San Juan City Mayor Francisco “Francis” Zamora was formally inducted as a regular member of the Aguinaldo Tambuli Pagasa Sabak Eagles Club under the Fraternal Order of Eagles-Philippines Eagles Inc. (TFOE-PE) during the organization’s 43rd National Congress and 45th National Assembly 4th Regular Session of The Fraternal Order of Eagles – Philippine Eagles Inc. held at Aberdeen Court.
The induction ceremony followed Mayor Zamora’s keynote address as the event’s guest of honor and speaker, where he delivered a wide-ranging speech centered on the congress’s theme: “Good Governance, Strengthening Community, Building Strong Brotherhood.”
Advocacy for Good Governance
In his speech, Mayor Zamora directly addressed public perception of government, acknowledging the prevailing “negative stereotype” and describing it as a challenge to prove otherwise through action. He emphasized caution and integrity in public service, sharing personal guidance from his father, former Congressman Manuel de Zamora, to avoid actions that harm the country.
“We take it as a challenge in such a way that we have to prove to people otherwise,” Zamora stated, urging his colleagues in local and national government to perform duties that “uplift our country.”
Highlighting San Juan’s Achievements
The Mayor used his platform to showcase what he framed as San Juan’s successes under his leadership:
- Anti-Drug Efforts: Claimed San Juan is the “first and only drug-cleared city in Metro Manila,” with over 400% of barangays being drug-cleared.
- High Functional Literacy: Cited a 95% functional literacy rate, which he claimed is the highest among highly urbanized cities in the Philippines.
- COVID-19 Response: Highlighted that San Juan was number one in vaccination nationwide and among the first to implement herd immunity.
- Housing Project: Announced the ongoing construction of the “tallest 4PH (Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino) building in the Philippines” in San Juan, describing it as a parent-owned scheme to provide homes.
Personal Political Journey
Mayor Zamora recounted his political career, which began in 2007 as a city councilor after serving in the congressional office of his father. He spoke of electoral setbacks, including a 2016 mayoral bid where he claimed only 2% voted, yet 47% of San Juan residents considered him “a mayor in their hearts.” This experience, he said, fueled his “Francis Never Stops” motto, leading to his successful election in 2019 and the beginning of what he calls the “new San Juan.”
Formal Induction
Following the speech, the assembly moved to the formal induction process. A resolution was presented detailing the club’s motion to invite and endorse Mayor Zamora for membership. The resolution was moved, seconded, and approved by the assembly body and regional governors.
Upon accepting the offer and pledging to abide by the club’s rules, Mayor Zamora took the oath of membership administered by the National President Ronald F. Delos Santos. He swore to defend and uphold the Eagles Constitution, its laws, and its moral code of ethics.
Event and Organization
The induction took place within the larger context of the TFOE-PE’s national gathering. The Mayor acknowledged key officers present, including National President Brother Ronald Delos Santos, other vice presidents, trustees from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, and the Secretary General.
In his closing remarks, Mayor Zamora expressed gratitude for the opportunity and looked forward to future collaborations with the fraternal order, stating it was a “blessing” to have the chance to help each other.
The event concluded with the Mayor’s full integration into the fraternity, blending his public governance role with this new chapter in his civic and social organization involvement.#
