Biñan City Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel” B. Alonte is no stranger to commitment and dedication. Alonte has consistently worked to improve the lives of his fellow Biñanenses in every aspect of his work.
Gel started his career as a public servant in 2013, when he ran and won as city councilor with the highest number of votes. In 2016, he was elected as Vice Mayor, repeating the feat in 2019.
As the city’s second highest official for the past six years, he has crafted comprehensive policies by adopting a hands-on approach in community engagement.
True leadership, according to Alonte, is about serving with empathy and understanding and always prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable.
He believes and sees with great enthusiasm and confidence Biñan City as a thriving, inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and live with dignity.
In working to achieve this vision for his fellow Biñanenses, he sees himself with the mission to uplift the city and its residents through meaningful and sustainable programs.
PEOPLE SERVICE
Born on January 10, 1976, Gel is the fourth child of former Biñan, Laguna Mayor Bayani Arthur Alonte and Fe Erlinda Belizario Alonte, daughter of noted Biñan philanthropist Dr. Ildifonso Belizario.
He is married to Jhozalyn Mañego Alonte, who works as Operations Manager at Rain’s Place Corporation. They have three children: Angela Marie Fe, 22; Arthur Angelo, aged 20 and Adilei Samara, 10.
Serving the people is a much-valued tradition in the Alonte family. The elder Alonte served as Mayor of Biñan from 1988 to 1992. He is the city’s longest-serving mayor.
Gel’s sister, Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat is a three-term Representative of the Lone District of Biñan.
As Vice-Mayor, Gel presides over the City Council’s Regular Sessions and has been instrumental in drafting and enacting pivotal ordinances and pro-people resolutions.
Among his notable legislative achievements is the creation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), which plays a crucial role in disaster mitigation, evacuation, and rescue operations in Biñan.
Gel also authored an ordinance establishing a system to provide qualified senior citizens in the city with a social pension to help cover their medical and financial needs.
Key ordinances authored by Gel over the years address the following prime concerns: establishing and institutionalizing Biñan City’s emergency 911 hotline; approving the Revised Magna Carta Ordinance for senior citizens; granting P500 as birthday gift to all registered senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) and providing funds for this purpose; institutionalizing the mechanism for the protection and support of trafficked persons, and creation of a migration resource center for the city.’
The conscientious Biñan City Vice Mayor has spearheaded the passage of ordinances that benefit the city’s youth, students, and athletes.
These include: Consolidating the city’s student grants and scholarship programs, as well as the financial assistance program for underprivileged but qualified student artists and athletes; creating and adopting measures to prevent and counteract bullying among children in the city; prohibiting smoking in all public places in the city and imposing penalties for violations thereof; regulating the selling, serving, and drinking of liquor in places of entertainment, business establishments, and public places, and prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors.
‘MEDICINE MAN’
Gel completed his primary education at the St. Anthony School of Biñan in 1988. He spent his high school years (1988-1992) at the Santa Catalina Decena School, also in Biñan.
In 1992, he entered the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna-Biñan campus, graduating in 1997 with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy—a pre-med course.
His next step, he said, was to pursue a medical degree and become a doctor. “I would have taken medicine but it’s too expensive. So, I decided to give it up.”
Committed to furthering his education, Gel completed a Master’s in Public Administration at the Philippine Christian University.
He also took and completed a Public Leadership Credential Program at the Harvard Kennedy School (John F, Kennedy School of Government) in the United States.
Gel worked as a Respiratory Therapist at the Philippine Heart Center from 1997 to 1998 and worked at La Croesus Pharma from 1999 to 2001.
From 2002 to 2008, Gel worked at Northwest Airlines as a Ground Steward.
Before entering the world of politics, Gel already made his mark as a successful businessman in the construction field, inspired by his brother who was in the construction business.
TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SPORTS
An athlete and a sportsman in his youth, Gel first wanted to be a professional basketball player and had counted on being drafted by a member school to play in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines-Basketball League Senior Division.
At 5-foot-10 inches, Gel used to play as point guard and was among the Palarong Pambansa basketball players for Region IV-A.
He shared that they nearly won against the National Capital Region in one championship game.
Gel recounted that he would have made it to the big league had he not been sidelined by injury while playing, adding that coach Leo Austria still convinced him to play for the collegiate and amateur basketball leagues.
“My mom said no. I would have accepted the invitation and played but my mom forbade me to play again,” he said.
In the ensuing years, Gel saw his passion for sports becoming a cornerstone of his development blueprint for Biñan City. It reflected his deep belief in the transformative power of physical activity.
Having been a former basketball varsity player from high school through college, Gel said he “understands firsthand the profound impact that sports can have on a young person’s life.”
He added that his commitment to sports extended beyond mere enthusiasm. “It is a deliberate and strategic effort to harness the benefits of athletic participation to foster health, discipline, teamwork, and resilience among the youth of Biñan City.”
This led him to prioritize youth and sports programs as Vice Mayor.
CONTINUING LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
From 1997 to 1998, Gel served as president of the Leo Club of Biñan.
He was a member of the Philippine Councilor’s League from 2013 to 2016.
Gel serves as the 3rd Vice Chairman of the Boy’s Scout of the Philippines–Biñan, a position he has held since 2013. In 2016, he became the President of JCI Philippines–Biñan Chapter.
As vice mayor, from 2016 to 2019, Gel served as the Laguna Chapter President of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines.
In 2017, he became an active member of the Rotary Club and the Biñan MJF Lions. Gel subsequently became President of Biñan MJF Lions in 2020.
At this point in his life, Gel said he is ready to accept what to him is his next biggest challenge as a public servant: Running for mayor of Biñan City, one of the most vibrant cities in the province of Laguna and the CALABARZON Region.
Asked if he is ready to accept the responsibility of taking over the driver’s seat, the 48-year-old, mild-mannered and soft-spoken vice mayor of Biñan City quipped: “I am ready.”
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Award of Recognition, NJLA LGU Champion, Nick Joaquin Literary Awards 2024
2024 Pillars of Public Service Award Most Influential Public Servant and Sports Advocate
2022 Golden Globe Awards for Business Excellence & Outstanding Filipino Achievers
2022 Golden Globe Awards for Excellence & Noteworthy Achievements in Public Service
2023 Serbisyong International Standards Award
2023 Gabay at Aksyon: Recognition for Public Service, Radio Service & Public Affairs
Biñan City Human Resources Development Office, 2024 Certificate of Appreciation
DILG Certificate of Recognition, City of Biñan, Winner 2023 Local Legislative Award (LLA) Provincial Assessment
DILG 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance, given to the Office of the Vice Mayor
