This was the gist of the much anticipated Christmas message of Alaminos Mayor Hernani A. Braganza during the LGU-Family Christmas Party at the Don Leopoldo Sison last Night.

“In behalf of my family, allow me to say thank you to my LGU-family," said the mayor. "And congratulations to the Green Team headed by Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr. for being this year’s over-all champion in the Alaminos LGU-Family Olympics.”

“Our family is growing compared to when we are still a municipality," said the mayor who was joined by Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr. and former city mayor Eduardo Fontelera during the said merrymaking.

Other members of Team Alaminos 2010 who were around to celebrate with the city employees were city councilors Jojo Fontelera, Earl James Aquino,Carol Dizon-Sison, Constante Carasi, Cirilo Radoc, Felimon Bacala Jr., Oscar Boling, former SK federation president Margielou Orange Humilde, retired city agriculturist Ernesto de Leon and Poblacion brgy, captain German Rabago.

“I’m very glad to see all of you here tonight and that our family is getting bigger," said the mayor who also gave away numerous gifts which was raffled to the attendees. "That is a sign of progress.”

Braganza urged his co-workers in the city government city’s civil servants to keep their family and pillars of city government stronger and more solid to swiftly deliver the basic quality services in the countryside.

“This is my belief, my principle and my promise to all of you that as long as I’m your mayor and members of Team Alaminos on my side, our city will continue to prosper," stressed the second termer mayor.

“We should not stop dreaming of having a beautiful, progressive and peaceful city not only for us but also for our guests and visitors,” he added.

Braganza said the city had faced many problems in the past.

For the last two years alone, the city was battered by two powerful typhoons, namely Emong and Cosme that left hundreds of Alaminians homeless and destroyed millions of pesos of crops and properties.

These two misfortunes might have weakened the spirits of Alaminians. But because of their undying culture of caring and sharing and with the help of so many benevolent friends of the city, the city easily got back on its feet.

This year, Metro Manila was also hit by typhoon Ondoy while Central and Eastern Pangasinan were devastated by typhoon Pepeng.

“This badly affected the livelihood of our kababayans," said the mayor. "So let us not forget those who suffered by due to these calamities.”

“While we are here happy, giving and sharing, Let us all remember them and we must include them in our prayers”

As chief executive of the city for the past five years now, Braganza felt that his job as a leader is a lot easier now and his programs are being fully realized.

"This," he said, "is because of the support and cooperation of his citymates and for being united
to face the challenges and trials that come our way,"

“And as your mayor, I cannot ask for more (from you),” he stressed.

Braganza was even apologetic noting that he and his administration might have had shortcomings in the past.

“I would like to assure all of you though that if ever we have committed mistakes, those are not deliberate ones,” he pointed out.

Rather, these are honest mistakes, said the mayor adding that sometimes he makes hard or quick decisions due to lack of resources to attend to the needs of his citymates.

“(Sometimes) that is the call of the time that why we make those decisions,” he said.
 
But as far as his administration’s accomplishment is concerned, Alaminians knew that he have done so much for the city and its people this year.

The mayor then thanked his citymates for all their support.

"But let’s not also stop from doing what needs to be done still in our city."

He cited the great and limitless potentials of the city and expressed his optimism that Alaminos will continue rise and become a progressive city as evidence by the influx tourists and investors for the past four to five years.

He added that everybody is welcome to come and stay and have business here in our city.

Braganza said because of his citymates, former leaders and friends of the city, Alaminos is now the fourth city and the youngest city in the province of Pangasinan.

“We welcome all of these people except the bad ones,” he noted.

“We don’t want some quarters to wreck havoc in our city and as much as possible revive the illegal activities that we have already stopped in the past.”

“I don’t believe that we will become a developed and progressive city because of illegal numbers game and other illegal activities."

“Alaminos will be great and prosperous city that we all aspired for if we will protect, nurture and wisely use our many resources that we have to achieve sustainable resources," Braganza said. "And if you continue to put your trust on us and believe on yourselves that together we can make a big difference.”

In celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the hardworking mayor reminded his citymates of the sacrifices of “our Savior” on taking away the sins of the world and be mankind’s bridge to the Father.

He said his team will continue to sacrifice for the city of Alaminos and its people.

“I would like to assure all of you that we don’t like Alaminos to become a war zone or a place being feared by investors, tourists and members of the fourth state like Maguindanao.”

There are now some people sowing fear and peddling lies in the city and keep on saying that money is all that matters for Alaminians.

And the mayor has a message to those people who would want to come to Alaminos and destroy the very essence of what Alaminos is all about.

“You cannot buy our people, he stressed….we will fight you to very end. Today, I declare that Alaminos is not for sale”.

And it will remain that way even in 2010 and beyond.(CIO)