In her keynote speech during the inauguration of newly elected officials of the province of Antique at EBJ Freedom Park in San Jose de Buenavista on Monday, June 30, four-term Senator Loren Legarda reminded both newly elected and re-elected leaders that their oath is a reaffirmation of the trust placed in them by the people to serve with integrity and purpose.
“That is why you must remember today as a reaffirmation of the trust placed in you by our people to serve them. There is no greater duty, no higher calling, than to serve your own people and the community that shaped you,” Legarda said. Noting the lifelong nature of public service, Legarda reminded the newly sworn-in leaders that leadership does not end with winning an election; it begins with an enduring
responsibility to the people.
“Congratulations must now give way to commitment. What comes next is the real work. Public office will demand your time, your strength, your comfort, and often, your peace of mind. But if you carry it with honor, integrity, compassion, and accountability, it will give you something far greater than power-it will give you purpose.
Our work is never finished. Every single day is an opportunity to do better-for our people, our communities, and our nation. We must be relentless in our duty. Public service is not a job where one can ever say, ‘mission accomplished.’ There is no finish line. The work is
continuous, the needs of our people evolve, and so must our response. Samtang may naga kinahanglan, padayon kita sa pagserbisyo-as long as there are those in need, we must continue to serve,” Legarda said.
Legarda administered the oath of office to Antique Representative Antonio “AA” Legarda, Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Representative Jojo Ang, and Governor Paolo Everardo Javier, in addition to other newly elected and re-elected officials.
She served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Lone District of the Province of Antique, and is notably the only Antiquena to have served as Deputy Speaker of the House. She also holds the distinction of being the lone Antiquena to serve in the Philippine Senate. Under Legarda’s leadership, Antique has witnessed significant transformation through programs that uplift education, healthcare, connectivity, and cultural preservation.
Among the landmark projects she supported is the establishment of the University of the Philippines Visayas campus in Pandan, along with sustained assistance to the University of Antique and other schools in the province. These investments expanded access to quality education and provided scholarship opportunities for students across Antique.
Healthcare access also improved significantly through her consistent support in securing funding for the upgrading of nine hospitals throughout the province. These efforts helped bring quality medical services closer to Antiqueños, particularly in underserved communities.
The province’s connectivity has significantly improved with the construction and upgrading of critical roads and bridges. These include the Panay East-West Road connecting Valderrama to Lambunao, the San Remigio Bugo-General Fullon-Valderrama Road, the lloilo-Antique
Connector Road linking Aningalan to Bucari, and the Pandanan-Maybunga-Laua-an Road. The rehabilitation of the Pandan-Ibajay Road also drastically cut travel time for upland barangays. In addition, vital bridges such as the Vilvar Bridge in San Remigio and the Paliwan Bridge
connecting Laua-an to Bugasong were funded to provide safer and more efficient passage.
The successful rehabilitation and operation of the New Antique Airport opened Antique to increased commerce and tourism. The Antique Esplanade in San Jose has also become a popular public space for families and community activities.
Through Legarda’s initiative, Antique now also has the Antique Convention Center, the province’s first large-scale venue for conferences, cultural gatherings, and exhibitions. Livelihood opportunities were expanded through the revival and strengthening of traditional industries such as Patadyong weaving, pottery, and abaca. Weaving centers were established in Bugasong, Tibiao, and other municipalities, along with cotton processing facilities in Patnongon. Legarda also supports the muscovado industry in Laua-an, and through her efforts, a bamboo production facility was established in Sibalom.
Thousands of Antiquenos have benefited from MSME support, DTI Shared Service Facilities, DOLE Kabuhayan, TUPAD, and DSWD programs, including AICS and SLP.
These programs empowered farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous communities, and informal workers with capital, tools, and
training.
Cultural preservation also flourished under her leadership. Initiatives such as the Everyday Culture book, 22 cultural mapping volumes, and the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings like the Balay nga Bato and the Old Capitol building reinforced Antiqueno identity while promoting
sustainable tourism. Restoration projects included the Gabaldon buildings, the St. John Nepomuceno Church in Anini-y, and the Casa Municipal in Patnongon.
“Sa ating mga kasimanwa, we are here not as leaders above you, but as leaders among you. Ang ating hangarin ay wagas na paglilingkod para sa ating mga kasimanwa. Hindi kami titigil sa pagsisilbi, dahil sa bawat batang nangangarap, bawat pamilyang umaasa, at bawat Antiqueñong nagtitiwala ay karapatdapat lang mapagsilbihan ng mga lider na hinding hindi sila iiwan. At sa tulong ng Maykapal, padayon ang serbisyo diretso sa tawo!” Legarda concluded.
