The Office of the City Vice Mayor is now headed by Atty. Conrad C. Cejoco, serving his first term as Vice Mayor of Bislig and one of the youngest officials this place has produced.

Very dynamic and full of idealism, Vice Mayor Cejoco has also a leader's blood flowing in his veins.  He is the third son of former Governor of Surigao del Sur, Salvacion "Ambing" Castillo-Cejoco and grandson of late Mayor of Bislig and Surigao del Sur Governor Recaredo "Erat" B. Castillo, a political icon, and whose father, Primitivo A. Castillo, was the first Municipal President of Bislig during its inception in the 1920s.  Atty. Cejoco's father is Pedro Luna Cejoco of Tago, Surigao del Sur--CPA, businessman and former BIR Assistant Provincial Examiner.  His equally successful siblings are Joseph Clarence, who now lives in France with his family, and Charles and Maria Lourdes, both based in the U.S. with their respective families.

Now the torch of a leader's legacy must keep burning in the hands of Conrad Castillo Cejoco.

Having the political genes coupled with his genuine love for Bislig, the call for public service lured Atty. Cejoco into government sevice.  His educational background, keen observation on the economic situation of Bislig, and his experiences as a well-traveled person even before he entered politics, however, provided a different perspective that sets aside traditional politics in favor of an aggressive, down-to-earth kind of service that is the call of the present time.  With this in mind, VM Cejoco is heading towards a road less traveled: an honest, committed and dedicated public service.

Conrad, as he is called by his relatives and close friends, completed his elementary at the Ateneo de Davao University Grade School in 1987 and finished high school in the same school in 1990.  He became an exchange student of the Youth for Understanding and was sent to Clay County Central High School, in Arkansas, USA, for a year. He returned to Ateneo de Davao University to finish an AB Literature course in 1995, before transferring to Ateneo de Manila University to complete his Bachelor of Laws in 1999.  He passed the bar exams and became a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in 2000.

While in college,  VM Cejoco worked a s Paralegal Trainor at the Ateneo Human Rights Center from 1995 to 1998.  He became a Legal Apprentice of the Aquilino Pimentel Law Office in Makati from 1997 to 2000.  He returned to Bislig in 2002 and was employed as Associate Legal Counsel of PICOP Resources, Inc. for a year.

In 2004 local elections, Atty. Cejoco ran as an independent candidate for City Councilor of Bislig and got a landslide win placing him No. 1 Councilor, unprecedented for a neophyte in the so-called political arena.  He repeated this feat in the May 2007 elections when, again as an independent candidate, he ran and won as Bislig City's Vice Mayor.  Could it be sheer luck or providential--one thing is sure--the people of Bislig may have seen in this young man the potentials of a leader who is sincere and has big dreams for Bislig that they have long hoped to find.

As City Councilor, he introduced a pro-active kind of service which does not limit the activity of a legislator within the confines of the session hall.  The barangay is an extension of his session hall.  Notwithstanding the 216 resolutions and 12 ordinances he passed and approved by the City Council, he launched the "Oplan Rehistro", an on-going program that enables the indigents to register their unregistered children at the LCR.  He was alarmed when the 2000 census records revealed a reduced populace of Bislig, the cause of which may have been a remiss on the part of the poor parents.  He made this possible by providing free affidavits for late registration and other related legal assistance they could avail from his law office for free.  He did the same to victims of Bongaitan fire in October 2006 where the whole area including the public market was wiped out by the conflagration.  With his free legal support, it was easier for the fire victims to avail of whatever government assistance there was at that time of need.

Vice Mayor Cejoco is also a strong advocate in the preservation of the environment.  Proof of this is his Watershed Reforestation Program and close linkage with the Philippine Eagle Foundation to protect the habitat of "Tinuy-an", a male eagle cited in the forestlands of Sitio Suti at Brgy. Burboanan as he moved for the establishment/declaration of this barangay as Critical Habitat pursuant to R.A. 9147, also known as Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.  Lately, his "Eskwelahan sa Kinaiyahan" has gained a positive response from the Department of Education for his office' move to send selected public school teachers to a seminar-workshop in Davao City that will train them on the protection and preservation of the environment and eventually integrate such learning in their respective classes.

His office is constantly coordinating with DepEd with regards to public schools with less resources.  He looks for ways to assist their requests for computer units, teachers' trainings, etc., albeit his limited funds.  He dreams of providing every public school in the city with at least one computer set so that even the poor students will have a feel of the computer technology.  He also fights for the granting of permanent sites of schools located within the logged out areas in the timberland so that these schools may be properly recognized by DepEd and the City Government, hence can be alloted with funds for their physical improvement and development.  Through his resolutions, this matter has reached Malacanang and he hopes it will gain positive results.  Likewise, his office  financially supports the Madrasa Islamic and Arabic School in Mangagoy and passed a resolution requesting the ARMM Governor to appropriate funds for the salary of Arabic teachers and improvement of Arabic schools in Bislig.

