It would be easy to label her the “Mayor’s wife.” Until you see her work and hear her speak. And then you realize: Mikhaelle “Mika” Viernes Mercado, 36, is more than just the wife of Lungsod ng San Pedro, Laguna Mayor Art Joseph Francis Mercado.
Young, beautiful, and extremely intelligent, she is the 21st century version of a spouse with a creative and independent mind, who pro-actively works on equal footing with her husband, in the name of public service.
Born on July 27, 1988, Mika, as she is called by friends and colleagues, had an all-girls-school upbringing, having studied at the Assumption College in Makati from kindergarten to high school.
But 12 years of a sheltered existence seems to have fueled her search for a more independent and open environment.
In 2008, Mika left the Philippines to study Applied Economics at the University of San Francisco (USF) in the United States.
There, she met again her childhood friend Art Mercado (future mayor of San Pedro, Laguna). And even as love bloomed and brought them closer, it did not deter Mika from excelling in school.
She graduated summa cum laude—among the 300 students who graduated from the College of Arts and Science in the University of San Francisco in 2012. Only the top 2% of the class receive this highest honor.
The two were wed shortly after, first by civil wedding in May 2014, followed by a church wedding on Feb. 17, 2015.
The Mercado couple has been blessed with two children, Sofia Noelle, aged 9, and seven-year-old Noah Emmanuel.
ORGANIZING PHASE
When her husband, Art Joseph Francis Mercado, won the 2022 mayoralty contest in the Lungsod ng San Pedro by a landslide, Mika was ready to launch a comprehensive development support program.
“I am focusing on helping Art in any way I can, focusing on my role as being the First Lady of our city, bilang ina ng aming bayan (mother to the city),” Mika said.
Organizing became the starter phase of the First Lady of San Pedro’s development agenda.
In 2021, citizens of the Lungsod ng San Pedro initiated a nationwide call for the equal and democratized access to the local government’s programs and basic services.
As a response to the public initiative, 27 women from various San Pedro barangays—led by Mika Viernes Mercado—formed the Makabagong Ina at Kababaihan tungo sa Asenso (MIKA), a women’s organization committed to improving the level of participation of women in the development of San Pedro.
MIKA developed leadership and livelihood programs for its members. Its first barangay group was organized in Jan. 15, 2022. In June 2022, the MIK,A city-wide leaders or MIKA Council was formed. A year later, some 10,000 women had been organized for MIKA.
On Oct. 17, 2022, MIKA received its registration seal from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It registered and got its Local Government Unit (LGU) accreditation on March 9, 2023. The women’s organization was followed months later by the founding of the Alyansa ng Makulay na Ikatlong lahi, Galing at Gandang Anak ng San Pedro (AMIGA), an organization for the city’s LGBTQIA constituents.
In a little more than two years, MIKA increased its basic membership from 324 chapters in July 2023 to 7,451 Chapter members by October 2023.
SEMINARS, TRAININGS
From February to December 2023, MIKA held a series of seminars and trainings designed to empower its members. These included: Gender Awareness and Sensitivity Seminar, Budget Management Training, Training on Entrepreneurial Mind Setting, Leadership Training-Seminar, and a host of livelihood trainings—from Water Lily Paper Making, Abaca and Supot Paper Making, all the way to Dressmaking.
By March, MIKA showcased the livelihood products produced by its members during the city’s Magnegosyo Tayo Day.
The women’s organization likewise held the First MIKA Youth Assembly with a Gender Awareness and Sensitivity Workshop, as well as synchronized feeding in all 27 barangays of San Pedro.
As early as April 2023, MIKA already had a complete, weekly, centralized orientation for its new members.
EMPOWERING LGBTQIA
Since the founding of AMIGA, the organization has held a series of activities designed to support and empower San Pedro’s LGBTQIA community.
These activities are HIV Awareness and Testing to the holding of one-day Lesbian Basketball League, LGBT Volleyball League, as well as Livelihood trainings like the Mikagwapuhan at mika gandahan sa libreng gupitan.
Within a year since its launching, AMIGA has likewise participated in the Sampaguita Festival Float Competition, the Ms. Gay Queen of San Pedro Contest, LGBT Pride Parade Costume Competition, Slogan and Poster Making Contest, and in the Gift Giving and Feeding program in all 27 Barangays of San Pedro.
GOD & FAMILY
For both Mika and Art, God and family remains their two biggest inspirations for rendering public service to San Pedrenses.
“It’s very important to spend time with the kids,” Mika said.
“On Sundays, ginagawa kong family day na rin. Umiikot lang ako in the mornings, and in the afternoons, we eat out with the family,” Mayor Art said.
Both stressed that they make time for the family, no matter how busy they are with city activities. “They are our biggest inspiration. We forget our problems when we see our kids.”
And when big decisions for the city are required, they turn to God. “We regularly do devotions with our kids every night. There’s so much purity in the hearts of our kids, that we are reminded to always ground ourselves and hold steadfast to God and God alone,” Mika said.
Added Mayor Art: “In everything I do, I always seek the wisdom and guidance from our Father above. In everything I do, I always ask myself ‘Am I glorifying God with my actions and words?’”—Trixzy Leigh Bonotan
