointly organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), UP Cebu, and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP NCPAG) Center for Leadership, Citizenship and Democracy (CLCD).

Gov. Pam joined the program not only as Governor, but also as a fellow learner, emphasizing that public service requires leaders to continuously learn, improve, and learn from one another.

“No matter how long or how short our time in public service has been, there will always be something to learn, something we can do better, and something we can learn from one another.”

The Cebuano word “bugsay,” meaning to paddle or row, captures the spirit of the fellowship: communities move farther when their leaders move together toward a common destination.

“Our municipalities, cities, barangays, and the Provincial Government are not separate islands. Mga kauban kita sa serbisyo,” Gov. Pam said.

Joining her were Balamban Mayor Amos Edwin Cabahug, Dalaguete Mayor Bembie Tambis, Boljoon Mayor Jojie Derama, Samboan Mayor Tito Calderon, Catmon Mayor Avis Monleon, and Alcoy Mayor Jose Eugenio Singson Jr., along with Provincial Planning and Development Office Head Eleazar Sabinay Jr. and other governance stakeholders.

Through seven thematic modules, immersion activities, peer learning, mentoring, and an action-learning capstone, BUGSAY seeks to equip participating leaders with practical approaches to ethical, responsive, collaborative, and resilient governance.

For Gov. Pam, the lessons ultimately have to reach beyond the classroom and translate into better service for Cebuanos.

“Good leadership is not measured by what we know, but by how we use what we learn to make life better for our people.”

Together, Cebu’s leaders continue to learn, paddle, and move forward—with the people as their shared destination. 💜