Designing politics

but also part-Maria Clara who knows when to keep quiet and to choose her battles. Isn’t it a good idea?” she cheerfully proposed. With her exposure to the crème dela crème of Philippine fashion,

asked Bagatsing if she ever thought of becoming a designer herself.

“It crossed my mind,” she admitted. I actually did a short course in London on Personal Styling and Fashion Journalism but in the end,

[I loved eating more] so I ended up taking culinary arts when I came home, and I’m in love with it.”

Despite her interest in food and fashion, however, politics naturally beckoned and won her over. Public service runs in her blood after all as the daughter of former Manila 5th District Representative Amado Bagatsing and granddaughter of former Mayor Ramon Bagatsing.

One of Manila’s Five Loveliest in 2004, thefirst-termcongresswoman confessed, “I wanted to serve but I didn’t want to go into politics. I wasn’t sure

[I wasn’t sure I could hack politics because it’s different from just helping others].”

clamor from his constituents and party mates for another Bagatsing to run so that his programs would

All eyes fell on the congressman’s daughter, who asked her patron saint, St. Anthony to give her a sign. In no time, she found a signature campaign presented to her by her father’s constituents, assuring her of their solid support.

“It was the answer to my prayer, and since I had been working along with my dad [in his three terms], I knew his programs re-

would be a shame if they were abandoned, which is often the case if your party’s opposition wins.”

Proud of her father’s projects, she continued, “Wewerethefirsttohave a free clinic with free diagnostic and laboratory center because my dad’s friends from Chinese General Hospital were only too willing to give free, notjust forconsultation butalso some medical procedures.

“The medicines would then come fromtheCSR[corporatesocialresponsibility] arms of companies owned by my dad’s friends too… I realized it would be a waste if the district stopped receiving help from them.”

And so, the young Bagatsing easily won over seasoned politicians during the 2016 elections, and is thriving in her position. The clamor to continue her father’s service through a signature campaign became a body count manifestation when she filed her candidacy in October 2015 at the Commission on Elections headquarters in Intramuros As Miss Manila 2017 judge with actress Sarah Lahbati and photographer Raymond Isaac Congresswoman Bagatsing’s mantra of leadership As Culinary Arts student at the American Hospitality Academy in Makati