MLQA-DisQourse Podcast Examines “From Transparency to Trust: How Good Governance Wins Hearts” with Mayor Vico Sotto

The Manuel L. Quezon Academy (MLQA) hosted a powerful new episode on November 13, 2025, of the MLQA-DisQourse-Quezonian Dialogues, this time focusing on the theme “From Transparency to Trust: How Good Governance Wins Hearts.” The discussion brought together four respected voices in Philippine governance and public policy: Pasig City Mayor Victor Ma. Regis “Vico” Sotto as the main speaker, joined by panelists Galing Pook Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento, former Governor of Mindoro Oriental and Businessman, Dr. Benjamin Espiritu, and Prof. Sergio M. Andal Jr., with Prof. Carlo Sagun moderating as President and CEO of the Bayan Family of Foundations — MLQU’s partner in the MLQA platform.

The normally intimate 20-seat podcast rapidly expanded into a standing-room-only event, with 110 attendees on-site and 245 more online, reflecting the strong public appetite for thoughtful, values-based governance conversations.

Mayor Vico Sotto opened the dialogue by recounting his 2019 victory in Pasig City, where he unseated a political dynasty despite lacking the usual trappings of a winning campaign — no entrenched machinery, no deep funding base, and no traditional patronage networks. What he had, he said, was a clear governance framework, a focused communication strategy, and an unwavering resolve to prove that reform was possible. Though many doubted his chances at the beginning, he remained committed to institutionalizing changes that would long outlast his time in office.

Upon assuming office, his first priority was shifting the mindset of the city bureaucracy. He worked to move public servants away from culture of patronage and toward professionalized, merit-based service, reminding them constantly: “Do not think of the next election — just perform, and trust will follow.” Over time, sincerity, consistency, and conviction created what he described as a “collective shift in consciousness,” allowing the people of Pasig to feel and believe that real change was taking place.

Chairperson Mel Senen Sarmiento reinforced this idea, stressing that people must see concrete change before trust can truly grow. He emphasized that governance must always prioritize restoring the dignity of citizens, balancing economic opportunity, essential services, and long-term development.

From the perspective of business and local economic growth, Dr. Benjamin Espiritu highlighted that good governance naturally precedes good corporate governance. Transparent and consistent systems, he noted, directly improve the ease of doing business, enabling growth, investment, and innovation to flourish.

Adding a political economy lens, Prof. Sergio M. Andal Jr., Economist and Dean of the MLQU School of Arts, Sciences and Education, underscored the importance of empowering civil society. According to him, sustainable reforms are possible only when government institutions work hand-in-hand with an active, engaged citizenry—ensuring that changes endure beyond any single leadership term.

At one point, MLQU President and Chairman Atty. Paquito Ochoa Jr. posed a candid question to Mayor Vico:

“What did you do to earn the trust of the people in 2019? Was it because of your family name? Was it your skill as a communicator?”

Mayor Vico reflected that while a name might help open doors, it is sincerity, clarity of strategy, and consistent delivery that ultimately win people over. Trust, he said, cannot be inherited — it is earned through action.

Moderated by Prof. Carlo Sagun, the conversation closed on a powerful note: good governance wins hearts not through slogans or spectacle, but through visible results and authentic leadership. It requires leaders who are transparent, institutions that are accountable, and communities that are empowered.

The overwhelming attendance and strong online engagement reaffirm the importance of platforms like MLQA-DisQourse in providing spaces for rigorous dialogue on governance and nation-building. MLQU remains committed to championing thought leadership and cultivating the next generation of principled, forward-looking Filipino leaders.