By Lorna Emata
We
featured her place of governance late last year for exposure and tourism
purposes. Now, we have the privilege of gracing her as our cover story in this
month’s issue. She is Hon. Sharee Ann Tan, the devoted, compassionate and tough
governor of Samar. Today, we’ll get to know her up close and personal,
her present achievements and challenges, and her future personal and political
plans and dreams.
Ms.
Sharee was born on May 11, 1982 to the late Ricardo Tan and Milagros Tee, both
business entrepreneurs back then. She is the second eldest among a brood of
four, her three siblings namely, Angelie, Stephen James and Reynold Michael.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from University of San Carlos in Cebu City. On July 21,
2009,
she exchanged wedding vows with Richard delos Santos, a businessman-contractor from Bicol, at the age
of 27. They have been blessed with three beautiful children: Frederick Ethan,
Rianne Meisha and Zaree Miesha.
In
an earlier encounter with the Governor, I learned that as a mom, she is strict.
Although she is basically a homebody, she loves to travel with her family and
staff whenever she can. She likes bazaars,
Manaoag, and Crispy Pata! Ten years from now, she still sees herself being with
her family. I was impressed with Ms. Sharee’s spontaneity, humor and warmth
during that interaction. It compliments her efficient and non-on-sense attitude
when at work.
Politics
has always been in her bloodline. Her mother, Hon. Milagros Tan, is currently
the Second District Representative. She was also a former Governor of Samar,
before Ms. Sharee’s term. But that’s another story. Her brother, Stephen James,
is presently her Vice-Governor. Her two other siblings also became mayoralty
candidates in the past.
As
for Ms. Sharee, she said she realized her political calling by the people. She
became the youngest Congresswoman when she won the seat in 2007. She was just
25 years old then. This triggered off her political career. She is now on her
second term as Samar governor.
As its Governor, Ms.
Sharee’s passion and dedication for Samar could
never be undermined nor questioned. Time and again, she has proven how much
love she has for this province. She wouldn’t be on her second term if this isn’t
so. And it’s also clear that her people loved her back. This I have proven when
I got a chance to speak with the simplest of folks like the tricycle driver we
rode on when we explored by ourselves. He spoke of the Governor like he was
talking about a dearly beloved. I know I don’t need to expound on that.
This governor makes sure she’s handson when it comes to anything
and everything about Samar. Especially during Yolanda’s aftermath, in the
wake of her province’s calamity and despair, she embraced
and wept with her
people. But she lost no time in resurrecting her beloved province after it was ravaged
by the typhoon. After just over a year, she was able to revive and bring Samar to its former self. And up to this day she is still completely
embroiled in ramping up on Samar to
even surpass what this
province has achieved in terms of tourism. For her, this is the right time to
move and make Samar’s beauty and glory known to all and sundry.
I would now like to
share with you some questions I asked the Governor and her answers in her own
words to show how down to earth and simple she is:
Please tell us
something about yourself.
As a Taurian, I
simply characterize myself the traits of being dedicated, hardworking,
generous, and humane loyal individual. I never imagined myself to be in the playing
field of politics. I was very young then, naïve, inexperienced but, call it
accident, fate or destiny, I landed a seat in the lower House in 2007 at the
age of 25, the Benjamina or the baby of the House as they call it, being the
youngest member of the 14th congress. After one term I ran for the
gubernatorial seat of Samar, and up to this very moment, still hold the
position strongly to
help lift my poor fellow Samarnons out of poverty as a legacy when my tenure
ends.
2. How did your
family get into politics?
I think it all
started when my father died during the campaign in his
bid for a position at
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. It was an arrested
political desire that
needed to be persevered by my mother that
fortunately led her
in the realization of my father’s prevented political
aspirations. Until
one day, I just woke up embracing this kind of passion about public service and
the rest is history.
3. Given the fact
that you’re from a family of politicians, would you say that it was solely your
decision to become one or was it just expected of you to take the same path as
your predecessors?
Like what I mentioned
earlier, destiny brought me into this political world… and since I am in this political world already,
why not give my
101 percent more of
what is expected of me? My sincerity, my hard work, and my dedication as the Governor
of Samar.
4. Please tell us
how you started out in politics, the diff positions you have held.
Okay, my first taste
in politics begun at the moment I became my
mother’s personal
assistant. She was then the governor of the Province of Samar. It not only opened the door for me, but at
the same time opened
more windows of opportunities to different elected positions both in the
legislative and executive levels.
5. What would you
consider as your greatest challenge in your political life?
Every public servant
aims to be a team player to his colleagues. And the truth about political
bickering is no stranger than fiction. To work as one… to look at the same
direction despite differences in opinion is my greatest challenge, because I
believe, unity, whether we come from different political colors and ideology
must be adhered to.
6. As Samar
Governor, what have been
your
accomplishments so far?
My accomplishments?
In all modesty, the thrust in my governance is how to alleviate my poor fellow
Samarnons from ingrained poverty and improve their economic status in life. Thank
God for blessing me the ability and the overdrive in slowly but surely
invigorating our Samar into the list of developing Provinces in the
entire Philippines.
7. After the
Yolanda aftermath, what changes have you made for the betterment of Samar?
The aftermath of
Yolanda has had me stand strong against all
odds. I became
self-reliant. This is people to imbibe. I want them to take on that “pride of
place” thought, so that when no outside help would come to us, we can always
depend on each other alone and no other. The Bayanihan in infrastructure
rebuilding, creation of industrial
programs and tourism projects,
social and health services…these are the task that we Samarnons should take
upon ourselves hand-in hand.
8. What are the
rewards of being a politician?
Seeing my people
happy and satisfied!
9. Do you have
future projects line up for Samar? If so, what are they?
Tourism, because
tourism means business…and business means job
for everyone!
10. How do you see
yourself and Samar 10 years from now?
For me, I see myself
in the next 10 years as a fulfilled woman
With the realization
of my humble aspirations for better Samar.
11. Your personal message
for our readers, including your event in August.
Come visit Samar! Beamazed…be awed…be inspired of the natural
wonders of Samar. Savor every bit of the delectable local cuisine
that is widely offered and experience the extraordinary warmth of hospitality
of our people.
In line with this, everyone
is invited to celebrate SAMAR DAY
2015 from August 3-11, of course, in Samar. Line-up of activities are as follows:
Fun Run, Agro-Industrial
Fair, Kusina Samarnon (showcase of local cuisine), Samar Tourism Photography
Contest, Inter-School Academic contests, Cultural Show, Concert, Medical-Dental
Mission, Libreng Gupit,
Fisher Folk Congress,
Mutya ng Samar Beauty Pageant (Aug 9), Parade of Samar Festivals (Aug 11),
Dinner with the Governor, Governor’s Report, Drum and Bugle Corps Competition,
Youth Night and Street Party. This will definitely be another grand experience
for the books. Looking at the open and honest face of this dedicated governor,
one would think she is having the time of her life and loving it as she goes through
the daily rigors of being a politician. That’s because it is the truth. Amidst
any disaster, hardship and chaos she has faced as Samar’s leader, she is indeed loving what she’s doing, standing her ground undauntedly
to any and all Challenges and trials. I
saw for myself how deeplyrooted this governor’s love was, in every word and
gesture she made when she talked about her province. To have this ironclad will
and passion to do more for her people, makes Hon. Sharee Ann Tan stand a mile
away from her political colleagues. She’s truly and definitely a governor like
no other.
