City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan: PORTRAIT OF A MAYOR LEADING THE RIDE TO PROGRESS

He begins his day at 6:30 in the morning. And every Monday morning, he is in his office at 7 a.m., in time for the flag ceremony. 

In all seven days of any given week, it is always a full day ahead for City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun Aguilar Marasigan. At 46, he is a man in a hurry; a Mayor excited to see results, grateful for the direct help and staff support he receives from the 1,494 employees and personnel of the city government office.

 Photo1 194a2493
City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan (Photo by Bernard Testa)

“Like me, our employees and personnel observe long hours and tight schedules. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanilang hindi matatawarang malasakit sa ating lungsod at sa kapwa Tomasino [I thank them for their boundless concern for the city and for our fellow Tomasinos],” he said.

 Photo2 194a2705
Mayor AJAM with wife Liza and their four children (Photo by Bernard Testa)

In the Marasigan family, the sense of service for the city extends to the Mayor’s wife Liza and the Mayor’s four children: Arriane Reign, Arth Miguel, Arth Joaquin, and Arth Jacob. “I thank my family for their never-ending support, understanding, and selfless love for my work as Mayor of the city.”

AJAM, a beloved acronym for his name, said that his mother Annie, sister Dr. Arnie, and his uncle, former Vice-Mayor Abet, have been equally supportive of his vision and goals for the city. “They and my immediate family give me the inspiration and the courage of conviction to work hard and harder still as mayor.”

MONITORING IS A CONSTANT

 Photo3 194a0121
Aksyon Bilis Mobile Clinic

Except for Monday where he regularly led the weekly flag raising, he starts by going around the city to monitor various programs—from reviewing the performance of the mobile clinic and ensuring that the payouts are given on time to student scholars to checking the daily construction status of school buildings, roads, and bridges in progress.

“I usually go to the office after lunch from Tuesday to Friday. I hold office meetings in the afternoon,” AJAM said.

 Photo4 Im11020
A meeting at the Emergency Operations Center

He goes to the different departments. “I talk to our department managers to ensure agreement on the work being done. Gusto ko araw-araw, may nangyayaring mabuti sa lungsod [I want something good to happen every day in the city].

AJAM appreciates the work done by Vice Mayor Cathy Jaurigue Perez and the entire Sangguniang Panlungsod for their fast action in approving ordinances and other regulations in the furtherance of city government projects and programs.

He is in regular consultation with the heads of the city’s 30 barangays, in particular, with ABC president Ladislao Malijan. He also meets with barangay councilors and other functionaries to determine the primary needs of barangay constituents. “Indeed, I am grateful for the work done by them. Together, we are able to accurately identify and adequately meet the most important needs of Tomasinos at the barangay level.”

DEALING WITH STRESS

Waking up at 6:30 am and sleeping at around 12:30 a.m. is tantamount to a 16-hour daily work load for AJAM. “I see to it that I always have a good night’s sleep. Siyempre kailangan natin ng tulog, kailangan ang pahinga natin. Gaano man tayo ka-busy, siyempre kailangang magpahinga ng katawan natin [Of course, one needs to rest and to sleep. No matter how busy, the body needs to rest]. I see to it that I sleep a least six hours a day].”

AJAM said he is one person who never gets stressed. “I always tell my department managers to look at the work with a light heart; not to take things too seriously. These challenges shall pass. Kapag may problema o pagsubok, wag dibdibin dahil lalo lang bibigat e. Lulubog ka. [When there is a problem or a test, do not confront it with a heavy heart. For if you do, you will sink].

 Photo5 Dsc01053

He added: “Hindi dapat magpadala sa problema [Do not be caught in a problem]. Rather, bring your problem to a resolution.”

To make up for his long working hours, this father of four spends time playing basketball with his kids during his free time. He also teaches them to drive.

Four or five times a week, AJAM goes to the gym to exercise. “Kailangan, hindi lang ang isip ang malakas sa atin. Kailangan malakas din ang katawan [We not only need a healthy mind, but we also need a strong and healthy body] to cope with the demands of the work.”

No matter how busy and heavy the workload is, Sunday is a sacred day for AJAM. It’s a time for prayer and for family. “We go to church, eat out, and rest. Sunday is family day.”

12-POINT AGENDA

When Mayor AJAM took his oath of office after winning the mayoralty elections in 2022, he hit the ground running.

He was ready with a 12-point agenda for development as Mayor of the City of Sto. Tomas Batangas. The comprehensive agenda covered Health, Education, Youth, Livelihood & Employment, Business & Investment Promotion, Tourism Promotion, Agriculture & Cooperatives, Passenger & Transport Sectors, Peace and Order & Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Social Services, Environmental Protection, and Public Service.