Sports matters and activities for the promotion of the city do have a place in VM Cejoco's plans and programs.  Recently, his office sponsored  the 3rd CeJOCO (for Job Order and Contract workers) Cup Bowling Tournament, a yearly sport activity participated in by the Bislig-LGU's job order and contract workers not only to enhance teamwork and discipline, but also a recognition of their contribution to government service no matter how short their employment maybe.   He initiated last year's "Pasugba sa Dalan", the highlight of the city's charter day celebration, where people queued to taste the grilled fish and other aquamarine products lined up at the roadside--meant to introduce the city as the aquaculture capital of this part of the country.  Every year, his office sponsors aquamarine summit where fisherfolks and fishpond operators along with fisheries officials gather together for the further enhancement of the aquaculture industry of Bislig. He also organized the Christmas Bazaar which showcased the products of the small and medium entrepreneurs of Bislig.  It was so successful that participants and the buying public clamored to have a repeat of this every christmas thereafter.

A lawyer himself, Vice Mayor Cejoco sees to it that preservation of the family will have a place in his agenda.  He conducted seminars on the Rights of Children, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, Violence Against Women and Children and other concerns on the rights of women, children, and family.  He regrets his public service somehow limits him from actively practicing his profession where he could have widened his advocacy on the above concern.

Now as vice mayor, he steers the city council in pursuing more programs for the benefit of the less privileged of Bislig.  He actively supports legislations for the development of agriculture and the tourism industry of the city.  He launched his brainchild, "Lungsod sa Barangay" program, a  monthly activity that provides free medical-dental-agricultural-veterinary mission to the 24 barangays of Bislig.  This is a one-stop government service mission that also enhances good relations among barangay people, government leaders and workers, among other benefits.

As the second highest official of Bislig-LGU and a true-blue Kamayo, his perspective has widened as he envisions a well-developed city known for preserving her culture, customs and traditions, and in the same manner, protecting the environment, not just to enjoy the benefits of her natural resources which are aplenty:  from the forests that embrace the beautiful Tinuy-an Falls (tagged as "Niagara Falls of the Philippines") and the various organisms living in the area, down to the mineral resources underneath her soils; from the water tributaries that form the mighty Bislig River; down to the beaches that welcome the sun as it rises slowly (Bislig having been situated facing the east where the Pacific Ocean is); vast agricultural land, aquaculture and rich marine life that feed the people of the city and put money in their pockets.  VM Cejoco wants the Bisliganons to be proud and protective of these all--blessings from the Almighty that other places in the country are wanting.

In support to all these, he earnestly pursues the establishment of a modern fish port, mariculture park, fish cage and sanctuary, and multi-purpose fishery breeding farm and hatchery for the production/multiplication of crabs, shrimps and lobsters in the city of Bislig.  These are just a few of the legislated projects in his priority list that can enhance the people's economic development.

On the other hand, VM Cejoco's journey to public service extends not only for his constituents in Bislig, but it has gone beyond the city's corridors.  He repeated his feat as President of the Young Legislators of Surigao del Sur when he was councilor, by becoming now the President of the Vice Mayors' League of Surigao del Sur.  His law profession balances his political agenda by actively participating in all IBP activities, lately of which was his organizing a free legal clinic in Mangagoy, Bislig City which provided free legal aide to more than 600 residents of Bislig and its neighboring towns.  He now sits as the president-elect of the Rotary Club-Bislig Chapter.  Some of the honors he received are Excellence in Public Service Award given by the Leadership Organization of the Phils., Public Service Award by the Kabisig Development for Progress, Inc.; and Most Outstanding Young Legislator of the Phils.  All these achieved on merits in recognition of his efforts and hard work.

The foregoing are just a few of what this young government servant is doing for the people's welfare which he does without biases--religion, political affiliation, social or economic standing, and all.  And he does not stop and not afraid to do what he thinks is right and appropriate of his present situation even if it draws flak from the people who misunderstand his action.  He believes that a leader must keep on working, hold the trust of the people, listen to them--joys, woes, and all--and learn from what they say.  He says, wisdom is neither inborn nor schooled, it is gained by experiencing all that life offers everyday...

(Writer's note: This is a continuing journal of Atty. Conrad C. Cejoco as he walks his journey towards his chosen career path-E. D. Rabaya)