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The Boholano Today
ANTONIO ALVIN JAYAG UY: THE ANSWER TO THE CLAMOR FOR A CHANGE
By Loy Palapos - Published July 8, 2007 in the Bohol Sunday Post
 
Quiet, humble, unassuming…that you will never even know he is in the group. This describes Atty. Antonio Alvin Jayag Uy, the newly elected Mayor of the Municipality of Baclayon. Small children consider him a big brother, the youth see him as a friend, someone who understands, while the aged trust him and call him "son." He is perceived to be more of a doer than a talker, but never as a politician; and after the May 14 election, the Baclayanons consider and accept him as the answer to their clamor for a change.

Born on December 19, 1968, he is the second among the four children of the late Judge Antonio Oppus Uy and Mrs. Gardenia Jayag Uy, a retired public elementary school principal. The strong personality of the late Judge can be felt in the influence he has left among his siblings. All of them, except the youngest who is still in College, are in the legal profession. Adrian Antonio, the eldest, is the Clerk of Court in the City's Multiple Salas. Next to Alvin is Denva Garcia, a Jurist Doctor, the Chief Staff of Senator Pia Cayetano. The youngest, Gwendolyn Toni, is a fourth year nursing student of Holy Name University, and is contemplating to take up law or medicine after her graduation from nursing school.

Excellence in academic and co-curricular pursuits was Alvin's mark even at an early age. Conscientious and persevering, he showed an acumen not found in many of his peers. It was not a surprise that many predicted he would be an achiever. Alvin spent his elementary education at Baclayon Central Elementary School. Due to his outstanding performance while in Grade II, he was given a battery of tests by the Department of Education, which he passed, and qualified him to be promoted to Grade III at the end of the first semester. He finished the elementary grades within 5 years. Even while still in the elementary grade, he showed his leadership potentials. The youngest among the grade VI pupils, he was elected as the Mayor of his class, governor of the graduating class, and at the same time the President of the 1980 Pupil Government of Baclayon Central Elementary School.

For Alvin's secondary education, he studied at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto District, Tagbilaran City and graduated in March 1984. After graduation from high school, he enrolled at the University of San Carlos College of Engineering and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) on March 19, 1989. He took the November 1989 Board Examination and was one of those who successfully hurdled it. Alvin became an Engineer at the age of 21. He also took the Career Service Professional exam on June 30, 1989, and passed it.

He became an Instructor at the Bohol Institute of Technology, Tagbilaran City, which further honed his interpersonal relations and enhanced his communication skill. At the same time he helped manage the family's transportation business. In June 1991, he realized some more innate but untapped potentials he possessed. He gave up his teaching position at BIT to enroll at Divine Word College (now Holy Name University). He took up Law and graduated in March 1995. Together with 3 of his classmates in law school, he attended the review classes at Ateneo de Manila University for 6 months and then took the 1995 BAR Examinations. Alvin passed the 1995 BAR Examinations and was admitted to the BAR on April 11, 1996.

A new dimension was accorded to him, a bigger opportunity for advancement. He opened his Law Office at the First Floor of LTS Lodge, 28 CPG Avenue, Tagbilaran City.

Aside from his private practice, Alvin became the President of Saint Jude Transportation Company, Inc. and the FJA Corporation. These two responsibilities, plus his law practice, consume much of his time; but being an achiever right from his student days, he has become superb in time management. He is gifted with the knack of defining his priorities, so nothing is remiss. Still he finds time to help in some environmental concerns, aware that everybody should have a role to play in protecting nature. Thus, he affiliated with ELAC (Environmental Legal Assistance Center), and until today he is one of the prime-movers of the group.

Atty. Uy became a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Bohol Chapter, in December 1996, and during its election, Alvin was elected as No. 1 among the Board of Directors, ahead of seasoned practitioners. However, he was not able to hold this position, being an incumbent Punong Barangay of Poblacion, Baclayon, which he held for two terms. As the Punong Barangay, many changes and improvements were introduced by him. It was during his term that a barangay hall was constructed on a lot donated by Mr. and Mrs. Primo Javier.

His stint as a Barangay Captain brought him closer to the people. He felt what his constituents felt. He became aware of their plight. He realized that they wanted change. But this dream can only be achieved with a leadership committed and dedicated to the welfare of the masses. The clamor for change went deeper than what was perceivable to the eyes. Somebody must take the risks in order to gear the townsfolk's efforts to achievable goals that spell development; not just palliatives ending with photo-sessions and press releases.

Thus, his decision to offer himself to the people of Baclayon, to be at the helm of the Municipal governance, disregarding the sacrifices he and his family would undergo. His relatives, his colleagues, his friends, and the citizenry were on his side. They inspired him and fortified his inner strength so he could serve them more. As a young and idealistic leader, his political stand is "no to the use of money and gun to win votes." According to him, the use of money is an insult to the voters' intelligence. Alvin wanted to prove to the people, especially the youth that even the poor can still win in an election, if he has the potentials, the moral, the integrity, and the honest and earnest desire to help and serve the people. He was able to prove this even to those overcome by skepticism. His campaign slogan was "Try me! If I can't or won't be able to deliver what I promised, then drive me out of office." Convinced of his noble intentions, the people of Baclayon found in their new Mayor a shining hope for progress.

In 1998, when he was still a bachelor, Alvin constructed a house on a hilltop, a few blocks from his parents' home. Two years after its completion, he transferred to his own pad, but used it only as his sleeping quarter, since his parents insisted he take his meals with the family. Thereafter, a small basketball court, playground and a swing were provided for A.C. Thadd and the other kids in the neighborhood to freely use the same. Using the income from his private practice, he was able to expand his abode by adding several structures. Now that he has settled down, it has become a real home. A medical clinic and legal clinic were added features that earned the admiration of the community.

June 5, 2005 would have been the Ruby Wedding Anniversary of Alvins' parents, but due to the passing away of Alvin's father, Judge Antonio Oppus Uy, a few months earlier, the three elder Uy siblings decided to continue what their parents started by celebrating an unprecedented triple wedding. Adrian, Alvin and Denva Gracia tied the knot with their respective partners in a very well attended wedding ceremony at the Immaculate Conception church of Baclayon, which is known to be the oldest stone church in the Philippines. The wedding reception for everybody attending the triple treat was held in the home of Alvin.

Alvin is married to his girlfriend of 3 years, Dr. Fruserma Mary Cempron Aparicio, a Physician, daughter of Dr. Aurora C. Aparicio, a retired Medical Health Officer, and the late Magdaleno Aparicio, from Inabanga, Bohol. Dr. Em-em, as she is fondly called, is a Medical Officer III in the Provincial Health Office.

With Atty. Antonio Alvin Jayag Uy at the helm of Baclayon's Local Government Unit, the people of Baclayon can be assured of a great change, a change for a better Baclayon in all aspects. Guided by his father's last word, "I have no wealth to leave you, but a clean and untarnished name. Protect this name for I worked for it during my whole lifetime."

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