MALOLOS CITY—Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa cited lessons imparted to him by his parents as he led eight other outstanding Bulakenyos in the annual Gawad Dangal ng Lipi Awards on Tuesday night.
“Wala po kasi akong ibang model, o ibang naging inspirasyon kundi ang nanay at tatay ko, tungkol sa kung papaano kami magbi-behave, at kung papaano namin aalagaan ang pagpapalaki sa amin,” Ochoa said during his acceptance speech for the Gawad Dangal Lipi Paglilingkod bayan award.
He said that lessons he learned from his father and mother were so important that he also impart it to his two children, namely Sophia and Paco.
Ochoa added, “ang pagpapahalaga sa sambayanang Pilipino, e wala pong katapusan, wala pong umpisa at walang ending. It should always be within us daily, everyday of our lives, before we sleep and when we wake up will always be there.”
Since President Benigno Aquino III knows his family, Ochoa said that the same upbringing that the President saw in his family may have convinced him to appoint him as executive secretary.
Commonly referred to as the “Little President,” Ochoa led this year’s roster of awardees namely; Dr. Reynaldo C. Cruz (Edukasyon), Dr. Carina J. Galvez-Lao (Agham at Teknolohiya), Teresita J. Nethercott (Entreprenor), Dr. Camilo I. Porciuncula (Pangkalusugan), Ma. Victoria R. Tengco-Burgos (Pangangalakal at Industriya), Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III (Sining at Kultura), Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr. (Paglilingkod Mamamayan) and Supreme Court Justice Martin S. Villarama Jr. (Propesyunal).
A native of Pulilan town, Ochoa practiced law in the province after passing the Bar in 1986.
He was one of the youngest officers of the provincial chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, serving as vice president of IBP Bulacan Chapter.
His father, the late Paquito Sr., was also a lawyer and former Pulilan Mayor.
After a successful private practice, Ochoa joined the Quezon City Government in 2001, first as an assistant secretary to Mayor Sonny Belmonte. He was named city administrator in 2003.
Ochoa’s work as city administrator has earned him praises from governance specialists in the academe like Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Viña.
The dean described Ochoa as “an effective, efficient and innovative public servant,” whose “programs intended to improve education, health and business permitting processes” have helped improve the delivery of basic services in Quezon City.
Started in 1974 by Gov. Ignacio Santiago, the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi is the highest honor that the provincial government of Bulacan bestows upon exemplary Bulakenyos in various fields, including public service, community service, education, science and technology, arts and culture, sports, professional, trade and industry, health and agriculture.
Past winners of the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi Award are the late President Corazon C. Aquino, the late Sen. Blas Ople, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Dolphy, Regine Velasquez, Cory Aquino, Albert Romulo, Virgilio Almario, Arnold Clavio, Cheche Lazaro, Lydia de Vega, Sen. Juan Flavier and Carina Constantino-David.
“Wala po kasi akong ibang model, o ibang naging inspirasyon kundi ang nanay at tatay ko, tungkol sa kung papaano kami magbi-behave, at kung papaano namin aalagaan ang pagpapalaki sa amin,” Ochoa said during his acceptance speech for the Gawad Dangal Lipi Paglilingkod bayan award.
He said that lessons he learned from his father and mother were so important that he also impart it to his two children, namely Sophia and Paco.
Ochoa added, “ang pagpapahalaga sa sambayanang Pilipino, e wala pong katapusan, wala pong umpisa at walang ending. It should always be within us daily, everyday of our lives, before we sleep and when we wake up will always be there.”
Since President Benigno Aquino III knows his family, Ochoa said that the same upbringing that the President saw in his family may have convinced him to appoint him as executive secretary.
Commonly referred to as the “Little President,” Ochoa led this year’s roster of awardees namely; Dr. Reynaldo C. Cruz (Edukasyon), Dr. Carina J. Galvez-Lao (Agham at Teknolohiya), Teresita J. Nethercott (Entreprenor), Dr. Camilo I. Porciuncula (Pangkalusugan), Ma. Victoria R. Tengco-Burgos (Pangangalakal at Industriya), Dr. Pablo S. Trillana III (Sining at Kultura), Msgr. Sabino A. Vengco Jr. (Paglilingkod Mamamayan) and Supreme Court Justice Martin S. Villarama Jr. (Propesyunal).
A native of Pulilan town, Ochoa practiced law in the province after passing the Bar in 1986.
He was one of the youngest officers of the provincial chapter of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, serving as vice president of IBP Bulacan Chapter.
His father, the late Paquito Sr., was also a lawyer and former Pulilan Mayor.
After a successful private practice, Ochoa joined the Quezon City Government in 2001, first as an assistant secretary to Mayor Sonny Belmonte. He was named city administrator in 2003.
Ochoa’s work as city administrator has earned him praises from governance specialists in the academe like Ateneo School of Government Dean Tony La Viña.
The dean described Ochoa as “an effective, efficient and innovative public servant,” whose “programs intended to improve education, health and business permitting processes” have helped improve the delivery of basic services in Quezon City.
Started in 1974 by Gov. Ignacio Santiago, the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi is the highest honor that the provincial government of Bulacan bestows upon exemplary Bulakenyos in various fields, including public service, community service, education, science and technology, arts and culture, sports, professional, trade and industry, health and agriculture.
Past winners of the Gawad Dangal ng Lipi Award are the late President Corazon C. Aquino, the late Sen. Blas Ople, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Dolphy, Regine Velasquez, Cory Aquino, Albert Romulo, Virgilio Almario, Arnold Clavio, Cheche Lazaro, Lydia de Vega, Sen. Juan Flavier and Carina Constantino-David.