Interviewed by the Philippines Graphic, AJAM said, his 12-point agenda had one big ingredient: a positive attitude.

 Photo6 194a6878

AJAM explained: “Lahat naman walang imposible. Lahat kakayanin namang gawin. Pero paano gagawin yan [Everything is possible. Everything can be done. But how does one do it]? You have to have a positive attitude. You need to be happy in what you are doing, in everything that you do. I was happy to be Mayor, from the day I won as Mayor. I am happy today, and I guess I will continue to be happy serving my constituents. I am filled with the passion of seeing the city rise and realize its greatness; for its people to attain their right to happiness and prosperity in this city.”

AWARDS

Today, at the end of his first three-year term as mayor, AJAM comes back with a fuller, more detailed 12-point development agenda for the next three years (2025-2028).

How successful he has been during the first three years of his term can perhaps be gleaned from the number of Awards of Recognition he has reaped.

On the January 1-13 non-commissioned survey of Hypothesis Philippines—a consumer insights and strategy agency—AJAM was adjudged as the Top 1 Performing Mayor in Batangas province with a rating of 96.5%.

The mayoralty survey included respondents that are registered voters and residents of Batangas, from 18 to 70 years of age. The sampling margin had a margin of error of +1/-1 percentage with a 95% confidence rating. Respondents were randomly selected and each city had equal number of data points based on the voting population.

On May 19, 2024, Mayor Marasigan was honored as the National Outstanding Mayor of the Year at the Excellent Filipino Awards held at the Manila Hotel.

 Photo7 Insert Photo1 Excelent Filipino Award 1.jpg Cover Story 1
Mayor AJAM, National Outstanding Mayor of the Year with wife Liza

Also, this year, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas was proclaimed by the Philippines Choice Awards as the National Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) in terms of programs and projects implemented. The award giving body also declared AJAM as 2024 National Outstanding Public Servant of the Year.

“On behalf of our humble city, with my fellow Tomasinos, I accept this award with pride and humility. This award of recognition is a result of our combined efforts to provide aksyon-bilis (fast) service to fellow Tomasinos in the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas,” he said.

UPLB Alumnus Award

Screen Shot 2025 01 12 At 2.47.14 Pm

Cited for his manifold contributions in good governance, public service, and in helping uplift the economic level of the city that he governs, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor AJAM was cited as Outstanding University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB) Alumni last Oct. 9. He thanked the UPLB and the College of Economics and Management for the recognition, adding that the award is attributable to the efforts of all Tomasinos to improve their city and remains a continuing challenge to pursue the exercise of good governance in Sto. Tomas.

In August, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas was recognized as belonging to the Top 4 Most Improved Component City in the Philippines, as ranked by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), during its Annual Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index Awards.

Komisyon ng Wikang Filipino 

Screen Shot 2025 01 12 At 2.48.55 Pm
Mayor AJAM and Vice Mayor Catherine Jaurigue-Perez at the Komisyo sa Wikang Filipino (KWF)

Come September, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas demonstrated its excellence and dedication in promoting the Filipino language by winning “ika-3 Antas sa Selyo ng Kahusayan” from the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).

The “Selyo ng Kahusayan,” as explained by the KWF, is in recognition of the relevant programs and policies implemented by the city government to promote the Filipino language in the everyday lives of Tomasinos.

2nd TOP PERFORMING LGU

 Photo9 Insert Photo4 Top 2 Awrd.jpg Cover Story 1

Also in September, the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas was recognized by the Department of Finance-Bureau of Local Government Finance for ranking second among the National Top Performing LGUs for Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023, in terms of locally sourced revenues.

Despite the economic challenges faced by LGUs two years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the city managed to increase its local income, which served to fund the city government’s many public service projects.

Mayor AJAM thanked the DOF and vowed to keep pushing for programs that spur the city’s economic development, with the able support of Vice Mayor Catherine Jaurigue-Perez and the entire Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

And for his fellow Tomasinos, AJAM has this to say: “Huwag tayong bibitaw. Tuloy-tuloy tayo at kapit-bisig po nating abutin ang isang maningning na bukas para sa ating mga Tomasino. Mahalin po natin ang Lungsod ng Sto. Tomas. Aksyon bilis na may ngiting Tomasino [Don’t let go. Let us continue to link-arms as we keep reaching for a bright future for us Tomasinos. Let us love the City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Let us act fast, with a Tomasino smile].”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JUST IN

More Stories